[Evaluation of the risk of postoperative bleeding complications in hand surgery without interruption of anticoagulant Vitamin K Antagonist (VKA), a retrospective study]. / Évaluation du risque de saignement postopératoire en chirurgie de la main sans interruption des anticoagulants de type AntiVitamines K (AVK), étude rétrospective.

OBJECTIVE: The management of patients on Vitamine K Antagonist (VKA) anticoagulation is a public health issue with surgery being the primary cause of VKA interruption. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bleeding risk in patients operated on hand surgery without interruption of VKA treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective, monocentric study was conducted between 2013 and 2015. The inclusion criteria were, as follows: patients on VKA over 18 years of age who had emergency or scheduled surgery without interruption of VKA treatment; INR inferior to 3 analyzed less than 24h before surgery. Exclusion criteria were, as follows: INR superior to 3; interruption of VKA treatment with or without switch to heparin treatment. The primary evaluation parameter was any form of bleeding that occurred during the first 7 post-operative days. The secondary criteria were other surgical complications. RESULTS: There were 93 patients and 104 procedures. The mean age was 74.36 years (from 27 to 90) with a sex ratio male-to-female of 2.47. The scheduled surgeries were 61.5% against 36.5% for the emergency cases. The mean INR was 2.29 (from 1.07 to 3). One patient presented a postoperative hematoma on the 4th postoperative day, which did not require any revision surgery. There were no other complications reported. CONCLUSION: The results of this series suggest a small bleeding risk in hand surgery without interruption of VKA treatment provided that IRN is inferior to 3 less than 24hours before the procedure.

MRI dedicated to bones and joints: what are their market shares in terms of number of patients in private practice in France?

PURPOSE: The French government plans to install MRI facilities dedicated to musculoskeletal indications. We have analyzed the use of imaging investigations in the community to assess their market share. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We undertook a retrospective analysis of all reimbursements during the year 2012 by the French Social Plan for Independent Workers for 4 imaging methods for a musculoskeletal indication (MRI, CT scan with or without opacification and contrast-enhanced conventional radiography). RESULTS: Three hundred and thirty-two thousand eight hundred and ninety-three beneficiaries were included. The following investigations were used: MRI 12659 investigations; CT scan without direct opacification 7392; CT scan with direct opacification 1271; contrast-enhanced conventional radiography 1187. Of those beneficiaries who underwent investigations of the spine, 39.91% had MRI alone, 8.62% had both MRI and one of the other investigations and 51.46% did not have MRI. The corresponding figures for beneficiaries undergoing lower limb investigations were 79.57%, 4.53% and 15.90% and those for beneficiaries undergoing upper limb investigations were 35.49%, 6.56% and 57.94% respectively. CONCLUSION: In terms of the numbers of investigations, our results show that in France MRI dedicated to musculoskeletal indications has a wide market share for the spine, upper and lower limbs.

[Trends in prevalence of continuous positive airway pressure treatment for adults from 2006 to 2010]. / Évolution de 2006 à 2010 du nombre d'adultes traités par pression positive continue.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the evolution from 2006 to 2010 of the prevalence of continuous positive airway pressure treatment for the beneficiaries of two regional health care insurance funds (17 and 43). METHODS: One million forty-eight thousand four hundred and thirty beneficiary-years were analyzed from 2006 to 2010. The prevalence of continuous positive airway pressure treatment was tested with regard to the effect of the year of delivery. A logit regression was used to adjust for potentially confounding differences in age and gender, which were included as covariates. The prevalence of alternative treatments and of controls of reimbursement benefits implemented by the funds are evaluated too during the same period. RESULTS: Continuous positive airway pressure treatment annual prevalence was 6.34/1000. A significant annual increase of prevalence from 2006 to 2008 was followed by a slowing of the rate of growth starting from 2008. In the same time for fund 43, obesity surgery rose from 41.85/100,000 to 55.44/100,000 and mandibular osteotomy surgery rose from 0.97/100,000 to 4.78/100,000. For fund 17 mandibular advancement devices rose from 10.72/100,000 to 21,08/100,000. The two funds started a reinforced inspections of reimbursement benefits for continuous positive airway pressure treatment in 2008. CONCLUSIONS: The dynamics of continuous positive airway pressure treatment have to be considered in the context of policies introduced and trends in the application of alternative treatments in each fund.

[Should we reconstruct the flexor retinaculum in the carpal tunnel?]. / Faut-il reconstruire le rétinaculum des fléchisseurs (retinaculum flexorum) dans le canal carpien?

Conflicting data in the literature justify this review about the flexor retinaculum (FR). Reconstruction of the FR following carpal tunnel open release has been recommended in order to limit the drawbacks of open carpal tunnel release; these drawbacks have been reported in wide series of results published between 1956 and 1988. This paper includes a review of the literature, a survey of the practice of the members of the French society for surgery of the hand (GEM), a self-evaluation of grip strength as well as a summary of indications.

Electra trapezio metacarpal prosthesis: results of the first 100 cases.

The Elektra trapeziometacarpal prosthesis is a cementless, unconstrained prosthesis made by Fixano with titanium and chrome-cobalt steel. This paper examines the results of the first 100 prostheses used by the author for one indication only, viz. painful trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis. The average follow-up period was 54 (range 36-78) months. Studies of pain, mobility and grip and pinch strength were carried out, the results of which were good in 83 cases. Seven dislocations occurred. Five of these were following severe trauma. The commonest complication was a lack of osteointegration of the trapezial part of the prosthesis, which occurred in 15 cases. Sinking into the metacarpal of the distal stem occurred early in the series in two cases. Some others complications were observed: allergy to the metal (one case), fracture after direct trauma of the thumb (one case) and very painful osteoarthritis of the scaphotrapeziotrapezoid joint (one case).

New irradiation geometry for microbeam radiation therapy.

Microbeam radiation therapy (MRT) has the potential to treat infantile brain tumours when other kinds of radiotherapy would be excessively toxic to the developing normal brain. MRT uses extraordinarily high doses of x-rays but provides unusual resistance to radioneurotoxicity, presumably from the migration of endothelial cells from 'valleys' into 'peaks', i.e., into directly irradiated microslices of tissues. We present a novel irradiation geometry which results in a tolerable valley dose for the normal tissue and a decreased peak-to-valley dose ratio (PVDR) in the tumour area by applying an innovative cross-firing technique. We propose an MRT technique to orthogonally crossfire two arrays of parallel, nonintersecting, mutually interspersed microbeams that produces tumouricidal doses with small PVDRs where the arrays meet and tolerable radiation doses to normal tissues between the microbeams proximal and distal to the tumour in the paths of the arrays.

[The use of digital photographs for surgical and rehabilitation records. Methods and results]. / La photo numérique en chirurgie et en rééducation de la main. Méthode et résultats.

Digital pictures are performed on patients in the pre and postoperative periods, and sometimes during surgery. Seven thousand fourty eight records have been recorded. This method is useful for a multidisciplinary responsibility, particularly for the hand therapist and the splint follow-up. It is also good for patient information, for Workman's compensation doctors and for experts. The pitfall is that one have to manage the records on a strict day by day base.

Mycobacterial tenosynovitis of the flexor tendons of the hand. A report of five cases.

We present five cases of mycobacterial tenosynovitis of the flexor tendons of the fingers. These cases were observed during the last 12 years and treated by the same surgeon. This pathology is uncommon now, but it is becoming more frequent, especially in patients with diminished immunity. The diagnosis was most commonly made after synovectomy in patients presenting with carpal tunnel syndrome associated with slightly painful swelling at the wrist. Histological and bacteriological examinations are very important and revealed tuberculosis in four of our patients and mycobacterium in one, and the treatment consists of synovectomy and appropriate antibiotics. The functional result is usually good, but recurrence is not uncommon. Long-term follow-up is necessary. Local corticosteroid therapy could have a part in the causation of this condition.

[Bundled wiring in fractures of the neck of the fifth metacarpal. 5 cases]. / L'embrochage fasciculé en bouquet dans les fractures du col du cinquième métacarpien. A propos d'une série de cinquante cas.

By reviewing a series of 50 patients operated on using the Foucher technique for a closed isolated fracture of the neck of the fifth metacarpal bone, the authors determine efficiency of this surgical technique which gives satisfactory results when the operation performed is early enough (before 10 days). They explain the modification of the technique, insisting on the importance of a post-operative follow-up which guarantees a good result and they propose other surgical indications whether they concern fractures of the neck of the fifth metacarpal bone with a relatively small displacement, mainly in young subjects and labourers or indications concerning special cases.

[Severe paralysis of the upper limb after axillary brachial plexus block]. / Paralysie grave du membre supérieur après bloc plexique axillaire.

A case is reported of a severe neurological deficit occurring after axillary blockade. The 37-year-old ASA I patient underwent an axillary block for hand surgery using 20 ml of lignocaine 1% with adrenaline and 20 ml of lignocaine 2%. In order to elicit paraesthesia, several attempts were required. Injection of the local anaesthetic was not painful. The tourniquet remained at 250 mmHg for only 35 min. The following day, the patient's arm remained numb. As there was no improvement, epineurotomy was carried out on day 19, to liberate the median nerve which was severely stenosed at the axilla. The patient then started to improve slowly, so that he was able to return to part-time work 6 months later. Prevention of such an accident relies on avoiding intraneural injection and repeated punctures when searching for paraesthesia. When using axillary blockade in day-care surgery, the patient's must be informed upon the possibility of persistent paraesthesia. Should such a rare incident occur, rapid consultation with the anaesthesiologist is essential.

[Local complications after axillary block anesthesia]. / Accidents locaux de l'anesthésie par blocage axillaire.

The authors treated a local complication after axillary block, probably after intraneural injection of lidocaine. At the operation severe epineural fibrosis was found and released. The result was good after some months. After this the authors realized a study with 14 hand surgeons, and only few cases like the first case were found. This technique axillary block, is very reliable technique, but very few local complications can occur, and it's necessary to know them. It's possible to avoid this local problem with a serious technique to realize axillary block. Never intraneural injection and never many punctures to research paresthesia from the nerves of the brachial plexus.

[The saphenous flap called the Acland's flap. Report of 2 cases]. / Le lambeau saphène dit lambeau d'Acland. A propos de deux cas.

The authors present two cases of Acland's flap. This flap described and published in 1981, is a very good flap, but the myocutaneous flaps have limited its use. However, the authors believe that there are indications for this saphenous flap. The vascular supply for this flap is a saphenous artery, the last branch of the femoral artery, before it becomes the popliteal artery. The authors report two cases: one neurovascular island flap for the posterior side of the knee, and the other case is a free flap for forearm. This flap is part of a particularly rich arterial network on the medial side of the thigh and of the knee. Masquelet, in 1986, showed that it is possible to raise a periosteal flap or a vascularized tendon flap.

[Is it necessary to continue to reimplant all or part of the terminal phalanx of the finger? Apropos of a homogenous series of 38 cases (35 patients)]. / Faut-il continuer à replanter tout ou partie de la dernière phalange des doigts? A propos d'une série homogène de 38 cas (35 patients).

The authors present their experience with the very distal reimplantations: an homogenous series of 38 cases is presented. G. Foucher at SOS Mains Strasbourg showed this technique to the authors in 1980. The authors present their technique, which is adapted with the level of distal amputation, then their postoperatively attitude is presented in detail, particularly for "the bleeding maintained" and for the iterative surgery when necessary. Then the failures are precised. Finally functional results are studied: mobility is often good, sensibility is precised with the Weber test, cold pain is frequent, stop of work average is two months. Finally unsatisfactory nail and distal tip are precised.

Extensor tendon injuries. Presentation of a series of ninety-nine cases.

A series of 99 cases of injuries of the extensor system, followed in the 3 Traumatology and Orthopedics Ward (Dijon, France) is presented. Results were analyzed according to Verdan's classification. In most cases, a Jenning "barb-wire" type repair, introduced in France by Y. Allieu, was made. Early mobilization and skin tension problems are emphasized; two cases of degloving on the dorsum of the hand are presented with details. As well, a special place concerning the results of repair in the proximal interphalangeal joint must be reserved, because of the very frequent association of articular destruction and the very difficult problem s of surgical management which arise in these cases.