[Hetero-digital toe flap according to the « spare-part ¼ concept taken from a duplicated toe for the treatment of a cutaneous flessum of an associated clinodactyly]. / Lambeau hétéro-digital selon le principe du « doigt banque ¼ prélevé chez un orteil dupliqué pour le traitement d'un flessum cutané d'une clinodactylie associée.

INTRODUCTION: The correction of cutaneous deficiency encountered in clinodactyly is an important aspect of its treatment. The use of the skin lining of an adjacent duplicated toe as a « spare-part ¼ flap may be of interest in providing good quality tissue. CLINICAL CASE: We report the case of a child with complete duplication of the 5th toe associated with clinodactyly. The use of a heterodactyl flap taken from the amputated toe allows the release of a plantar cutaneous flange of the preserved toe. DISCUSSION: The concept of « spare-part ¼ flap is mainly used in hand surgery in traumatic lesions of the fingers. Its application in the treatment of clinodactyly on the occasion of the regularization of a polydactyly is also interesting because some fingers or toes are intended to be amputated to render a classical anatomy of five-toed foot. It is necessary for the realization of this type of flap on malformative toes to verify the existence of a distinct viable pedicle of the amputated toe, which can be done only intraoperatively. CONCLUSION: The surgery for congenital malformations of the toes requires perfect management of the skin capital. The use of a « spare-part ¼ toe flap taken from the toe to be amputated is a viable solution for the treatment of a cutaneous flessum encountered in a clinodactyly of the adjacent finger.

Long-term follow-up in composite tissue allotransplantation: in-depth study of five (hand and face) recipients.

Composite tissue allotransplantations (CTAs) have clinically shown little, if any, evidence of chronic rejection. Consequently, the effect of chronic rejection on bones, joints, nerves, muscles, tendons and vessels may still have undescribed implications. We thoroughly assessed all allograft structures by histology, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography and high resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography scan in four bilateral hand-grafted patients (10, 7, 3 and 2 years of follow-up, respectively) and in one facial allotransplantation (5 years of follow-up). All the recipients presented normal skin structure without dermal fibrosis. Vessels were patent, without thrombosis, stenosis or intimal hyperplasia. Tendons and nerves were also normal; muscles showed some changes, such as a variable degree of muscular hypotrophy, particularly of intrinsic muscles, accompanied by fatty degeneration that might be related to denervation. In the majority of hand-grafted patients graft radius and recipient tibia showed a decrease in trabecular density, although in the graft radius the alterations also involved the cortices. No deterioration of graft function was noted. In these cases of CTA no signs of chronic graft rejection have been detected. However, the possibility that chronic rejection may develop in CTA exists, highlighting the necessity of close continuous follow-up of the patients.

Bilateral hand transplantation: Supporting the patient's choice.

Bilateral hand transplantation, as a fairly new reconstructive option for amputees, raises major ethical questions. This article, which is based on the reflections arising from the rich experience of Lyon's team in this field, addresses the topic of supporting the patient in his choice for or against this procedure. How should autonomy be understood in this particular setting? The developing field of composite tissue allotransplantation needs to establish a common thinking on this subject. The article emphasises that, even if it is their right to decide, patients have to be carefully supported to help them make the most consolidated choice possible in this challenging procedure. We deal with the question of the choice between the uncertainty in this innovative procedure and a life-threatening treatment to alleviate a handicap. We outline that the entire process of hand allograft is a unique opportunity for the patients to strengthen and exercise their autonomy in interaction with the medical team.

Vascularised fibula or induced membrane to treat congenital pseudarthrosis of the Tibia: A multicentre study of 18 patients with a mean 9.5-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to compare outcomes of two surgical techniques used to treat congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT), the induced membrane technique (IM) and the transfer of the contralateral vascularised fibula (VF). HYPOTHESIS: The IM technique produces similar outcomes to those of VF grafting in terms of healing and function, while being simpler and having a lower complication rate. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This retrospective multicentre study included 18 patients with a mean age of 2.8 years at surgery. Among them, 11 had neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). The IM technique was used in 10 patients and VF grafting in 8 patients. Mean follow-up was 9.5 years (range: 5-15 years). RESULTS: The two groups showed no significant differences for healing or the occurrence of complications such as limb length discrepancy and residual malalignment. Two patients required amputation, one in each group. The mean number of surgical procedures per patient was 4.7 in the IM group and 5 in the VF group. DISCUSSION: Outcomes are similar with the two techniques. Although VF grafting theoretically involves a single stage, the mean number of surgical procedures was not lower than after the IM technique. The IM technique was associated with lower risks of complications and residual donor site abnormalities. Regardless of the reconstruction technique, the quality of the initial bone resection and internal fixation, particularly regarding alignment, is of the utmost importance. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, comparative retrospective study.

[Reconstructive surgery of Blauth type III hypoplasia of the thumb]. / La chirurgie reconstructive dans les hypoplasies du pouce type III de Blauth.

Thumb hypoplasia type III according to Blauth remains a rare congenital malformation. Recently Manske has promoted reconstruction versus pollicization in the sub-type IIIA where a first carpometacarpal joint is present. However we felt that pollicization is the solution for sub-type IIB where the basal joint is absent. We have reviewed 14 cases of thumb hypoplasia type III, four of them being type IIIB. After performing a first step with a free vascularized second metatarso-phalangeal joint transfer, the secondary steps were identical in both sub-groups. After a mean follow up of five years, no great difference was found in the two sub-groups and basal stability was even better in type IIIB. However the results were functionally and cosmetically inferior to the ones observed after pollicization. When the relatives refuse pollicization or the patient consults late for functional improvement, reconstruction remains worthwhile.

[Definition and classification of basal joint osteoarthritis. A critical analysis and proposals. Treatment options]. / Définition et classification des rhizarthroses. Etude critique et propositions. Conséquences thérapeutiques.

Several definitions and classifications of basal joint osteoarthritis exist. Each of them can be criticized. The authors propose to define basal thumb osteoarthritis as osteoarthritis of the trapezometacarpal joint associated or not with lesions of scapho-trapezio-trapezoid and/or metacarpophalangeal joints. The proposed classification is derived from the Eaton-Littler classification. Stage O is identical to stage I of the Eaton-Littler classification: trapeziometacarpal instability without cartilage lesions. Stage I is osteoarthritis of the trapeziometacarpal joint only, without metacarpophalangeal deformity. Stage II is trapeziometacarpal osteoarthrites combined with reductible hyperextension deformity of the metacarpophalangeal joint. Stage III is trapeziometacarpal osteoarthrites combined with irreductible metacarpophalangeal deformity. Stage IV is identical to stage IV of the Eaton-Littler classification: combined trapeziometacarpal and scapho-trapezio-trapezoid osteoarthritis. The advantage of the proposed classification is that basal joint osteoarthritis is not only defined as real or potential (stage O) osteoarthritis of the trapeziometacarpal joint, but also includes precise evaluation of two other joints at the base of the thumb. This classification can be a guide for treatment options.

Short-term pharmacokinetic study of mycophenolate mofetil in neonatal swine.

BACKGROUND: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is an effective immunosuppressive agent that has been frequently used in laboratory animals including swine; however, the pharmacokinetic properties of MMF in swine have not been studied. This short-term study was designed to evaluate the feasibility and the pharmacokinetic profiles of MMF therapy in neonatal swine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve neonatal pigs were randomized into four groups including one control and three treated groups with oral MMF administered at 0.5, 1, and 2 g/m(2)/d for 4 days, divided by 2 half-doses at 9:00 and 17:00 (except day 4 during which MMF was not administered at 17:00). Blood samples were collected at 9:00 on days 0, 2, 3 and 4 for complete blood count and hepatic/renal function examination; the trough concentration of plasma mycophenolic acid (MPA) was also determined. On days 2 and 4, blood was collected to determine the area under the curve (AUC) of plasma MPA concentration. Animal body-weight growth and manifestations of MMF side-effects such as anorexia, vomiting, and diarrhea were also observed. RESULTS: MMF has no acute hepatic/renal toxicity in newborn pigs; however, less body-weight growth was observed in treated groups. In the control group, a spontaneous increase of lymphocyte count was observed; in contrast, MMF therapy with doses of 1 and 2 g/m(2)/d reduced both lymphocyte and monocyte counts of piglets. Oral MMF had high bioavailability in neonatal swine. MPA-AUC0-12h of doses 0.5, 1, and 2 g/m(2)/d was 22.00 ± 3.32, 57.57 ± 34.30, and 140.00 ± 19.70 µg × h/mL, respectively. Neither MPA trough concentration (MPA-C0), nor MPA maximum concentration (MPA-Cmax) or MPA-AUC0-6h had high correlation with MMF-dose. For surveillance of MPA exposure, MPA-C0 had significant correlation with MPA-AUC0-12h (Spearman's ρ = 0.933, AUC0-12h = 17.882 × C0 + 14.479, r(2) = 0.966). CONCLUSION: To reach adequate drug exposure and to reduce dose-dependent side effects, an MMF dose of 1 g/m(2)/d is recommended to be used as an initial dose for immunosuppressive therapy in piglets, and MPA-C0 monitoring is the most practical strategy for experimental transplantation study.

Early surgical anterior release for congenital and isolated elbow contracture in flexion: a case report of a 16-month-old child.

Isolated congenital elbow contracture is a rare upper-extremity disorder and there are few data about management of this condition. Authors report their experience after aggressive management of children with isolated congenital elbow contracture in flexion. Because of total absence of range of motion (ROM) improvement despites physical therapy (ROM 90-120°) and bone deformity, an anterior surgical release of the elbow was performed through an extensive lateral approach, at sixteen months of age. After surgery, this child was treated by three casts at maximal gained extension followed by sequential Turnbuckles splints. After five years of follow-up, the result was excellent with ROM 5-135°, normal function and absence of growth disturbance. The limiting factor of this protocol was excessive traction in elbow extension on the neurovascular structures, especially the radial nerve. This treatment represents an aggressive management with multiple general anaesthesia, but was found to be a valid option.

Simplified scaphoid reconstruction technique with Zaidemberg's vascularized radial graft.

For more than 10 years, we have been using a simplified reconstruction technique for scaphoid non-unions that involves the use of a graft first described by Zaidemberg et al. [1]. This approach requires that an island bone graft harvested from the radial styloid and pedicled on the 1,2-intercompartmental supraretinacular artery be embedded into the site of the non-union. The objective of our technical modifications was to simplify the harvesting and handling of the graft and the internal fixation. This technique is only used for cases of scaphoid non-union with avascular changes in the proximal fragment, repeated non-union after bone grafting and internal fixation, chronic non-union with osteophyte formation in the dorso-radial aspect and fracture secondary to Preiser disease.

[Bone quality evaluation in allograft hand transplant]. / Évaluation de la qualité de l'os dans les allogreffes de main.

Five bilateral forearms allograft have been performed between January 2000 and July 2009 in Lyon (France). The first four patients (three males, one female) have been the subject of an assessment of the bone quality of those allografts. The techniques selected for this study were: radioclinical analysis, bone scintigraphy, MRI, bone densitometry and High Resolution peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (HR-PQCT). Histology has been performed only on the first patient unilaterally grafted in 1998 who did not take part in this clinical research protocol, after amputation of his rejected graft. On the clinical, radiological and scintigraphical aspects, donor bone integration in hands allograft are good on a macroscopic point of view considering the healing and the general reaction of the bone in situation of fractures, infection and growth. The scintigraphy does not show important variations compared to the ones we can observe on contact with osteosynthesis material or during bone autografts. MRI found neither focal nor periosteal anomaly on grafted bone. The bone densitometry did not show significant difference with secondary osteoporosis one can observe in other grafted patients under immunosuppressive treatment. The HR-PQCT showed for the three males patients, a higher loss in volumetric density, for grafted bone than in the recipient patient control skeleton. Due to the few patients of this series, and the discrepancies in follow-up duration, the presented data have to be confirmed with further studies.

[Hand allograft in agenesic newborn: feasibility study]. / Allogreffe de main chez le nouveau-né agénésique: étude de faisabilité

Would a newborn with a single hand benefit from hand allograft? Transantebrachial aplasia is the chosen clinical form of agenesia in our interrogation. The feasibility study presents several aspects: 1) ethical and psychological aspects. Is this a desired surgery for agenesic population? Which are the functional, psychological and social situations of agenesic patient? Is the hand transplantation in newborn ethically acceptable? What is the parents' attitude toward agenesia? Can we envisage organ donation in neonatal period? 2) immunological aspects. The non-vital character of this condition and its' good functional tolerance cannot make accepting the risk of adverse effects of hand allotransplantation. Hence, one may consider this surgery only without immunosuppression. Can the peculiarities of the neonate "immature" immune system represent an opportunity of easier tolerance obtaining, avoiding immunosuppression? 3) anatomical and technical aspects. The proximal tissues at the level of amputation are all hypoplastic in agenesic patients. Can we efficaciously suture those structures with donor eutrophic tissues? 4) cognitive aspects. Is a neonate born with only one hand is able to use two? A feasibility study on such a subject needs to take into account all these aspects. This research is useful because, even if hand allograft in agenesic newborn will never be done, the provided information will allow to progress in the vaster domain of composite tissue allotransplantation in perinatology.

[Hand allografts: experience from Lyon team]. / Allogreffe de mains: expérience lyonnaise.

Hand allograft is a method in the stage of clinical experimentation, which is reserved in France for the treatment of bilateral traumatic amputees. This study reports the Lyon team experience, which is pioneer in this domain. Four patients (3 males and 1 female) underwent seven (one unilateral and three bilateral) hand transplantations from September 1998 to February 2007. The level of amputation was at the wrist or at the mid-forearm. Delay since hand loss ranged from 2.5 to 9 years. The surgical protocol was elaborated and planned case by case. All recipients received the same immunosuppressive treatment. Episodes of acute rejection were observed in the first 3 months after transplantation, which were easily managed after a few days increasing oral prednisone doses and applying topical immunosuppressants. Currently the patients receive the doses of immunosuppressants comparable to those in kidney-grafted patients. We have not registered any severe complication of immunosuppressive treatment up till now (7 years follow-up for the earliest graft). We performed analytical and functional clinical, as well as questionnaire evaluation of patients. The first case (unilateral graft) resulted in graft failure at 2 years due to non-compliance of the patient. The three bilateral graftees demonstrate a favorable evolution despite some immunological (hyperglycemia, serum sickness) and surgical (thrombosis, osteomyelitis, skin loss) complications, which could be managed. The middle and long-term follow-up evaluation revealed good to excellent sensorimotor recovery of 4 hands in both male recipients (4 and 7 years) with satisfactory social adaptation, higher or equal to those expected after post-traumatic replantations at the equivalent level and higher to those obtained with currently available myoelectric prosthesis. The last patient, a young female who has been grafted in February 2007, receives ongoing reeducation course and shows normal progress of functional restoration of both hands. The encouraging results of this clinical experimentation make us currently consider hand allografting as reasonable and useful both for the patients and for evolution of research in composite tissues allotransplantation (CTA). Further long-term careful research and worldwide monitoring of all patients with hand allografts is required to, on the one part, state on the authorization of this surgery, and, on the other part, to better elucidate the mechanisms of successful CTA.

Bilateral hand transplantation: six years after the first case.

In this study we present our experience concerning bilateral hand transplantation. Two cases were performed: the first in January 2000 and the second in April 2003. Both recipients received the same immunosuppressive treatment, which was similar to those used in solid organ transplantation, including tacrolimus, prednisone and mycophenolate mofetil while antithymocyte globulins were added for induction. Both recipients presented two episodes of acute rejection (maculopapular lesions) in the first 3 months after transplantation; however, these were easily reversed after a few days increasing oral steroid doses and using topical immunosuppressants. The first recipient presented hyperglycemia and serum sickness while the second recipient suffered a thrombosis of the right ulnar artery and an osteomyelitis of left ulna. All the complications were successfully treated. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) showed that cortical hand representation progressively shifted from the lateral to the medial region in the motor cortex. After 6 and 2 years respectively, they showed a relevant sensorimotor recovery particularly of sensibility and activity of intrinsic muscles. They were able to perform the majority of daily activities and to lead a normal social life. The first recipient has been working since 2003. They are both satisfied with their grafted hands.

[Tendinitis of the palmaris longus muscle. Apropos of 24 cases]. / La tendinite du grand palmaire. A propos de vingt-quatre cas.

Twenty-four cases of flexor carpi radialis tendinitis were diagnosed between 1985 and 1989 by SOS Main Strasbourg. This condition typically occurs in women (75%) with a mean age of 47 years with no particular occupational activity who present with spontaneous and induced pain along the distal part of the tendon. Examination may reveal disturbances of cutaneous sensation in the territory of the palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve and associated signs: cysts (10/24 cases), scapho-trapezium osteoarthrosis (3 documented cases). Medical treatment provided good results in 7 out of 9 patients reviewed after a mean follow-up of 15 months. In the event of failure, surgical treatment with opening of the compartment, provided 4 good results in 6 patients reviewed after a mean follow-up of 2 years 4 months.

[Ulnar parametacarpal flap. Anatomical study and clinical application]. / Le lambeau paramétacarpien ulnaire. Etude anatomique et application clinique.

The ulnar border of the hand provides a new skin flap which is very useful in the reconstruction of defects of the palm of the hand and ulnar fingers. An anatomical study of the dorsal carpal branch of the ulnar artery and its various branches has led us to propose the ulnar parametacarpal flap either as a pedicle or free microsurgical transfer. The territory of the dorsal carpal branch of the ulnar artery allows harvesting of a simple sensitive skin flap or a composite flap comprising a bone or tendon island flap. Description of the distal communicating vessels with the ulnar collateral artery of the little finger extends the territory of the ulnar parametacarpal flap; based on a retrograde blood supply, it can reach the dorsal and palmar surfaces of the ulnar fingers. The authors present several clinical applications and define the place of this new flap among the various treatment options for the hand.