Retiform non-blanchable purpuric plaques in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Livedoid vasculopathy (LV) is a small vessel occlusive disease that can present with a painful purpuric eruption. Predominantly affecting young women, LV has been associated with hypercoagulable states and antiphospholipid syndrome. We present an unusual case of LV occurring in the setting of acute kidney injury secondary to lupus nephritis. It is important to differentiate LV from vasculitis as the treatment recommendation centers on anticoagulation therapy rather than immunosuppression. Additionally, antiphospholipid syndrome should be ruled out in cases of systemic lupus erythematosus with LV due to risk of thrombotic events.

Surgical correction of shoulder rotation deformity in brachial plexus birth palsy: long-term results in 118 patients.

We present the long-term results of open surgery for internal shoulder rotational deformity in brachial plexus birth palsy (BPBP). From 1997 to 2005, 207 patients (107 females, 100 males, mean age 6.2 (0.6 to 34)) were operated on with subscapularis elongation and/or latissimus dorsi to infraspinatus transfer. Incongruent shoulder joints were relocated. The early results of these patients has been reported previously. We analysed 118 (64 females, 54 males, mean age 15.1 (7.6 to 34)) of the original patient cohort at a mean of 10.4 years (7.0 to 15.1) post-operatively. A third of patients with relocated joints had undergone secondary internal rotational osteotomy of the humerus. A mixed effects models approach was used to evaluate the effects of surgery on shoulder rotation, abduction, and the Mallet score. Independent factors were time (pre-and post-surgery), gender, age, joint category (congruent, relocated, relocated plus osteotomy) and whether or not a transfer had been performed. Data from a previously published short-term evaluation were reworked in order to obtain pre-operative values. The mean improvement in external rotation from pre-surgery to the long-term follow-up was 66.5° (95% confidence interval (CI) 61.5 to 71.6). The internal rotation had decreased by a mean of 22.6° (95% CI -18.7 to -26.5). The mean improvement in the three-grade aggregate Mallet score was 3.1 (95% CI 2.7 to 3.4), from 8.7 (95% CI 8.4 to 9.0) to 11.8 (11.5 to 12.1). Our results show that open subscapularis elongation achieves good long-term results for patients with BPBP and an internal rotation contracture, providing lasting joint congruency and resolution of the trumpet sign, but with a moderate mean loss of internal rotation.

Surgical correction of a rotational deformity of the shoulder in patients with obstetric brachial plexus palsy: Short-term results in 270 patients.

We evaluated results at one year after surgical correction of internal rotation deformities in the shoulders of 270 patients with obstetric brachial plexus palsy. The mean age at surgery was 6.2 years (0.6 to 35). Two techniques were used: open subscapularis elongation and latissimus dorsi to infraspinatus transfer. In addition, open relocation was performed or attempted in all patients with subluxed or dislocated joints. A mixed effects model approach was used to evaluate the effects of surgery on internal and external rotation, abduction, flexion and Mallet score. Independent factors included operative status (pre- or post-operative), gender, age, the condition of the joint, and whether or not transfer was performed. The overall mean improvement in external rotation following surgery was 84.6° (95% confidence interval (CI) 80.2 to 89.1) and the mean Mallet score improved by 4.0 (95% CI 3.7 to 4.2). There was a mean decrease in internal rotation of between 27.6° and 34.4° in the relocated joint groups and 8.6° (95% CI 5.2 to 12.0) in the normal joint group. Abduction and flexion were unchanged following surgery. Adding a latissimus dorsi transfer did not result in greater improvement in the mean external rotation compared with elongation of the subscapularis alone.

Structural characteristics of the subscapularis muscle in children with medial rotation contracture of the shoulder after obstetric brachial plexus injury.

The aim of this study was to obtain a better understanding of the cause of the medial rotation contracture of the shoulder after obstetric brachial plexus lesions by studying the morphology of the shortened subscapularis muscle. Muscle biopsy specimens were harvested from 13 children with obstetric brachial plexus palsy who underwent corrective surgery for the rotation contracture. The majority of the subscapularis muscle biopsy samples had an essentially normal morphology and showed a predominance of type I myosin heavy chain isoform, while one biopsy showed signs of marked fibrosis and a predominance of type II myosin heavy chain isoform. The findings support the assumption that shortening of the subscapularis is caused primarily by the nerve injury, which weakens the antagonistic lateral rotators, but that direct injury to the muscle might be a contributory factor.

Subscapularis muscle mechanics in children with obstetric brachial plexus palsy.

This study investigates the passive mechanical properties of the subscapularis muscle in children with a contracture as a result of obstetrical brachial plexus palsy. Muscle biopsies were harvested from nine children undergoing open surgery for shoulder contracture. Passive mechanical testing of single cells and muscle bundles was performed. Corresponding comparisons were made using muscle biopsies from seven healthy controls. Single muscle fibres from patients with obstetric brachial plexus palsy displayed a shorter slack sarcomere length, linear deformation of the fibre within a wider zone of sarcomere length and a greater relative increase in stiffness compared with muscle bundles. We conclude that secondary changes in muscle fibre properties will occur as a result of a longstanding lack of sufficient passive stretch, leading to compensatory changes in the extracellular matrix. These results suggest the presence of a dynamic feedback system constituting a muscle-to-extracellular matrix communication interface.

[Matev's digit lengthening technic. Apropos of 20 cases]. / L'allongement digital selon Matev. A propos de vingt cas.

The authors reviewed 20 lengthening procedures according to Matev performed between 1982 and 1985 at SOS Main Strasbourg. They developed a special device which has proved to be simple and easy to use. Indications are limited to a few congenital malformations and traumatic mutilations. In children a free vascularized epiphysis transfer has been used to allow normal growth. Results are analysed and short-comings are outlined: lengthening is limited (47.8%); frequency of complications mainly trivial account for 25%; treatment period is lengthy (2.8 m in children and 4.2 m in adults).

Carpal boss.

Carpal boss is an often painful protuberance located dorsally in the region of the second and third carpometacarpal joints. This protuberance, emanating from juxtaarticular bone or consisting of an accessory ossicle, is often misinterpreted as a ganglion. Twenty-one patients with carpal boss were operated on with acceptable results.

Spontaneous rupture of the rectum with evisceration of small intestine through the anus. A case report.

Evisceration of small intestine through the anus is a severe and extremely rare condition associated with perforation of the rectum. A case with successful surgical treatment is described.