[THE CHALLENGE OF DIAGNOSING RARE LIFE THREATENING SKIN LESIONS].

INTRODUCTION: Skin lesions seen after delivery are frequent and mostly shallow, without the need for special care or diagnosis challenge. In the following case, an infant was born at 35 weeks gestation, presented after the delivery with a well-demarcated, necrotic plaque over the right forearm with neurologic deficit. The differential diagnosis includes life-threatening reasons, therefore, emergent laboratory and imaging tests were held. Treatment was given after consulting a multidisciplinary team of experts, including antibiotic treatment, blood products and anticoagulation and physiotherapy treatment was started. Under this treatment, improvement was noticed but there was still a motor restriction. He was discharged home on his 24th day of life, with the working diagnosis of Congenital Volkmann Ischemic Contracture (CVIC). On his seventh week of life, he arrived to the emergency room with focal seizure resulting from an infarct seen on an MRI. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of five months. In conclusion, Congenital Volkmann Ischemic Contracture is a rare diagnosis, however, awareness is of importance since fast treatment is crucial for future prognosis.

The case of missing skin: Congenital Volkmann ischemic contracture.

Congenital Volkmann ischemic contracture (CVIC) is an exceedingly rare neonatal compartment syndrome caused by intrauterine ischemia and external compression. It presents at birth with necrotic cutaneous lesions and neurologic impairment, typically in a distal upper extremity. Diagnosis and treatment are often delayed in neonates, leading to long-term neurologic sequelae. We present a rare case of CVIC in order to raise awareness of its presentation and management in hopes of improving outcomes.

Localized type Volkmann's contracture treated with tendon transfer and tension-reduced early mobilization: A case report.

RATIONALE: For localized type Volkmann's contracture, in which degeneration of the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) muscle to one or two fingers and restriction of finger extension occur, dissection or excision of the affected muscle is usually recommended. However, these surgical procedures need relatively wide exposure of the muscle, because the FDP muscle is in the deep portion of the forearm. PATIENT CONCERNS: In this report, the case of a 35-year-old woman with localized type Volkmann's contracture is presented. Her left forearm had been compressed with an industrial roller 4 months earlier, and severe flexion contracture of the long finger and mild flexion contracture of the ring finger developed gradually. DIAGNOSES:: localized type Volkmann's contracture. INTERVENTION: Five months after the injury, transection of the FDP tendon to the long finger and transfer of the transected tendon to the FDP tendon to the index finger was performed after adjusting the tonus of these two tendons using a small skin incision. This procedure was followed by a tension-reduced early mobilization technique in which a tension-reduced position of the tendon suture site was maintained by taping the long finger to the volar side of the index finger, and then immediate active range of motion (ROM) exercise was started. OUTCOMES: Within 9 weeks after surgery, full ROM had been regained. LESSONS: Using the treatment procedure presented in this case report, a good clinical result was obtained in a minimally invasive manner.

Free Functional Muscle Transfers to Restore Upper Extremity Function.

Free functional muscle transfer provides an option for functional restoration when nerve reconstruction and tendon transfers are not feasible. To ensure a successful outcome, many factors need to be optimized, including proper patient selection, timing of intervention, donor muscle and motor nerve selection, optimal microneurovascular technique and tension setting, proper postoperative management, and appropriate rehabilitation. Functional outcomes of various applications to the upper extremity and the authors' algorithm for the use of free functional muscle transfer are also included in this article.

Congenital Volkmann syndrome and aplasia cutis of the forearm: a challenging differential diagnosis.

IMPORTANCE: Differential diagnosis between congenital Volkmann ischemic contracture (CVIC) and unilateral aplasia cutis congenita (ACC) type VII of the forearm presents a clinical challenge. Both diseases share the same clinical presentation characterized by a stellate ulceration over the upper extremities and reported association with neuromuscular defects, but the diagnostic criteria to differentiate these 2 entities remain unclear. OBSERVATIONS: A newborn girl presented with an ulceration of the left forearm associated with an apparent neurological impairment. On the basis of the suspected neurological involvement, a diagnosis of CVIC was initially considered, but because the neurological evaluation excluded paralysis, our final diagnosis was ACC type VII. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In our opinion, CVIC should be considered a particular form of ACC in which an external noxa affects the forearm, increasing the intracompartmental pressure and leading to muscle and nerve ischemia. Therefore, we propose that the definition of Volkmann ischemic contracture should be maintained only for the acquired forms with an evident etiology and that Frieden's classification scheme for ACC type VII needs to be reformulated.

[Functional diagnosis of the foot ischemic contracture].

Correlation analysis between severity of the foot ischemic contracture (FIC) and the degree of its function disorder was conducted. The 100-point scale of H. B. Kitaoka was applied for investigation of functional disorders, the FIC severity was estimated according to A. P. Lyabakh, S. S. Strafun (1994) classification. The results obtained have witnessed the dependence of the foot functional state in a residual state from the ischemia severity, what is confirmed by Cruscal - Wallice and Dann criteria. Low indices in patients with a mild B and moderate A FIC severity were caused by impact of some factors, which were noncontrolled by the system of the point estimation, including such as the ischemic affection of own foot muscles.

Volkmann ischemic contracture in a newborn.

Congenital Volkmann ischemic contracture is a very rare condition in which a neonate presents skin, muscular and nerve lesions due to increased intracompartment pressure and subsequent ischemia, probably due to extrinsic intrauterine compression. In this age group, there are only about 50 reported cases and a specific cause is unknown. The authors describe the case of a newborn who presented with bullous and ulcerated skin lesions and nerve palsy of his forearm at birth, evolving to subcutaneous and muscular necrosis and contracture. Two surgeries were performed and the baby began a daily physiotherapy program that resulted in aesthetical improvement and recovery of his hand and forearm mobility. Early recognition of this rare entity and subsequent emergency fasciotomy are the best ways to improve prognosis.

Missed posterior deep, inferior subcompartment syndrome in a patient with an ankle fracture: a case report.

Deep posterior compartment syndrome is an extremely rare complication of ankle fracture and the few reported cases in the literature show that it is usually diagnosed late. Anterior and deep posterior compartment syndromes have been described with variable manifestations according to the compartment affected. We present a case of deep posterior compartment syndrome isolated to the disputed distal "subcompartment" of the leg, which had a very subtle and late presentation and was missed. The diagnosis of compartment syndrome was confirmed on MRI scan. Subsequently the patient developed a flexor hallucis longus muscle contracture that was managed nonoperatively.

[Clinical and experimental assessment of the current treatment of tibial shaft fractures]. / Lábszártörés korszerû kezelésének értékelése klinikai és kísérletes vizsgálatokkal.

Tibial shaft fractures present 15% of all fractures, which means about 2500 cases per year in Hungary. 90% of these fractures are treated surgically. Nowadays, the incidence of tibia fractures is increased, the severity of the fractures is intensified and in spite of new surgical techniques the rate of complications is not dramatically decreased. The treatment of the open tibia fractures has basically changed since the introduction of unreamed intramedullar nails. The unreamed nails turned into the primary method in the treatment of the Grade II and III open fractures and became sufficient for the fixation of the proximal and distal third tibia fractures. In Hungary, we used the Marchetti-Vicenzi nail for the treatment of tibia fractures in first time, with this method the tibial shaft and distal part fractures can be treated safely with low rate of complication. In year 1997 we prepared the treatment concept of the combination of the dynamic brace and the undreamed intramedullar nail. We proved that by the application of this method the advantages of the two treatment form could be attached and the healing period and the rehabilitation of the injured could be shortened. During the clinical exploration of the complications we proved that different pressure levels developed in the muscular compartment around the tibia during the usage of two different surgical techniques, the reamed and unreamed nailing. In the deep compartment we measured statistically higher pressure in the cases of unreamed nailing. In contrast to the literature we can draw the conclusion that there is no relationship between the compartmental pressure changes, the chance of the development of compartment syndrome and the insertion technique of the intramedullar nails. In pursuance of the basic research of the complications we investigated the muscle samples from compartment syndrome and from Volkmann ischemic contracture with differential scanning calorimetry. We proved that there is a difference between thermal features of the intact and ischemic muscles. We demonstrated that there is a close correlation between the compartmental pressure, the structural damage of muscle tissues and thermo-chemic values measured by calorimetry. Due to their sensitivity and specificity, calorimetric examinations can help and support the clinical diagnosis in atypical cases.

[Neonatal Volkmann's syndrome]. / Syndrome de Volkmann néonatal.

BACKGROUND: Acute limb compartment syndrome or Volkmann's ischaemic contracture is an acquired ischaemia of nerve and muscle causes by raised pressure within a closed fascial space. Congenital Volkmann's ischaemic contracture (CVIC) is a rare entity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 2-day-old girl was referred with a problem of the left forearm and arm, which exhibited cold oedema with decreased mobility. Lesions were present at birth and were rapidly complicated by skin necrosis. The mother was taking olazanpine, prazepam and valpromide throughout the entire pregnancy. Delivery was complicated by shoulder dystocia requiring obstetric procedures such as suprapubic pressure, Couder's maneuver and episiotomy. On physical examination her left hemi-thorax, left arm, forearm and hand exhibited marked oedema. A large and well-demarcated bullous, fibrous and ulcerated area of skin necrosis was observed on the elbow fold and on the inner anterior part of the arm. Digital flexion with cyanosis was present. MR angiography revealed extensive oedema of the soft tissue and muscle with fascial effusion, associated with compression of the arm arteries and reduced blood flow in the forearm. A fasciotomy was performed at Day 3 of life. The postsurgical arterial MRI was normal. At Day 10 of life, the patient developed opisthotonos involving spasms and tremors associated with numerous intercritical abnormalities evoking benzodiazepine weaning syndrome. The child's neurological status was stabilized by treatment with phenobarbital and clonazepam. She was subsequently lost to follow-up. DISCUSSION: CVIC has been ascribed to multiples causes. Mechanical compression is the main recognized factor: amniotic band constriction, umbilical cord loops, compression in utero by a deceased co-twin, malposition of the hand, arm or forearm, local or general factors that can add to extraction problems: brachypelvic disproportion, extraction with forceps, oligo/polyhydramnios, pre-term delivery, pre-eclampsia, caesarean section, premature labour, excessive maternal weight gain or diabetes. Our case emphasized three main points. First, the diagnostic value of early MR angiography in the event of associated extensive tissue oedema, multiple arterial compression and decreased vascular perfusion. Second, the role of shoulder dystocia in triggering the traumatic factor reported for the first time. Third, the role of neuroleptic and anxiolytic treatments taken by the mother during pregnancy. Prazepam is a long-acting benzodiazepine that can cause impregnation and withdraw syndromes in neonates. Impregnation "floppy infant syndrome" is an early event characterized by hypotonia, hypoventilation and lethargy. Hypotonia and decreased foetal movements may favour prolonged pressures and malposition with secondary crush injury during delivery. Maternal medication has not been cited hitherto as an aetiological factor in neonatal compartment syndrome.

[Review of Volkmann's ischaemic contracture]. / Attekintés a Volkmann-féle ischaemiás kontraktúráról.

The author calls the attention, with reference to the four cases observed lately, to the reappearence of the Volkmann's ischaemic contracture, which was described at the end of the 19th century, but has been almost forgotten with the developing of traumatology. It discusses the reasons of development, the results and the treatment possibilities of the illness. It emphasizes that a non-diagnosed or non-recognised forearm compartment syndrome which has been mistreated, can cause a symptom collection of different seriousness, which reduces the function of the hands considerably and which is difficult to handle. Prevention is considered to be the most important. It suggests that only an experienced specialist, who is familiar with hand surgery, should treat the developed contracture. It reveals that, differently from the classical way of its developing, nowadays the other etiological contractures are coming to the front. Therefore the important point is that not only the trauma surgeons but also the representatives of other disciplines should be aware of the rare syndrome which has serious consequences.

Volkmann sign of non-ischaemic origin.

This paper presents six cases who had a contracture of the long flexor tendons of the fingers and exhibited Volkmann's sign due to a chronic abscess or cysticercosis in the belly of the flexor digitorum profundus. All of them were treated conservatively, with full functional recovery in all the cases and with no recurrence.