The pedicled groin flap in resurfacing hand burn scar release and other injuries: a five-case series report and review of the literature.

XX.

XX.

Traumatisme de la main par injection a haute pression.

Traumas to the hand due to high-pressure injection are relatively rare and therefore not well known to practitioners. Lesions, depending on the product injected and the injection site, can have serious aesthetic and functional sequelae. Treatment is based on surgery, antibiotic therapy and early and specific rehabilitation. We report our experience and a literature overview.

Epidemiology of nosocomial fungal infections in the National Center for Burns in Casablanca, Morocco.

Fungal infection is a leading cause of death in burns patients and incurs significant costs for burn units. Our aim was to determine epidemiology of these infections, and analyze risk factors in the burns intensive care unit of the National Center for Burns and Plastic Surgery at Ibn-Rochd University Hospital, Casablanca. It is a retrospective review of all patients admitted from 2011-2014 who developed cultures positive for fungal organisms. Criteria for nosocomial fungal infections were those of the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta (1988, revised 1992, 2004). Microbiological surveillance was carried out daily. Patient demographic data, % TBSA, type of infection, site(s), species and number of cultures, and risk factors for fungal infections were collected. Mean age of patients was 24.5 +/- 27.3 years; 63% were female. Mean % TBSA was 30.7 +/- 23.4%, and % FTSA was 21.7 +/- 20.1%. Injury due to flame was most common (82%), followed by scald (10%), contact (4%), electrical (3%) and chemical (1%). Incidence of nosocomial fungal infection was 10%. The fungal pathogen most frequently isolated was Candida albicans (65.7%), followed by other Candida species (18.6%). Aspergillus spp was present in 3.9% and was statistically associated with mortality (3.2%) and morbidity. In our study, risk factors for these infections were mostly degree of burn (mean TBSA = 30.7%) and prolonged broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. These two factors were associated with a higher incidence of multiple positive cultures, and significantly increased mortality (21.6%). Amphotericin B and fluconazole were the most frequently used antifungal agents. Fungi are emerging as important nosocomial pathogens. The main clinical implications are thinking faster about fungi infections and being more careful with antibiotic prescriptions.

Les infections fongiques sont une cause majeure de mortalité chez les brûlés et en augmente significativement le coût de prise en charge. Cette étude a pour buts de déterminer l'épidémiologie et d'analyser les facteurs de risque de leur survenue dans le centre national des brûlés de l'hôpital Ibn-Roch de Casablanca. Il s'agit d'une revue rétrospective des patients hospitalisés entre 2011 et 2014 ayant eu des cultures fongiques positives. Les critères de définition d'une infection fongique nosocomiale (IFN) étaient ceux du CDC d'Atlanta de 1988, révisés en 1992 et 2004. La surveillance microbiologique était journalière. Les données démographiques, la surface atteinte, le type et le (les) sites de l'infection, l'espèce, le nombre de cultures positives on été colligés. Les facteurs de risque de survenue d'une IFN ont été analysés. L'âge était de 25,4 +/- 27,3 ans, 63% des patients étaient des femmes. La surface brûlée était de 30,7 +/- 23,4% dont 21,7 +/- 20,1% profond. Les brûlures par flammes étaient les plus fréquentes (82%), suivies des ébouillantements et des brûlures par contact. L'incidence des IFN était de 10%. Candida albicans y était l'espèce la plus largement représentée (65,7%), suivie par 18,6% de « Candida non albicans ¼. Aspergillus spp étaient retrouvés dans 3,9% des cas et clairement associés à la mortalité et la morbidité. Les facteurs de risque étaient essentiellement la surface brûlée et l'antibiothérapie à large spectre prolongée. Ils étaient associés à un plus grand nombre de cultures positives multiples et à une surmortalité (21,6%). L'amphotéricine B et le fluconazole étaient les antifongiques les plus prescrits. Les champignons devenant des agents fréquents d'infections nosocomiales, il est nécessaire d'y songer rapidement et de limiter les prescriptions d'antibiotiques.

Épidémiologie des brûlures de la main chez les enfants vus dans le Centre National des Brûlés et de Chirurgie Plastique de Casablanca, Maroc.

Hand burns in children are common and may lead to debilitating sequelae. Therefore, full functional restoration of the hand is the goal of treatment. To assess the epidemiological, clinical and development aspects of the burns, we conducted a retrospective study over 4 years, from January 2011 to January 2015. It evaluated 313 children suffering from burns and treated at the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit of Ibn Richd Teaching Hospital in Casablanca. Most patients were aged 3-6 years (70%), with a slight male predominance. Scalds accounted for 62% of the causes of burns, flames 33% and electricity 4.5%. Chemical and contact-related burns were anecdotal (1 case of each). Seventy-two per cent of the patients had partial thickness burns, which healed spontaneously. Awareness of and education on these accidents should be part of the school curriculum in order to reduce the incidence of burns in childhood.

[Epidemiology of burns in Marrakech: 152 cases considered]. / Profil épidémiologique des brûlés à Marrakech: à propos de 152 cas.

This paper is a retrospective epidemiological study of 152 burn patients hospitalized between 2006 and 2008. The patients were aged less than 20 years in 65% of cases. The sex ratio (m/f) was 1.18/1. A thermal origin was responsible in 84% of the cases. Flame was the cause in 56% of cases. The average burned body surface area was 28% and second-degree burns were the most frequent. In our study, the face and the neck were the body area most frequently involved. Prevention continues to be the best weapon to combat this problem, for which objective several measures are proposed.

[Epidemiological profile of children burns admitted at the National Center for Brules, Morocco]. / Profil epidemiologique des brulures d'enfants admis au Centre National des Brules, Maroc.

This retrospective study was performed in order to analyse the epidemiology and aetiology of 543 cases of paediatric burns and to determine the elements that might have contributed to their prevention, which remains the treatment of choice for this pathology. The paediatric hospitalization rate for burns was 45.7% (mean age, 4.25 yr), the highest proportion of patients (42.5%) being in the 1-5 yr age group. The male/female ratio in all age groups was 1.7/1. The environment where burn injury most commonly occurred was the home (85.1%), and with accidental causes, accounting for 96.5% of the causes (mainly liquids, 69.3%). The mean percentage of burned body surface area was 21% with a total burned body surface area of ≥ 20% in 52.3% of cases. The upper limbs (79.1%) were the most affected body site; and the children were referred from other hospitals in more than 6 h in 65.5% of cases. The mortality rate was 13.2%

[Not Available]. / Chirurgie Plastique des Sequelles de Brulures de la Main. Experience du Centre National des Brules, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Casablanca.

Burns sequelae in the hand are frequent and various, ranging from the aesthetic and functional to the simple and complex. We report our experience of five years of burns sequelae treatment at the National Burns and Plastic Surgery Centre in the University Hospital Centre in Casablanca, Morocco. Our survey concerned 65 patients aged 2 to 70 years (45 men and 20 women) on whom we performed a total number of 143 surgical operations in 105 hands. The sequelae were located in the back of the hand in 57 cases, followed by the commissures in 43 cases. Various reconstruction methods were used, notably skin graft (58 cases) and local flaps (32 cases). We assessed the patients' level of satisfaction with the results achieved using the different methods and found that, with regard to skin graft, 94% were satisfied with the results achieved in the back of the hand, 90% with the local flaps in the first commissure, and 95% with distance flaps. With regard to reconstruction of the thumb, 100% of the patients treated with pollicization of a finger declared their satisfaction and 75% of those treated with transfer of the second toe.

[Sturge--Weber-Klippel--Trenaunay syndrome (case report)]. / Syndrome de Sturge-Weber--Klippel-Trenaunay (une observation).

INTRODUCTION: Sturge-Weber syndrome is characterized by capillary malformations in the face, associated with leptomeningeal and choroidal venous malformations. Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome consists of the triad: capillary malformation of one leg, ipsilateral hypertrophy and varicose veins. OBSERVATION: We report the case of a 23-year-old male patient who presented a complex congenital neurocutaneous syndrome with vascular malformations involving the brain, face and limbs and associated with epilepsia and leptomeningeal calcifications. The patient fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of both vascular phacomatosis syndromes. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Similar descriptions of dual or overlapping syndromes have been published. Many show that there is no clear distinction between Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome and Sturge-Weber syndrome. There is a clinical and biological overlap. The complexity of the disease phenotypes shows that a classification based on an eponymous category does not enable resolution of the nosological problems. Some authors suggest that these vascular malformations are best described in anatomical/histological or functional terms. We report a new observation that illustrates these difficulties.

[Intertoe space cutaneous epidermoid carcinoma]. / Carcinome épidermoïde interorteil.

BACKGROUND: Localisation of epidermoid carcinoma in the intertoe space is very rare. We report a case occurring in a setting of chronic intertoe intertrigo. CASE: A 66 year-old woman presenting intertoe intertrigo for 30 years consulted for painful ulceration of the 3rd intertoe space of the left foot present for 4 years and refractory to antifungal treatment. The examination revealed ulceration with infiltrated edges occupying the entire 3rd intertoe space, with no satellite adenopathy. Histological examination of the skin biopsy sample revealed epidermoid carcinoma. Wide excision of the lesion was performed with a safety margin of 5 mm, with removal of the 3rd and 4th left toes. The outcome was favourable with no relapse after 12 months. DISCUSSION: A single publication reported a series of 22 cases of intertoe epidermoid carcinoma in which the key aetiological feature of tumour was continual maceration. In this patient, maceration was maintained by a number of factors, including cultural factors: ritual ablutions performed 5 times daily, with no drying of the intertoe spaces, and domestic cleaning involving large quantities of water several times weekly.

[The Marjolin's ulcer, destiny of a unstable scar. About 54 cases of burn's sequelae]. / L'ulcère de Marjolin, destinée d'une cicatrice instable. A propos de 54 cas de séquelles de brûlure.

Through a study of 54 cases of malignant transformation on burn's scar, collected during a period of 8 years, the authors underline the particularities of this tumor, reported at the literature such as the preponderance of spinocellular carcinoma as histological type, the high rate of lymphatic metastasis and recurrence, and also the poor prognosis. In addition, the authors underline the non-rare character of this affection, whose incidence is correlated to the level of medication; it's occurring in younger patients, and its short delay of transformation. The treatment is based on prevention by a correct management of the initial burns, the cure of any instable scar, and a regular surveillance. The biopsy should be realised in case of suspicion of degeneration. The radical treatment must be initially aggressive, consisting on large excision associated eventually to radiotherapy. This treatment must be integrated in an elaborating therapeutic strategy, taking on consideration the evolutive potentiality of these tumors in order to improve chances of recovery and survival.

[The use of preputial skin as cutaneous graft after circumcision. Report of 30 clinical cases]. / Utilisation de la peau préputiale comme greffon cutané après circoncision. A propos de 30 cas cliniques.

Through a study of 30 clinical cases, collected at the service center of plastic surgery and burns in Averroes University hospital at Casablanca, the authors underline the interest of using preputial skin as full-thickness skin graft for the treatment of burns and their sequelaes in non-circumcised boys, whose age ranged from one to four years. At this age, they are more exposed to domestic accidents. The preputial skin graft gives the advantage of the absence of scare prejudice at the donor site each time the circumcision is possible; and provides a skin of good elastic quality avoiding secondary retraction with a very favorable rate of graft intake. Although the application of this technique for other affections is possible, but remains limited by the hyperpigmentation of the graft.

[Air tissue expansion, as an alternative to physiologic serum expansion: report of 30 cases]. / L'expansion cutanée à l'air, alternative à l'expansion au sérum physiologique: à propos de 30 cas.

There has been a renewed interest in cutaneous expansion as a plastic surgery procedure. Complications and failures remain considerable despite a more adequate and standardized technique. Based on a study of 30 cases of cutaneous expansion for burns sequelae, the authors emphasize the value of using air instead of physiological saline as filling medium, to reduce the negative repercussions on quality and quantity of cutaneous gain, related to the increasing weight of the prosthesis, even for large and possibly repeated expansion volumes.

[Cancer of the rectum in young adults. Apropos of 38 cases]. / Les cancers du rectum de l'adulte jeune. A propos de 38 observations.

This retrospective study is based upon 38 cases of rectal carcinomas occurring in young individuals aged under 25, collected during the 15 year period from January 1978 to December 1993. The mean age of the patients was 23 (range: 14 to 25), with a gender ratio of 2.1. Histology revealed a well differentiated adenocarcinoma in 12 cases, a moderately or slightly differentiated and undifferentiated carcinoma in 14 cases, a colloid carcinoma in 10 cases and a villous tumor with malignant change in 2 cases. Curative surgical excision was possible in only 11 patients. Sixteen patients underwent a palliative procedure, while 12 refused surgery. No treatment was proposed to 3 patients with visceral metastases. Only 11 patients could be followed up, with a mean 5-year survival rate of 10%. The prognosis of rectal carcinoma in young individuals is poor because of late diagnosis at an advanced stage and the aggressive histologic forms encountered.

[Scrotal reconstruction after necrotizing cellulitis of the perineum and external genital organs. Apropos of 21 cases]. / La reconstruction scrotal après cellulite nécrosante du périnée et des organes génitaux externes. A propos de vingt et un cas.

The author report twenty one cases of tissue reconstruction defects secondary to necrotizing cellulitis of perineum and external genital organs, treated at the burns and plastic surgery unit of CHU Ibn Rochd of Casablanca, between 1992 and 1994. Depending on the extent of the defect, the techniques used were gracilis musculocutaneous flap in 8 cases, thigh fasciocutaneous flap in 7 cases, groin flap in 4 cases, simple skin sutures and skin grafts in one case, respectively. The morphological results were satisfactory. The mean hospital stay after reconstruction was 15 days.

[Fatal hepatic necrosis during treatment with sodium valproate]. / Nécrose hépatique mortelle au cours d'un traitement par le valproate de sodium.

The authors report a case of fatal hepatic failure in a 19-year old young man suffering from absence seizures and treated for two months with valproic acid (VPA). The duration of VPA therapy before onset of clinical manifestations was four weeks. The prodromal symptoms were weakness, anorexia, and vomiting, then in a few weeks occurred a jaundice and an hepatic encephalopathy leading to death. Among laboratory findings disturbance of liver tests and particularly depressed levels of clotting factors were observed. The histologic study of the liver showed an extended centrolobular necrosis associated with fatty change and fibrosis. The mechanism of this hepatic failure remains unknown. The seriousness of this complication necessitates to respect any contraindications.

[Preventive treatment of hemodynamic disorders during conventional spinal anesthesia]. / Traitement préventif des perturbations hémodynamiques au cours de la rachianesthésie conventionannelle.

The prevention of blood pressure fall during a conventional spinal anaesthesia effected with 20 mg (4 ml) of isobaric 0.5 p. 100 bupivacaine relies on the use of vascular filling and/or a vasoconstrictor. A randomized prospective study was performed to evaluate the comparative efficacy of these two treatments. 148 patients were included and divided into three groups. Group I (n = 50): 2.5 mg IV bolus of etilefrine followed by continuous infusion (0.35 mg.kg-1.h-1). Group II (n = 50): 30 ml.kg-1 infusion of saline isotonic solution for 90 min, with infusion rate according to blood pressure. Group III (n = 48) did not receive any preventive treatment. A blood pressure fall of more than 30% of the initial value was observed in 59 patients: 18% of the etilefrine group, 28% of the saline infusion group, 54% of the control group. This peculiar frequency of hypotension in the control group emphasizes the need of a preventive treatment. Haemodynamic changes were fewer and less important in the etilefrine group compared with the saline infusion group. No failure and a better tolerance in the vasoconstrictor group were also to be noticed. These clinical data suggest that etilefrine could meet satisfactorily the therapeutic requirements.