Security and reliability of CUSTOMBONE cranioplasties: A prospective multicentric study.

BACKGROUND: Repairing bone defects generated by craniectomy is a major therapeutic challenge in terms of bone consolidation as well as functional and cognitive recovery. Furthermore, these surgical procedures are often grafted with complications such as infections, breaches, displacements and rejections leading to failure and thus explantation of the prosthesis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cumulative explantation and infection rates following the implantation of a tailored cranioplasty CUSTOMBONE prosthesis made of porous hydroxyapatite. One hundred and ten consecutive patients requiring cranial reconstruction for a bone defect were prospectively included in a multicenter study constituted of 21 centres between December 2012 and July 2014. Follow-up lasted 2 years. RESULTS: Mean age of patients included in the study was 42±15 years old (y.o), composed mainly by men (57.27%). Explantations of the CUSTOMBONE prosthesis were performed in 13/110 (11.8%) patients, significantly due to infections: 9/13 (69.2%) (p<0.0001), with 2 (15.4%) implant fracture, 1 (7.7%) skin defect and 1 (7.7%) following the mobilization of the implant. Cumulative explantation rates were successively 4.6% (SD 2.0), 7.4% (SD 2.5), 9.4% (SD 2.8) and 11.8% (SD 2.9%) at 2, 6, 12 and 24 months. Infections were identified in 16/110 (14.5%): 8/16 (50%) superficial and 8/16 (50%) deep. None of the following elements, whether demographic characteristics, indications, size, location of the implant, redo surgery, co-morbidities or medical history, were statistically identified as risk factors for prosthesis explantation or infection. CONCLUSION: Our study provides relevant clinical evidence on the performance and safety of CUSTOMBONE prosthesis in cranial procedures. Complications that are difficulty incompressible mainly occur during the first 6 months, but can appear at a later stage (>1 year). Thus assiduous, regular and long-term surveillances are necessary.

Épidémiologie des brûlures de la main chez les enfants vus dans le Centre National des Brûlés et de Chirurgie Plastique de Casablanca, Maroc.

Hand burns in children are common and may lead to debilitating sequelae. Therefore, full functional restoration of the hand is the goal of treatment. To assess the epidemiological, clinical and development aspects of the burns, we conducted a retrospective study over 4 years, from January 2011 to January 2015. It evaluated 313 children suffering from burns and treated at the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit of Ibn Richd Teaching Hospital in Casablanca. Most patients were aged 3-6 years (70%), with a slight male predominance. Scalds accounted for 62% of the causes of burns, flames 33% and electricity 4.5%. Chemical and contact-related burns were anecdotal (1 case of each). Seventy-two per cent of the patients had partial thickness burns, which healed spontaneously. Awareness of and education on these accidents should be part of the school curriculum in order to reduce the incidence of burns in childhood.

Grazing increases the concentration of CLA in dairy cow milka.

An experiment was conducted to examine whether increased CLA in milk of dairy cows fed fresh pasture compared with alfalfa and corn silages was because of ruminal or endogenous synthesis. Eight Holsteins were fed a total mixed ration using alfalfa and corn silages as the forage source in confinement or grazed in a replicated crossover design. The proportion of total fatty acids as CLA (primarily c9, t11-18:2) in g/100 g was 0.44 v. 0.28 in ruminal digesta, 0.89 v. 0.53 in omasal digesta and 0.71 v. 1.06 in milk during confinement feeding and grazing, respectively. Blood plasma CLA was 0.54 v. 1.05 mg/l for the two treatments, respectively. The increased concentration of CLA in milk with grazing likely resulted from increased synthesis through desaturation of t11-18:1 in the mammary gland.

[Acquired ichthyosis and haematological malignancies: five cases]. / Ichtyose acquise et hémopathie maligne : cinq observations.

BACKGROUND: Acquired ichthyosis is a rare condition that can reveal an unsuspected haematological malignancy, thus allowing early diagnosis and management. If ichthyosis regresses under treatment for the haematological disorder, its recurrence reflects a turning point in the course of the disease and implies worsening of the prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The patients were examined at a joint dermatology/haematology consultation. The diagnosis of ichthyosis was based on clinical examination alone with no patients undergoing skin biopsy. RESULTS: Our series included three men and two women aged 38 to 65 years consulting for a variety of reasons including asthenia, anaemia and adenopathy. Ichthyosis occurred 2 to 9 months after the initial symptoms of the blood disease. Lesions consisted of diffuse brown scales. The disease was associated with lymphadenopathy and biological inflammatory syndrome. Two patients were presenting non-Hodgkin lymphoma, one had Hodgkin's disease, one had chronic myeloid leukaemia in progression and one had an undifferentiated lymphomatous process. Treatment was based on chemotherapy and emollients. The ichthyosis progressed in step with the underlying malignancy in all cases, with regression being complete in three cases, partial in one case and absent in one case. DISCUSSION: In rare cases, acquired ichthyosis reveals systemic disease, and may be of infectious, endocrine or drug origin; it may also be idiopathic. However, it is most often a paraneoplastic syndrome with cutaneous expression encountered during haematological malignancies. Because of the variety of causative blood dyscrasias, ichthyosis cannot be used to guide their diagnosis, although it remains a reliable monitoring tool. CONCLUSION: Acquired ichthyosis should prompt the clinician to search for a neoplastic condition, primarily a haematological disorder, guided by other associated signs, given that in our study, skin lesions generally appear to precede signs of the blood disease.

[Thrombosis of the inferior vena cava revealing primary antiphospholipid syndrome: a case report]. / Thrombose de la veine cave inférieure sur syndrome primaire des antiphospholipides : à propos d'un cas.

Thrombosis of the inferior vena cava is a rare clinical expression of primary antiphospholipid syndrome. This case clearly illustrates the clinical manifestations, work-up findings and management principles of thrombosis of the inferior vena cava in primary antiphospholipid syndrome before the stage of complication. The patient was a 24-year-old female with a history of recurrent deep venous thrombosis. She was admitted to the department of internal medicine for dyspnea and pain of the right hypochondria. Physical examination disclosed an edematous ascitic syndrome. The scanner coupled with Doppler ultrasonography showed thrombosis of the inferior vena cava. On these radiological findings, an immunological work-up was requested, which showed the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies.

[Sternal metastasis from differentiated thyroid carcinoma: what management?]. / Que faut-il faire devant une métastase sternale d'un cancer différencié de la thyroïde?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate results of surgical management for sternal metastasis from differentiated thyroid carcinoma. METHODS: A retrospective study has been completed on patients treated in our department for sternal metastasis from differentiated thyroid carcinoma. RESULTS: Among the 235 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer, seven (3%) had sternal metastasis during follow-up. These sternal metastasis were metachronous with an average delay of 10 years. Treatment corresponded to an excision of the upper half of the sternum including internal parts of the clavicle and the adjacent ribs (four cases), a reduction of the metastatic tumour mass (two cases) and one biopsy with no resection (one case). After sternal excision, reconstruction of the chest wall was obtained with the use of polyester prosthesis covered with pectoral muscle flap. Radioiodine was assigned to all patients as a complementary therapy. With an average follow-up of 58 months, no local or distant recurrence was observed in five patients (71%). Two patients had local and/or distant metastasis. CONCLUSION: Incidence of sternal metastasis is rare but does not preclude a large surgical resection. When possible, an aggressive management (surgical resection and radioiodine therapy) allows more than 70% relapse-free survival at 5 years.

[Desmoid tumors of the abdominal wall: three cases]. / Les tumeurs desmoïdes de la paroi abdominale. A propos de trois cas.

Desmoids tumors are rare. They often develop from the fascia and muscles of the abdominal wall. They are considered as benign, but endowed with local aggressiveness. Treatment is primarily surgical. Complete resection with large safety margins and sometimes complex reconstruction is necessary to reduce the risk of local reccurrence. WE report three cases of histology proven desmoids tumors of the abdominal wall treated between 2000 and 2007. Etiologic factors, diagnosis, surgical management and adjuvant therapy in case of incomplete resection or reccurrence are discussed.

[Eruptive nevi associated with sorafenib treatment]. / Naevus éruptifs sous sorafénib.

BACKGROUND: Sorafenib is a new multikinase inhibitor recently approved for renal cell carcinoma and hepatocarcinoma. Among other targets, it blocks the kinase function of the RAF gene products including V600E mutant BRAF, which is frequently found in both melanoma and naevi. Cutaneous side effects are frequent with sorafenib, but no naevus modification has been reported until now. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Five cases of eruptive naevi in patients treated with sorafenib are reported. The mean duration of sorafenib treatment was 9.2 months when naevi eruption was noticed. The patients presented with about 100 to more than 200 small, homogenous, dark-brown naevi located mainly on the trunk and upper limbs. DISCUSSION: Eruptive melanocytic naevi have been reported in association with blistering diseases, and more generally in a setting of immunosuppression. We hypothesize that naevi appearance could be linked to an anti-senescence effect of sorafenib via its action on the MAP kinase pathway. Further prospective studies are needed to explore the relationship between sorafenib and the biology of naevi.

[Thyroid cancer in patients with Grave's Disease]. / Maladie de Basedow et cancers différenciés de la thyroïde.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence of thyroid carcinoma in patients operated on for Graves' disease, to identify criteria which may predict malignancy, and to develop a practical approach to determine the extensiveness of thyroidectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of all patients who underwent thyroidectomy for Graves' disease between 1995 and 2005. RESULTS: 547 patients underwent subtotal thyroidectomy for Graves' disease during this period. Post-operative pathology examination revealed six cases of thyroid cancer (1.1%). All six cases had differentiated thyroid carcinoma (papillary carcinoma in 3 cases, follicular carcinoma in 2 cases and papillo-follicular carcinoma in 1 case). The indication for initial thyroidectomy was a palpable thyroid nodule in 3 cases (50%), failure of medical treatment for Grave's disease in 2 cases (33%), and signs of goiter compression in 1 case (17%). Five patients underwent re-operative total thyroidectomy. CONCLUSION: This study shows that while malignancy in Grave's disease is uncommon, the presence of thyroid nodule(s) in patients with Grave's disease may be considered as an indication for radical surgery. The most adequate radical surgery in this situation is to perform a total thyroidectomy.

[Not Available]. / Maladie de Basedow et cancers différenciés de la thyroïde.

UNLABELLED: R. Mssrouri, S. Benamr, A. Essadel, J. Mdaghri, El H. Mohammadine, M.-K. Lahlou, A. Taghy, A. Belmahi, B. Chad Objective: To evaluate the incidence of thyroid carcinoma in patients operated on for Graves' disease, to identify criteria which may predict malignancy, and to develop a practical approach to determine the extensiveness of thyroidectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of all patients who underwent thyroidectomy for Graves' disease between 1995 and 2005. RESULTS: 547 patients underwent subtotal thyroidectomy for Graves' disease during this period. Post-operative pathology examination revealed six cases of thyroid cancer (1.1%). All six cases had differentiated thyroid carcinoma (papillary carcinoma in 3 cases, follicular carcinoma in 2 cases and papillo-follicular carcinoma in 1 case). The indication for initial thyroidectomy was a palpable thyroid nodule in 3 cases (50%), failure of medical treatment for Grave's disease in 2 cases (33%), and signs of goiter compression in 1 case (17%). Five patients underwent re-operative total thyroidectomy. CONCLUSION: This study shows that while malignancy in Grave's disease is uncommon, the presence of thyroid nodule(s) in patients with Grave's disease may be considered as an indication for radical surgery. The most adequate radical surgery in this situation is to perform a total thyroidectomy.

[An ophthalmological complication of cherubism]. / Une complication ophtalmologique du chérubisme.

INTRODUCTION: Cherubism is a rare familial fibro-osseous lesion usually observed in children. The diagnosis is clinical and radiological. Outcome is generally favorable, but with a risk of ophthalmologic complications, especially lower eyelid retraction, proptosis, diplopia, displacement of eyeball and loss of visual acuity. Clinicians must be aware of these complications for proper detection and specific treatment. OBSERVATION: We report a case of cherubism observed in a 10-year-old boy who presented exophthalmia with reduced visual acuity on the right due to reduction of the volume of the orbital cavity and compression of the optic nerve. Partial maxillectomy was required for decompression. DISCUSSION: Cherubism can lead to various types of ophthalmologic complications. Exophthalmos and loss of visual acuity due to compression of the optic nerve are the most common. Surgery is generally not required, but can become crucial in selected patients.

[Association of Bezold's abscess and sigmoid sinus thrombosis. A case report]. / Association d'un abcès de Bezold et d'une thrombophlébite du sinus sigmoïde. A propos d'un cas.

Bezold's abscess and sigmoid sinus thrombosis are both classic complications of otitis media. However, since the introduction of antibiotics both have become very rare. Very few cases of these complications occurring concomitantly have been reported. We describe the clinical case of a 45 year old male with a 10 year history of neglected right ear cholesteatoma. The patient presented to our department with a 10 day history of purulent right otorrhea, otalgia, increasing headach, pyrexia and suppurating right parapharyngeal mass. CT scan confirmed right middle ear cholesteatoma associated with ipsilateral Bezold abscess and and sigmoid sinus thrombosis. Treatment was by mastoidectomy, broad spectrum intravenous antibiotics and anticoagulation. The patient made a full uncomplicated recovery. The association between chronic middle ear disease, sigmoid sinus thrombosis and Bezold abscess are discussed.

[Orbital osteoma: clinical evaluation of nine cases]. / Les ostéomes orbitaires: évaluation clinique de neuf cas.

INTRODUCTION: Osteoma of the nasosinus cavities, particularly the frontoethmoidal cavities, is often a fortuitous radiographic discovery. Potential complications include ophthalmological, sinusal, and endocranial disorders. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nine patients (five men and four women), mean age 24.3 years (18-43) presenting orbital osteoma were managed from 1994 to 1999. RESULTS: Clinical signs were dominated by ophthalmological disorders, basically non-reducible exophthalmia (n = 8). Two patients had permanent unilateral nasal obstruction and one had acute sinusitis. The bony orbital tumefaction was located in the superior medial angle in five patients. Radiography (Blondeau view) demonstrated an opacity in the sinus with an orbital extension. Computed tomography, performed in all patients, identified the lesion location: ethmoidofrontal (n = 4), anterior ethmoidal (n = 2), frontal (n = 2), ethmoidomaxillary (n = 1). There were no endocranial extensions. Surgery was undertaken for eight patients generally via the transfacial approach (n = 7); a bicoronal approach was used for one patient. En bloc resection (n = 4) or fragmentation (n = 4) was performed. There was one postoperative complication: regressive diplopy. These patients have been followed regularly with clinical and radiographic explorations and have been free of relapse for 2 to 6 years. DISCUSSION: Frontoethmoidal osteoma is a relatively rare benign tumor. Severity depends on the orbital and endocranial extension. Imaging provides the positive diagnosis and guides the surgical approach. Therapeutic indications depend on the tumor size, its course, and the development of complications. We observed total relapse free outcome after complete resection.