VAC® therapy a therapeutic alternative in giant omphalocele treatment: a multicenter study.

Giant omphalocele is associated to morbidity and mortality because of the strain the reintegrated herniated mass places on the hemodynamic equilibrium and breathing functions of affected infants. Currently, care management consists in a reintegration in one time or progressive reintegration. We report here a multicenter retrospective study about alternative management by VAC® therapy for giant omphaloceles. The study included three patients (1 girl, 2 boys) presenting with giant omphaloceles, born at full term in three different University Hospitals (prenatal diagnosis, normal karyotype). VAC® therapy was implemented at different times according to the cases (at Day 11, Month 1 and Month 5 after birth). The initial pressure applied was -10 mmHg progressively increased to -50 mmHg. A middle size VAC GranuFoam Silver® Dressing was used in all cases. Wound healing occurred at Month 4 for the first case, Month 6 and Month 8 for the other two. VAC® therapy is a good alternative for the care management of giant omphaloceles with more advantages especially when using prosthetic material. We also aimed at refining the most adapted indications in these specific situations, and finally we envisioned a harmonization of care for these children.

Use of cutaneous flap for continent cystostomy (daoud technique).

PURPOSE: We present the results of a new technique using a pedicled cutaneous flap for continent cystostomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 15 boys and 8 girls (mean +/- SD age 13.4 +/- 6.4 years) underwent continent cystostomy for neurogenic bladder (20), bladder exstrophy (2) and sequelae of hypospadias (1) between 1999 and 2008. In this procedure a rectangular pedicled flap is surgically elevated from a hairless area on the abdomen. The flap is tubularized and passed through the anterior abdominal wall directly into the bladder. A submucosal detrusor incision is made to expose the bladder mucosa, and the distal part of the flap is anastomosed to the bladder mucosa in a circular manner. The tube is positioned along the incised detrusor, which is closed over. Viability of the flap, self-catheterization management and continence status are then evaluated. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD followup was 4.5 +/- 3.1 years. There was 1 case of distal necrosis of the flap, which required a secondary surgery using the Mitrofanoff technique. The 22 remaining flaps were initially viable, although 2 patients were eventually lost to followup and 3 subsequently presented with false-passage incidents requiring a few days of calibration using a balloon catheter. Dryness was achieved immediately in 73% of the cases. After adding a complementary bulking agent the dryness rate reached 77%. CONCLUSIONS: We present a novel approach to continent cystostomy that is safe and easy to perform. This technique is a less invasive and more efficient alternative to other commonly used approaches.

Severe slipped capital femoral epiphysis: the Dunn's operation.

INTRODUCTION: Severe slipped capital femoral epiphysis inevitably results into arthritis, making surgical recovery of normal anatomy an attractive objective. This can be achieved by the procedure described by Dunn. However, all published studies report a risk of avascular necrosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present series assembles 25 adolescent cases aged 10 to 15 years. There were 16 cases of chronic pure displacement with several months' evolution, including nine exacerbated by an acute accident. In all cases, epiphyseal slippage was severe, between 60 degrees and 90 degrees. Postoperative traction was systematic, for 15 to 21 days. As of 1979, bone scan was prescribed 2 weeks postsurgery to study femoral head vascularization. RESULTS: Reduction was anatomic, except in two cases in which the epiphysis was fixed, respectively in caput valgum and in 15 degrees varus. There were 15 good results, with clinically and radiologically normal hips, but also 10 immediate or late complications: i.e., a complications rate of 40%. The eight immediate complications (32%) comprised four necroses (16%), two of which rapidly evolved into arthritis, three chondrolyses, which all evolved into arthritis, and one mechanical complication. At less than 10 years' FU, two arthrodeses and three hip replacements were required. At long-term FU, there were two further late deteriorations, despite initial favorable clinical and X-ray outcomes. DISCUSSION: In theory, the procedure described by Dunn limits the vascular risk of the displacement correction. It does, however, involve certain tricky technical points: trochanterotomy may be excessive or insufficient; posterior cervical periosteal detachment may be aggressive; and the periosteum may be too tight during the reduction. In all series studying Dunn's operation, such risk of necrotic complication is reported, at rates up to 17%. The present series had a 16% rate of necrosis which, associated with chondrolysis, caused immediate loss of joint function--unacceptable, in our view, in adolescent patients. A direct approach to the displacement, after arthrotomy, with associated anterior cuneiform neck resection, corrects the slippage while avoiding the risky first two steps of Dunn's procedure, and is our current approach of choice.

[Management of Lagrange and Rigault stage IV extension type supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children]. / Prise en charge des fractures supracondyliennes en extension stade IV de Lagrange et Rigault.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Lagrange and Rigault stage IV extension type supracondylar fracture of the humerus (Gartland and Wilkins type III) involves major displacement, making treatment difficult. Several therapeutic methods have been described but indications vary considerably between teams. We conducted a retrospective analysis in order to evaluate the results of different methods, identify the most adapted technique, and detail the conditions necessary for good results with the collar and cuff immobilization method described by Blount. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-four children (30 boys and 14 girls), mean age seven years six months, were treated between January 1990 and December 2001. The collar and cuff immobilization technique was used for sixteen children (including four who underwent open revision for early secondary displacement), percutaneous pinning for two, and open crossed pinning for thirty (including four who developed secondary displacement after collar and cuff immobilization). One out of two collar and cuff treatments was instituted within six hours of injury. The four secondary displacements after collar and cuff immobilization treatment occurred after fracture reduction more than six hours after injury. The proportion of open reductions increased with longer delay to reduction after injury. Mean immobilization was three and a half weeks. The Flynn criteria were used to assess outcome at mean seven years eight months follow-up. RESULTS: Outcome was satisfactory in all children treated with definitive collar and cuff immobilization and by percutaneous pinning; the rate was 97% after open procedures (persistent sequelae of radial palsy in one child). DISCUSSION: Early treatment before six hours increased the chances of success with the collar and cuff method which remains the technique of choice for Lagrange and Rigault stage IV extension type supracondylar fractures. In the event of failure or complications, other classical methods should be discussed, including percutaneous pinning or direct access for open osteosynthesis.

[Percutaneous rotational osteoclasis in management of congenital radio-ulnar synostosis]. / Ostéotomies percutanées de dérotation de l'avant-bras dans les synostoses radio-ulnaires congénitales de l'enfant.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Congenital radio-ulnar synostosis blocks the wrist in a position of more or less pronounced pronation. The degree of pronation and possible bilateral involvement can compromise upper limb function. We propose percutaneous osteoclasis of the antebrachial skeleton to remedy this situation PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed 12 percutaneous rotation osteoclasis procedures. The objective was to weaken the metaphysodiaphyseal cortical periosteum of one or both of the forearm bones by intermittent perforations. This enabled derotation of the wrist which was maintained for six to eight weeks in a brachiopalmar cast. RESULTS: Mean correction of pronation was 51 degrees. There were no cases of vascular or nervous complications and healing was uneventful. The esthetic outcome was very satisfactory. DISCUSSION: Surgery is not indicated for all cases of synostosis. We retain for surgery patients presenting pronation at 60 degrees or more. At this degree of pronation, function is greatly compromised in adolescence, particularly if there is a bilateral involvement. Compared with other techniques, percutaneous osteoclasis is a simple safe and reliable technique. Reoperation is not required to remove material. The procedure is easier in young children, preferably at the age of 3 to 7 years, before the development of a functional handicap.

[Capsular shift for voluntary dislocation of the shoulder: results in children]. / Capsulorraphie dans les instabilités volontaires de l'épaule: résultats chez l'enfant et l'adolescent.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Chronic shoulder instability is uncommon in patients with an immature skeleton. Some of these pediatric patients can produce their dislocation voluntarily raising the question of the traumatic or constitutional nature of the condition as well as its direction and tolerance. We report our experience with 29 patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Over a period of 28 years, 29 children aged 5 to 15 years were treated for voluntary shoulder dislocation. The dislocation was painful and poorly tolerated in 19, affecting daily life and sports activities. Posterior dislocation was observed in 15 patients and anterior dislocation in 4, but the direction was not always easy to establish, particularly in children with ligament laxity; multiple directions were not uncommon. Rehabilitation for at least eight months did not relieve pain in 11 patients who had a sensation of a blocked, unreliable shoulder which could not be controlled voluntarily. Posterior capsulorrhaphy was performed in 8 patients and anterior capsulorrhaphy in 3. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 8 years. At last follow-up, all shoulders were stable and shoulder motion was normal with no loss of function. More than half of the children had resumed sports activities. Capsulorrhaphy was proposed when the pre-operative explorations did not reveal any bone or rim anomaly. The only preoperative finding in the operated patients was increased capsule volume, particularly in the inferior portion. Intraoperatively, ulceration of the humeral cartilage was found in two patients. Anatomic reconstruction of the capsuloligamentary structures enabled recovery of passive stability and active stability of the scapulohumeral joint, preventing further voluntary dislocation.

Tracheobronchial injury by blunt trauma in children: is emergency tracheobronchoscopy always necessary?

PURPOSE: To discuss the usefulness of CT scan in initial management of well tolerated tracheobronchial injuries and the place of tracheoscopy. METHODS: We report our experience of three cases treated for tracheobronchial rupture resulting from three different mechanisms and review the literature. Three boys, aged 4 to 10 years, were referred to our institution for tracheobronchial rupture. Two of them presented with subcutaneous emphysema after a minor trauma, the third was a polytrauma referred after a severe car crash and was already intubated. We emphasise the importance of an initial CT scan, as this allowed us twice to confirm the tracheal wound prior to tracheoscopy. We discuss the necessity of performing a tracheoscopy in the case of a well tolerated lesion, as this procedure clearly worsened the ventilatory state in one of our cases. Moreover, one of our cases illustrates the fact that even a minor trauma can lead to life-threatening respiratory distress. All the lesions observed in our study were linear and were managed by thoracic drainage; they were then closely monitored and required no further surgical procedure. CONCLUSION: Tracheobronchial rupture in children can result from minor cervical traumas and in such cases special attention must be paid to mild discomfort or subcutaneous emphysema on admission. Initial CT scan can be very helpful in visualising the level of the rupture and its consequences with respect to the pulmonary parenchyma. One can question the necessity for tracheoscopy in well tolerated lesion, as its results do not always improve the therapeutic outcome.

[Treatment of hip dislocations and subluxations by Petit's splints]. / Traitement des luxations et subluxations de hanche par attelles de Petit.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The management of DDH in infants less than one year old is not yet definite. Many ambulant therapeutic methods are described and Pavlik's harness is widely employed. The use of Petit's splints is less well known and we report our experience with 169 cases. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between 1973 and 1991, Petit's splints were used in 112 cases, following abduction cushions in 55 cases and after Pavlik's harness in 2 cases. 103 hips were dislocated but reducible. This permitted progressive abduction of the hips in order to obtain the reduction of the dislocation and to ensure stabilization by retraction of the slack articular capsule. RESULTS: Only 8 dislocations (4,7 per cent) couldn't be reduced by this procedure and necessitated another treatment. Hips were normal after 5 years of follow up in 118 cases and there were 43 residual dysplasias. 6 post reductional avascular necrosis (3,7 per cent) were recorded as a complication of this method among which only one was a serlous from. DISCUSSION: This ambulatory method for treatment of congenital hip dislocation seems to be forsaken by many authors. Nevertheless its effectiveness has been demonstrated with a complication rate lower than with Pavlik's harness procedure.