[Salmonella glenohumeral arthritis]. / Arthrite gléno-humérale à salmonella enteritidis.

We report the first case of glenohumeral Salmonella arthritis in an immunocompetent 86-year-old woman. There was no entry point. An empirical antibiotherapy was started then adapted according to culture results. Given the persistence of symptoms, an arthroscopy was performed at 72 hours for a joint lavage and synovectomy. Postoperative course was good. Apyrexia was obtained by 72 hours and inflammatory syndrome was normalized in 12 days. The patient was reviewed regularly until the 3rd month. She has no clinical sequelae. Her osteoarthritis remained stable throughout follow-up.

Anatomical and radiological study applied to distal radius surgery.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine, during anterior plating of the distal radius, the length of a screw above which there is a risk for the extensor tendons and the optimal shape of an anterior plate. It was also to determine the projection of the axis of the distal third of the radius on the distal articular surface in case of wrist arthroplasty in order to simplify the procedure. METHODS: We studied 74 dry radii from adult cadavers. Each one underwent a CT scan. We measured the thickness of each radius at the dorsal tubercle level, at the second compartment level and at the third compartment level. We calculated the metaphyseal-epiphyseal angles of the lateral column and of the intermediate column (Rikli and Regazzoni in J Bone Joint Surg (Br) 78(4):588-592, 1996). We also calculated the projection of the longitudinal axis of the most distal 7 cm of the radius on the distal carpal surface of the radius. RESULTS: Mean thickness at the dorsal tubercle level was 22.1 mm (18-26.1). The mean slope of the lateral column was 155° (143-167) while that of the intermediate column was 145° (134-153). We have found a statistically significant difference (p < 0.0001) between these two slopes. The axis of the distal radius was projected on the posterior-lateral quadrant of the distal articular surface. CONCLUSIONS: The emergence of new implants needs a precise evaluation of a fractured, an arthritic or a reconstructed distal radius. The double slope of the distal radius complicates the manufacturing of an "anatomical" plate. The optimal shape is between these two slopes. Moreover, ancillaries for wrist replacement are still approximations, which means that it is important to know the projection of the radial axis on the articular surface of the distal radius.

[Avulsion fractures of the greater trochanter in children: two cases, review of the literature and proposition for a classification]. / Décollement épiphysaire du grand trochanter de l'enfant et proposition d'une classification. A propos de deux cas et revue de la littérature.

Avulsion fractures of the greater trochanter are very rare in children. We report two such cases which led to femoral head necrosis. Based on these two cases and an extensive review of the literature, we discuss the pathophysiology of this complication and propose a new classification system. Three types of lesions can be identified as a function of the mechanism causing fracture. Type 1 lesions are avulsion fractures of the greater trochanter secondary to acute contraction of the gluteus muscles. This contraction produces a vertical displacement of the greater trochanter. Femoral head necrosis has never been reported as a complication after this type of fracture mechanism. Type 2 avulsion fractures are associated with fracture of the femoral neck with a subsequent risk of femoral head necrosis. Type 3 associates hip dislocation with apophyseal avulsion with, according to the literature, an inevitable progression to head necrosis. The two cases reported look identical with those described by Linhart and Kawenblum illustrate type 3 avulsion fractures of the greater trochanter.

[Use of distally based intermetacarpal flaps to cover dorsal traumatic defects of the middle fingers]. / L'utilisation du lambeau dorsal intermétacarpien a contrario pour couvrir les pertes de substances traumatiques dorsales des doigts longs.

INTRODUCTION: The presence of distal intermetacarpal anastomoses between dorsal and palmar vascular networks makes it possible to dissect and isolate Distally Based Dorsal Hand (DBDH) flaps. Quaba and Davidson first described this possibility. The purpose of this paper is to report our experience using the DBDH flap to reconstruct complicated defects of the long fingers. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We are reporting our experience in eight cases (seven performed in emergency) where such a flap was used to cover dorsal traumatic skin defects of the long fingers. The average age was 40.3 years, ranging from 25 to 67 years. All the patients were males, seven of them had a job at the time of injury and the last one had already retired when injured. RESULTS: All the eight flaps survived, sometimes with minor complications. Only one case developed a whole-thickness distal necrosis treated successfully by regular dressings. In one case, a Z-plasty was performed to correct a retraction in the 2nd web-space two months after surgery. DISCUSSION: Many flaps have been described to cover dorsal skin defects in the fingers. All of them display some advantages and some disadvantages. The use of this flap allows coverage of vast skin defects and thereby early finger mobilisation. The surgical technique is rather easy, and it does not require microsurgical experience. Skin grafting to cover donor site is not always necessary.

Irreducible dorsal dislocation of the interphalangeal joint of the thumb due to the palmar plate. A case report.

Dorsal dislocation of the thumb interphalangeal joint is rare. Only very few cases of irreducible dislocation has been reported at this joint. The authors report a case of compound irreducible dislocation due to the palmar plate interposition. The sesamoid, the flexor pollicis longus have been reported to block reduction of the dorsal dislocation of the thumb interphalangeal joint doctors on casualities should not insist if reduction is not easily obtained, the patient should then be guide towards a surgical team for surgical treatment.

[Massive osteolysis : two cases displaying extreme clinical aspects]. / L'ostéolyse massive idiopathique : les aspects extrêmes de deux observations.

We have come across two cases of massive osteolysis showing completely opposite clinical aspects. The first case is a young man aged 28 showing osteolysis of the distal third of the right ulna. His disease was discovered after performing X-rays for minor trauma of the right forearm. He had never complained of his arm before and he only displayed a loss of 45° in pronation. We noted that osteolysis could already be seen on X-ray at plaster removal after 45 days of immobilisation, although the osteolysis was not noticed on the first X-rays.The second case concerns a 17-year-old man who was known to have a massive osteolysis of the pelvis ring and who had used a wheel-chair from the age of 8. While hospitalized for a severe infection of the testicles and scrotum, he developped a recurrent chylothorax that required surgical pleurodesis. This young man displayed no radiological evidence of this disease above the pelvis.A review of the literature allows us to clarify the still obscure pathogenic aspects of massive osteolysis, its classification, the different forms that may be encountered and the keys to diagnosis. The authors caution against aggressive treatment in certain areas where the disease remains benign.

[Reflections on 4 cases of ante-lunar carpal luxations]. / Réflexions à propos de quatre observations de luxations antélunaires du carpe.

Over the past 20 years, 4 cases of ante-lunate carpal dislocation have been treated in the Traumatology and Orthopaedics Department of Besançon. During this same period, 61 cases of retro-lunate dislocation have also been treated. Ante-lunate dislocations are very rare lesions as confirmed by a review of the literature. Our cases do not illustrate the mechanisms of such injuries since 3 cases involved patients with multiple injuries Clinical symptoms may be very minor in children in whom such injuries may easily be overlooked. A thorough interpretation of X-rays is necessary for diagnosis in adults. All 4 cases showed a fracture of the lunate in a frontal plane (factor of instability). Such an instable lesion justifies either internal osteosynthesis or percutaneous trans-articular pinning when rigid internal fixation is impossible. However, in all cases in which the lesion was treated surgically, the capsular plane was not disrupted. Retrospectively, such a finding contraindicates an open surgical approach. Relationships between such dislocations and isolated fractures of the lunate are discussed. The prognosis is mainly determined by early diagnosis and management rather than the type of treatment itself.

Closed traumatic rupture of the ring finger flexor tendon pulley.

We report an unusual case of closed traumatic rupture of the ring finger flexor tendon pulley not previously reported in the literature. This injury occurred in a 21-year-old athlete during rockclimbing. Lack of flexion of the distal interphalangeal joint was accompanied by a palpable subcutaneous cord on the palmar side of the proximal phalanx. A simple repair of the pulley was done. The postoperative functional result was satisfactory.

The treatment of avulsion fractures of the tibial tuberosity in adolescent athletes.

Avulsion fractures of the tibial tuberosity occur mainly during sport activities and are closely related to the strains exerted on the anterior tibial tuberosity by the extension complex of the thigh. A knowledge of the mechanical aspects of these avulsions may improve understanding of the mechanisms of such injuries. In such avulsion fractures, tensile forces due to the contraction of the quadriceps complex overcome the cohesive forces within the apophyseal cartilage. A 1-month cast immobilisation on an extended knee gives good results in the management of nondisplaced fractures. In minor displacements, such immobilisations follow closed external reductions. Open reductions and stable screw fixations precede a 3-week immobilisation for displaced fractures. Long term results are regularly good in well-managed cases.

[Spiroid fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine]. / Les fractures spiroïdes du rachis dorsal et lombaire.

The review of our observations of fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine (588 files could be used from 1969 to 1989) allowed us to demonstrate fractures not included in the usual classification. In our opinion, the fracture line is spiral. The mechanism therefore includes a very likely axial rotation. The fracture line may be confined to the vertebral body (this is the type called S1) or extends to the posterior arch as well (S2 type). The fractures often cause nerve root lesions. However, no complications involving the cord were noted in our series, even in the few cases showing considerable displacement. Note the tendency to axial telescoping of the focus, which requires specific modalities of treatment.

Fractures of the proximal end of the radius associated with other traumatic lesions of the upper limb. A report of seventy-three cases.

Closed isolated fractures of the radial head should be considered and managed in a different way from those associated with other traumatic lesions of the upper extremity. The recommended treatment for the radial head is early motion, with or without internal fixation or arthroplasty. For this to be achieved, surgical fixation of most of the associated fractures, and surgical repair of serious damage to capsular and ligamentous structures, should be performed. Indications are proposed, according to the results of a series of 73 cases which are compared with our series of 168 observations on isolated radial head fractures.