[Isolated radiocarpal luxation. A case report and general review of the literature]. / La luxation radio-carpienne pure. A propos d'un cas et revue générale de la littérature.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: We describe a case of an isolated radiocarpal dislocation and review the literature. CASE REPORT: A young 29-year-old male, suffering from a wrist injury after a motor cycle accident, was diagnosed as dorsal radiocarpal joint dislocation with distal radioulnar dislocation and no fracture, close reduction was immediately performed followed by plaster cast immobilisation. After five months satisfactory stability and motion were obtained without signs of carpal instability. DISCUSSION: This pathology is exceptional with less than 15 published cases. Dislocation is due to wrist hyperextension with ulnar motion but without, probably, intracarpal supination. After immediate treatment, this lesion appeared to have a good prognosis without post-traumatic carpal instability, when compared to the poorer result of perilunar dislocation.

[Modular construction (2 HS-1 SH), using Cotrel-Dubousset's universal instrumentation for comminuted fractures of the thoracolumbar junction. Comparison with various other constructions]. / Le montage "intermédiaire" (2 CV-1 VC) par l'instrumentation "universelle" de Cotrel-Dubousset pour les fractures comminutives de la jonction thoraco-lombaire. Comparaison avec une série de montages variés.

INTRODUCTION: The authors' objective was to study the anatomical and functional results of an original construct using the Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This construct is called "Modular construct" or "2 H.S.-1 S.H." fits up two vertebrae above the fracture and a single below. So if the fracture is situated on the L1 level, a supra-laminar hook is set up on each side of T11, and two pedicular screws in T12 (2 H.S.). In the same way, a pedicular screw and an infra-laminar hook are set up on each side of L2 (1.S.H.). Two transverse bars connect together the right and the left rod. This retrospective work is based on the study of 24 patients who had a Thoraco-lumbar burst fracture according to Denis'classification, who were operated on in our Department, and started again to walk without external contention. All the patients had a postero-lateral bone graft. There were no [corrected] anterior arthrodesis performed. The average follow up was 4 years. This series was compared with a concomitant series of miscellaneous constructs realized by the same operators with the C.D. instrumentation. RESULTS: The average regional kyphosis angles went from 16.9 degrees in pre-operative to 3.9 degrees in post-operative, and 8 degrees at the maximum follow up. The average vertebral kyphosis angles went from 18 degrees in pre-operative to 3.8 degrees in post-operative, and 6.3 degrees at the maximum follow up. The miscellaneous constructs had poorer results. There were two severe infections, one early the other late. DISCUSSION: These results compared with the literature show that the 2 H.S.-1 S.H. construct is a competitive one. We think that its mechanical qualities arise from adding systematically hooks at the ends of the construct. These hooks protect the screws during flexion and from pull out constraints.

[Severe cervical spinal cord injuries without traumatic osteo-disco-ligamentous lesion]. / Les contusions médullaires cervicales graves sans lésion ostéo-disco-ligamentaire traumatique.

The existence of cervical spinal cord injury without bony nor disco-ligamentous lesion rises pathogenic, prognostic and therapeutic challenges. The extent and localisation of cord injury, which depends on intensity and direction of the applied force, can explain the different clinical patterns: incomplete quadriplegia: 8 cases, incomplete Brown-Sequard-like quadriplegia: 2 cases, diplegia brachialis: 5 cases. We have not observed any complete quadriplegia. The presence of arthritic or congenital spinal canal stenosis has been found in 12 cases. We have used a coupled myelographic-CT Scan study. MRI has been employed more recently. This X-ray study has never found any major cord compression. Improvement of neurologic troubles, under medical treatment, was constant, but sequelae were always present, hands being most concerned; their importance was paralleled to the initial clinical feature. The Brown-Sequard-like quadriplegia were more pejorative. 3 patients, after an initial improvement, have presented a cervical myelopathic evolution and have been successfully operated on. On the other hand, the only initially operated on patient has been immediately worsened. Operation is indicated by the third week, when coexist: a spinal stenosis and a poor clinical evolution.

[Fractures of the thoracic spine (T1-T10). Apropos of 105 cases]. / Les fractures du rachis thoracique (T1-T10). A propos de 105 cas.

Thoracic spine (T1-T10) fractures can be considered a specific entity owing to the anatomic features of the rib cage and the spinal canal. During a nine year period, the authors treated 105 such fractures. The thoracic spine fractures included 57 (54.2 per cent) compression fractures, 21 (20 per cent) comminuted (burst) fractures, 3 (2.8 per cent) flexion-distraction fractures, and 24 (23 per cent) fracture-dislocations. Five lesions, termed "fracture-dislocations by an oblique shearing force", were characterized by considerable displacement and the absence of neurologic injury. 35.2 per cent of the patients had injuries at multiple levels. The frequency of associated thoracic (26.5 per cent) and scapular injuries (20 per cent) reflected involvement of the entire thoracic cage. The frequency of neurologic impairment (30.4 per cent including 20 per cent complete paraplegia) reflects the particular vulnerability of the dorsal spinal cord. 32 per cent of the patients presented one or more thoracic effusions (hemomediastinum, hemothorax) related to parietal hematoma and/or hematoma at the fracture site. Functional management of 47 patients led to recovery of a painless spine without kyphotic deformity. Conservative treatment was often difficult because of associated parietal lesions; the 10 patients treated in this manner had only moderate reductions that maintained poorly in time, but had no major painful sequellae. A posterior approach was used for 42 patients with unstable or neurotoxic fractures because this permitted a complete decompression down to the posterior wall, when necessary by a "wide laminectomy". The anterior approach was reserved for purely anterior compression (3 cases) or residual compression after an initial posterior procedure (2 cases). Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation (used in 7 cases) was particularly indicated because it offers the advantages of Harrington rods (31 cases) while providing better stabilization. This prevented later loss of reduction and obviated the need for a postoperative brace.

[Vertebral hydatid cyst. Apropos of 2 cases]. / L'hydatidose vertébrale. A propos de deux cas.

The hydatid disease is rare in osseous locations, especially in our country (2.2 per cent). It has some particularities: clinical latency, diagnosis difficulties, surgical treatment often unsatisfactory because of the difficulty of total excision. Pain and sometimes deformity are often the only clinical features at the beginning of the disease. But, the evolution is unfavourable as soon as neurological symptoms appear. Multiple recurrences lead to unavoidable paraplegia. The antihelminthic drug (mebendazole) is disappointing in osseous location. Surgery is the only hope but the excision must be carcinologic. Spinal instrumentation can be improved by the use of acrylic cement whereas osseous grafts can be invaded by hydatidosis extension or recurrence. At present, the prognosis is still poor with constant apparition of cord compression. The authors report two cases of patients with osseous hydatidosis of the spine which illustrate these difficulties.

Traumatic rotatory displacement of the lower cervical spine.

Traumatic rotatory displacement (TRD) are defined as all slight anterior corporeal displacements (less than 1/3 of the vertebral body) secondary to different vectors, but with a constant and dominant rotatory component. The authors report on 47 cases of TRD (35% of all severe lower cervical spine injuries) (follow-up: 6 months to 7 years). TRD occurs only when two lesions are present: an anterior lesion in the disk and ligaments, and a posterior lesion of the articular process, as the authors confirmed earlier in an experimental study on monkeys and specimens. Depending on the nature of the posterior lesions, three anatomoclinical types occur: 1) posterior capsular lesions cause unilateral facet dislocation (UFD): ten cases; 2) bony lesions of the articular process cause unilateral facet fracture (UFF): 28 cases; 3) double bony lesions, which can set free the articular facets, are called fracture separation of the articular pillar (FSAP): nine cases. The common radiographic characteristic of these three lesions is slight anterior displacement (or antero-listhesis), which is well seen on the lateral film; only tomograms or CT scans can show the posterior lesions. Instability, as defined by Roy-Camille, Denis and our experiments, was obvious on X-rays: soon after the injury, for UFD, and some time later, for 18 UFF and three FSAP. Statistically, 25% of all cases of TRD are associated with another traumatic lesion of the lower or upper cervical spine. Clinically, there is a 30% rate of radicular complications in TRD: this figure is higher than that of other injury types.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)