Fracture following lower limb lengthening in children: a series of 58 patients.

INTRODUCTION: Fracture is one of the main complications following external fixator removal used in cases of progressive lower limb lengthening; rates as high as 50% are found in the literature. The aim of this study was to determine the factors influencing this complication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and eleven cases of lower limb lengthening were performed in 58 patients (40 femurs and 71 tibias). The mean age at surgery was 10.1years old. Lengthening was performed in all cases with an external fixator alone, associated in 39.6% of cases with intramedullary nailing. The patients were divided into three groups according to disease etiology (congenital, achondroplasia and other). The fractures were classified according to the Simpson classification. RESULTS: Twenty fractures were recorded (18%). Sixteen fractures were found in patients with congenital disease, four with achondroplasia and none in the group of other etiologies. The fracture was more often in the femur (27.5%) than in the tibia (12.7%). DISCUSSION: The rate of fracture is influenced by different factors depending on the etiology of disease. In congenital diseases, the fracture rate is higher when there is lengthening of more than 15% of the initial length and a delay between surgery and the beginning of lengthening of less than 7days. In patients with achondroplasia, the influence of a relative percentage of lengthening is less important than in those with congenital disease. However, to avoid fractures, lengthening should not be started in children under the age of nine. Moreover, lengthening should begin at least 7days after the fixator has been placed. TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

[Comparison of the calcium intake during and before Ramadan in Marrakesh, Morocco]. / Comparaison de la ration calcique pendant et en dehors du mois de ramadan dans la région de Marrakech (Maroc).

We studied the effect of Ramadan fasting on calcium intake in 2 groups of 500 healthy subjects from Marrakesh using the colloquial Arabic version of the Fardellone questionnaire. The first group was investigated 5 months before Ramadan and the second during Ramadan. No significant difference was observed between the 2 groups. However, comparison of the pre-Ramadan and Ramadan periods for each age group showed a significant increase in calcium intake in subjects over 60 years. During Ramadan, consumption of milk was significantly higher, while consumption of other dairy products was not different. Overall, no significant difference in calcium intake was noted between pre-Ramadan and Ramadan periods.

A high-temperature thermal treatment of wood using a multiscale computational model: application to wood poles.

The present study is devoted to a numerical study with experimental validation of the high-temperature thermal treatment of three-dimensional wood pole. During the heat treatment process, the heat and mass transfer takes place between the solid and the drying medium, and the moisture evaporation occurs within the solid due to the capillarity action and diffusion. The development of the model equations, taking into account both bulk phases and interfaces of the multiphase system is described, starting from the microscopic scale. Fundamental to this model is the ability to quantify the effects of key material and geometric properties of the pole. The three-dimensional and unsteady-state mathematical model equations are solved numerically by the commercial package FEMLAB for the temperature and moisture content histories under different treatment conditions. A detailed discussion of the computational model and the solution algorithm is given. Heat treatment was applied on the test samples in an oven for three final temperatures (180, 200 and 220 degrees C). A series of experimental tests aimed at determination of heat treatment schedules kinetics curves and the temperature and moisture profiles and there time evolution were carried out. A very good agreement between the experimental and predicted results was obtained, implying that the proposed numerical algorithm can be used as a useful tool in designing high-temperature wood pole treatment processes.

[Evaluation of the calcium intake in population of Marrakesh and its region: 1000 cases]. / Evaluation de la ration calcique dans la population de Marrakech et de sa région: à propos de mille cas.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our work is to evaluate the calcium intake in population of Marrakesh and its region by the translated version in Moroccan Arabic dialect of Fardellone questionnaire. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The version translated into Arabic dialect Fardellone questionnaire is tested on a sample of 1000 subjects. The subjects aged less than 15 years accounted for 30.9% (n=309), those aged 15 to 59 62% (n=620) and those aged over 60 years 7.1% (n=71). The distribution by age group is calculated on the distribution of the Moroccan population. RESULTS: The study population includes 60.6% women (n=606), 39.4% of men (n=394). The mean calcium intake was respectively 5875 mg by week (that means 839 mg/day), 4899 mg by week (that means 699 mg/day), 3053 mg by week (that means 436 mg/day), in subjects aged less than 15, those aged 15 to 59, and those aged over 60 years. The average consumption of calcium per day is significantly lower than the recommended daily amount for the three age groups. Patients aged over 60 years is the age group most under nourished calcium. The comparison of both gender found a deficit higher among women than among men. CONCLUSION: Evaluation of the calcium intake is an essential tool for better management of metabolic bone diseases.

[Comparison of the calcium intake during and before Ramadan in Marrakesh, Morocco]

We studied the effect of Ramadan fasting on calcium intake in 2 groups of 500 healthy subjects from Marrakesh using the colloquial Arabic version of the Fardellone questionnaire. The first group was investigated 5 months before Ramadan and the second during Ramadan. No significant difference was observed between the 2 groups. However, comparison of the pre-Ramadan and Ramadan periods for each age group showed a significant increase in calcium intake in subjects over 60 years. During Ramadan, consumption of milk was significantly higher, while consumption of other dairy products was not different. Overall, no significant difference in calcium intake was noted between pre-Ramadan and Ramadan periods

[Amyloid neuropathy resulting from an unknown protein]. / Neuropathie amyloïde liée à une protéine non identifiée.

Amyloid neuropathy is related to acquired or hereditary forms of amyloidosis resulting from transthyretin variants. We reported a 42-year-old man suffering from a peripheral neuropathy not related to transthyretin mutations. Mass spectrometry may be useful to identify this rare form of amyloid neuropathy.

[Primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy in an adolescent]. / Ostéoarthropathie hypertrophiante primitive chez un adolescent.

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy is a rare syndrome characterized by dysacromelia and periostosis with digital clubbing. Primary form is called pachydermoperiostosis. A case of a primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy without pachydermia is reported in a 13-year-old boy, which was born of a consanguineous marriage. This case suggested an incomplete form of pachydermoperiostosis with a recessive inheritance. Pachydermoperiostosis is often familial and occurs predominantly in men. This affection is believed to be inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern but some autosomal recessive forms have also been reported.