[Pulmonary Metastase of a Knee Mycetoma in Senegal]. / Métastase pulmonaire d'un mycétome du genou au Sénégal.

Mycetoma is transmitted by thorns infected. The commonest site for mycetoma is the foot. The primary pulmonary are rare and usually secondary to other primary site. We report a case of pulmonary fungal mycetoma secondary to primary site in the knee. We do a review of the literature and we discuss the way of dissemination.

Le mycétome se transmet principalement par piqures d'épines d'arbustes infectés. Les localisations primitives au niveau du pied sont les plus fréquentes. Les localisations pulmonaires sont exceptionnelles et secondaires à des localisations périphériques primitives. Nous rapportons un cas de localisation pulmonaire d'un mycétome fongique secondaire à une localisation au niveau du genou, puis nous faisons une revue de la littérature et nous discutons de la voie de dissémination.

[Morel-Lavallée lesion in orthopaedic surgery (Nineteen cases)]. / Épanchement de Morel-Lavallée en chirurgie orthopédique (À propos de 19 cas).

AIMS: The object of this work is the study of especially ancient clinical forms of the effusion of Morel-Lavallée, to discuss the place of deep fascial fenestration by Ronceray and to propose criteria of therapeutic indication. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Our study concerns a continuous retrospective series over 20 years from 1989 till 2009. Eleven men and eight women, 36.7 year-old on average were treated for an effusion of Morel-Lavallée. The dominant etiology was represented by the accidents of the public highway. The collection was discovered after 41.4 days on average (extremes of 1-180 days). The volume of the collection was on average of 1237cm(3) (extremes 60cm(3)-12L). RESULTS: The conservative treatment concerned all patients who had a recent collection lower than three weeks and three others who had an ancient collection. The surgical treatment was established after all 10 times among which four in first intention and six times after failure of the previous treatment. The cure was obtained in 91% of the patients who had a recent collection by the only conservative method and among four patients by the method of Ronceray. To the three others, it was obtained after iterative unbridlings and talcage treatment. CONCLUSION: The authors insist on certain rare forms met in Africa in particular the "virtual form", the ancient forms and the too plentiful forms (12L). They plead for use deep fascial fenestrations by Ronceray for these last ones.

[Latarjet procedure for recurrent anterior instability of the shoulder. Report of 41 cases]. / Traitement De La Luxation Anterieure Recidivante De L'Epaule Par La Technique De La Butee Osteoplastique Selon Latarjet. A Propos De 41 Cas.

AIMS: Evaluate the technique of Bristow-Latarjet in the treatment of the recurrent dislocation of the shoulder. PATIENTS AND METHODS: It was a continuous retrospective study on 46 cases selected in the CHU of Dakar over 11 years. From our criteria of inclusion, 41 patients were retained. There were 37 men for 4 women, whose average age at the time of the intervention was 29 years (extreme: 20 - 44 years). The management of the first episode was unsuited in 25 times. The average time of the first repetition was 10 months and its number varied between 5 and 36 episodes. The treatment of the recurrences was also misfit in 23 times. All our patients were treated according to the technique of Bristow-Latarjet. A standard immobilization Mayo clinic during 3 weeks was made with a systematic rehabilitation. The evaluation was done according to the scale of Constant with 45,6 months an average retreat. RESULTS: We found: 7 excellent cases (17%); 14 very good cases (34%); 9 good cases (22%); 6 average cases (15%); 5 bad cases (12%). Five cases of omarthrosis (3 types II and 2 types III of Samilson-Prieto) were found like two surface cases of sepsis. There was neither post-operative recurrence nor iatrogenic nervous attack. CONCLUSION: The recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder represents a frequent complication of primary dislocations of the shoulder touching especially young subjects. Stabilization by the anterior coracoid abutment according to the technique of Bristow-Latarjet led well represents one of the best techniques for its treatment.

[Role of US in the management of de Quervain's tenosynovitis: review of 22 cases]. / Apport de l'échographie dans la prise en charge de la ténosynovite de de Quervain: à propos de 22 cas.

PURPOSE: To assess the role of US in the management of de Quervain's tenosynovitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a high-frequency transducer (12 MHz), sagittal and axial images were obtained of the first extensor compartment. The US features of 22 symptomatic patients were reviewed (positive Finkelstein's maneuver). RESULTS: US findings included tendon thickening and synovial sheath thickening with peritendinous edematous changes resulting in a peritendinous hypoecoic halo in all patients. An intertendinous septum was identified in two patients. CONCLUSION: US can confirm the suspected diagnosis and provide follow-up of lesions. It can confirm the presence of an intertendinous septum and provide guidance at the time of steroid injection. It can increase the rate of conservative management by demonstrating the absence of septum.

[Assessment of surgical treatment of olecranon fractures by tension-band wiring. About 63 cases]. / Evaluation du traitement chirurgical par haubanage des fractures de l'olecrane. A propos de 63 cas.

The purpose of this work is to estimate our anatomical and functional results of the surgical technique based on the AO principle of tension band wiring. We led a retrospective continuous study on the basis of 70 files brought together from January, 1999 till December, 2006. We had included all the patients who presented a recent fracture of the olecranon treated by tension band wiring and having a follow-up more than 6 month. Seven (7) files were excluded giving to the study one population of 63 patients. The fracture was classified according to the classification of Mayo clinic and the associated hurts were noted. The tension band wiring was the exclusive treatment. The evaluation looked for the complications and appreciated the radiological and functional results according to the score of Mayo Elbow Performance Score. We had found 48 fractures of type II and 15 fractures of type III. There were 5 cases of cutaneous punctiforme opening, a fracture of the ipsilateral forearm in 3 cases, a fracture of the thighbone in 1 case and a dislocation of the elbow associated with a fracture of the humerus in 1 case. The consolidation was obtained at 60 patient's at the end of 4 months on average (extremes: 3 and 6 months). There were 3 cases of non union and 5 cases of pins migrations. On the functional plan, we obtained 15 very good results, 26 good results, 19 average results and 3 bad results. The most frequent and the most common fractures of the elbow, the olecranon fractures treated by tension band wiring give good results.

[Malunion of fractures of the midshafts of the radius and ulna in adults. A series of 10 cases]. / Cals vicieux diaphysaires des deux os de l'avant-bras chez l'adulte. A propos de dix observations.

The authors evaluated the management of malunions of midshaft fractures of the radius and ulna in an Orthopedic and Traumatology departement at Le Dantec University hospital (Dakar, Sénégal). Over a six-year period, there were 10 cases found for analysis. All patients presented with disabilities due to limited pronosupination. Surgical care improved the pronosupination amplitude in all patients. The role of conservative treatment of these fractures in causing malunion is discussed. Correction of these malunions should be by osteotomy, followed by rigid internal fixation with a plate and screws.

[The traffic elbow. A series of 9 cases]. / Le coude de portière. A propos de neuf observations.

"Traffic elbow" is a condition occurring when high energy trauma involves a patient's elbow resting on the window of the car or completely outside it. This is a prospective study over 30 months of 9 patients with "traffic elbow" and therefore sufferring complex open trauma to the elbow. There were 8 men and 1 woman with a median delay of 4 hours before arrival in hospital. The dominant member was affected in 3 cases. The severity of the lesions, using the Mangled Extremity Severity Score (MESS), was more than 7, comprising lesions corresponding to type 1 of the complex trauma of the superior member (TCMS) in 2 patients and a MESS score of between 3 and 6 corresponding to types 2 or 3 of the TCMS for the other 7 patients. The therapeutic possibilities are limited considering the frequent context of polytrauma. In 4 cases we performed a debridement and external humero-ulnar fixation, in 3 cases a debridement and stabilization with Kirschner's wires completed by a fenestrated cast, and in 2 cases a lifesaving amputation. All patients, except those that had had amputation, developed deep sepsis that resolved after adequate treatment. Assessment of the non-amputee patients according to the Mayo Performance Score, yielded more than 70% of bad results. The authors stress the gravity of these lesions whose prognosis is guarded both concerning mobility of the elbow and the frequent neurovascular complications.

[Bipolar dislocation of the clavicle or floating clavicle. A report of 3 cases]. / Luxation bipolaire de la clavicule ou clavicule flottante. A propos de trois cas.

Bipolar clavicular dislocation is uncommon. It associates an acromioclavicular and sternoclavicular dislocation. The authors review the mechanism of this injury and discuss the treatment. Three patients presented after a trauma of the shoulder a floating clavicle. In 2 patients management was surgical. Abstention was decided for the fourth patient. The pathology of floating clavicle is not completely understood. Two hypothesis were made: 1) two dislocations occur simultaneously; 2) two dislocations occur one after another. Management still difficult. Indications must take into considerations the severity of the injury and the functional consequences in the acromioclavicular joint.

[Traumatic manubriosternal joint dislocation in adult: about two surgical cases]. / Luxation manubriosternale traumatique chez l'adulte: apropos de deux cas operes.

Traumatic manubriosternal joint dislocations are rare in adult and occur readily during a violent traumatism of the chest and/or the dorsal spine. We report two cases treated between September 1997 and August 2002 at the Surgical Emergency Department of Le Dantec Hospital. The first observation was related to a 26 year old lady. On September 27, 1997, she fell down from a tree and received all the weight of the body on her two arms. She was referred because of anterior chest pains, increasing with respiration associated with injuries of the 2 wrists. On conventional X-ray, a type II manubriosternal joint dislocation (anterior dislocation of the sternal body with respect to the manubrium) was diagnosed. The mechanism of the dislocation was indirect: flexion-compression of the sternum caused by a hyperflexion of the dorsal spine when the patient touched the ground. There was also a Pouteaux-Colles fracture of the 2 wrists. The dislocation was surgically treated: open reduction followed by manubriosternal stabilization using wires. The 2 wrists were treated by Kapandji procedure. At the 21st postoperative day, a traumatic rupture of the wires required a 2nd internal fixation of the sternum by wires. After 9 years, the patient is without complaint and the chest X-ray is normal. The second observation was that of a 19 year old young woman, referred on August 15, 2002 after a frontal crash with a car while crossing the road. She fell down on her back. She was complaining from severe posterior headaches with a normal Glasgow Scale (15), anterior chest and right hand pains. Radiological examinations showed a fracture of the occipital bone without embarrure and a type I manubriosternal joint dislocation (posterior displacement of the sternal body in relation to the manubrium) which mechanism was direct: direct shock against the sternum. There were also an isolated fracture of 4 right sided ribs and a fracture without displacement of the 3 last bones of the right metacarpus. An orthopaedic treatment was carried out for the lesions of the right hand and an abstention-monitoring suggested for the occipital fracture. The manubriosternal joint dislocation was surgically reduced and stabilized by using a braided polyester thread number 2. After 4 years, the patient is asymptomatic and the manobriosternal joint is stable. We emphasize on the scarcity and the mechanism of traumatic manubriosternal joint dislocations in adult, the frequency of associated injuries and the absence of consensus about their treatment.

[Penetrating wound of the abdomen. Profile of the suffering patient at Dakar teaching hospital]. / Plaies penetrantes de l'abdomen. Profil du blesse admis au centre hospitalier universitaire de Dakar.

INTRODUCTION: In Senegal, the rate of penetrating wound of the abdomen seems to be in great progression. The purpose of this study was to make a descriptive analysis of the epidemiological data on the patient suffering from a penetrating wound of the abdomen. MATERIAL AND METHOD: It is about a retrospective study performed on a 5 years period from January 1997 to January 2002. This study covered 90 cases of penetrating wounds of the abdomen listed at the emergency department of Dakar teaching hospital. The rate, age, sex, responsible agent, circumstances of the wound, place of the injury, evacuation mode, time of admission and check-up injury were studied. RESULTS: The average absolute rate of the penetrating wounds of the abdomen was 18 cases per year. The average age was about 27 +/- 10 years with 88 men for 2 women. The responsible agent was a knife (87%), a firearm (6%), a broken glass (4%), a bullock horn (2%) and a piece of iron (1%). Circumstances of the injury was aggression (91%), accident (6%), self-mutilation (2%), suicide attempt (1%). Evacuation was done by firemen (60%), by the ambulances of the medical structures (22%), and by private individuals (18%). The average time of admission was 5 hours. Nearly 61% of the wounds were located in the umbilical, epigastric, left hypochondre and left side areas. Wound was single in 93,4% of cases and linear in 71,8% of cases. We noted an exit of epiploon (38 cases), peritoneal signs (13 cases) and a small bowel evisceration (9 cases). The treatment was a systematic laparotomy (68%) and a simple closure of the wound with a good follow-up for any further aggravation (32%). CONCLUSION: The patient admitted at the surgical emergency unit of Dakar teaching hospital for penetrating wound of the abdomen is generally a young man, victim of aggression by knife, evacuated by firemen within 5 hours, which present a single and linearwound in perish-umbilical area with exit of epiploon and/or small bowel evisceration, which would undertaken a surgical operation in 68% of cases.

[Cranial and cervical vertebral mycetoma. Report of three cases]. / Le mycétome crânio-cervical. A propos de trois cas.

Mycetomas inflammatory-like tumors presenting as fistulas found in the skin and soft tissues. Inoculation, generally in tropical areas, occurs by skin injury. The foot is the main infection site. Other uncommon infection sites include the cranial and cervical areas which are rare. We present three cases of cranial and cervical mycetoma. Clinical sign were dominated by headache, cervical pain and cervico-occipital tumefaction with formation of pus and granules (red in two cases, black in one). A motor deficit was noted in one patient. Radiographic examinations including CT scan showed extensive mass lesions, associated with bone destruction. Laboratory tests identified Leptospheria senegalensis in one patient and Actinomadura pelletieri in two. A medicosurgical procedure was performed. The course was unfavourable in one patient. Several factors are important for treating such infections: early diagnosis, improvement of the social and economic environment, use of new drugs.

[Femoral neck fracture complicating orthopedic reposition of a dislocated hip: four cases]. / Fracture du col fémoral compliquant la réduction orthopédique d'une luxation de hanche: á propos de 4 observations.

Posterior dislocation of the femoral head with fracture is an exceptional hip injury. Emergency reduction is required. Reposition into the acetabular cavity of the dislocated femoral head may not be feasible. Irreducibility, instability, and more rarely accidental fracture of the femoral neck may also occur. We encountered this latter complication in four patients and report here its frequency and mechanism and propose preventive therapeutic measures. Seventy dislocations and fracture-dislocations of the hip were treated in our unit from March 1997 to February 2003. Among these cases, fourteen hip dislocations were complicated by femoral head fractures. Fracture of the femoral neck occurred during reduction in four. All four cases occurred in men, mean age 49.7 years, who were traffic accident victims (drivers or passengers). There were two Pipkin IV fracture-dislocations and two Pipkin II. The first reduction, achieved under general anesthesia in an emergency setting, was performed by an orthopedic surgeon in one patient and a general surgeon in three patients. Arthroplasty was used to treat the femoral neck fracture in three patients and pinning in one. We reviewed retrospectively the clinical and imaging data before and after reduction. Sub-capital fracture situated 4.0 cm (mean, range 3.5-4.5 cm) from the lesser trochanter occurred in all four cases. The head remained attached above and posteriorly to the acetabulum and was rotated less than 90 degrees . The fragment remaining in the acetabulum was displaced in two cases. In one patient, the fracture-dislocation of the head was associated with a fracture of the posterior rim of the acetabulum. This complication appears to result from an abrupt inappropriate reduction movement. The neck fracture would occur when capsulomuscular retention of the femoral head is associated with a head defect which catches on the rim of the acetabulum during the reduction movement. Neck fracture during reduction of traumatic hip dislocation is a serious complication. Prevention of this iatrogenic event requires a slow, progressive reduction limiting the trauma to a minimum; first intention open surgery may be required in selected cases.

[Evaluation of the management of femoral shaft fractures in children by flexible intramedullary nailing]. / Evaluation du traitement des fractures de la diaphyse fémorale chez l'enfant par embrochage centromédullaire elastique stable (ECMES).

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the morphological and functional outcomes of femoral shaft fractures of the child using a centromedullary elastic nailing. We led a retrospective study including 22 children operated from January 1997 to December 2000 at the surgical emergency department of "Hôpital Aristide Le Dantec". The follow-up was made in the department of paediatric surgery. The patients included 16 boys and 6 girls presenting a total of 23 femoral shaft fractures. The main circumstance was traffic accident(15 cases). All the children underwent an ascending centromedullary elastic nailing controlled by a C-arm after a period of traction. The outcomes were appreciated after a period of 10 months. We observed: A union in all cases, four infections well managed by antibiotics, one vicious callus of 15 degrees, a mobility limitation of knee in two cases (45 degrees and 100 degrees), an inferior limb length inequality in one case, scabs in one patient who died at the 3rd month of a septicopyohemia. The functional evaluation of the outcomes (flexion, extension, limb length inequality) and morphological outcomes (axis, consolidation) showed 21 good results and one bad result. The centromedullary elastic nailing is a safe procedure owing to the low complication rates and the rapid consolidation allowing an early walk in femoral shaft fractures, compared with the orthopaedic treatment.

[Sternoclavicular dislocations: clinical and therapeutic study. A report of 9 cases]. / Luxations sterno claviculaires: aspects cliniques et thérapeutiques. A propos de neuf cas.

Sterno-clavicular dislocations represent an uncommon pathology in shoulder trauma. The authors describe the anatomical and clinical forms observed between January 1999 and December 2002, and evaluate the treatment process. The retrospective study addressed 9 patients (men only) with an average age of 26.6. Based on the duration of the consulting period, one could distinguish old forms from more recent ones. Diagnosis would help to see anterior forms from posterior forms. Evaluation criteria were: pain, mobility of the shoulder, visibility of the deformation of the sterno-clavicular joint. Six types of anterior dislocations were listed, including 4 recent and 2 old ones. There were 3 recent posterior forms. The anterior recent forms, which were treated in orthopedics, showed a positive evolution. As there was no functional disability, it was wiser to refrain from any treatment of the anterior old forms. The posterior forms, two of them were operated (osteosynthesis) revealed no functional deficit after treatment. However, one of the patients had a broken implant. Scanner facilitated the diagnosis of sterno-clavicular dislocations. The anterior forms, which are more frequent and benign, are different from the posterior forms, which are emergency cases due to the proximity of the aero-digestive and cardiovascular elements. Their surgical stabilization requires techniques related to ligamentoplasty rather than using osteo-synthesis equipment which may move away or break off.

[Mycetoma: 130 cases]. / Mycétomes: 130 cas.

BACKGROUND: Mycetoma is a pathological process in which eumycotic (fungal) or actinomycotic causative agents from exogenous source produce grains. It follows penetrating injury inoculating soil organisms, occurring preferentially in rural areas usually among labourers who work barefoot. Mycetoma is a localized chronic, and deforming infectious disease of subcutaneous tissues, skin and bones. We report 130 cases of mycetoma in Senegal from 1983 to 2000. PATIENTS AND METHODS: There were 130 patients with mycetoma. Clinical diagnosis of mycetoma was based on open tract sinuses, tumefaction or discharge of grain. Diagnosis confirmation was based on mycology and histology. An X-ray was preformed to detect bone lesions. Treatment was medical for actinomycetoma and surgical for eumycetoma. RESULTS: We observed 76 actinomycetoma and 54 eumycetoma (Sex ratio M/F=6.6; mean age=34.7 +/- 14.8 years). The mean duration before the first medical evaluation was 4.8 +/- 5.6 years. Actinomycetoma was due to Actinomadura pelletieri, (54 cases), Actinomadura madurae (17 cases) and Streptomyces somaliensis (5 cases). Eumycetoma was due to Madurella mycetomatis (38 cases), Leptospahria senegalensis (9 cases), Pseudoallescheria boydii (6 cases) and Rhinoclediella atrovirens (1 case). Clinical inflammatory features significantly associated with actinomyces (p<0.001 OR=2.64) were predominant (85 cases). Tumoral and cystic features were found in the others forms. Lesions were located on the foot in 81 patients. Bone lesions, depending on the duration, were observed in 68 patients. Neurological damage occurred in 3 patients with dorsolumbar actinomycetoma. Sixty-six patients with actinomycetoma were cured by medical treatment. DISCUSSION: The 130 cases of mycetoma were remarkable by the long duration of the disease before the first medical evaluation. Pain and tumor were the two main symptoms which brought the patients to the hospital and had appeared after 5 years duration and the predominance of actinomadura pelletieri actinomycetoma was responsible for 41.3 p. 100 of our cases. In Niger and Mauritania, mycetoma were actinomycetoma in respectively 71.2 p. 100 and 25 p. 100 of cases. The geographic distribution of pathogenic mycetoma agents was determined by the annual rainfall. Distinction between eumycetoma and actinomycetoma is very important for the treatment.

[Epidemiological and clinical features of the knee osteoarthritis]. / Aspects epidémio-cliniques de la gonarthrose.

The knee osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of pain affecting elderly people. The main clinical features are pain and fonctional disability. The aim of this prospective study was to determine the epidemiological and clinical features of the knee in our regions. It was conducted from January 1st through June 30st 2002, on patients with gonarthrosis successively remited from the department of medicine, rheumatology out patient clinic. The diagnosis criteria was based on the Kellgreen and Lawrence scheme. The Lequesne functional index have been used to evaluate the patients disability. Fifty patients were included in the study, they were 33 females and 17 male (sex ratio of 0.51). The mean age was 61.96 years, ranging from 45 to 81 years. The aetiologic factors was dominated by a family history of inflammatory joint desease (72%) and the knees physical stress (60%). Constitutional abnormality were found only among women, with 4 cases of valgum, 3 cases of varum and one cases of the patella extrernal abnormality. Obesity appeared to be very common associated condition. Forty three patients got a body mass index greater than 25. The knee pain was unilateral in 52% of cases, mostly on the right knee and was a mechnical type with no particularity. The functional disability was proportional to average disease duration, and was not associated to the patients age.

[Fractures of the medial humeral epicondyle in child: preliminary study about 18 cases]. / Les fractures de l'epitrochlée chez l'enfant: etude préliminaire a propos de 18 cas.

The aim of this work is to study the epidemiological, radiological, clinical views of fractures of the medial humeral epicondyle in child and mainly to appreciate the results of surgical treatment. For this, we looked at again in a retrospective study eighteen (18) files of children with fracture of the medial humeral epicondyle. The average age of children was eleven (11) and the male sex most represented (16 boys versus 2 girls). Medial humeral epicondyle's fracture often occurs by accident in playing (15 cases). Accurate diagnostic of the fracture of the medial humeral epicondyle was rarely formulated on the clinical plan. It's the radiography who shown the fracture of the medial humeral epicondyle and permitted to specially the type in accordance with Marion's and Faysse's classifications and also Lechevallier. It was always surgical and consisted on a open reduction and fixation by pins or a periostee's stich. With ten (10) months of background, we assessed our results either on morphological plan than the functional plan. 1/ On morphological plan: an hypertrophy of the medial humeral epicondyle is 3-fold mentioned. Others children have not presented a morphological animaly. 2/ On functional plan: Ten children had an elbow's mobility considered as normal after self reeducation at home. Six enjoyed physical therapy in a specialized department. Two of the children had an extension gap from 30 degrees to 35 degrees respectively. We obtained thirsteen (13) good results in general, three (3) means results and two (2) bad results. In conclusion, the fracture of medial humeral epicondyle occurs around ten (10) years old in boy victim in playing. Diagnostic is sometimes difficult. Surgical treatment gives good results. However, it can be the origin of sequellaes which can justify correct previous refunding.

[An incomplete form of pachydermoperiostosis. Diagnosis of finger clubbing]. / Une forme incomplète de pachydermopériostose. Diagnostic d'un hippocratisme digital.

INTRODUCTION: The finger clubbing is most of the time associated with cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Pachydermoperiostosis also known as osteodermopathic syndrome, an hereditary disorder, is a rare cause of finger clubbing which might be difficult to diagnose in an incomplete form. EXEGESIS: We report a 36 years old black man presenting over many years polyarthralgias, broadening of fingers and clubbing of the fingers and toes extremities. This was mentioned on other family members. The physical examination was otherwise unremarkable. There were no skin thickening, no psoriasis-like and cardio-pulmonary disease features. These following exams were normal; Hemogram, fibrinogen, C reactive protein, rheumatoïd factor, serum calcium and phosphorus, thyroid hormones, growth hormone, chest X-ray, gastroduodenoscopy, electrocardiogram. The skeletal X-ray documented a widespread bone formation, a sacro-iliac osteosclerosis and interosseous ossifications betwen tibias and fibulas. CONCLUSION: Pachydermoperiostosis diagnosis was set up on 3 out of the 4 Borochowitz criteria. The absence of pachyderma defines this incomplete form. The osteoarticular manifestations lead mainly to differential diagnosis with the secondary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy and chronic inflammatory rheumatisms. The underlying pathogenic mechanism of this disease remains still unclear.

[Trochanteric fractures in elderly patients: management and prognosis of 68 cases]. / Fractures pertrochantériennes du sujet âgé: prise en charge et pronostic à propos de 68 cas.

The authors studied restrospecively their cases of trochanteric fractures to evoluate the frequency, the mortality, the morbidity and the results according to the diferent types of osteosynthesis used. 68 cases were collected in a 45 months. Mean age was 75 with 33 men and 35 women. 28 patients were sick before the accident. Using the A.O. classification, the patients were divided in three groups: 19 type A1, 37 type A2 and 12 type A3. 28 patients were operated an emergency basis. An A.O. nail plaque was used in the 43 cases and a staca screw plaque was used in the 11 remaining cases. Early in hospital mobilisation and weigh bearing with assistant was used and continued after discharge. After 17 months of follow up and according to Merle d'AUBIGNE'S, criteria, 91. 42% of the patients showed satisfactory results--16 patients died 8 of them had another desease. Anatomically, bone consolidation was gained after a mean period of 97 days and 40 % of Coxa-vara was reorganised. The frequency of trochanteric fracture inthe elderly is 69,3% in our experience. The patients operated on in emergency for whom a stacca nail plate had a better results with an earlier walking autonomy. In mean follow up there was no different in the two groups.