Impact of surgical first excision delay on function for heat-press hand injury by the Quick-DASH questionnaire: Series over 20 years.

BACKGROUND: Heat-press hand burn leads to complex and severe lesions, with potentiation of thermal burn by the crushing mechanism. Management remains poorly codified, and the surgical strategies found in the literature remain contradictory. The objective of our study is to report our experience and define the first burn excision delay through functional evaluation with a Quick-DASH questionnaire. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective study of 20 burned hands by heat-press managed in our burn unit between 2002 and 2021. Following data were collected, at least one year after the accident: Quick-DASH score, which was our primary endpoint, injury assessment according to the Tajima's classification, overall surgical management, and impact on their professional activity. A descriptive statistical analysis of these data was performed followed by a univariate analysis to assess the correlation between delay to first surgical excision and the long-term functional result (Quick-DASH score and time before return to work). RESULTS: Burns were Tajima grade 1 (supra-fascial dermal burn) in 35 % of cases, grade 2 (exposure of subfascial structures) in 45 % and grade 3 (bone or joint exposure) in 20 %. There were no cases of bone fractures. We received 18 out of 20 questionnaires with no significant differences between those who send back or not. The median QuickDash score was 7.15 [IQR 0-52.25]. The first surgical excision was performed with a median of 8 days after the accident [min: 0; max: 20]. The median time before return to work was 24 weeks [IQR 17-42.25]. Only 11 patients (55 %) were able to go on the initial employment. Spearman test found a strong trend for a negative correlation between the time to the first excision and the QuickDash score (ρ = -0.46; r2 = 0.087; p = 0.053). CONCLUSION: According to observations made in our unit and in agreement with Tajima, who first described heat-press injury, the first surgical excision should be performed approximately one week after the accident. Subsequent excisions may be performed to reassess the lesions and complete the debridement, with reconstruction to follow. Multidisciplinary management is still necessary, including early and intensive physiotherapy, psychological support, and assessment by an occupational physician.

[The de-epidermized sural flap: An original technique to increase the reliability of the neurocutaneous sural flap]. / Le lambeau sural désépidermisé : technique originale de fiabilisation du lambeau neurocutané sural.

BACKGROUND: The neurocutaneous sural flap is useful to cover defects of the distal quarter of the lower limb. Nevertheless, severe complications occur in 14% of the cases, and venous congestion is reported in 75% of these cases. This congestion can lead to total necrosis of the flap and a failure of the procedure. We describe a new surgical method aiming to reduce the risk of venous congestion occurrence and failure of the defect coverage. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We realized a retrospective study of patients who undergone a de-epidermized distally based neurocutaneous sural flap in our surgery department from 2015 to 2020. The following data were collected: sex, age, vascular risk factors, size of the wound, defect area, etiology, delay between the surgery of the flap and the split-thickness skin graft and complications. RESULTS: The cohort is composed of 5 cases. We reported no failure of the coverage of the defect. There were no cases of venous congestion. CONCLUSION: The de-epidermized distally based neurocutaneous sural flap could increase the reliability of these flaps by reducing the risk of venous congestion. A larger study comparing the classic technique to the de-epidermized sural flap could confirm these data on a greater number of cases and position this technique in the therapeutic arsenal.

Effect of cryotherapy on pain and analgesic consumption after wrist or thumb surgery.

Cryotherapy has demonstrated its efficacy in post-traumatic soft tissue pain, through its anti-inflammatory action. Its postoperative use has also been the topic of many studies and has now proved its efficacy in indications such as ligament or knee arthroplasty surgery. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of cryotherapy on pain and analgesic consumption after wrist or base of the thumb surgery. We prospectively included 60 patients from March 2017 to May 2018. All these patients had undergone wrist or base of the thumb surgery involving a bone procedure. Thirty patients were managed with cryotherapy (the Handfreez® splint), 30 patients were included in the control group with conventional immobilization. The data collected included a visual analogue scale (VAS), and analgesic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) consumption, both during the hospital stay and then at home for one week. The results from the two groups were compared. During the hospital stay, morphine consumption was significantly lower in the cryotherapy group (p = 0.04). At home, NSAID consumption was significantly lower in the cryotherapy group (p = 0.009). The VAS score was not significantly different between the two groups. In our study, we demonstrated the benefits of cryotherapy on consumption of analgesics and NSAIDs after bone surgery of the wrist or the base of the thumb.

Impact of the COVID-19 lockdown period on adult musculoskeletal injuries and surgical management: a retrospective monocentric study.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to the worldwide implementation of unprecedented public protection measures. On the 17th of March, the French government announced a lockdown of the population for 8 weeks. This monocentric study assessed the impact of this lockdown on the musculoskeletal injuries treated at the emergency department as well as the surgical indications. We carried out a retrospective study in the Emergency Department and the Surgery Department of Nantes University Hospital from 18 February to 11 May 2020. We collected data pertaining to the demographics, the mechanism, the type, the severity, and inter-hospital transfer for musculoskeletal injuries from our institution. We compared the 4-week pre-lockdown period and the 8-week lockdown period divided into two 4-week periods: early lockdown and late lockdown. There was a 52.1% decrease in musculoskeletal injuries among patients presenting to the Emergency Department between the pre-lockdown and the lockdown period (weekly incidence: 415.3 ± 44.2 vs. 198.5 ± 46.0, respectively, p < .001). The number of patients with surgical indications decreased by 33.4% (weekly incidence: 44.3 ± 3.8 vs. 28.5 ± 10.2, p = .048). The policy for inter-hospital transfers to private entities resulted in 64 transfers (29.4%) during the lockdown period. There was an increase in the incidence of surgical high severity trauma (Injury Severity Score > 16) between the pre-lockdown and the early lockdown period (2 (1.1%) vs. 7 (7.2%), respectively, p = .010) as well as between the pre-lockdown and the late lockdown period (2 (1.1%) vs. 10 (8.3%), respectively, p = .004). We observed a significant increase in the weekly emergency department patient admissions between the early and the late lockdown period (161.5 ± 22.9, 235.5 ± 27.7, respectively, p = .028). A pronounced decrease in the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries was observed secondary to the lockdown measures, with emergency department patient admissions being halved and surgical indications being reduced by a third. The increase in musculoskeletal injuries during the late confinement period and the higher incidence of severe trauma highlights the importance of maintaining a functional trauma center organization with an inter-hospital transfer policy in case of a COVID-19s wave lockdown.

Recovery after shoulder arthroscopy: Inpatient versus outpatient management.

INTRODUCTION: Shoulder arthroscopy is particularly suited to outpatient surgery, thanks to advances in anesthetic and analgesic techniques. The main goal of this study was to compare postoperative recovery after shoulder arthroscopy between outpatient and inpatient management. HYPOTHESIS: There is no difference in functional recovery between inpatient and outpatient management. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A single-center, single-operator prospective study was conducted. Both groups received patient-controlled analgesia via an interscalene catheter. The inclusion criterion was shoulder arthroscopy for rotator cuff tendinopathy. The choice between inpatient and outpatient management was left to the patient. The study endpoint was postoperative recovery assessed on QOR-15 at days 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 and on Quick-DASH at 6 weeks. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients were included, divided into 2 groups. The outpatient (OP) and inpatient (IP) groups were comparable. Reconstructive surgery accounted for 54% of cases in OP versus 62% in IP. There was no significant difference in recovery in the first postoperative days (QOR-15) or at 6 weeks (Quick-DASH) (p>0.05). Pain on visual analog scale (VAS) was significantly greater in OP after discharge home. DISCUSSION: No significant difference in postoperative recovery was observed between groups. Nevertheless, pain management and patient information for outpatients need improving. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II, comparative study.

Pectoralis Major Tear with Retracted Tendon: How to Fill the Gap? Reconstruction with Hamstring Autograft and Fixation with an Interference Screw.

Rupture of the pectoralis major tendon is considered an uncommon injury and a significant number of ruptures are missed or diagnosed late, leading to a chronic tear. We report an open reconstruction technique and its outcomes in a case of chronic and retracted PM tear. At the last follow-up (12 months), the patient was pain-free, with a visual analogic scale at 0 all the time. He was very satisfied concerning the cosmetic and clinical results. The constant score was 93%, the SST value 95%, and the Quick DASH score 4.5. MRI performed one year postoperatively confirmed the continuity between PM tendon and graft, even if the aspect of the distal tendon seemed to be thinner than normal PM tendon. The excellent clinical outcomes at one-year follow-up suggest that PM tear with major tendon retraction can be reliably reconstructed with hamstring autograft, using a bioabsorbable screw to optimize the fixation device. This technique has proven its simplicity and efficiency to fill the gap.

Subperitoneal approach in revision arthroplasty for acetabular component protrusion: Analysis of practices within the French Hip and Knee Society (SFHG).

INTRODUCTION: The complications related to revision for acetabular component protrusion with material migrating into the intrapelvic region remain rare but potentially serious. Today, the literature reports no epidemiological data on the subperitoneal approach (SPA) in revision total hip arthroplasty (RTHA) for protrusion. Therefore we conducted a retrospective study on a large revision arthroplasty database to answer the following questions: (1) What is the frequency of this approach in this population? (2) What are the factors related to this procedure? (3) Is morbidity and mortality of the SPA higher than for an isolated conventional approach? HYPOTHESIS: Major protrusions with material in the superomedial quadrant (SMQ) have a higher probability of being operated using a SPA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This multicenter retrospective study included 260 cases of THA with endopelvic protrusion of material at least 15mm inside the Kohler line. The degree of protrusion was assessed on the AP pelvic X-ray with the construction of the SMQ. The reason for the subperitoneal approach, the duration of surgery, and the preoperative exams were also collected. RESULTS: Nineteen procedures out of the 260 RTHAs included (7.8%) had a SPA in addition to the approach for the revision THA. The frequency of the SPA varied among centers (range: 1.7-50%). In four cases, the SPA was indicted to care for a vascular complication identified preoperatively. For one patient, the SPA was indicated intraoperatively. The other indications were either to extract the implant (n=7) or prevent a potential intraoperative assault of neurovascular structures (n=9). The cases presenting major protrusion on the AP X-ray with material in the SMQ were more often operated through the SPA (12/19; 63.2%) than cases with no SMQ involvement (4/241; 1.7%) (P<0.001). Vascular structures were explored with imaging in 15 out of 19 (88.9%) of the SPA cases versus 26 out of 177 (14.7%) of the revisions without the SPA (41 with no information in the non-SPA group) (P<0.001). Early mortality (before 45 days) of patients who had undergone the SPA (1/19; 5.3%) was not significantly different than for the patients who had not undergone the SPA (3/241; 1.2%) (P=0.26). Although the duration of surgery was longer in the SPA group (210±88 [range: 70-360] versus 169±52 [range: 60-300]; P=0.04), bleeding was not greater in the SPA group (1488±1770mL [range: 500-5000mL]) than in the non-SPA group (1343±987mL [range: 75-3500mL]; p>0.05). DISCUSSION: Despite the limitations related to the retrospective and multicenter design of this study, to our knowledge it is the only one that examines SPA procedures within the context of severe material protrusion with THA. Based on these results, it seems preferable to plan for SPA every time there is an acetabular protrusion in the SMQ, after exploration with CT angiography. The SPA does not result in greater mortality or morbidity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, retrospective study.

Fine particles sampled at an urban background site and an industrialized coastal site in Northern France - Part 1: Seasonal variations and chemical characterization.

The chemical composition of particulate matter sampled at two French Northern sites (Douai, DO - urban background; Grande-Synthe, GS - industrialized coastal site) was investigated during two summer and winter field campaigns at each site. Measurements of the major chemical species (organic, sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, chloride) in the non-refractory submicron aerosols (NR-PM1) were carried out by a High Resolution Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer. Black Carbon in PM2.5 was monitored using an Aethalometer, while the OC and EC fractions and some targeted chemical organic families (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs; dicarboxylic acids, DCAs) were quantified by the simultaneous collection of PM2.5 on filters followed by offline analyses. The seasonal trends and winter-to-summer (W/S) concentration ratios are discussed in this paper. Results indicate that the total average mass concentrations of PM2.5 varied between 20.5µgm-3 and 32.6µgm-3 in DO and between 10.6µgm-3 and 29.9µgm-3 in GS during summer and winter, respectively. Similar concentration patterns were found for PAHs and Organic Carbon (OC, representing ~80% of the total carbon) with highest concentrations in winter at the urban site. DCA concentrations showed less seasonal variations, although the highest value also appeared during winter. Total NR-PM1 presented concentrations in summer lower by a factor of 4 (for DO) and 10 (for GS) than those observed in winter. Organics and nitrates dominated the NR-PM1 in DO for both seasons and during winter in GS while sulfates and nitrates were the most dominant species in summer in GS. Average chloride concentrations were slightly more important in GS than those in DO related to its use in industrial processes and no significant seasonal trend was observed. The size-resolved chemical composition showed that aerosols sampled in DO in winter are more aged than those collected in GS where fresh emissions of sulfate from the industrial sector were observed.