Reproducibility of the stability-based classification for ankle fractures.

BACKGROUND: Classification of ankle fracture is important when deciding for operative or conservative treatment. This study rates the reproducibility of ankle stability assessment and compares it with the classification by Lauge-Hansen and Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosyntesefragen (AO) in adult patients with primary ankle fractures. METHODS: A total of 496 consecutive ankle fractures were included, and the X-ray images were reviewed 2 times by 2 medical students, 2 residents, and 1 consultant in orthopedic traumatology. The raters were blinded to each other and to their own results. Unweighted Kappa statistics were used to assess reproducibility. RESULTS: Overall mean (95% CI) interrater Kappa results were 0.65 (0.64; 0.68) for Lauge-Hansen, 0.62 (0.60; 0.63) for AO and 0.61 (0.57; 0.62) for the stability assessment. The intrarater results ranged from a mean Kappa of 0.64-0.80 for the medical students, 0.65-0.81 for the residents and 0.82-0.84 for the consultant. CONCLUSION: The stability assessment has substantial to almost-perfect agreement which is comparable to the Lauge-Hansen and AO classifications.

Histoid leprosy: clinical and histopathological analysis of patients in follow-up in University Clinical Hospital of endemic country.

BACKGROUND: Histoid leprosy (HL) is a rare form of lepromatous leprosy, characterized by hyperchromic indurated nodules above normal skin. Its main histopathological aspect is spindle cells. Because it may simulate other aspects, such as dermatofibroma and neurofibroma, histoid leprosy poses itself as a diagnostic challenge. METHODS: This is a retrospective study with all patients having been selected from the leprosy clinic of the Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo from 2006 to 2016. RESULTS: There were 12 patients in this study, eight in the histoid group and four in the lepromatous leprosy group. The prevalence of HL was 1.12% in all leprosy subjects. All individuals from HL group were "de novo" cases, and the histopathological analysis of skin lesions presented spindle cells generating a storiform pattern. Immunohistochemistry for CD68, vimentin, and anti-BCG were positive in all 12 cases. Factor XIIIa was visualized only in the papillary dermis, and S100 protein was negative in all biopsies. Smooth-muscle actin was present in 62.5% of the HL samples. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HL was similar to previous reports. However, all histoid patients were "de novo" cases, differing from published studies. Fusocellular macrophage transformation could be explained by the differences in cytoskeleton proteins expressed in histoid lesions in comparison to other leprosy variants, with emphasis on vimentin and smooth muscle actin.

Prevalence of leprous neuropathy determined by neurosensory testing in an endemic zone in Ecuador: Development of an algorithm to identify patients benefiting from early neurolysis.

The success of a microneurosurgical intervention in leprous neuropathy (LN) depends on the diagnosis of chronic compression before irreversible paralysis and digital loss occurs. In order to determine the effectiveness of a different approach for early identification of LN, neurosensory testing with the Pressure-Specified Sensory Device™ (PSSD), a validated and sensitive test, was performed in an endemic zone for leprosy. A cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze a patient sample meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for Hansen's disease. The prevalence of LN was based on the presence of ≥1 abnormal PSSD pressure threshold for a two-point static touch. A total of 312 upper and lower extremity nerves were evaluated in 39 patients. The PSSD found a 97.4% prevalence of LN. Tinel's sign was identified in 60% of these patients. An algorithm for early identification of patients with LN was proposed using PSSD testing based on the unilateral screening of the ulnar and deep peroneal nerves.

Guidelines on the use of botulinum toxin type A.

UNLABELLED: Botulinum toxin is available as types A and B. These two different forms need different dosages and hence, the physician needs to be familiar with the formulations. A thorough knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the muscles in the area to be injected is essential. INDICATIONS FOR BOTULINUM TOXIN: Dynamic wrinkles caused by persistent muscular contractions are the main aesthetic indications for the use of Botulinum toxin. These include forehead lines, glabellar lines, crow's feet, bunny lines, perioral wrinkles, and platysmal bands. Non-aesthetic indications include hyperhidrosis of the palms, soles and axillae. PHYSICIANS' QUALIFICATIONS: Any qualified dermatologist may practice the technique after receiving adequate training in the field. This may be obtained either during post-graduation or at any workshops dedicated to this subject. FACILITY: Botulinum toxin can be administered in the dermatologist's minor procedure room. PREOPERATIVE COUNSELING AND INFORMED CONSENT: Detailed counseling with respect to the treatment, desired effects, and longevity of the results should be discussed with the patient. The patient should be given brochures to study and adequate opportunity to seek information. A detailed consent form needs to be completed by the patient. The consent form should include the type of botulinum toxin, longevity expected and possible postoperative complications. Pre- and postoperative photography is recommended. Dosage depends on the area, muscle mass, gender and other factors outlined in these guidelines. It is recommended that beginners should focus on the basic indications in the upper third of the face and that they treat the middle and lower parts of the face only after garnering adequate experience.

Standard guidelines of care for vitiligo surgery.

UNLABELLED: Vitiligo surgery is an effective method of treatment for selected, resistant vitiligo patches in patients with vitiligo. PHYSICIAN'S QUALIFICATIONS: The physician performing vitiligo surgery should have completed postgraduate training in dermatology which included training in vitiligo surgery. If the center for postgraduation does not provide education and training in cutaneous surgery, the training may be obtained at the surgical table (hands-on) under the supervision of an appropriately trained and experienced dermatosurgeon at a center that routinely performs the procedure. Training may also be obtained in dedicated workshops. In addition to the surgical techniques, training should include local anesthesia and emergency resuscitation and care. FACILITY: Vitiligo surgery can be performed safely in an outpatient day care dermatosurgical facility. The day care theater should be equipped with facilities for monitoring and handling emergencies. A plan for handling emergencies should be in place, with which all nursing staff should be familiar. Vitiligo grafting for extensive areas may need general anesthesia and full operation theater facility in a hospital setting and the presence of an anesthetist is recommended in such cases. INDICATIONS FOR VITILIGO SURGERY: Surgery is indicated for stable vitiligo that does not respond to medical treatment. While there is no consensus on definitive parameters for stability, the Task Force suggests the absence of progression of disease for the past one year as a definition of stability. Test grafting may be performed in doubtful cases to detect stability. PREOPERATIVE COUNSELING AND INFORMED CONSENT: A detailed consent form elaborating the procedure and possible complications should be signed by the patient. The patient should be informed of the nature of the disease and that the determination of stability is only a vague guide. The consent form should specifically state the limitations of the procedure, about the possible future progression of disease and whether more procedures will be needed for proper results. The patient should be provided with adequate opportunity to seek information through brochures and one-to-one discussions. The need for concomitant medical therapy should be emphasized and the patient should understand that proper results take time (a few months to a year). Preoperative laboratory studies include hemogram including platelet counts, bleeding and clotting time (or prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin time), and blood chemistry profile. Screening for antibodies for hepatitis B surface antigen and HIV is recommended depending on individual requirements. ANESTHESIA: Lignocaine (2%) with or without adrenaline is generally used for anesthesia; infiltration and nerve block anesthesia are adequate in most cases. General anesthesia may be needed in patients with extensive lesions. POSTOPERATIVE CARE: Proper postoperative immobilization and care are very important to obtain satisfactory results.

Microcannular tumescent liposuction.

Liposuction is a commonly performed procedure to remove localized deposits of fat. Liposuction under general anesthesia is associated with significant morbidity and risk of mortality. Dermatologic surgeons have made significant contributions in this field. Tumescent liposuction using microcannuale under local anesthesia, as practised by dermatologic surgeons is safe and effective. This article describes the procedure of microcannular tumescent liposuction.

A Delphi consensus on criteria for contraindications, assessment indicators and expected outcomes related to tibialis posterior transfer surgery.

A team of experts in the field of reconstructive surgery for leprosy-affected people was identified. Using the Delphi method, an exercise was undertaken to ascertain whether a consensus on essential criteria and indicators for Tibialis Posterior Transfer (TPT) could be reached among the team. This paper describes the Delphi Exercise, giving results at each stage of consensus development. The final outcome was that essential criteria, including contraindications for surgery, pre- and post- operative assessments and expected outcomes, were agreed. The criteria are presented with recommendations.

Photodynamic therapy in dermatology.

Photodynamic therapy is a new modality of therapy being used for the diagnosis and treatment of many tumors. It is now being increasingly used for skin tumors and other dermatological disorders. With its range of application it is certainly the therapy of the future. Its mechanism of action is by the Type II photo-oxidative reaction. The variables are the photosensitizer, the tissue oxygenation and the light source. It has been used to treat various disorders including Bowen's disease, actinic keratoses, squamous cell carcinomas, basal cell carcinomas, and mycosis fungoides. The side-effects are fortunately mild and transient. Newer photosensitizers like methyl aminolevulinate hold a lot of promise for better therapy.

Adverse effects of thalidomide administration in patients with neoplastic diseases.

Thalidomide, a glutamic acid derivative, was withdrawn from clinical use in 1962 due to its severe teratogenic effects. Its recent reinstitution in clinical practice was related to its benefits in leprosy and multiple myeloma. Moreover, the antiangiogenic and immunomodulatory properties of thalidomide have led to its evaluation in several malignant diseases, including myelofibrosis, renal cell cancer, prostate cancer, and Kaposi sarcoma. However, thalidomide use is associated with several side effects: somnolence and constipation are the most common, while deep vein thrombosis and peripheral neuropathy are the most serious. A combination of thalidomide with steroids or chemotherapy is being evaluated in several phase 2 studies. While it is not yet clear whether these combinations will enhance efficacy, they appear to increase the toxicity of thalidomide, and thalidomide analogs are being developed to minimize this toxicity. Ongoing studies will clarify the potential advantages of these agents in the treatment of neoplastic diseases.

The correction of ulnar claw fingers: a follow-up study comparing the extensor-to-flexor with the palmaris longus 4-tailed tendon transfer in patients with leprosy.

PURPOSE: The extensor to flexor 4-tailed tendon transfer (EF4T) and the palmaris longus 4-tailed tendon transfer (PL4T) are 2 surgical procedures used to correct intrinsic paralysis of the hand in leprosy. The EF4T traditionally is the more common procedure and requires the transfer of a wrist extensor muscle. The PL4T requires the transfer of the palmaris longus and morbidity is expected to be lower. A follow-up study was performed to determine whether the clinical outcome of the PL4T is superior to the EF4T procedure in leprosy patients with ulnar claw fingers that are considered mobile before surgery. METHODS: Fifty-five patients presented 65 affected hands, of which 40 hands had the PL4T and 25 had the EF4T procedure. Each hand was assessed before surgery and at follow-up evaluation by predetermined angle measurements, standardized photographs, mechanical function, and patient satisfaction. Each hand was given an overall technical grade according to previously published standards. RESULTS: After an average follow-up period of 33 months there was no statistically significant difference in the technical outcome or patient satisfaction between the 2 tendon transfer procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Whenever the palmaris longus is available it may be considered to be the motor tendon of choice to undertake a many-tailed procedure for claw finger reconstruction in mobile hands paralyzed by leprosy. The palmaris longus should be considered as a possible motor tendon when correcting intrinsic muscle paralysis of the hand.

Dermatologic and nondermatologic uses of thalidomide.

OBJECTIVE: To review published data on thalidomide, with emphasis on current knowledge about mechanism of action, new and/or potential dermatologic and nondermatologic therapeutic applications, well-known and emerging adverse effects, and current indications for its safe use. DATA SOURCES: Review articles, in vitro research studies, references from retrieved articles, case reports, and clinical trials were identified from a computerized literature search using MEDLINE and OVID (1966-January 2003) and on the Cochrane Clinical Trials Register (January 2003). Information available from meetings' abstract books, Internet, or pharmaceutical companies was also considered. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: All articles identified as relevant, including those from non-English literature, were considered in an attempt to provide to the reader both the theoretical basis and practical guidelines for thalidomide pharmacotherapy. DATA SYNTHESIS: Thalidomide has hypnosedative, antiangiogenic, antiinflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. Moreover, it has been shown to selectively inhibit the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and reduce the expression of various integrin receptors on the membrane of leukocytes and other cell types in a dose-dependent fashion. Controlled trials demonstrated the efficacy of thalidomide in a number of diseases, including erythema nodosum leprosum, lupus erythematosus, aphthosis, graft-versus-host disease, prurigo nodularis, and actinic prurigo. Single case reports or studies in small series have also suggested a possible role for thalidomide in numerous other dermatologic and nondermatologic disorders. Possibly severe and sometimes irreversible risks related to the clinical use of thalidomide include teratogenicity and neurotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Although teratogenicity and neurotoxicity are significant adverse effects requiring cautious use, thalidomide is an effective therapeutic modality in a variety of difficult-to-treat disorders and, providing careful selection of patients, should offer an acceptable risk-to-benefit ratio.

[Antibiotics and pregnancy]. / Antibiotiques et grossesse.

Antibiotherapy during pregnancy has to be adapted according two factors: pregnancy related pharmacodynamic changes and potentially negative side effects for the developing foetus of some antibiotics. Pregnancy induce a weight gain, an increase of intravascular volume, of glomerular filtration, and of hepatic metabolism. The foetoplacental unit create a new volume in which antibiotics penetrates increasingly during gestation. As a consequence, during pregnancy, maternal plasmatic levels of antibiotics reaches values 10-50% under the ranges observed with the same dosages administered to non pregnant women. Tobramycin of which clearance diminish during pregnancy is the only exception for this rule. In term pregnancy, placental transfer of antibiotics is very high, except for macrolides. Thalidomide, a well-known responsible of phocomely, is still used in the treatment of leprae. No other antibiotic as a well demonstrated teratogenic effect in human foetuses. Nevertheless, tetracyclin use in pregnancy must be avoided according a high risk of enamel dysplasia, with brownish discoloration of deciduous teeth. No teratogenic effect has been recorded for betalactams and for erythromycin, the first choice antibiotics during pregnancy. Some antibiotherapy are specific of obstetrical conditions. Antibiotics interferes with estrogens metabolism, inducing a fall in circulating level of estriol.

Chemoprophylaxis against leprosy: expectations and methodology of a trial.

Because of the great efficacy of multidrug therapy (MDT), it had been hoped that the widespread use of MDT would bring about a rapid decrease of the incidence of leprosy. To the present, a decrease of incidence has not been observed, possibly because of the long incubation period of the disease, and because general implementation of MDT is still recent. Other reasons, such as environmental sources of infection or the role of healthy carriers in transmitting Mycobacterium leprae, cannot be excluded. Therefore, one must seek alternative or supplementary strategies, such as chemoprophylaxis. Household contacts of leprosy patients are at greater risk of developing leprosy than is the general population. Therefore, a randomized, controlled trial of chemoprophylaxis, using a single 10 mg/kg dose of rifampicin, or a placebo, is planned in nine projects in India, among the household contacts of newly detected leprosy patients. Based upon assumptions of a protective efficacy of the chemoprophylaxis of 50%, an annual incidence of 2 per 1000 contacts, a desired power of the study of 90%, and a level of significance of 95%, 15,000 household contacts will be allocated randomly by household to each arm of the study, and followed for 5 years. Considered as household contacts will be all persons living in the same household as an index case and sharing the same kitchen. Pregnant women and infants will be excluded. To be certain that transmission of the organisms from the index case cannot occur once the prophylaxis is administered, rifampicin will be administered 2 months after diagnosis of the index case. Diagnosis of leprosy will be clinical, and confirmed independently. Although household contacts usually constitute only a small proportion of the new patients detected in a control programme, their high-risk status makes them particularly appropriate for a study of the potential effect of chemoprophylaxis. Following the trial, one could evaluate the usefulness and feasibility of using the same strategy in other population-groups, based on the number of persons necessary to treat to prevent one case.

Single lesion paucibacillary leprosy: baseline profile of the Brazilian Multicenter Cohort Study.

In Brazil, there is little information about the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of paucibacillary, single skin lesion leprosy patients (SSL-PB). Only recently has the official notification system distinguished leprosy patients with a single lesion as a clinical entity, for whom the single-dose ROM (rifampin, ofloxacin and minocycline) regimen has been recommended. In this paper, we describe the baseline clinical features and the immunological background of a multicenter cohort of SSL-PB leprosy cases enrolled between December 1997-1998. Patients were recruited at health centers located in the following regions: Southeast = Rio de Janeiro; North = Amazon and Rondônia states and Center-West = Goiás state. Eligible cases were newly detected, untreated single-lesion leprosy patients without thickened nerve involvement, and were assessed by clinical, bacilloscopic and histopathological exams. The Mitsuda skin test and anti-PGL-I serology (ELISA) were also performed. Of the 299 SSL-PB leprosy patients, 259 (86.6%) fulfilled the criteria for single-dose ROM intervention. Our results showed that patients recruited from different sites had similar features, considering the clinical and immunological profiles. There was a predominance of adults (mean age 32.4; S.D. = 16.0), and a BCG scar was detected in 76.7% of the children (< or = 15 years old). Only 7 cases were diagnosed as the multibacillary type, representing less than 3% of the patients being misclassified. Our data indicate that in Brazil SSL-PB case ascertainment based on clinical and bacilloscopic criteria can be accurately defined under a routine control program; 75.0% of SSL-PB cases were Mitsuda positive (> or = 5 mm) and seropositivity for anti-PGL-I was detected in 17.3% of the patients. These data are compatible with effective cell-mediated immunity and low bacillary load, suggesting favorable clinical outcomes for most SSL-PB participants of this cohort.

[Leprosy surgery: retrospective study in Madagascar]. / La chirurgie de la lèpre: étude rétrospective à Madagascar.

Leprosy is endemic in Madagascar and the diagnosis of leprosy is still done lately. Thus, many patients suffer from multiple and/or severe disabilities. Since a long time, many leprologists argue that surgery is necessary and useful in the treatment of these disabilities. We report the results of a retrospective study done in 25 patients reevaluated 2 to 7 years after surgery. Of these patients: 17 patients (68%) have success, 7 patients (28%) have a partial improvement and only 1 case (4%) had no benefit. These results are encouraging and suggest that surgery must be proposed more often to treat in leprosy disabilities.