African primary research publications in plastic surgery: A PRISMA-S-compliant systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Plastic surgery (PS) in Africa is a relatively young surgery specialty, and the number of available plastic surgeons on average is one or two surgeons per country in many African low-income countries. This systematic review aims to geographically map the research activities through scientific publications of African PS centres, between February 2012-February 2023. METHODS: We searched four literature databases (Medline, Embase, Google Scholar and African Journal Online) and did a manual search. We included case reports, randomised controlled trials, and clinical, comparative, observational and multicentre studies conducted in Africa and published in English and French. In the Google Scholar database, we analysed the first 200 references (scientific articles) selected per relevance according to the Boolean terms. In the African Journals Online database, we analysed the references from the first five pages. The selected keywords were: burns, trauma reconstruction, pressure injuries, wound, cleft lip and palate, breast reconstruction, microsurgery, aesthetic surgery, face surgery, head and neck surgery, hand surgery, open fracture surgery, oculoplastic surgery, skin surgery, and soft tissue surgery. RESULTS: We retrieved a total of 228 articles. Out of the 73 African centres we identified, 27 were in the North, 22 in the West, 8 in the East, 3 in the Centre, and 14 in the South. Most of the retrieved 228 articles involved burns (60, 26.31%), congenital abnormalities (52, 22.80%) and reconstruction (28,12.80%); however, other conditions, such as breast or skin cancer, hand surgery, microsurgery or aesthetics are emerging. The studies were case reports/case series (93, 40.78%), retrospective (78, 34.21%), prospective (36, 15.78%), randomised controlled studies (10, 4.38%), cross-sectional (5, 2,19%) and cohort (2, 0.87%). CONCLUSIONS: Beyond burns, congenital abnormalities, or reconstructions, other PS indications are emerging, such as skin cancer, breast reconstruction, hand surgery, microsurgery, and aesthetics.

Poland syndrome: Fortuitous discovery of a familial case in Togo.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Poland syndrome is a rare malformative disease. It is characterized by agenesis or hypoplasia of the pectoralis major muscle associated or not with a malformation of the ipsilateral thoracic limb. The authors report the fortuitous discovery of a familial case of Poland syndrome in Togo. CASE PRESENTATION: He was a 25-year-old young man, with no known pathological history, examined as part of a physical fitness assessment and who presented with thoracic asymmetry. The clinical and radiological explorations made it possible to conclude to a Poland syndrome in its minor form without any other associated malformation. In addition, three other paternal uncles of the patient presented with the same clinical symptomatology. In the absence of a clear indication, the patient received no treatment. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Poland syndrome is a rare congenital malformation. The abnormalities encountered are cutaneous-glandular, osteo-cartilaginous and muscular. The etiopathogenesis of the disease is unknown. The diagnosis is clinical and is based on the demonstration of agenesis of the pectoralis major muscle. The disease does not often lead to functional discomfort; therefore the treatment is not systematic and has only aesthetic value. CONCLUSION: A rare congenital disease, Poland syndrome can occur sporadically or in families. Its treatment depends above all on the psychological repercussion of the disease.

Foot hexadactyly, social implications and management in the African setting: Case report.

Amouzou KS, Malonga-Loukoula ELJ, Kouevi-Koko TE, Bakriga B, Abalo A. Foot hexadactyly, social implications and management in the African setting: Case report. Turk J Pediatr 2018; 60: 453-455. Hexadactyly of the foot, an abnormal congenital condition presenting as eight toes, is a rare malformation. We report the case of a ten-year-old girl, admitted to our orthopedic and reconstructive surgery department for a preaxial hexadactyly. The girl was abandoned by her parents at birth and stopped school early due to stigmatization. The goals of the surgical procedure were: social reintegration, gait improvement, ability to wear shoes comfortably, and improved appearance of the foot. The surgery was a medial resection of the supernumerary toes.