Omental flap for treatment of spondylodiscitis with lumbosacral dehiscence: A case report.

We report a case of pedicled omental flap use together with osteosynthesis treatment of a chronic L4-L5 spondylodiscitis due to a large sacral eschar. The 43-years-old patient was paraplegic and had depleted regional flaps solutions due to multiple previous surgeries. The procedure was carried out in supine position then in prone position whereby the dissected flap was recovered through the spine. The surgery was performed by a multidisciplinary team. First, we used an anterior approach for spine osteosynthesis with a metal implant and flap harvest. Then, in a prone position, we completed the vertebral reconstruction by an L3 athrodesis to the pelvis. The flap was recovered through the spine defect, on the side of the implant. It was a right sided pedicled. Complete wound healing was 120 days. The omental flap proved to be a reliable solution in the absence of recipient vessels for free flap transfer and depleted regional flap solutions. It also spared the latissimus dorsi muscle required for a wheelchair user as in our case. The omental flap is still performed in spine surgery especially in oncologic context to prevent wound dehiscence and for spondylodiscitis coverage. The anterior approach allows for both spine osteosynthesis and flap dissection.

[Surgical treatment of recurrent pressure ulcers in spinal cord injured patients]. / La chirurgie secondaire des escarres chez le blessé médullaire.

Not to burn one's bridges. This is the basic principle that comes immediately to the mind of the plastic surgeon when one brings up the secondary surgery of pressure ulcers, which is a common pathology in the spinal cord injured patients. Which ones are good candidates for surgical treatment? When? What preoperative, infectious, rehabilitative management is most likely to minimize the number of failures and recurrences? Which operative technique to prefer in first intention? And in case of secondary surgery, how to choose the best strategy? We will see that some cases can be treated by primarily closing or flap remobilization but, in case of greater loss of substance the realization of a flap from another anatomical region will be essential.

[Leg ulcers in children and teenagers: A monocentric study of 10 cases]. / Ulcères de membres inférieurs chez les enfants et les adolescents : étude monocentrique de 10 cas.

INTRODUCTION: Leg ulcers in adults are a major public health concern. Incidence is increasing with age and there are many causes, with a predominance of vascular etiology. Leg ulcers in children and teenagers are less known and few studies have been conducted to investigate them. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to examine the causes of leg ulcers in children and teenagers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective monocentric study in the Victor-Dupouy hospital in Argenteuil, in children and teenagers who consulted in our center, between 2008 and 2018, for a chronic leg ulcer (disease course>4 weeks). RESULTS: Ten patients were included, two boys and eight girls, aged from 7 to 15.3 years old. The most frequent etiologies were: supine ulcers (n=2) and infectious (n=2). The others etiologies were: sores under cast (n=1), sickle cell disease (n=1), dermatomyositis (n=1), post trauma (n=1), Pyoderma gangrenosum (n=1), ulcer on hemangioma (n=1). CONCLUSION: Infectious causes and supine ulcers were the most frequent etiologies found in our study. These results should be completed by other observations in a multicentric study, currently underway in order to have a better knowledge of the etiologies of leg ulcers in this population and of their clinical course.

Management of established pressure ulcer infections in spinal cord injury patients.

OBJECTIVES: Pressure ulcers are frequently observed in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. They can be life-threatening and are a major medico-economic burden. Despite their frequency, their pathophysiology and optimal management are still poorly understood. Most available data comes from non-comparative studies, especially in terms of antimicrobial use. METHODS: We performed a critical review of the literature and opinions of infectious disease specialists based in a French expert center for this disease. We mainly focused on antimicrobial treatments prescribed in this situation. RESULTS: These infections are usually clinically diagnosed. Microbiological samples are not the gold standard for this assessment. Furthermore, reliable microbiological identification is a major challenge but should help select antimicrobial treatment. Imaging technique could be helpful but cannot replace the physical examination. The choice of antimicrobials must consider the potential ecological collateral damages in this vulnerable population. Antimicrobial therapy should be as short as possible, adapted to the microbiological identification, and must have suitable bioavailability. CONCLUSION: Management of infected pressure ulcers is a major concern in disabled patients already highly exposed to antimicrobial treatment and multidrug-resistant organisms colonization. Extensive data is required.

[Contribution of the scrotal flap for the coverage of ischial and perineal pressure ulcers]. / Apport du lambeau scrotal pour la couverture des escarres ischiatiques et périnéales.

INTRODUCTION: The ischiatric pressure sore is a common pathology in rehabilitated spinal cord injured people, despite careful prevention. Medical treatment by discharge and directed healing is not always sufficient and surgery using local musculocutaneous flaps is often essential. Unfortunately, recidivism is frequent and the availability of local flaps is limited. The scrotal flap is an excellent complement to classic flaps, gluteal flaps or hamstrings. It can be used alone or in addition to another musculocutaneous flap, in first or second intention. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The scrotal flap is a musculocutaneous flap, using the Dartos, the platys muscle of the scrotum. It is richly vascularized, extensible and resistant. Its great plasticity makes it adaptable to any form of loss of substance, with an arc of rotation that can reach the anal margin. It can also be desepidermized and buried to fill a deep defect. Ten cases of scrotal flaps and their different indications are reviewed: some are used in first intention, others in addition to musculocutaneous flaps. RESULTS: The removal of a scrotal flap is fast and extremely easy. The simple closure of the donor site allows the sampling of half of the scrotum due to the great local laxity. The scrotal flaps achieved quickly healed, as well as the donor sites. Only one recurrence was observed after an inappropriate treatment of underlying osteitis. No complications have occurred. CONCLUSION: The scrotal musculocutaneous flap, reliable, resistant, quick and easy to remove is an excellent means of coverage of the perineal region. It can be used for the treatment of any loss of perineal substance in humans, but remains particularly useful for the treatment of ischial or perineal pressure sores.

[Mobilising the team and the patient to prevent pressure ulcers]. / Se mobiliser, en équipe et avec le patient, pour prévenir les escarres.

The occurrence of a pressure ulcer can be considered as an avoidable adverse event. Its consequences are not only very harmful for the patient, but also in terms of the costs induced and for the nursing teams faced with the failure of the prevention treatment. For these reasons, nurses, nurse assistants and the multidisciplinary team must work together around a pressure ulcer prevention strategy.

[Nutritional status of residents of a nursing home and optimisation of the working time of caregivers]. / État nutritionnel des résidents en Ehpad et optimisation du temps de travail des soignants.

The lack of time to devote to care is a frequent complaint of nurses and nursing assistants. The results of a study show that an improvement in the nutritional status of nursing home residents could help to improve their quality of life and to optimise the working time of the nursing teams, thanks to the reduction of pressure ulcers, diarrhoea, falls, fractures and infections.

[Fasciocutaneous flap reliable by deep femoral artery perforator for the treatment of ischial pressure ulcers]. / Lambeau fasciocutané sous fessier fiabilisé par une perforante de l'artère fémorale profonde en reconstruction d'escarre ischiatique.

INTRODUCTION: The surgical management of pressure ulcers in the paraplegic or quadriplegic population is marked by the high risk of recurrence in the long-term. In the current era of perforator flaps, newer reconstructive options are available for the management of pressure ulcers, decreasing the need to use the classically described muscular or musculocutaneous locoregional flaps. The coverage of ischial sores described in this article by a pedicled flap based on a deep femoral artery perforator, appears to be an effective first-line reconstructive option for the management of limited size pressure ulcers. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A number of fifteen paraplegic or quadriplegic patients having at least one ischial bed sore with underlying osteomyelitis were included in this series. The approximate location of the deep femoral artery perforator was initially identified using the "The Atlas of the perforator arteries of the skin, the trunk and limbs", which was confirmed, with the use of a Doppler device. A fasciocutaneous transposition flap was elevated, with the pivot point based on the cutaneous bridge centered on the perforator, and then transposed to cover the area of tissue loss. The donor site was closed primarily. RESULTS: A total of fifteen patients were operated from November 2015 to November 2016. The series comprised of 16 first presentations of a stage 4 pressure ulcers associated with underlying osteomyelitis that were subsequently reconstructed by the pedicled deep femoral artery perforator flap. The healing rate and functional results were both satisfactory. CONCLUSION: Fasciocutaneous flap reliable by deep femoral artery perforator appears to have a promising role in the treatment of ischial pressure sores. It is an attractive option to spare the use of musculocutaneous flaps in the area. Thus this flap could be used as a first-line option to cover ischial pressure ulcers of limited size.

[Treatment of incontinence associated dermatitis]. / La prise en charge de la dermatite associée à l'incontinence.

Incontinence associated dermatitis is one of the main complications of incontinence. Very painful, it is a well-known risk factor of pressure ulcers. Nurse assistants and nurses are on the frontline for detecting and treating the condition.

[The gluteus maximus inferior split-muscle flap for the cover of ischiatic pressure ulcers: Study of 61 cases]. / Le lambeau de faisceau inférieur de muscle gluteus maximus dans la couverture des escarres ischiatiques : étude d'une série de 61 cas.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The coverage of ischiatic pressure ulcers is characterized by a significant recurrence rate (8-64% depending on the series). It therefore seems necessary to introduce the concept of saving in the use of muscle flaps available to avoid being in a situation of therapeutic impasse. The gluteus maximus inferior split-muscle flap allows a tailored coverage to the ischiatic pressure ulcers grade IV with skin defect less than 8cm after surgical debridement. It is associated with an advancement-rotation skin flap removed above the sub-gluteal fold. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The surgical treatment is performed in a single-stage (care+coverage), undercovered by probabilistic antibiotic per- and postoperative then secondarily adapted. After excision of the cavity, a gluteus maximus inferior split-muscle flap was realized. The inferior gluteal artery ensures the muscular flap vascularization. Afterwards, patients follow a rehabilitation program in a specialized center. RESULTS: Sixty-one flaps were performed in 55 patients between September 2000 and January 2015. Fifty-nine (97%) were conducted in first-line and 2 (3%) for covering recurrent pressure ulcers. After a mean duration of 4 years and 8 months follow-up, 13 pressure ulcers (21.3%) relapsed. If reoperation, a simple remobilization of the muscle flap was achieved in 54% of cases, a myocutaneous flap of biceps femoris in 23% and surgical abstention in a patient with non-compliant perioperative care. CONCLUSIONS: The gluteus maximus inferior split-muscle flap, simple to implement, provides coverage of ischial pressure sores while sparing muscle flaps usually used for this indication. The recurrence rate associated with the gluteus maximus inferior split-muscle flap is comparable to biceps femoris and gluteus maximus muscle flaps (totally harvested). It does not sacrifice function gluteus maximus muscle and can be performed in the valid patient. This flap keeps the Superior split-muscle, mobilized in case of sacral pressure ulcer. The gluteus maximus inferior split-muscle flap is the first intention flap indicated for the cover of cover of ischiatic pressure ulcers of less than 8cm in diameter.

[Surgical management of a series of pressure ulcers: Report of 61 cases]. / Prise en charge chirurgicale d'une série d'escarres : à propos de 61 cas.

INTRODUCTION: Retrospective study about pressure ulcers surgical treatments in a series of 61 in 43 patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess the management of pressure ulcers in spinal cord injury patients who had been operated in our institution. RESULTS: On the 61 pressure ulcers, location was ischial in 35 cases, sacral in 15 cases, trochanteric in 7 cases, lateral malleolar in 2 cases, on the heel in 1 case, and 1 was located lateral to the fibular head. Comorbidities were searched pre- and postoperatively. Fifty-five muscular, cutaneous flaps or myocutaneous, 5 fasciocutaneous and 1 excision/suture were realized. The mean follow-up was 8.6 years, and we observed 9 pressure ulcers recurrences (14.8%). We had a total result of 15 (24.6%) complicated pressure ulcers, with 8 early complications (13.1%) and 7 delay (11.5%). Antibiotic therapy was prescribed in 54 (88.5%) surgery cases and 7 were operated without any (11.5%). CONCLUSION: Pressure ulcers are major public health focus that need to be improved. A multidisciplinary care, mixed with education of patients are mandatory to achieve these goals: reduce complications and recurrences. Thanks to muscle sparring, perforators flap should become the gold standard of pressure ulcers surgery.

[Giant recurrent trochanteric pressure sore: A complex medico-surgical care]. / Escarre trochantérienne géante récidivante : une prise en charge médico-chirurgicale complexe.

BACKGROUND: Pressure sores are a frequent complication in spinal injured people. Their treatment is often long and complex. OBSERVATION: We report the case of a 60-year-old man affected with complete paraplegia who developed a right trochanteric pressure ulcer complicated with osteoarthritis of the coxofemoral joint. The treatment was done in three steps. First, a large excision of necrotic tissues and a femoral head-neck resection is performed. Then, the defect is partly covered with a Gluteus Maximus and a Biceps Femoris myocutaneous flaps. Finally, the residual defect is covered with a cutaneous pedicled groin flap called McGregor's flap. Later, the patient showed a right para-scrotal pressure sore on a heterotopic ossification of the ischial tuberosity. DISCUSSION: McGregor's flap is rarely employed for treating trochanteric pressure sores. It was here the only pedicled flap available. It was necessary to autonomize it in order to get enough length and to place a hip external fixation. The para-scrotal pressure sore illustrates the fact that bone resection surgery lifts the weight-bearing zones and can lead to pressure sores in unusual locations. CONCLUSION: The surgical treatment of these "giant" pressure sores requires a perfect collaboration between teams of rehabilitation and several surgical areas. Without a good adherence of the patient, the treatment is doomed to fail.

[TIBOLA: an emerging clinically polymorphous rickettsiosis]. / TIBOLA : une rickettsiose en expansion, cliniquement polymorphe.

BACKGROUND: TIBOLA (tick-borne lymphadenopathy) is a rickettsiosis caused chiefly by R. slovaca, transmitted by a Dermacentor tick. We report five cases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three patients were diagnosed at the initial inflammatory stage (facial oedema, necrotic eschar, lymphadenopathy, fever) and two at the stage of sequelae (alopecia and fatigue). Microbiological evidence was present in only one case. DISCUSSION: TIBOLA is a form of rickettsiosis that is currently spreading in Europe. Clinical diagnosis is often made late because of the mild symptoms and the lack of knowledge among clinicians concerning the condition. Microbiological tests (serology, PCR, culture of eschar or serum samples) are negative in one third of cases. The reference treatment consists of antibiotics effective against intracellular bacteria, cyclines and macrolides.

[Resurfacing of an ischial and trochanteric recurrent pressure sore by a pedicled fasciocutaneous anterolateral thigh flap]. / Couverture d'une escarre ischiatique et trochantérienne récidivante par un lambeau fasciocutané antérolatéral de cuisse pédiculée.

Ischial pressure sores, common in paraplegic patient, are the most difficult to treat, and poor prognosis associated with a high rate of postoperative recurrence. Many surgical techniques by muscular or myocutaneous flap coverage have been described. We report an original use of a fasciocutaneous pedicled anterolateral thigh (ALTp) flap for coverage of an ischial pressure sore combined with a trochanteric pressure sore, exceeded beyond any conventional therapeutic solution. A 45-year-old paraplegic patient suffered from a trochanteric and ischial pressure sore, which had already received coverage by a muscular flap of biceps femoris and gluteus maximus. At 1 year, the result is satisfactory, with good coverage without recurrence. The fasciocutaneous ALTp flap can be a solution to cover recurrent ischial pressure sores beyond conventional methods.

[Update on SENLAT syndrome: scalp eschar and neck lymph adenopathy after a tick bite]. / Les nouveautés sur le syndrome SENLAT : Scalp Eschar and Neck LymphAdenopathy after Tick bite.

SENLAT syndrome, also known as TIBOLA/DEBONEL, is an emerging disease in France. The major symptoms are necrotic eschar on the scalp associated with painful cervical lymphadenopathy. It occurs mainly in women and children during the cold seasons after a bite by a Dermacentor tick, responsible for transmitting Rickettsia slovaca or Rickettsia raoultii. Cutaneous swabs are safe, easy and reliable tools that should be used routinely by physicians to confirm diagnosis. In this particular disease, they should be preferred to serology, which is less sensitive. Doxycycline is the antibiotic of choice for this syndrome.

[Lymphangitis-associated rickettsiosis caused by Rickettsia sibirica mongolitimonae]. / "Lymphangitis-associated rickettsiosis" due à Rickettsia sibirica mongolitimonae.

Rickettsia sibirica mongolitimonae was first isolated 20 years ago in Asia but has now been identified on three continents. Hyalomma spp. and Rhipicephalus pusillus ticks are vectors but only a small number of cases have been reported to date, mainly on the Mediterranean coast. This bacterium induces the lymphangitis-associated rickettsiosis, a still unfamiliar rickettsiosis that is mainly characterized by fever with a rope-like lymphangitis and/or lymphadenopathy and skin eschar occurring after tick bites. These features are especially evocative if they occur in spring. Sequellae are very rare and treatment with doxycycline is recommended.