[Comments on the accessory tubercle of the lumbar costiform apophysis (author's transl)]. / Propos sur le tubercule accessoire de l'apophyse costiforme lombaire

The first results of a study of Luschka's accessory tubercle and Broca's styloid hypophysis, and especially of osteotendinitis which can arise from musculo-tendinous fatigue in this zone insertion. This osteotendinitis, whose radiological demonstration is difficult and rarely done, can possibly explain undoubtedly certain cases of localized lumbago.

[Unusual aspects of bone fractures in Paget's disease]. / Quelques aspects inhabituels de fractures d'os pagétique

Because of their specific biological and vascular condition, bones affected by Paget's disease require special treatment in case of fracture. Observations on four patients are reported because of their originality; the two first involved a rare type of pelvic fracture, one ischiatic, the other iliac. One of the others was a deformation that required amputation. The last patient, a victim of a diaphyseal femoral fracture, had to undergo centromedullary pinning; but because there was massive destruction of the periostial and medullary circulations during the operation, extensive osteonecrosis due to ischaemia occurred which was very painful and disabling. Thus, in spite of an over abundance of vascular tissue, such circulatory repercussions must be avoided in surgical treatment of fractures of bones affected by Paget's disease.

[Abnormalities of lumbar transverse processes]. / Les anomalies des apophyses transverses lombaires

The transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae sometimes present rare abnormalities, or major abnormalities, which may be contrasted with congenital lesions concerning their volume, shape and direction. After a rapid review of the general and clinical characteristics, radiological analysis of the 59 cases collected in the literature and 6 personal cases, permits a provisional classification of the three varieties of lesion encountered. Apart from the rareness of cases known up to now, the interest of this study is to attract attention to the etiology which is still unknown, whether congenital or traumatic, and consequently, to the possible medico-legal consequences. Once again, as in other fields, the authors attract attention to the undoubted advantages of routine XRay of the lumbar spine and of the sacral area, one of which may be to discover the true etiology of the abnormalities encountered.