[Failure of upper limb macro-implantations: surgery and outcome. 11 cases]. / Echec des macroréimplantations du membre supérieur: chirurgie et devenir. A propos de 11 cas.

The failure of macro-implantation of the upper limb must not be considered as the end of a therapeutic method, but instead as a step in the functional rehabilitation of the upper limb. From a group of 24 patients that have been operated with a macro-implantation of the upper limb, we have seen 11 patients for who the reimplantation had failed. We have studied the surgical procedure of those failures, the mid-term evolution (prosthesis and operations), and a long-term evolution with the functional future of those patients. A surgical procedure with latissimus dorsi flap was necessary in six cases, in one hand to maintain a sufficient length of the stump for prosthesis and the other hand to preserve the articulation of the elbow. Nine patients on 11 were able to be "apparated" by a myoelectric prosthesis for the amputation below the elbow (seven cases), by prosthesis for the amputation above the elbow (two cases). On a long period of time (average time 51 months) only four patients had a permanent use of their prosthesis (myoelectric type). For us, the functional rehabilitation of the upper limb need two important elements: first a good quality of the stump with a sufficient length, and second an important motivation from the patient to live with his "new hand".

[Acute digital ischemia: a microsurgical emergency]. / L'ischémie digitale aiguë: une urgence microchirurgicale.

The authors are reporting their experience about the treatment of the acute finger ischemia concerning 14 patients. Twelve men and two women were concerned. The average age was 39 years old (18 to 65 years old). The acute finger ischemia was caused by emboli released by an ulnar aneurysm in nine cases and consecutive to an atrial fibrillation in five cases. The angiography was realized each time systemically in the emergency context. The medical or surgical etiological treatment was associated each time an emboli was found on the digital arteries. A microsurgical dissection of the digital collateral arteries permitted to perform a thrombectomy. The transversal arteriotomies were closed after collateral arteries were washed. The most proximal emboli were accessible to an extraction with a Fogarty's probe up to the superficial palmar arcade. An anticoagulant treatment was conducted in the early postoperative period. Considering this aggressive treatment, no secondary amputation was necessary up to today. The average follow-up was five years. This method has no indication for the chronic digital ischemias (diabetes, Buerger's disease) and for infectious or auto-immune arteriopathy.

[Secondary reconstruction of stumps above the elbow. Five cases]. / Reconstruction secondaire des moignons d'amputation au-dessus du coude. A propos de cinq cas cliniques.

The authors report a serie of five patients with five stumps above the elbow who needed a secondary reconstruction to allow or facilitate a prosthesis. They used in the first case an expansion of the latissimus dorsi flap and of the axillary and prepectoral region in order to free the stump of the humerus sutured on the thorax. In the second case, a free parascapular flap covered an unstable scar of the clavicula after a scapulothoracic amputation. In the third case, the transfer of a free flap of fibula associated with a pedicled latissimus dorsi flap had allowed the elongation of the stump of the humerus. In the two last cases, a latissimus dorsi flap pedicled in one and free in the second one had allowed to preserved the length of the humerus for prosthesis. The technical choices are eclectic and different in every case. The purpose is to obtain an efficient trophicity and a thickness that can support the prosthesis and if possible a stump long enough to improve the adaptation of the prosthesis. The five operated patients were able to be apparated, reducing in this way their daily functional difficulties.

[Teleradiographic analysis of velopharyngeal insufficiency in CATCH 22 association]. / Analyse téléradiographique de l'insuffisance vélo-pharyngée dans l'association CATCH 22.

The CATCH 22 association (Cardiac defect, Abnormal facies, Thymic hypoplasia, Cleft palate, Hypocalcemia) combines certain signs common to various syndromes (Di-George syndrome, velocardiofacial syndrome, etc.) in combination with a 22q11 chromosomal microdeletion. Velopharyngeal insufficiency can be a complementary sign, or even a presenting sign of this chromosomal anomaly. After clinical examination of these patients, velopharyngeal insufficiency appeared to be due to a deep nasopharynx rather than to a short soft palate. We therefore reviewed 11 patients with teleradiography. We studied the length of the soft palate, the depth of the nasopharynx, the ratio of the depth of the nasopharynx over the length of the soft palate, and we compared our results with those observed in reference populations. The results demonstrate nasopharyngeal disproportion with a normal length of the soft palate and increased depth of the nasopharynx. This anatomical finding therefore encourages us to propose sphincteroplasty rather than velopharyngoplasty.

[Macroreimplantation of the upper limb. Results in 24 cases]. / Les macroréimplantations du membre supérieur. Résultats à propos de 24 observations.

The authors present a retrospective study of 24 cases of macroreimplantations of the upper limb operated between 1985 and 1995. The upper limb survival rate was 54%. The prognosis was better for sections distal to the middle third of the forearm. The cause of early failure was arterial thrombosis and that of later failures was muscle necrosis, responsible for infections and venous thromboses. The functional results are analysed as a function of the type of amputation. Sections outside of muscle zones or with nervous continuity have a more favourable prognosis. 33% of reimplantations obtained a good or excellent result according to Chen's criteria. Poor functional results are nevertheless associated with a number of positive points: protection sensitivity, useful elbow, psychological satisfaction of limb preservation.