[A cause of multiple failures in autoplasties: cutaneous pathomimesis]. / Une cause d'échecs multiples d'autoplasties: la pathomimie cutanée.

The authors report a case of cutaneous pathomimesis of the hand with severe self-mutilation, contrasting with the minimal nature of the psychiatric illness. They recall several pathogenic and therapeutic elements for this disease which, although difficult, should be managed by a multidisciplinary approach.

Island flaps with an exclusively venous pedicle. A report of eleven cases and a preliminary haemodynamic study.

Eleven cases are reported of island flaps containing only venous pedicles. All but two survived completely without arterial input and all the successful cases were on the extremities. The possible reasons for this are discussed.

[Trans-scapho-perilunar dislocations with internal instability of the carpal bones]. / Les luxations trans-scapho-péri-lunaires avec instabilité interne du carpe.

The authors have shown both in patients and in cadavers that the posterior triquetro-lunate ligament plays a major role in the stability of the carpus. They suggest a new concept associating pronation and dorsal flexion of the wrist, the hand being immobilised, to explain instability following perilunate dislocations with fractures of the scaphoid. They recommend both the fixation of the scaphoid fracture by a screw and primary repair of the triquetro-lunate ligament.

Prototype of a multipurpose trilaser unit in a teaching hospital surgical department.

We describe our experience and the problems we encountered organizing an autonomous surgical unit in which the equipment and organization enable three lasers to be used in may different applications in medicine and surgery. The three lasers--CO2, Nd:YAG, and argon--may now be used by all the departments concerned within our teaching hospital. As our unit goes into operation, we have determined that we must now begin an evaluation 1) To assess the clinical value of laser usage via the careful selection of cases for laser treatment, the storage of data for future reference on card and computer records, and the assessment of the vital role of the laser within a range of modern therapeutic aids; 2) to achieve technical improvements, by the optimum use of laser sources and related optical equipment; and 3) to assess the economics of the unit, the profitability of bringing together the three types of laser, and the total cost involved.

[Personal experience of Cotrel's method in the surgical treatment of scoliosis and kyphosis (author's transl)]. / Notre expérience de la méthode de Cotrel dans le traitement chirurgical des scolioses et des cyphoses.

This current report of our experience of Cotrel's method falls within the context of continuing the developments in our treatment of scoliosis. Our follow-up for Harrington's operation is 13 years, 281 patients having undergone surgery. On other words, having known the beginnings of this surgery, we are in a position to measure the progress represented by Berckoise's technique (7, 6, 8).