Muscle vs. Fasciocutaneous Microvascular Free Flaps for Lower Limb Reconstruction: A Meta-Analysis of Comparative Studies.

(1) Background: Lower extremity microvascular reconstruction aims at restoring function and preventing infection while ensuring optimal cosmetic outcomes. Muscle (M) or fasciocutaneous (FC) free flaps are alternatively used to treat similar conditions. However, it is unclear whether one option might be considered superior in terms of clinical outcomes. We performed a meta-analysis of studies comparing M and FC flaps to evaluate this issue. (2) Methods: The PRISMA guidelines were followed to perform a systematic search of the English literature. We included all articles comparing M and FC flap reconstructions for lower limb soft tissue defects following trauma, infection, or tumor resection. We considered flap loss, postoperative infection, and donor site morbidity as primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes included minor recipient site complications and the need for revision surgery. (3) Results: A total of 10 articles involving 1340 patients receiving 1346 flaps were retrieved, corresponding to 782 M flaps and 564 FC flaps. The sizes of the studies ranged from 39 to 518 patients. We observed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in terms of donor site morbidity and total flap loss with better outcomes for FC free flaps. Moreover, the majority of authors preferred FC flaps because of the greater aesthetic satisfaction and lesser rates of postoperative infection. (4) Conclusion: Our data suggest that both M and FC free flaps are safe and effective options for lower limb reconstruction following trauma, infection, or tumor resection, although FC flaps tend to provide stronger clinical benefits. Further research should include larger randomized studies to confirm these data.

Clinical, biological and bacteriological characteristics of osteoarticular infections in infants less than 12 months of age.

Aim: This retrospective study's objective was to evaluate osteoarticular infection in infants less than 12 months of age, with a particular focus on biological features and bacteriological etiology. Material & methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of every infant younger than 12 months old admitted in our institution for a suspected osteoarticular infection between January 1980 and December 2016. Results: Sixty-nine patients records were reviewed, including eight neonates, 16 infants from 1 to 5 months old, and 45 from 6 to 12 months old. Conclusion: Neonates and infants aged from 6 to 12 months old were more exposed to infections. Staphylococcus aureus remained the main pathogen in children <6 months, whereas Kingella kingae has become the most frequently isolated microorganism in infants aged from 6 to 12 months old.

[Management of a foot ulcer in a patient with diabetes]. / Ulcère du pied chez un patient avec un diabète : quelle prise en charge médico-chirurgicale ?

Despite a benign appearance, any foot injury occurring in a patient with diabetes requires multidisciplinary management if dreaded complications such as amputation are to be avoided. From a pathophysiological point of view, foot ulcer generally results from the combination of lower extremity neuropathy, mechanical overload, immunopathy and vascular insufficiency. The treatment associates in all cases an offloading and one or more debridements. Depending on the grade of the ulcer, adjuvant treatments, such as antibiotic therapy, revascularization, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be indicated.

En dépit d'un aspect bénin, toute plaie au niveau d'un pied survenant chez un patient avec un diabète nécessite une prise en charge multidisciplinaire si l'on veut éviter des complications redoutables comme une amputation. D'un point de vue physiopathologique, l'ulcère du pied résulte généralement de la combinaison entre une neuropathie des membres inférieurs, une surcharge mécanique, une immunopathie et une insuffisance vasculaire. La prise en charge associe dans tous les cas une décharge et un ou plusieurs débridements. Selon la gravité de l'ulcère, des traitements adjuvants sont indiqués, tels qu'une antibiothérapie, une revascularisation et une oxygénothérapie hyperbare.

A case report depicting patient's installation on the fracture table when an ankle spanning external fixator is already in place.

BACKGROUND: Fractures of the proximal and diaphyseal femur are frequently internally fixed using a fracture table. Moreover, some femoral neck fractures may be treated with total hip arthroplasty using a direct anterior approach and a traction table. Fracture and traction tables both use a boot tightly fitted to the patient's foot in order to: 1) obtain fracture reduction by traction and adequate rotation exerted on the slightly abducted or adducted extremity; or 2) adequately expose the hip joint using traction, rotation and extension to implant total hip arthroplasty components. In some instances, multiply injured patients may present with both a proximal or diaphyseal femur fracture and a diaphyseal or distal tibia or ankle fracture necessitating an ankle spanning external fixator on the same limb. Frequently, the tibia or ankle fracture has to be treated first, and standard use of the fracture or traction table may be thereafter difficult due to the external fixator construct preventing tight fitting of the boot to the patient's foot. CASE PRESENTATION: In order to address this situation, the authors describe a simple technique allowing rigid fixation of the limb with an ankle spanning external fixator to the traction or fracture table, providing accurate control of the position of the lower limb in all planes for adequate fracture reduction and fixation or total hip arthroplasty. The technique is exemplified with a clinical case. CONCLUSIONS: This technique allows an efficient way to: 1) timely stabilize diaphyseal or distal tibia or ankle fractures; and 2) subsequently use all the advantages of a fracture or traction table to adequately reduce and fix proximal or diaphyseal femur fractures, or optimally expose femoral neck fractures for total hip arthroplasty using a direct anterior approach.

Are antibiotic-resistant pathogens more common in subsequent episodes of diabetic foot infection?

BACKGROUND: After antibiotic therapy of an initial diabetic foot infection (DFI), pathogens isolated from subsequent episodes might become more resistant to commonly prescribed antibiotics. If so, this might require a modification of the current recommendations for the selection of empiric antibiotic therapy. This study investigated whether the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) DFI guideline recommendations should be modified based on the number of past DFI episodes. METHODS: This was a single-centre retrospective cohort survey of DFI patients seen during the years 2010 to 2016. RESULTS: A total 1018 episodes of DFI in 482 adult patients were identified. These patients were followed-up for a median of 3.3 years after the first DFI episode. The total number of episodes was 2257 and the median interval between recurrent episodes was 7.6 months. Among the recurrent DFIs, the causative pathogens were the same as in the previous episode in only 43% of cases (158/365). Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant pathogen in all episodes (range 1 to 13 episodes) and was not more prevalent with the increasing number of episodes. DFIs were treated with systemic antibiotics for a median duration of 20 days (interquartile range 11-35 days). Overall, there was no significant increase in the incidence of antibiotic resistance to methicillin, rifampicin, clindamycin, or ciprofloxacin over the episodes (Pearson's Chi-square test p-values of 0.76, 1.00, 0.06, and 0.46, respectively; corresponding p-values for trend of 0.21, 0.27, 0.38, and 0.08, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: After the successful treatment of a DFI, recurrent episodes are frequent. A history of a previous DFI episode did not predict a greater likelihood of any antibiotic-resistant isolate in subsequent episodes. Thus, broadening the spectrum of empiric antibiotic therapy for recurrent episodes of DFI does not appear necessary.

[Isolated lesions of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis]. / Lésions isolées de la syndesmose tibio-fibulaire distale.

A tibiofibular syndesmotic injury is rare, accounting 6 % of ankle sprain. The diagnosis can be difficult and is often likened to a lateral ankle sprain. Clinical signs are more subtle and pains are located above the joint line tibiotalar. These lesions should be considered in athletes with pain or trauma to the ankle. Late diagnosis is associated with significant morbidity up to osteoarthritis of the ankle. The management of these lesions is paramount and surgery may be necessary. The purpose of our article is to highlight this condition to increase the diagnosis rate and get our patients optimum recovery.

Les lésions de la syndesmose tibio-fibulaire sont rares, totalisant 6 % des entorses de la cheville sans fracture associée. Le diagnostic peut être difficile et est souvent assimilé à une entorse de la cheville. Ces lésions doivent être considérées chez les athlètes présentant des douleurs ou un traumatisme en torsion de la cheville. Les signes cliniques sont plus subtils et les douleurs se localisent au-dessus de la ligne articulaire tibio-talienne. Un diagnostic tardif est associé à une morbidité significa-tive pouvant aller jusqu'à une arthrose de la cheville. La prise en charge de ces lésions est primordiale et une chirurgie peut être nécessaire. Le but de cet article est de mettre en exergue cette pathologie pour augmenter son taux de diagnostics et obtenir chez nos patients une récupération optimum.