Reconstructive surgery for sequellae of Mycobacterium ulcerans infection (Buruli ulcer) of the upper limb.

INTRODUCTION: Infection by Mycobacterium ulcerans constitutes a neglected tropical disease whose prevalence seems to have overrun those of cutaneous tuberculosis and leprosy. Its aggressivity depends on a mycolactone toxin. Lesions may involve skin, tendon and bone with a large spectrum of manifestations: non-ulcerative (papules, nodules, plaques), ulcerative and oedematous presentations as well as osteomyelitis with muscular contraction and ankylosis. Upper limbs account for more than two thirds of the infection sites. Surgical treatment may involve tendon transpositions, partial and total skin grafts. Amputation is relegated to extreme cases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Selected iconography from patients during the last 15 years is presented. At least 1500 cases had partial skin grafts (anterior thigh). Total skin grafts (inguinal region) were used in about 200 cases. Complex lesions involved 9 ilioinguinal flaps (5 boys, 4 girls, mean age 11.2 years, range 2-16 years), 5 tendon transfers (4 boys, one girl, mean age 15.4 years, range 12-19 years) and 3 resections of the first carpal row (2 girls, 1 boy, mean age 8 years, range 4-15 years). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Out of 9 ilioinguinal flaps mild, marginal necrosis was the only complication in 2 patients without flap loss. Mean hospital stay was 26.44 days (range, 18-41 days), with return to full weight-bearing after a mean of 12 weeks (range 9-25 weeks) after discharge. Functional thumb opposition to allow pencil prehension was achieved in all three cases of resection of first carpal row resection without postoperative complications.

[Detection of the IS2404 insertion sequence and ketoreductase produced by Mycobacterium ulcerans in the aquatic Heteroptera in the health districts of Dabou and Tiassalé in Côte d'Ivoire]. / Mise en évidence de la séquence d'insertion IS2404 et de la kétoréductase (Kr) produite par Mycobacterium ulcerans chez les Hétéroptères aquatiques dans les districts sanitaires de Dabou et Tiassalé en Côte d'Ivoire.

Buruli ulcer (BU) disease, caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, is a major public health problem in Côte d'Ivoire. Until now, the mode of BU transmission was unknown, but recent studies implicate aquatic Heteroptera in the chain of transmission. This study was launched in Côte d'Ivoire to search for specific genetic markers for M. ulcerans in these bugs, including the insertion sequence IS2404 and ketoreductase (Kr), both involved in the synthesis of mycolactone, a toxin produced by these mycobacteria. Samples of aquatic Heteroptera were collected monthly with deep nets from ponds near villages in the health districts of Dabou and Tiassalé. After identification and enumeration of the bugs, batches of the same taxon underwent real-time PCR to search for the IS2404 target and Kr. Saliva of 69 specimens of Diplonychus sp randomly selected in the samples was also analyzed by PCR. In all, 283 single-taxon batches were created. Thus, PCR identified 26 batches belonging to the families of Belostomatidae, Naucoridae, Corixidae, Ranatridae, and Nepidae as positive for both targets. The IS2404 insertion sequence and Kr were present in 6 of the 69 samples analyzed in the saliva of Diplonychus sp. These aquatic Heteroptera suspected of infection by M. ulcerans might release it into the environment because of their ability to fly. They might thus be the source of human contamination.

[Treatment of Buruli ulcer desease by excision and skin graft]. / Traitement de l'ulcère de Buruli par excision-greffe: à propos de 118 observations.

INTRODUCTION: Buruli ulcer is the most common mycobacteria disease after leprosy and tuberculosis. The purpose of our study is to make our contribution to the surgical treatment of Buruli ulcer and to asses our results. METHOD: One hundred eighteen patients presenting progressive Buruli ulcers were operated on. The surgical procedure included excisions for necrotic lesions and grafts for clean wounds. The results were estimated on the time of hospitalization and appearance of complications. RESULTS: Seventy-three patients (62%) were subjected to excision followed by thin skin grafts and 35 patients (30%) were subjected to grafts only. The number of excision times varies from 1 to 7 per patient and from 1 to 4 for the skin grafts. All our patients heal within a period of 120 days with extremes going from 14 to 265 days. We deplored 26 complications (22%): eight new focus, seven infectious complications, six recurrences, five stiffnesses and ankyloses. CONCLUSION: The treatment of Buruli ulcer by excision and grafts is efficient but does not prevent recurrences and new focus from happening and for their prevention, it is necessary to discover pharmaceutical molecules that are efficient on Mycobacterium ulcerans.

[Plastic surgery treatment of Buruli ulcer sequelaes. A retrospective study of 16 patients]. / Les procédés de couverture cutanée dans le traitement des séquelles de l'ulcère de Buruli. A propos de 16 observations.

INTRODUCTION: Thirteen percents of the patients suffering from Buruli ulcer in Ivory Coast show sequels at a result of their spontaneous healing. The purpose of our study is to report and estimate the first series of the sequel treatment of Buruli ulcer, with standard reconstructive procedures used in plastic surgery. METHOD: Sixteen patients totalizing 18 sequels were classified into 2 groups:13 patients showed functional sequels in connection with cicaticial retractions about level with joints;3 patients showed aesthetic sequels with no repercussion on the functional aspect. The surgical treatment included for the functional sequels, the excision of the retractile scar, the restoration of the underlying structures followed by the coverage of the defect with skin grafts or muscle or musculo cutaneous flaps and for aesthetic sequels, the excision of the scar tissues and the coverage with full-thickness skin grafts. RESULTS: The results were considered good because the patients found an acceptable physical activity again that enable some of them to resume a professional activity and others a school activity. Motherless, a certain number of complications are to be deplored:1 case of distal necrosis of a skin flap autonomized which required excision and conducted healing but without repercussions on the functional result;1 residual edema about level with the fingers at the time of the covering of a hand with a groin flap;1 haematoma at the donar site of a full-thickness skin graft. CONCLUSION: Distance flaps are more advisable for hand sequels in Buruli ulcer considering the regional character of the disease and the necessity to preserve the main vascular axes about level with the hand. On the lower limb, autonomized skin flaps enable provide important tissue and preserve the major vascular axes of the lower limb.

[Survey of leprosy disabilities in patients treated with multiple drug therapy in Ivory Coast]. / Enquête sur les infirmités lépreuses chez les patients traités par la PCT en Côte d'Ivoire.

Between 1990 and 1995, twenty thousand cases of leprosy were treated with WHO recommended multiple drug therapy (MDT) in Ivory Coast. A disability survey was conducted in April 1996 with a half-randomized sample of five hundred patients. This survey showed that 28.73% of the patients had got grade two disabilities in WHO scale. 12.9% of the non disabled patients at detection had developed leprosy impairments during or after treatment. Plantar ulcers (12.2% of the patients) appeared very frequent comparatively to the findings of a similar survey in Burkina Faso in 1995 (0.9% of plantar ulcers). With these results, the authors estimated the needs for disabilities care to enable the reinforcement of the prevention of disabilities and physical rehabilitation (POD and PR) in Ivory Coast.