Are we bound to our scores? a 74-year-old patient with an abbreviated burn severity index of 14.

We report a case of a 74-year-old female patient who was involved in a car accident. The patient suffered deep dermal and full thickness burns and the probability of survival calculated with the Abbreviated Burn Severity Index (ABSI) was extremely low. The patient showed sufficient cardiorespiratory and renal function for the entire treatment period. An epifascial necrosectomy of all four limbs was performed on day three after admission. Wound coverage was performed using the MEEK technique and split skin grafts. The patient was bedded in a FluidAir bed, which enabled the burn wounds on the back to dry and heal in large part. After four surgical procedures and four months of treatment at the burn ICU, the patient was sufficiently mobilized for transfer to a hospital in her home region. The aim of the following case report is to demonstrate that burn patients with very low chances of survival can be treated successfully.

Nous rapportons le cas d'une patiente de 74 ans victime d'un accident de voiture. Elle souffrait de brûlures intermédiaires et profondes et ses chances de survie, selon le score ABSI, étaient extrêmement faibles. Elle a présenté des signes d'insuffisance cardiaque et rénale durant toute son hospitalisation. Une avulsion au niveau des 4 membres a été réalisée à J3. La couverture cutanée a été réalisée par greffes expansées et technique de Meek. Elle a été installée sur un lit fluidisé, ce qui a permis la guérison d'une bonne partie des brûlures postérieures. Elle a pu sortir de l'unité spécialisée de soins intensifs au bout de 4 mois, ayant subi 4 interventions chirurgicale. Elle a alors été transférée dans l'hôpital de sa région. Ce cas clinique a pour but de montrer que même des patients au pronostic très sombre peuvent survivre.

Morphometric and functional results after CO(2) laser welding of nerve coaptations.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Several reports describe nerve coaptations by laser welding in combination with stay sutures and bonding material. This study was undertaken to obtain functional and morphologic information by using a nerve coaptation technique by epineurial CO(2) laser welding only. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sciatic nerves of 24 rats were transected and epineurially coapted with the CO(2) laser at 60 mW or with microsutures as a control. Walking track analysis were carried out to evaluate the functional recovery, and the nerves were harvested for histology after 6 months of regeneration. RESULTS: None of the 24 nerves showed dehiscence of the coaptations, and all showed good nerve fiber regeneration. Better results were obtained for the functional evaluation of the sciatic function index (P < 0.02) and the toe spread index (P < 0.04) from the laser nerve coaptations. Likewise, the morphologic evaluations of the fiber density (P < 0.04) and area fraction (P < 0.002) were better in the laser group. CONCLUSION: CO(2) laser welded nerve coaptations are as successful as their sutured counterparts and may become a promising alternative in clinical practice.

[Nerve coaptation using CO2 milliwatt laser]. / Nervenkoaptation mit dem CO2-Laser im Milliwattbereich.

The technique of laser tissue welding with a low-output CO2 laser has become popular due to the minimal amount of nerve tissue damage caused. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the efficacy of nerve coaptation by laser tissue welding in comparison to micro-sutures. In a first series of 15 rats, peripheral nerves were transsected. 24 nerves were coaptated by laser welding (LW) with different parameters in order to evaluate the optimal laser settings. For comparison, six nerves were coapted (NS) with four 10/0 nylon sutures. Finally, the nerves were removed and the tensile strength of the different coaptations determined. The best results of the laser welds were obtained at laser settings of 40 to 60 mW in the continuous mode resulting in a tensile strength of 9.5 +/- 2.2 g. The tensile strength was 39.3 +/- 7.3 g for the sutured coaptation. In a second series, one sciatic nerve was coapted in thirteen rats by laser welding (LW) (60 mW, cont. mode) and in eleven rats using four 10/0 nylon sutures (NS). After six months, the Sciatic Function Index (SFI) was evaluated and the nerves were harvested for histological examination of transverse and longitudinal sections. All animals showed good regeneration and none of the 24 nerve coaptations showed dehiscence. The SFI was for the NS-group -94 +/- 23 and for the LW-group -77 +/- 20. The mean number of myelinated nerve fibres (NS 10,170 +/- 2512 vs. LW 11,902 +/- 1649) and the fibre diameter (NS 4.30 +/- 0.14 um vs. LW 4.02 +/- 0.59 microns) of the nerves distal to the coaptation were similar in both groups and showed no statistical difference. We conclude that nerve coaptation by CO2-laser welds are as successful as the 10/0 nylon sutures in the animal model. Improvements of welding techniques may in the future reduce nerve damage even further and so yield even better functional results.

Human facial muscles: dimensions, motor endplate distribution, and presence of muscle fibers with multiple motor endplates.

BACKGROUND: Extrafusal muscle fibers of human striated skeletal muscles are known to have a uniform innervation pattern. Motor endplates (MEP) of the "en plaque" type are located near the center of muscle fibers and distributed within the muscles in a narrow band. The aim of this study was to evaluate the innervation pattern of human facial muscles and compare it with that of skeletal muscles. METHODS: Ten facial muscles from 11 human cadavers were dissected, the nerve entrance points located, and the dimensions measured. All muscles were stained in toto for MEPs using Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and examined under the microscope to determine their location. Single muscle fibers were teased to evaluate the stained MEPs. RESULTS: The length of the different facial muscles varied from 29 to 65 mm, which correlated to the length of the corresponding muscle fibers. MEP zones were found on the muscles in the immediate vicinity of the nerves' entrance points and located eccentrically. Numbers and locations varied from muscle to muscle. Three MEP zone distribution patterns were differentiated: numerous small MEP zones were evenly spread over the muscle, a predominant MEP zone and two to three small zones were spread at random, and two to four MEP zones of equal size were randomly scattered. One MEP of the "en plaque" type was found in 73.8% of the muscle fibers and two to five MEPs were found in 26.2%. The distances between the multiple MEPs on one muscle fiber varied from 10 to 500 microm. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that facial muscles differ from skeletal muscles regarding distribution and number of MEPs. The eccentric location of MEP zones and multiple MEPs suggests there is an independent mechanism of neural regulation in the facial muscle system.

Hypertrophy and transformation of muscle fibers in paraplegic patients.

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the quadriceps femoris muscle was applied in 14 paraplegic patients (10 spastic patients with spinal cord lesions and 4 patients with conus-cauda lesions with denervation atrophy). In both the spastic and the denervated group, the vastus lateralis muscle was biopsied and computed tomography (CT) images of the entire upper leg were made both at the onset and termination of the 8-month training period. The stimulation was carried out twice a day for 20 min. The increase in muscle tissue was significant in the CT images. The biopsies showed that the fiber diameter of both fiber types increased during the training period in the spastic group from 47 to 67 microns and in the denervated group from 22 to 38 microns. In both groups, the differences were significant between the first and second biopsies. Both groups showed a marked Type 2 fiber predominance. The histological and CT findings correlated with the clinical improvement of muscle function.

[Comparative studies of morphometric and functional results following reconstruction of motor nerves]. / Vergleichende Untersuchungen morphometrischer und funktioneller Ergebnisse nach Rekonstruktion motorischer Nerven.

In order to determine the value of a reconstructive procedure in the peripheral nerve, experimental studies often evaluate the number and the diameter of myelinated nerve fibers as a parameter for the quality of regeneration. This study addresses the correlation between the number of fibers in a peripheral motor nerve after microsurgical reconstruction and the functional result, expressed as the force of the reinnervated muscle. In a total number of 24 sheep, the motor branch to the rectus femoris muscle was severed. The muscle was reinnervated either by direct neurorrhaphy or by nerve grafting, performed in three different ways (free grafting to the ipsilateral muscle, free grafting to the contralateral muscle, vascularized grafting to the ipsilateral muscle). In the final experiments, the muscle force in the reinnervated muscle was determined by supramaximal electrical stimulation. Number and diameter of myelinated nerve fibers were evaluated by computer-assisted morphometric analysis. Regression analysis of morphometric data and the muscle forces was calculated. No correlation was found between fiber numbers in the nerve graft and the maximal force. However, a positive correlation between the number of myelinated fibers in the motor branch distal to the site of coaptation and the functional result was observed in some cases. The diameter of myelinated fibers had no influence on the functional outcome.

[Utilization potential of the CO2-laser in dermal changes]. / Einsatzmöglichkeiten des CO2-Lasers bei dermalen Veränderungen.

44 patients with various cutaneous lesions including 18 tattoos, 13 hypertrophic scars or keloids, 4 xanthelasmas, 4 capillary haemangiomas, and 5 other benign cutaneous lesions were treated by CO2-Laser. 28 of these patients were reexamined after a follow-up period of three to four years. Good results were achieved with the CO2-Laser in the treatment of tattoos, xanthelasmas, and haemangiomas. Satisfactory results were obtained in one patient with peri-ungual Koenen-tumors and in two patients with perianal condylomas. Keloids and plantar warts recurred after an initial improvement. The attempts to remove hypertrophic scars did not bring the desired results. In four cases a superficial local wound infection led to a delayed healing process together with an aesthetically unsatisfying final appearance. CO2-Laser treatment brings certain advantages in selected cases where traditional techniques of plastic surgery have a higher complication rate and are additionally a greater burden for the patient. Particularly larger tattoos, multiple xanthelasmas, and capillary haemangiomas are successfully removed with the CO2-Laser, despite the time consuming method for the attending physician.

[Results of occlusion of large or recurrent incisional hernias with polytetrafluoroethylene]. / Ergebnisse nach Verschluss grosser oder rezidivierender Narbenhernien durch Polytetrafluorethylen.

In 48 patients who were suffering from recurrent or large abdominal incisional hernias the defect in the abdominal wall was closed by the implantation of a patch of polytetrafluoroethylene. Patients were examined 22 months postoperatively on the average. In 5 cases recurrence had occurred (10.4%). The estimated rate of recurrence two years postoperatively amounted to 14%. As this is significantly lower than after conventional techniques without alloplastic materials, the closure of incisional hernias by PTFE is an important alternative for the management of difficult abdominal incisional hernias.

Effect of the CO2 milliwatt laser on neuroma formation in rats.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the milliwatt laser can suppress neuroma formation at the end of a divided nerve. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: The peripheral nerves of eight rats were transected with microscissors and the cross-sectional area of their proximal ends was irradiated using the CO2 milliwatt laser. The power ranges used were similar to those applied to weld neural tissue. RESULTS: None of the eight irradiated nerve ends formed a neuromatous bulb and only one of them regenerated into the surrounding tissues. Histologically, these nerve ends did not show the disorganized picture of classic neuromas. On morphometric measurements, they contained less connective tissue than the control nerve ends (P < 0.001) and their nerve fibers were larger in diameter (P < 0.001) and better myelinated (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These findings in rats show that the CO2 milliwatt laser has the ability to suppress neuroma formation at the end of a divided nerve.

Role of a muscle target organ on the regeneration of motor nerve fibres in long nerve grafts: a synopsis of experimental and clinical data.

The importance of the muscle target organ as a promoting factor for nerve fibre regeneration in nerve grafts is still a subject of controversial discussion. In the last few years we published uniform results of experimental series in sheep and rabbits in which we investigated the biology of nerve fibre regeneration in long nerve autografts without connection to a target organ. Surprisingly, we found excellent regeneration of myelinated nerve fibres without the influence of a target organ through the whole length of the nerve graft, with an increase in the number of nerve fibres up to fourfold at the distal end. In the sheep series the additional contact with a muscle target organ for 6 months had a variable effect on the fibre population in the distal end of the nerve graft. The results of our planimetric analyses of nerve biopsies in patients with facial paralysis, who were treated by cross-face nerve grafting and free muscle transplantation, are extremely divergent from the results of our experimental series. Instead of an increase, we found a decrease in number of regenerating nerve fibres arriving at the distal end of the cross-face nerve graft down to 20%. Species-specific differences in the biology of nerve regeneration are discussed, together with their implications for the complex clinical situation of nerve grafting with or without the influence of a target organ.

Histomorphometric studies in patients with facial palsy treated by functional muscle transplantation: new aspects for the surgical concept.

Whenever it was possible, muscle and nerve biopsies were performed in patients with irreversible, unilateral facial palsy treated by cross-face nerve grafting and free gracilis muscle transplantation with microneurovascular anastomoses. Planimetric analyses of cross-sections showed the following, to some extent, surprising, results: (1) Independent of the final functional result, approximately the same number of regenerated, thin nerve fibers (100-200) were found in the distal end of the cross-face nerve graft at the time of muscle transplantation. These are approximately 20% of the nerve fibers counted in the branches of the facial nerve at the healthy side used for reinnervation. (2) There is no correlation between the number or diameter of the nerve fibers in the distal end of the cross-face nerve graft and the functional recovery of the transplanted muscle, but there is good correlation between the morphology of the fibers of the muscle graft and the functional result. (3) Different portions of slow-contracting and fast-contracting muscle fibers in the reinnervated muscle grafts showed the strong influence of the quality of the nerve used for the crossover innervation. If a facial nerve branch innervating the slow buccinator muscle was used, the originally fast gracilis muscle was transformed to a slow muscle by this kind of reinnervation. These important findings are the basis of a new view of surgery in the treatment of irreversible facial palsy by functional free-muscle transplantation.

First experimental application of multichannel stimulation devices for cardiomyoplasty.

The effect of long-term application of epineural electrodes to nerves was investigated in rat experiments. Neural damage reached a maximum of 6% shortly after implantation and decreased to 3% after 1 year. Impedance and threshold of epineural electrode were investigated in sheep experiments for up to 12 months. The mean impedance was in the range of 1 kohm, while the threshold less than 1 mA. The reduction in fatigue produced by multichannel stimulation was demonstrated by sequential isometric contractions of rectus muscles in sheep. The decrease in force was only 10% after 60 minutes of multichannel stimulation as compared to a reduction of 50% for single channel stimulation. Studies of cardiomyoplasty with single channel stimulation confirmed results reported by other investigators. In acute experiments with sheep, we demonstrated fiber-selective stimulation which led to isolated contraction of the left or right distal part or the right proximal part of the latissimus dorsi muscle. Potential advantages in the application of implantable multichannel stimulation devices as compared to single channel stimulation for cardiomyoplasty include: (1) fatigue-free stimulation at submaximal force level; (2) selection of hemodynamically effective electrode combinations; (3) potential for consecutive activation of muscle fiber groups, thereby allowing better simulation of the physiological contraction of the heart muscle; (4) redundancy of electrodes in case of technical failure or dislocation; and (5) stimulation of more than one muscle, if necessary.

Neuromuscular diseases: evaluation with high-frequency sonography.

Forty-four patients with clinically suspected neuromuscular disease and 12 healthy volunteers underwent high-frequency ultrasound examination of the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and biceps brachii muscles, and the number of perimysial septa was determined. These numbers and muscle/soft-tissue ratios of the lower extremity were compared. Findings were correlated with results of muscle biopsy in all patients with suspected disease. Using the number of perimysial septa in the lower extremity, the authors found significant differences between the muscles of healthy volunteers and those of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophies, other muscular dystrophies, and spinal muscular atrophies: The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that an average of 12 perimysial septa within 1 cm of muscle is the ideal cutoff value to differentiate subjects without morphologic changes from those with pathologic findings. The authors conclude that this measurement is useful for differentiation of neuromuscular diseases and may be a noninvasive, reproducible means with which to evaluate disease progression.

Histochemical mapping and fiber size analysis of mimic muscles.

Fourteen functionally relevant mimic muscles of nine human bodies were analyzed with respect to their muscle fiber sizes and their histochemical fiber type composition. In cryostat sections stained for actomyosin ATPase, type 1 and type 2 fibers were evaluated separately by means of computer-assisted image analysis. The fiber diameters varied between 20.24 and 41.45 microns. According to the proportions of the fiber types, the mimic muscles could be classified into three groups: (1) phasic muscles, with 14 to 15 percent type 1 fibers, (2) intermediate muscles, with 28 to 37 percent type 1 fibers, and (3) tonic muscles, containing 41 to 67 percent type 1 fibers. It is concluded that one has to consider this diversity of mimic muscles when planning the surgical reconstruction of facial paralysis.

Ipsilateral and cross-over elongation of the motor nerve by nerve grafting: an experimental study in sheep.

In difficult reconstructions, ipsilateral or cross-over nerve grafting is sometimes necessary to achieve reinnervation and motor function. This experimental study in sheep was to answer the question of limitation of elongation of a motor nerve by grafting, the question of the optimal time for suturing the nerve graft to the muscle nerve, and the question of the successful application of this surgical technique in extremities. In 18 sheep, the vastus nerve was elongated by a saphenous nerve graft as long as possible up to 30 cm (step 1). In 10 animals the nerve graft was applied ipsilaterally, and in 8 animals it was used as a cross-over nerve graft to the contralateral limb. The time between nerve grafting and connection of the distal end of the nerve graft to the freshly cut rectus nerve supplying the rectus femoris muscle (step 2) was variable: 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. In all animals, the final experiments (step 3) were performed 6 months after the last operation (step 2). Muscle force measurements in the rectus femoris muscle and quantitative analysis of the number and diameter of myelinated nerve fibers in cross sections of the nerve biopsies at different levels showed that elongation of a motor nerve by nerve grafting is principally not limited. The functional results were rather inhomogeneous and therefore unpredictable (ipsilateral group: maximum tetanic tension = 27 to 172 N; cross-over group: 0 to 227.5 N). Nevertheless, crossover nerve grafting is recommended for selected cases even in extremities. There was no correlation between the time interval between the two operations and the functional or morphologic results, although better functional results were obtained when the distal nerve suture (step 2) was performed some months after nerve grafting (step 1). A clear correlation was found only between the number of regenerated axons in the rectus nerve behind the second suture line and the muscle function.

[Sonography of the skeletal muscles using high-frequency ultrasound probes]. / Sonographie der Skelettmuskulatur mit hochfrequenten Ultraschallköpfen.

8 musculi graciles of human cadavers were examined sonographically by means of high-frequency ultrasound probes (10 MHz) to evaluate the echo texture of skeletal muscles. It could be shown that the smallest structures of skeletal muscles that may be differentiated sonographically are the primary bundles. In addition, 100 patients with clinically suspected muscular trauma and 8 patients with neuromuscular diseases were examined via high-frequency ultrasound probes (10 or 7.5 MHz). The typical signs of muscle tears and neuromuscular diseases in relation to normal sonomorphology are discussed. The special value of the method in these indications is emphasised.

Comparative histochemistry of human and sheep laryngeal muscles.

Four laryngeal muscles of human male, human female and sheep female cadavers were evaluated by histological, histochemical and quantitative techniques. The muscle fibre sizes showed significant differences between human male, female and sheep. Fibre diameters of male human laryngeal muscles were 2 to 4 microns larger than in female human and 11 to 13 microns larger than in sheep muscles. In the group of human laryngeal muscles, the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle contained the highest percentage (65%) of type I fibres. In sheep, the homologous muscle consists only of 45% type I fibres. On the other hand, in sheep the cricothyroid muscle showed significantly more type I fibres (58%) than the human counterpart (43%). In both species the vocal muscles had a rather low content of type I fibres (26 to 37%).

[Vascularized nerve transplant--theoretical advantages and disadvantages]. / Vaskularisiertes Nerventransplantat--theoretische Vorteile und Nachteile.

A survey of publications dealing with vascularized nerve grafts is given. The advantages and disadvantages are discussed by analyzing the published data. Until now the superiority of vascularized nerve grafts has not been proven by the published experimental and clinical results. This fact was underlined by the results of our own experimental investigations: In conventional nerve grafts performed on sheep it was shown that the functional results of reinnervation cannot be correlated to the degree of vascularization of the nerve graft or to number and morphology of the regenerated axons. Therefore, the indications for the clinical application of the vascularized nerve graft must be limited to the following conditions: Poorly vascularized recipient bed, thick nerve graft, unsuccessful previous conventional nerve grafting, and the necessity of vascular reconstruction at the same time.

Comparative anatomy of human and sheep laryngeal skeleton.

In a macroscopical study the dimensions of the adult laryngeal skeleton of man and sheep were compared. In both species the data for male and female were evaluated separately. In contrast to pronounced differences in size between male and female human larynges, the dimensions of both sexes in sheep proved to be very similar. In respect of 7 size values, the sheep larynx falls in the range between the male and female human larynx. This applies to most values for height, the antero-posterior diameter and the inferior breadth of the thyroid cartilage. In the sheep cricoid, the height of the lamina and the inner transverse diameter correspond closely to the human counterpart. The most conspicuous differences vis-à-vis the human larynx are the narrowing of the upper portion, the absent upper incisure of the thyroid and the relatively large dimensions of the arytenoid cartilages in sheep. Since in sheep the dimensions at the level of the glottis and of the subglottic space are within the range of the human larynx, the suitability of the sheep larynx as a model for experimental clinical laryngology is discussed.