[The evolution of phosphocalcic cement in phalangeal and metacarpal enchondromas. A retrospective study of 13 cases]. / Le devenir du ciment phosphocalcique dans les cures d'enchondromes des phalanges et métacarpiens. Une étude rétrospective de 13 cas.

Chondromas are the most frequent benign tumors of the skeleton. The surgical treatment of these tumors consists of curettage of the tumor, which may be associated with a filling of the defect. One of the filling techniques uses bone substitutes. The primary objective was to evaluate the resorption of phosphocalcic injectable cements and their evolution in bone sites. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the function of the finger and to look for a possible recurrence of the chondroma. We performed a bi-centric study and reviewed 13 patients with 14 phalanx or metacarpal chondromas operated on by phosphocalcic cement filling technique with a minimum follow-up of 2years. An X-ray at the longest follow-up was performed as well as a QDASH, a "finger score" and a measurement of the amplitudes. Cement disappearance was observed in 100% of 5 patients. An average of 30% of cement remained at the last follow-up (0-80%). The disappearance of cement was significantly inversely proportional to the time since the last radiograph (P<0.01). On average, total disappearance of cement was found at about 6years postoperatively. The mean QDASH score was 6.1 (0; 40.91). The mean finger score was 3 (0-24). The disappearance of the cement seems to occur in the medium term after its installation but does not predict the functional recovery and satisfaction of patients operated on for the cure of a chondroma of the hand.

[Osteosynthesis by intramedullary headless screw in digital fractures: A retrospective scannographic and anatomical study]. / Ostéosynthèse par vis centromédullaire sans tête dans les fractures digitales : une étude rétrospective scanographique et anatomique.

INTRODUCTION: Long finger skeletal fractures are common injuries. In displaced forms, surgical treatment is required. With the advent of headless cannulated screws, the technique has been simplified and allows reduction in both planes. The objective of our study was to evaluate the functional recovery of patients operated on by this technique. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We conducted a retrospective single-center study between 2019 and 2022. Eleven patients were followed and 12 fractures analyzed. A radio-clinical follow-up was carried out at 1 month then at the last follow-up with an evaluation of the articular amplitudes and a quality of life score (QuickDash, QD). The time to return to professional and sporting activities, pain (EVA) was collected. An anatomical/scannographic evaluation was performed to assess tendon and cartilage damage. RESULTS: At the last follow-up, the average global flexion was 266° and the extension was total. An average QD score of 15.9 and a Jamar force of 106% compared to the healthy side were observed. The return to physical and professional activities was earlier and the pain quickly tolerable. No secondary displacement was objectified and all were consolidated at the last follow-up, without malunion. No patient had been operated on secondarily. CONCLUSION: This technique seems to be a safe and non-traumatic. It allows a faster return to sports and professional activities with fewer complications and no need to remove the material.

In vivo infectivity of liver extracts after resolution of hepadnaviral infection following therapy associating DNA vaccine and cytokine genes.

DNA-based vaccination appears of promise for chronic hepatitis B immunotherapy, although there is an urgent need to increase its efficacy. In this preclinical study, we evaluated the therapeutic benefit of cytokine (IL-2, IFN-γ) genes co-delivery with DNA vaccine targeting hepadnaviral proteins in the chronic duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) infection model. Then, we investigated the persistence of replication-competent virus in the livers of apparently resolved animals. DHBV carriers received four injections of plasmids encoding DHBV envelope and core alone or co-delivered with duck IL-2 (DuIL-2) or duck IFN-γ (DuIFN-γ) plasmids. After long-term (8 months) follow-up, viral covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA was analysed in duck necropsy liver samples. Liver homogenates were also tested for in vivo infectivity in neonatal ducklings. Co-delivery of DuIFN-γ resulted in significantly lower mean viremia starting from week 21. Viral cccDNA was undetectable by conventional methods in the livers of 25% and 57% of animals co-immunized with DuIL-2 and DuIFN-γ, respectively. Interestingly, inoculation of liver homogenates from 7 such apparently resolved animals, exhibiting cccDNA undetectable in Southern blotting and DHBV expression undetectable or restricted to few hepatocytes, revealed that three liver homogenates transmitted high-titre viremia (3-5×10(10) vge/mL) to naïve animals. In conclusion, our results indicate that IFN-γ gene co-delivery considerably enhances immunotherapeutic efficacy of DNA vaccine targeting hepadnaviral proteins. Importantly, we also showed that livers exhibiting only minute amounts of hepadnaviral cccDNA could induce extremely high-titre infection, highlighting the caution that should be taken in occult hepatitis B patients to prevent HBV transmission in liver transplantation context.

Techniques to prevent symptomatic neuroma in digital amputations.

The occurrence of a symptomatic neuroma on a digital amputation stump, whether traumatic or not, is a frequent complication that affects the patient's quality of life. The objective of this study was to analyze the complications inherent to the various techniques used to manage the nerves when performing digital amputation. We compared different surgical nerve management techniques to determine if one technique is more effective than another in preventing neuroma occurrence. We reviewed 105 patients over a 5-year period. A DN4 score greater than 4 and the modified Tinel test (percussion) showing a trigger zone allowed us to clinically diagnose symptomatic neuroma-related pain. We found 23 symptomatic neuromas out of 131 digital amputations. Twelve neuromas were found when the nerves had been neglected (12/33), eight were found in nerves treated by stripping (8/60), three when nerves were treated by stripping and thermal ablation (3/18). No neuroma was found in the five cases of centrocentral union of the two proper palmar digital nerves, in the 5 nerves buried in the bone or in the 9 nerves subjected to thermal ablation only. Management of the nerve is essential for the prevention of neuromas in digital amputations. New techniques such as bone burial and centrocentral union of the two stumps appear to be particularly effective.

Ex vivo model of congenital cytomegalovirus infection and new combination therapies.

INTRODUCTION: Congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is a major public health problem due to severe sequelae in the fetus and newborns. Currently, due to their toxicity anti-CMV treatments cannot be administered to pregnant women. We thus developed an ex vivo model of 1(st) trimester placental CMV infection to observe the route of infection across the placenta and to test the efficacy of various new drugs targeting different stages of viral cycle. METHODS: After validation of the viability of floating villi explants by ELISA ß-HCG, the kinetics of placental infection were determined by immunochemistry and qPCR in this ex vivo model. Antiviral susceptibility was determined in vitro using focus reduction assay and by qPCR in the ex vivo model. RESULTS: The ex vivo model showed viral infection in trophoblasts and mesenchymal space of floating villi. In vitro, antiviral combinations of maribavir with baïcalein or artesunate inhibited viral infection by more than 90%. On the other hand, in ex vivo model, infection was reduced by 40% in presence of maribavir and artesunate. The synergistic effect observed in vitro was not observed ex vivo. DISCUSSION: This model allowed us to understand the CMV spread in 1(st) trimester floating villi better and to analyze the anti-CMV efficacy and toxicity of new drugs that could be administered to pregnant women, either alone or in combination. CONCLUSIONS: Such an ex vivo model could be applied to other viruses such as rubella or parvovirus B19 and in new drug development.