[Assessment of the impact of day care surgery promotion on attending physician consultation rate: a prospective study]. / Évaluation de l'impact de la chirurgie ambulatoire en gynécologie sur la fréquentation de la médecine de ville: une étude prospective.

CONTEXT: In order to control health spending, health authorities encourage medical staffs to develop day care surgery. Gynecologic day care surgery can easily be developed. However, consequences of the reduction of hospital stay on the rate of postoperative consultation with the attending physician have not been evaluated. Will day care surgery lead to an increase in postoperative consultation with attending physician rate? OBJECTIVE: Assessment of the impact of day care gynecological surgery on attending physician postoperative consultation rate. METHODS: This prospective study included 250 women who have gynecologic surgery in the gynecologic unit of a teaching hospital, from April to June 2012. Postoperative consultations with attending physician were identified with a phone questionnaire. Postoperative consultation rate with attending physician was compared between women supported in day care surgery versus conventional surgery. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty women were included in the study, 166 (66.5%) had a day care surgery while 84 (33.5%) had a traditional hospitalisation for surgery. Mean age of women was significantly lower in the group of day care surgery (42.08 years [40.14-44.03] versus 54.15 years [50.45-57.86], P<0.01). Out of the 166 women with a day care surgery, 49 (30%) went to the attending physician while 25 out of 84 (30%) in the traditional hospitalization group. Postoperative consultation rate with attending physician was not significantly different between women supported in day care surgery compared to those supported in conventional surgery (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: This study did not find any difference in the postoperative consultation rate with the attending physician after a day care surgery versus surgery in conventional hospitalization in gynecology. This result should be interpreted cautiously as women are different between the two groups (different surgeries, older women with more associated pathologies in the conventional hospitalization group). Vigilance must be maintained on this risk of increasing postoperative consultation rate with attending physician after day care surgery.

Progressive limitation of knee flexion secondary to an accessory quinticeps femoris muscle in a child: a case report and literature review.

We describe a symptomatic, progressive restriction of knee flexion due to an accessory quadriceps femoris in a nine-year-old girl. There was no history or findings of post-injection fibrosis, nor any obvious swelling of the affected quadriceps. At arthroscopy no intra-articular pathology was found. An accessory 'quinticeps femoris' was diagnosed by ultrasonography and MRI. Following excision of the muscle and tendon full flexion of the knee was regained and there was no recurrence of the contracture.

Acute osteomyelitis in children: the pathogenesis revisited?

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The present study reviews our experience of acute hematogenous osteomyelitis in 450 children over a period of 20 years from 1985 to 2004 at the Nouméa Territorial Hospital in New Caledonia. The objective was to formulate a new theory of the pathogenesis of this affection and to report our research on the disparity in the pathology between temperate countries and our own tropical Pacific area. PATIENT AND METHODS: Only children with an initially normal X-ray and showing symptoms for less than one week were included in the study. Subacute osteomyelitis, infant osteoarthritis and spinal and sacroiliac joint infections were all excluded. All children were treated according to a preestablished protocol including: clinical examination; blood tests; ultrasound, to determine the presence and size of the periosteal elevation and to exclude soft tissue abscess and frequent pyomyositis. Ultrasound was used in the decision to treat with antibiotics alone or with surgery. Computed Tomography was used for deep structures assessment and medical therapy guidance Surgery was limited to open drainage of the subperiosteal abscess only. Regular follow-up of outpatients was continued until normal blood test and X-ray results were achieved. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Four hundred and fifty children with a diagnosis of acute hematogenous osteomyelitis were identified, giving an average incidence of 22 new cases per year (range, 12-35). This incidence was two to five times as high as found in Europe. Fifty-three percent of our cases required surgical drainage (vs. 20 % in Europe). Ethnically, 60 % of the children were Melanesian and 20 % Polynesian (both represented less than 50 % of the local population). A similar incidence, about four times as high as in the population of European descent, was reported in Polynesians by our neighbors in New Zealand. The limbs were affected in 90 % of cases, and specifically lower limbs in 70 %. Multiple osseous lesions and systemic infection were recorded in 43 children (9.5 %). Blood cultures and surgical samples were positive in 80 % of cases, and otherwise negative. All the children were successfully treated, without chronic evolution or sequelae needing secondary surgery. The predominant microorganisms isolated were Staphylococcus aureus, in 81 % of cases, none of which were methicillin-resistant, and group A Streptococcus in 7.5 % of cases. A previous study of soft-tissue S. aureus infection showed the presence of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) genes in 89 % of cases. These very infrequent genes are responsible for leukotoxic apoptosis, producing leukocidin, causing local acute aggressiveness. A parallel study, in progress for more than a year, is focusing on detecting PVL genes in S. aureus isolated from acute osteomyelitis: in the first nine children analyzed, PVL genes were likewise detected in 89 % of the S. aureus isolated, with no methicillin resistance. Ultrasonography allowed positive diagnosis in 64 % of cases on the day of admission and 84 % by the second day. Because of this very early presence of subperiosteal abscess at the beginning of the disease, and several other issues raised in the present study, we believe that Trueta's theory of acute osteomyelitis pathogenesis does not provide any logical explanation for our anatomoclinical observations. We believe that the primary focus of infection is in the osteoperiosteal area rather than under the growth plate in the metaphyseal bone. The term of Acute Osteo-Periostitis would therefore be much more suitable. A history of blunt trauma was found in 63 % of cases in the present series, and often reported in the literature. We speculate that two forms of infection fixation may develop: a local form, where bacteria carried by the blood stream reach a subperiosteal edema or hematoma secondary to blunt trauma, which is in our opinion the most frequent cause; and a general form, where fixation occurs as single or multifocal osteoperiostitis, and multivisceral locations in severe forms of septicemia. The disparity in this pathology between temperate countries and our own tropical Pacific area is certainly due to PVL-positive S. aureus and ethnic factors. The high prevalence of Melanesian and Polynesian patients confirms that they are at high risk of musculoskeletal infection in New Caledonia as in other Pacific countries, and it is possible that these ethnic groups are genetically susceptible to PVL-positive strains. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV. Retrospective case series.

[Hepatic abscesses in childhood: retrospective study about 33 cases observed in New-Caledonia between 1985 and 2003]. / Les abcès hépatiques de l'enfant: étude rétrospective de 33 cas observés en Nouvelle-Calédonie de 1985 à 2003.

UNLABELLED: Hepatic abscesses in childhood are rarely observed in Europe. The aim of this word was to study how to diagnose and how to treat an hepatic abscess. METHODS: Between 1985 and 2003, we recensed retrospectively 33 cases of hepatic abscesses hospitalised in the paediatric unit of Noumea. RESULTS: Children were mainly melanesians (79%), 7 years old on average, having abdominal pains, a clinical and biological infectious syndrome, and abscesses images on ultrasonography or computed tomography. The identified micro-organisms included Entamoeba histolytica in 30% (10 cases); Staphylococcus aureus in 15% (five cases), Staphylococcus coagulase negative in 6% (two cases), Streptococcus D in 3% (one case); Bartonella henselae in 9% (three cases); ascaris in 6% (two cases); Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 6% (two cases). In eight cases no bacteria was identified (24%) but the good evolution after antibiotics and the negative amoebic serology looked like pyogenic abscesses. Two abscesses were aspirated, two were drained, one child had a surgical intervention. There was no death. Following a mean duration of 1 month for antibiotics treatment, outcome was always favourable. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of hepatic abscess can be difficult. Ultrasonography shows the abscess but not the causal agent. The amoebic serology is sensible, consequently, its negativity leads to evoke a pyogenic agent. Early antibiotic treatment against pyogenic, anaerobic bacteria, and Entamoeba histolytica is required. Hepatic abscesses in ascaridiosis, tuberculosis and cat-scratch disease are less frequently encountered. If diagnosis remains doubtful or clinical evolution worsens, or if abscess volume increases, a percutaneous aspiration or drainage is needed.

Traumatic atlanto-occipital dislocation with survival in children.

Traumatic atlanto-occipital dislocation is a rarely seen clinical entity, because it is too often fatal. The case of an 8-year-old boy is presented with an anterior atlanto-occipital dislocation. He suffered from multiple injuries: severe head injury and coma, fractures of both femurs and one tibia. He was considered an incomplete spinal cord injury on admission. The diagnosis was suspected 4 days after admission, and a minimal cervical traction was applied for 4 weeks. At 5 years follow-up, clinical and radiologic status was normal. This case is compared with the 28 survivor children reported in the literature: 79% had incomplete neurologic lesions, and only 12 were normal at follow-up. Every report pointed out difficulties of initial clinical and radiologic diagnosis. Treatment is varied and controversial but, in children's cases, mild traction may be indicated in anterior and posterior displacement as initial management, and surgical stabilization performed early in longitudinal dislocation and deferred in displacement that remains unstable.

High resolution chest CT in tuberculosis: evolutive patterns and signs of activity.

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to determine evolutive patterns and signs of active tuberculosis on high resolution CT (HRCT) scans. METHOD: We followed up over 15 months 27 patients with postprimary pulmonary tuberculosis that was proven bacteriologically. CT scans were performed before, during, and after 6 months of anti-tuberculosis treatment. Both 10-mm-thick sections and 1.5-mm-thick HRCT scans were performed. RESULTS: Ground-glass pattern was noticed 26 times, 9 times after 2 month treatment and only 2 times after 6 month treatment. Among these two patients, one did not undergo his treatment properly and the other one had an additional bacterial infection. Centrilobular nodules (n = 17) and poorly marginated nodules (n = 21) were present only before treatment. Reticular pattern (intralobular and septal thickening), interstitial nodules, and fibrosis were seen both before and after treatment. Ground-glass pattern, poorly marginated nodules, and infiltrates as well as centrilobular nodules were related to an active infection. CONCLUSION: This HRCT may be helpful to demonstrate activity in patients suspected of having tuberculosis and to assess antituberculous treatment efficiency.

[X-ray computed tomographic and radiographic aspects of thoracic actinomycosis]. / Aspects radiographiques et tomodensitométriques de l'actinomycose thoracique.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to evaluate chest radiographs and computed tomography (CT) in patients with thoracic actinomycosis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Chest radiographs and CT scans of 9 patients with proved thoracic actinomycosis were reviewed. CT scans were performed after intravenous contrast administration. RESULTS: Airspace consolidation was present in the upper lobes in 6 patients and in the lower lobes in 3. Cavitations not apparent on the radiographs were seen on CT s in 2 cases. Mediastinal lymphadenopathies were seen on CT s in 2 cases, in one the infection extended through the mediastinal pleura into the mediastinum. Pleural thickening adjacent to the airspace consolidation was identified in 6 cases. Chest wall invasion occurred in 4 cases with a wavy periostal reaction involving ribs adjacent to the site of parenchymal involvement in 3 cases. Extension into the abdomen through the diaphragm was seen in one case. DISCUSSION: In humans, actinomycosis involves the thorax in 15% of the cases. Thoracic and pulmonary parenchymal involvement is usually secondary to aspiration of colonized material from the oropharynx in patients with poor oral hygiene. There is a basilar predominance of the disease, but some studies have reported apical predominance. The pulmonary infection leads to an airspace consolidation mainly in the lung periphery. The infection may extend across fissures and through the pleura. Chest wall and bone invasion are not uncommon. A wavy periosteal reaction involving ribs is said to be highly suggestive of pulmonary actinomycosis. CONCLUSION: Thoracic actinomycosis is characterized by airspace consolidation with adjacent pleural thickening. Chest wall invasion with a wavy periosteal reaction is highly suggestive.

[X-ray computed tomographic tests in the diagnosis and treatment of amebic liver abscesses]. / Apport de l'examen tomodensitométrique pour le diagnostic et le traitement des abcès ambiens du foie.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the CT findings of amebic liver abscesses and its usefulness for treatment. METHODS: CT was performed in 51 patients with proved amebic liver abscess. CT studies were made before and after contrast injection. RESULTS: Among the 98 abscesses, 66% occurred in the right lobe. 66% of the patients presented a solitary abscess. The diameters were found between 2 cms to 15 cms. The mean was 7 cms. An enhancing wall was present in 84%; the margins were festooned in 75%, smooth in the other cases; internal septations were noted in 57%. High density material within the abscess, before injection of contrast was seen in 50%. 30% of patients had focal intra-hepatic biliary dilatation, 27% right pleural effusion, 23% peri-hepatic fluid collection. One hepatic-colic fistula and one hepato-pulmonary fistula were not suspected on U.S. examination. Percutaneous aspiration was done in 31% of the patients, when the diameter of the abscesses were more than 10 cms or when they were seen in the left lobe or when fever or pain did not disappear after treatment. CONCLUSION: CT scan may be helpful in diagnosis of amebic liver abscess at an early stage or later when a complication is suspected. CT scan can also help to indicate and safely perform a percutaneous therapeutic aspiration.

[The double band sign: pleural tuberculosis in x-ray computed tomography]. / Signe de la double bande: tuberculose pleurale en tomodensitométrie.

We described on computed tomography, two cases of pleural tuberculosis with parietal pleural enhancement and thickening associated with another external high density line. We called this parietal pleural and extra pleural change, the "double band sign". After study of the regional anatomy, we think that this external line is the endothoracic fascia.

Percutaneous extraction of vertebral osteoid osteoma under computed tomography guidance.

The authors report two osteoid osteomas of the spine treated by percutaneous extraction under computed tomography (CT) guidance. CT helps to localize exactly and extract only the nidus with no further damage to the bone. This technique is very promising, with a limited approach and minimal bone resection allowing a short hospital stay and prompt functional recovery.