PROPENSIX: pressure garment therapy using compressive dynamic Lycra® sleeve to improve bi-manual performance in unilateral cerebral palsy: a multicenter randomized controlled trial protocol.

BACKGROUND: Upper limb impairment affects activity and participation in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP). Pressure garment therapy (PGT) using compressive dynamic Lycra® garments is an innovative intervention proposed for the management of cerebral palsy consequences. The PROPENSIX study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a therapy using a Lycra® sleeve as compared to a placebo sleeve to improve bi-manual performance measured by the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) in children with unilateral cerebral palsy. METHODS: The PROPENSIX trial is a multicenter, prospective, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomized study. One hundred children with UCP, aged from 5 to 10, are randomly assigned as soon as they are recruited in a 1:1 ratio to perform usual daily activities, especially activities involving bimanual performances, with Lycra® sleeve or placebo sleeve during 6 months. The primary endpoint is the change in bimanual performance from inclusion to 6 months, evaluated by AHA. The secondary endpoints evaluate changes from inclusion to 6 months in other dimensions of the International Classification of Functioning (ICF), upper limb movement capacity assessed by Quality of Upper Extremity Skill Test (QUEST), and health-related quality of life evaluated by Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 3.0 Cerebral Palsy Module (PedsQLTM 3.0 CP Module) and in body structures and functions domain assessed by neuro-orthopedic examination and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP). DISCUSSION: The PROPENSIX study is the largest randomized controlled trial (RCT) aiming to evaluate the efficacy of a PGT using compressive dynamic Lycra® sleeve in UCP. Enhancement of children's bimanual performance at the end of the 6 months wear of the Lycra® sleeve should improve evidence regarding this type of treatment and expand discussion about their recommendation in clinical practice. Data from secondary outcomes assessments should bring interesting arguments to discuss the Lycra® sleeve action on mobility, tonus, and sensory impairments in children with unilateral cerebral palsy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02086214 . Retrospectively registered on March 13, 2014 TRIAL STATUS: Study start data: December 2012. Recruitment status: completed. Primary completion date: April 2021. Estimated study completion date: December 2022. Protocol version 10 (date: February 2018).

[Contribution of the physical and rehabilitation medicine in pediatric plastic surgery]. / Apport de la médecine physique et réadaptation en chirurgie plastique pédiatrique.

Physical, non-painful processes guide the scar reshaping in children in order to prevent growth anomalies due to cutaneous shrinkage. The objective of the surgical treatment, coordinated with the reeducation care, is to improve the physical abilities of the skin, to restore the function and avoid the deformations. Reeducation uses various techniques (i.e. sensitive-motility, massage and mobilizations) with or without physical agent (water, aspiration and touch-drive technique). Posture and positioning rely on the small or major aids, from orthosis to prosthesis. Compression is obtained by the adjustment of aids on molding and compression garment. Indications of the reeducation treatment depend on the timing of cutaneous covering and the advance of the healing process. It also depends on the underlying condition including skin traumas (frictions, wounds, burns), skin surgeries (purpura fulminans consequences, skin graft reconstruction after giant nevus resection, malignant lesion or vascular malformations). The final goal is the rehabilitation and development of the child and the adolescent in its entire somatopsychic dimension.

[Management of purpura fulminans lesions in children]. / Prise en charge des lésions des parties molles du purpura fulminans chez l'enfant.

Purpura fulminans is a pediatric life-threatening emergency with a significant mortality, combining: septic shock, extensive purpuric lesions and disseminated intravascular coagulation. The most frequent bacterial pathogen is the meningococcus. The medical management includes antibiotics, corticoids, vascular filling and catecholamines. Purpura fulminans is characterized by the extent of hemorrhagic and mainly thrombotic lesions, attributed to the alteration in the vascular endothelium functions. Damage of soft tissues combines large necrotic areas and more or less extensive distal ischemic lesions. Necrotic lesions can be deep, reaching skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascia, muscle and sometimes even the bone. The importance of the aesthetic and functional sequelae as well as future quality of life, depend on the quality of surgical management for these wide and deep lesions. Fasciotomy is sometimes urgently needed in the case of a clinical compartment syndrome, confirmed by a high-pressure measurement in the muscle compartments. Debridement of necrotic lesions and amputations are only performed after a clear delineation of necrotic areas, between 10 days and 3 weeks of evolution. If an amputation is necessary, it must focus on the residual bone length, considering the child's growth potential. The coverage of tissue loss uses all the plastic surgery techniques, more or less complex, in order to reduce scars to minimum for these children. Rehabilitation follow-up includes physical and psychological care, which are essential until adulthood.

[Esophageal atresia]. / Devenir à moyen et long terme des enfants atteints d'atrésie de l'œsophage.

Most of the children operated for esophageal atresia will survive the neonatal period. However, medium-term and late complications are frequent in this population. Gastroesophageal reflux disease is observed in 26 to 75% of the cases and can be responsible for peptic esophagitis, anastomotic stenosis, and Barrett esophagus, which is a risk factor for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Dysphagia is frequently observed, sometimes several years after the surgery, affecting up to 45% of children at the age of 5 years. Growth retardation is present in nearly one-third of children at the age of 5 years. Ear, nose, and throat and respiratory complications are also very frequent but tend to improve with time. Tracheomalacia is found in 75% of these children at birth, sometimes responsible for severe complications (malaise, bradycardia). Respiratory symptoms are dominated by chronic cough, wheezing, and infections reported in 29% of the children by the age of 5 years. Restrictive, obstructive syndromes and bronchial hyperactivity can be observed, but usually remain moderate. All these complications can influence the patient's quality of life, which is moderately impaired compared to healthy controls. The high frequency of late sequelae in esophageal atresia justifies regular and multidisciplinary follow-up through adulthood.

[Treatment of sequelae of burns in children]. / Le traitement des séquelles de brûlure de l'enfant.

Burn sequelae in children are conveyed in the form of retraction, deformity and growth problems together with dyschromia and trophic disorders. All the plastic surgical procedures can be used to correct them: full thickness or split thickness skin grafts, Z plasty and its derivatives (trident plasty, IC flaps), expansion, flaps, artificial skin, and dermabrasion. In most cases, these procedures will be combined. The aim of surgical treatment coordinated with rehabilitation is to restore the function, correct the deformities induced, improve the morphological aspect and permit normal growth. Good knowledge of the paediatric environment is, however, required to cope with the specificities of the child: treat the severe local inflammation, get the family to participate in the projects of rehabilitation, sometimes with the help of social services, maintain normal schooling, accompany the disorders in body schema, and, finally, prolong follow-up until growth is complete, a challenge in these patients who are often very young at the time of the accident.

[Early preventive pressure therapy in extensive skin grafts on children's face, a comeback of classic methods? A retrospective study on 8 cases]. / Pressothérapie préventive précoce pour les greffes extensives au niveau facial chez l'enfant, retour aux méthodes classiques? Une étude rétrospective sur huit cas.

INTRODUCTION: One of the common techniques in the treatment of giant facial naevi is the excision covered by a skin graft. It's functional and esthetic results are not always excellent. Physiotherapy including immediate postsurgical preventive pressure therapy could ameliorate these results and shorten the period of scarring. PURPOSE: Evaluation of scarring results with early pressure therapy in skin grafts of congenital facial naevi. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study on 8 children being 1 to 9 years old and presenting congenital facial naevi. All of them were treated by excision followed by full thickness skin grafting. The associated physiotherapy was realized by a transparent rigid or elastic mask. The pressure was started after skin graft uncovering between 7 and 20 days. The period for this treatment was depending on the maturing of the scar. Evaluation was established by 3 examinators on: time till scar maturing, trame quality and esthetic quality. RESULTS: The period till definitive scar maturing was showed to be between 8 and 14 month; trame quality was mostly evaluated as excellent, the esthetic result oscillated between good and medium. CONCLUSION: Physiotherapy seems to be an essential association for the treatment of facial full thickness skin grafts in children. Early pressure therapy could better the functional and esthetic result and accelerate scar maturing. Simple skin grafting could become the first treating option in this indication. Future prospective studies are expected to confirm these results.

[Facial burns in children. 197 patients]. / Les brûlures de la face chez l'enfant. A propos de 197 patients.

Facial burns frequently occur in child. A total of 197 burned patients with facial localisation were seen during the time period (1991-1996) covered by this retrospective study. One hundred and sixteen patients were less than three years old. A quarter of the child were issued from poor social classes with nine cases of child abuse by burning. One hundred and thirteen injuries were performed by hot water or drinks. The total burn area was less than 10% in 63% of the cases. The average facial burned area was 4%. The cheek, the front and the chin were often concerned. Low limbs and trunk were unjured in all cases. 130 patients needed hospitalisation, and stayed in average 17.31 days at hospital. Four patients died from respiratory complications, all after flame injuries. Fifty two child needed skin split grafts. Complete cicatrisation was observed after 21 days of treatment in child without grafts, and after 35.65 days in child with skin grafts. Twenty eight patients needed physiotherapy in center. The scars had a correct cosmetic appearance, without retraction and inflammatory signs in 158 child after two years. Eleven patients needed other surgical treatment. The authors analyse the results and insist on prevention.