Segregation analysis of balanced pericentric inversions in pedigree data.

The results of the recent European collaborative prenatal study suggested a segregation distortion of balanced pericentric inversions from carrier fathers but not carrier mothers (Boué & Gallano 1984). In an attempt to confirm these unexpected results, we examined 216 pedigrees with balanced pericentric inversions collected from three centers and from the literature. We were unable to detect any significant deviation from the expected 1:1 segregation of balanced pericentric inversions to normal karyotypes among the offspring of either carrier parent. To clarify the discrepancy between the studies, we reanalyzed the data from the prenatal study using all karyotyped individuals and, assuming conventional ascertainment rules, found a normal segregation pattern. We conclude that balanced pericentric inversions segregate normally in both males and females and that some retrospectively selected pedigrees were included as prospective in the prenatal study and this misclassification caused the apparent segregation distortion from carrier fathers.

Free flaps in head and neck surgery.

Free flaps in head and neck reconstruction offer a one step reconstructive procedure with a decreased patient morbidity and an 85% successrate in 60 free flaps, including twenty-eight intra-oral free flaps. Groinflaps were used in twenty-five patients and latissimus dorsi flaps in 34 patients. The indications included benign conditions in 10 patients, from which six has an atrofia of subcutaneous fattissue in the face. Carcinomas were treated in 50 patients. Forty squamous cell carcinomas involved 11 tumors of the floor of the mouth and 11 tongue carcinomas, five orbita and four nose reconstructions. The facial artery was the recipient vessel in 70% of the extra-oral and 68% of the intra-oral free flaps. The lingual artery was used in 12% of the cases, and the superior thyroid artery in 10% of the cases. Free flap procedures, do not increase the operation time substantially. The wound healing is excellent and the hospital stay shortened to 10 days. This quick recovery improves the quality of life for patients with often extensive cancer. Also major salvage procedure can be carried out after conventional methods have failed.

[Fingerreplantation results since 1972 (author's transl)]. / Ervaring met vingerreïmplantaties sedert 1972.

With the use of microvascular techniques 31 out of 45 fingers were successful replanted since 1972. A primary reconstruction of all structures was performed, without bone shortening. Vein-grafts had to be used extensively. The microvascular and digital nerve repairs were performed with 11/0 nylon. The microvascular anastomosis was performed starting at the posterior wall, and progressively coming to the anterior wall, without rotation of the clamps. The results of near total amputations were always good. In complete guillotine amputations the successrate was 75%. In crush lesions 59% and in avulsions 40% success was obtained. After a period for improvement of our microsurgical techniques the results were 90%, 91% and 40% respectively. The functional rehabilitation of the replanted fingers resulted in a useful hand in crush and avulsion trauma and in a very useful hand in guillotine lesions.