[Phocomelia in Africa: thoughts about a case report]. / La phocomélie en milieu africain : réflexions à propos d'un cas.

Phocomelia is a developmental abnormality which occurs during pregnancy and results in congenital ectromelia (developmental arrest of one or more limbs), with characteristically atrophied limbs that look as if they were directly implanted on the trunk, that is, like seal (phocid) flippers. The authors report the case of a Cameroonian neonate. Abnormalities were limited to the upper limbs. The lack of useful causal information and especially the difficulties in therapeutic management in this context are highlighted.

[Aspects of the epidemiology, diagnosis and management of sickle cell osteomyelitis in children in Africa]. / Particularités épidémiologiques, diagnostiques et thérapeutiques de l'ostéomyélite drépanocytaire de l'enfant en milieu africain.

IntroductionSickle cell osteomyelitis in children is one of the complications of osteoarthritis in sickle cell disease.ObjectiveTo describe the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of sickle cell osteomyelitis in children in Africa to improve management.Tools and methodA review of records showed that from April 2004 through September 2009, eleven cases of osteomyelitis in children aged 0 to 15 years who carried the sickle cell trait were treated in the surgical and pediatric unit of the Women's and Children's Hospital of Yaounde.ResultThe children's mean age was 7 years, but frequency was highest for those aged 1 to 5 years. The sex ratio was 2:1 male. The portal of entry was found for only 30% of cases. The predilection of the disease for long bones, the non-fistulated forms, the homozygous type, and the frequency of Salmonella were all remarkable. Medical and preventive treatment, always applied, were followed by orthopedic treatment. The usefulness of surgery, on the other hand, is subject to debate. Healing was obtained in 80% of cases.ConclusionThe authors describe the profile of osteomyelitis in children with sickle cell disease in Africa.

Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in infants: is it a congenital or acquired disorder? Reflections on 2 cases.

Based on evidence from two collected and treated clinical observations of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in children of 5 and 12 months of age, the authors give their point of view on the unresolved issue of the etiology of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. They emphasize that there are more and more factors to prove this is an acquired condition.

À partir de 2 observations cliniques colligées et traitées de sténose hypertrophique du pylore chez les nourrissons de 5 mois et 12 mois, les auteurs font part de leurs réflexions sur la question non encore résolue de l'étiologie de la sténose hypertrophique du pylore. Ils soulignent l'existence de plus en plus de facteurs en faveur d'une affection acquise.