[Complete intra-articular distal radius fractures in young active patients]. / Fractures articulaires complètes de l'extrémité distale du radius chez le sujet jeune actif.

Management of complex intra-articular fractures of the distal radius in young active patients must aim to restore normal anatomy. For optimal planning of the surgical procedure, a thorough analysis of the fracture with appropriate radiological exams and diagnosis of frequently associated lesions are necessary. Surgical management involves use of various types of internal or external fixation. Routine use of standardized analysis tools for these fractures along with prospective follow-up should allow us to define guidelines for each situation in the near future.

Surgery for trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis.

Trapeziometacarpal (TMC) osteoarthritis is a common, disabling condition that mostly affects women. The demand for surgical treatment is growing and the patients are becoming younger, adding to the challenge. Surgery can only be proposed after failure of well-conducted conservative treatment and requires a complete X-ray assessment. In the early stages, conservative surgery measures can be used to stabilize the joint or realign it in cases of dysplasia, but in most cases, patients are seen with more advanced arthritis and joint replacement must be considered. The ideal arthroplasty technique has yet to be defined but nevertheless, the chosen technique must be well-suited to the patient's condition. Although many studies have been published on this topic, they do not help us define the treatment indications. Prospective studies focusing on the patient rather than evaluating a certain surgical technique are needed. Trapeziectomy with or without ligament reconstruction is still considered the gold standard, but the challenges associated with treating its complications limit its indications. Arthrodesis, interposition or arthroplasty are also viable therapeutic options. The patient must be sufficiently informed to be able to contribute to choosing the indication.

Can we achieve bone healing using the diamond concept without bone grafting for recalcitrant tibial nonunions?

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a combination of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 7 (rhBMP-7) and resorbable calcium phosphate bone substitute (rCPBS) as a salvage solution for recalcitrant tibial fracture nonunions. Twenty consecutive patients, 16 male and four female, with a mean age of 46.8±15.7 years (21-78) and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 24.2±5.3kgm(-2) (21.5-28.5), suffering from 20 recalcitrant tibial fracture nonunions were included. The mean number of operations performed prior to the procedure was 3.3, with homolateral iliac crest bone grafts being used for all of the patients. All patients were treated with a procedure including debridement and decortications of the bone ends, nonunion fixation with a locking plate, and filling of the bony defect with a combined graft of rhBMP-7 (as osteoinductor) with an rCPBS (as scaffold). The mean follow-up was 14±2.7 months. Both clinical and radiological union occurred in 18 cases, within a mean time of 4.7±3.2 months. A recurrence of deep infection was diagnosed for one of the non-consolidated patients. No specific complication of rCPBS or rhBMP-7 was encountered. This study supports the view that the application of rCPBS combined with rhBMP-7, without any bone grafting, is safe and efficient in the treatment of recalcitrant bone union.

[Superficial ulnar artery while harvesting a radial forearm flap]. / Artère ulnaire superficielle, découverte fortuite lors du prélèvement d'un lambeau antébrachial radial.

Forearm vascular anatomical variations are common and may have complications during flaps harvesting. This article describes the presence of an ulnar superficial artery, revealed while harvesting a radial forearm flap. The prevalence of this anatomical variation is between 0.7 and 9.4%. It may have important consequences while covering loss of substance with a radial forearm flap. Unknown, there is a risk of vascular injury which may lead to distal ischemia of the upper limb. Preoperative diagnosis can anticipate this risk and harvest a fascio-cutaneous flap centered on a perforator of this artery.

Biomechanical comparison of the hand-based transplant used in bone-tissue-bone scapho-lunate ligament reconstruction.

Although work has been published comparing the five most commonly used transplant techniques to the properties of the scapho-lunate interosseous ligament (SLIL), no study has been carried out which compares the biomechanical properties of the different bone-tissue-bone autografts to each other, using a standard methodology of testing. The hypothesis of this study was that mechanically significant differences in the material properties of commonly used bone-tissue-bone exist when compared to each other. We tested the dorsal part of the SLIL and the five most quoted transplants in the literature: capitate to trapezoid; trapezoid to second metacarpal; third metacarpal-carpal; dorsal capitate-hamate; 4-5 extensor retinaculum. For each transplant, we measured failure load, failure displacement, width, and thickness. Anova was used to compare the different results obtained and the level of significance attributed to P<0.05. Load to failure were: SLIL 94.3±42.86N; capitate to trapezoid 37.7±23.13N; trapezoid to second metacarpal 45.43±14.28N; third metacarpal-carpal 60.11±19.94N; dorsal capitate-hamate 63±25.51N; 4-5 retinaculum 15.67±10.7N. Only the dorsal capitate-hamate ligament showed to have no significant (P>0.05) difference in term of load to failure, all the others was significantly weaker (P<0.05). Previous biomechanical studies have identified the dorsal region of the SLIL as the most structurally and functionally important area of the SLIL. As a result, attention has been more specifically brought to the replacement of the dorsal portion of the SLIL. An attempt to achieve a reconstruction that reproduces more closely the SLIL has generated research on the use of bone-tissue-bone composite graft, several donor sites have been used in order to find the most similar. Our results suggest that, using a normalized method to compare the previously described grafts harvested at the wrist level, that the dorsal capitate-hamate ligament has the closest properties to the native dorsal scapho-lunate ligament.

Type I complex regional pain syndrome.

First described by Ambroise Paré in the mid-17th century complex, regional pain syndrome (CRPS) can be defined as an articular and periarticular pain syndrome associated with vasomotor deregulation triggered by various stresses with no relationship between the intensity of the initial injury and severity of the continuing pain. Several names have been given to Type 1 complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS-I): causalgia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, shoulder-hand syndrome and algodystrophy. The reported incidence of CRPS-I is about 25 per 100,000. Predisposing factors are tobacco consumption and being female (W/M ratio=4). Although all the limbs can be affected, the upper limb is by far the most affected. CRPS-I is a classic complication of distal radius fractures (4-37%) and carpal tunnel surgery (2-4%). Early diagnosis and management are the most important elements of treatment because this syndrome has a long and disabling course. Some of the proposed treatments include NSAIDs, antidepressants and anticonvulsants. The latter, despite their good analgesic effects, do not cure CRPS-I. In select cases, a surgical procedure aiming at removing a nociceptive stimulus can lead to spectacular improvements.

[Autologous fat grafting in the surgical management of painful scar: preliminary results]. / Greffe de tissu adipeux autologue dans la prise en charge chirurgicale des cicatrices douloureuses : résultats préliminaires.

The purpose of this study was to report our experience about the effectiveness of autologous fat injections in the management of painful scars. Between 2010 and 2012, all patients with persistent incisional pain despite a well-conduced 6 months medical treatment received an autologous fat graft according to the technique originally described by Coleman. Results interpretation was based on pain improvement thanks to a Visual Analogic Scale (VAS), postoperative patient satisfaction, reduction on analgesics intake and quality of life improvement. Eleven patients were included, the mean quantity of fat injected was 11cm(3). Nine patients (1.5%) benefited from a complete or significant pain decrease, 74.5% reported being very satisfied or satisfied with the result. The mean reduction of VAS was 3.5 points. We did not observe any complication. Autologous fat grafting is an innovative therapeutic approach and appears to be an attractive concept in the management of scar neuromas resistant to drug treatment, by providing an easy effective and safe surgical treatment.

[The persistent sciatic artery aneurysm. A rare and painful buttock mass]. / Anévrisme de l'artère sciatique persistante. Une cause rare de masse fessière douloureuse.

The persistent sciatic artery is a rare cause of painful buttock mass with L5-S1 radicular signs. A 56-year-old man presents a right painful buttock mass with L5-S1 radicular symptoms for 3 years. The surgical exploration found a pulsatile vascular mass like a persistent sciatic artery aneurysm. This vascular pathology is a misunderstood embryogenesis anomaly. The treatment aims to avoid serious complications. This pathology must be known from plastic surgeon.

[Botulinum toxin type A contribution in the treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon due to systemic sclerosis]. / Intérêt de la toxine botulinique de type A dans le traitement des syndromes de Raynaud sévères secondaires à la sclérodermie systémique.

AIMS: Raynaud's phenomenon is a vasospastic disorder of the extremities that can lead, in the hands, to pain, disability, ischemic ulcers and digital chronic ischemia. Medical and surgical current treatments are not fully effective while causing side effects. Recent studies have emphasized the value of botulinum toxin type A (BTX A) in the management of primary Raynaud's phenomenon. The originality of Raynaud's syndrome secondary to systemic sclerosis is to combine both arterial vasospasm and sclerosis of the arterial wall, what is supposed to reduce BTX A effects. The purpose of this work is to evaluate BTX A efficiency in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon secondary to systemic sclerosis. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We performed a prospective study for 12 months. Patients with severe Raynaud's phenomenon due to systemic sclerosis were injected with BTX A in the two hands. Evolution of ischemic ulcers, QuickDASH Score, O2 partial pressure, pain were measured before and 30 days after injection. RESULTS: We treated 18 patients. Thirty days after injection, we noticed a complete healing of ulcers, QuickDASH Score was improved from 39.4 to 20, as the O2 partial pressure from 16 to 42 mmHg and the pain from VNS from 6/10 to 2/10. CONCLUSION: BTX A appears to improve significantly Raynaud's phenomenon symptomatology in patients with systemic sclerosis despite the component of arterial sclerosis.

Development of micro-injection as an innovative autologous fat graft technique: The use of adipose tissue as dermal filler.

BACKGROUND: Autologous fat graft, by virtue of its volumetric qualities and its action on skin trophicity, can be considered as a gold standard implant. Current techniques do not allow very superficial or subdermal injections of adipose tissue. The authors report technical modifications that enable fat transfer through a 25-gauge cannula. The viability of grafted fat was assessed after subcutaneous injection on a murine model. METHODS: Micro-fat grafting consists of harvesting fat tissue using a multiperforated cannula with holes of 1 mm. Fat tissue is refined as described by SR Coleman and transferred through a micro-cannula. Initially, human fat was first harvested using two different procedures: Coleman's technique and the modified harvesting technique. Preliminary comparative histologic analyses were performed. Sixteen nude mice received human fat tissue: one side was filled with 0.7 cc through a 17-G cannula using Coleman's technique, and the opposite side was grafted using smaller cannulae (20G, 23G and 25G) following the modified harvesting technique. Mice were euthanised at 12 weeks and skin biopsies were performed. RESULTS: Experimental fat grafts on mice were observed and analysed: macroscopically, the fat tissue of each side showed the same healthy aspect. Haematoxylin-eosin-saffron staining revealed intact adipocytes and anti-CD31 antibody immunohistochemical staining highlighted an abundant neo-vessel network. CONCLUSION: Fat graft obtained by the modified technique maintains a normal histologic structure. Fat injection with micro-cannulae extends the application of lipostructure to the superficial layers of the skin.

[Preiser's disease: a five-case series]. / La maladie de Preiser : une série de cinq cas.

Preiser's disease, or avascular necrosis of the scaphoid occurs without fracture or non-union. Between 1998 and 2009, the authors report on 5 patients who complained of mild pain on the radial aspect of the wrist, associated with stiffness and/or loss of strength. Our management consisted in different options: one bilateral intraarticular injection of hyaluronic acid, three vascularised radial bone graft and one resection of the first carpal row. With four and a half years follow-up, our results are quite satisfactory for improvement of pain, sometimes with residual postoperative stiffness. Management remains difficult because Preiser's disease is rare and there are no relevant prospective control studies. We attempt to provide an algorithm for early management of the disease and to answer the question: "until when can we save the scaphoid and how?"

[Treatment of hand ischemia with arterialization of the venous system of the hand: report of three cases]. / Traitement de la main en ischémie chronique par artérialisation du système veineux superficiel : à propos de trois cas.

INTRODUCTION: Hand ischemia is a rare phenomenom of various etiologies among which can be found Raynaud's phenomenon and autoimmune arteritis. The limitations of symptomatic medical treatment and the frequent plurisegmental and distal affection of arteries make the management of chronic hand ischemia difficult. The arterialization of the superficial venous system, which consists in redirecting the arterial flow to the fingertip through the dorsal venous system, could be an interesting alternative to the disappointing results of medical therapy and surgical sympathectomy. The authors present here the preliminary results of this technique. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We carried out a retrospective study analyzing the indications, the operative technique and results of three hands operated on two patients. An arteriography was carried out on each patient prior to perform the arterialization of the superficial venous system, in order to make sure that none of the patients was eligible for a technique of direct re-vascularization. RESULTS: Postoperatively, for each patient, the following points were evaluated: pain reduction, ulcer healing, and then we tried to obtain a more objective assessment by performing angio-MRI. CONCLUSION: This last resort technique in management of critical ischemia of the fingers led to an immediate and lasting improvement of symptoms in all the patients treated. This technique seems reliable and reproducible in selected cases aiming to re-vascularize hands that have reached the stage of critical ischemia. This treatment option should be known by hand surgeons, and distributed to internists who usually manage these patients.