[Retrospective study of third degree cervico-facial burns]. / Étude rétrospective des brûlures cervico-faciales du troisième degré

INTRODUCTION: Cervical and facial burns can be responsible of social and professional exclusions, functional limitations and psychological repercussions. Composite allotransplantation has become a reality for complex facial reconstructions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the sequelae of third degree facial burns that might fit into a facial transplant program. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study in our burn unit from May 2006 to July 2009. We included all the patients with third degree cervico-facial burns. One hundred and eighty seven patients were selected. We excluded 87 patients for insufficient initial photography or lack in the medical data. The topography of the facial burns was analysed for each patient and separated into different aesthetic sub units. A questionnaire was mailed to the patients evaluating the psychological, functional and aesthetic sequelae. RESULTS: The follow-up was of 12 months at least. Of the 100 patients, 82 presented with partial facial burns and 18 with full facial burns. Of the 82 patients with partial burns, 48% had burns in the chin area, 45% in the neck area, 41% in the cheeks and 37% in the ears. The sub units associated with functional sequelae were the neck (32%) and the peri-buccal and peri-orbital region (11-14%). On the 100 questionnaires, 28 patients responded. CONCLUSION: Third degree burns sequelae concerned mainly the neck and the lower third of the face. The indication of facial allotransplantation remains rare in the burn patient. The deep carbonisation and the very extensive burn patient with severe functional sequelae where the standard reconstructive procedures are inefficient might be eligible for a facial allotransplant program.

The obturator hernia: difficult to diagnose, easy to repair.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this paper is to present a simple method for obturator hernia repair in two cases with strangulated obturator hernia. METHODS: The authors report on two cases of mechanical bowel obstruction due to incarcerated obturator hernia in elderly, thin women. Both patients presented with clinical and radiological signs of small bowel obstruction. Neither of them had the Howship-Romberg or Hannington-Kiff sign. RESULTS: At laparotomy, incarcerated small bowel in a right-sided obturator hernia was observed in both patients. The small bowel was not necrotic, and no bowel resection was performed. The hernial defect was closed in two layers with interrupted and purse-string nonabsorbable sutures. CONCLUSIONS: Obturator hernia is rare and difficult to diagnose. Often the diagnosis is reached only at laparotomy for small bowel obstruction. The double-layer repair with interrupted and purse-string nonabsorbable sutures could be useful, especially in emergency laparotomies for incarcerated obturator hernia.

[The nasolabial flap and the buccinator flap. Anatomic study and 2 cases reports]. / Le lambeau nasogénien et le lambeau du buccinateur. Etude anatomique et à propos de 2 cas cliniques.

The authors present an anatomical study of the nasolabial flap and buccinator flap on 12 cadavers. This study was illustrated by 2 clinical cases: a case of reconstruction of the philtrum with a superiorly based nasolabial flap and a case of reconstruction combining an inferiorly based nasolabial flap and an ipsilateral anteriorly based musculomucosal buccinator flap.

The most common cause of cascade stomach.

In a random sample of 396 patients with stomach complaints, 54 were found to have cascade stomach (overall frequency 13.6%). The analysis of the results showed the leading cause of this condition to be adhesion of the front costal diaphragm sinus.