[Review of clinical experience for a new preputioplasty technique as circumcision alternative]. / Retour d'expérience d'une nouvelle technique de préputioplastie comme alternative à la circoncision.

Surgery is required for phimosis with a contracted fibrous ring or when the medical treatment with steroids has been unsuccessful. Surgical teams often opt for circumcision when a conservative technique can be used. This surgery could have some psychologic consequences, and when the circumcision in not according to religious convictions, it cannot be live well for the patient and his family. Furthermore, some surgery procedures for prepuce conservation seem to give some unaesthesics aspects with cutaneous excess. The objective of this study was to evaluate our new preputioplasty technique according to the initial diagnosis (phimosis with scarred foreskin or long and narrow foreskin), in situation where circumcision is required currently. Outcome evaluated was: easy and painless foreskin retraction, absence of postoperative phimosis as well as cosmetic aspects of the penis. In this study, 90 children benefited from this technique and subsequent follow-up. The mean age was 7.9 years for the 32 children in the sclerotic phimosis group and 6.8 years for the 58 children in the long and narrow foreskin group. We observed complete foreskin retraction without any recurrence in 100% of children with a phimosis resistant to medical treatment which consisted of progressive foreskin retraction and application of topical steroids, with a mean postoperative follow-up of 1.4 years. Results showed an excellent cosmetic aspect of the penis with absence of enlarged foreskin in all our subjects. This study underlines the relevance of this surgical technique.

[Primary surgery for cleft palate and short hospital stay (48 h): Are they compatible?]. / Chirurgie primaire des fentes vélaires et/ou vélo-palatines et hospitalisation de courte durée (48h) : sont-elles compatibles ?

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to evaluate our practices by studying the duration of hospitalization and the parental real-life experience after a primary surgery of a cleft palate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Monocentric retrospective study by analysis of the patients files and phone interview of the parents whose children were operated for a primary surgery of a cleft palate isolated, or associated with a labial cleft, or included in a syndromic form. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients (25 B-24 G) were performed by 44 Wardill and five Furlow procedures (average age: 11 months ½) between 2010 and 2012. The average duration of the post-operative stay was 1.5 days. Thirty-three parents were contacted (67%). The return was "very well" or "well done" in 82% of the cases. The pain at home was estimated by the parents as "worthless" or "little intense" in 73% of the cases. For 16% of the parents, the child seemed "uncomfortable". The prescription of analgesic was followed only in 70% of the cases. The duration of hospitalization was considered by the families as "good one" in 70% of the cases, "too long" for 12% and "too short" for 18% in particular because of difficulty in eating or parental anxiety. CONCLUSION: Even if palatine surgery is considered to be painful, anaesthetic techniques and current analgesic protocols allow to envisage very simple and fast consequences, authorizing an early return of the children at home.

[The breast of the adolescent girl]. / Le sein de l'adolescente.

During adolescence, psychological and physical changes occur and breast takes a major place in the young woman body image. Except rare malign tumors, breast pathologies at this age are mainly benign or malformative. Malformative issues are revealed during breast growth, as isolated asymmetry or associated to other regional anomalies, with abnormal shape or volume of the breast, or even supernumerary breast. Therapeutic solutions will not differ from the ones used for adults. Breast lipofilling, recently admitted by plastic surgery community is an interesting tool that can be used on young women. Choosing the right technic depends on the initial problem. It comes at an early stage to offset hypoplasia resulting in a problem of asymmetry. It waits for breast stability in case of hypertrophy and for legal majority in case of breast augmentation using implants. Psychological impairment stays however a central issue and forces the surgeon to adapt to the individual and to his body change over time.

[The role of balneology in plastic surgery]. / Place du thermalisme en chirurgie plastique.

UNLABELLED: Balneology can be part of the plastic surgery care sector. The objectives of this study were firstly to the state of knowledge about the hydrotherapy and specify the place reserved for hydrotherapy by surgeons as an adjunct in plastic and reconstructive surgery (adult and child). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multicentric national study by poll (Google Drive®) focused at plastic and/or pediatric surgeons. The following information was analyzed: frequency, timing of prescription, indications, the surgeon's feelings towards hydrotherapy and the differences between adult's and children's prescriptions. RESULTS: Fifty-four teams were contacted: 22 responses were received (15 "adult" plastic surgeons, 9 "pediatric" plastic surgeons, 6 pediatric surgeons, with 12 out of 22 working with burnt patients). Eighteen out of 22 prescribed hydrotherapy. Twenty out of 22 thought that hydrotherapy had a role as adjuvant therapy in plastic surgery. The indications were: burns (11/20), skin-graft hypertrophy (10/20), inflammatory and pruritic scar and cutaneous trophic disorders (9/20), psychological (3/20), retractions (2/20), weight loss and smoking (1/20). The timing of the prescription was: < 3 months (2/20), < 6 months (7/20), > 6 months and < 1 year (15/20), > 1 year (8/20) after surgery/trauma. Twenty out of 22 found a beneficial effect: physical (19/20): reduction of inflammatory signs, pruritus and pain, scar maturation, skin thinning improvement; psychological (14/20): positive for patient/family. Five out of 17 made the difference between child/adult, 10/17 made no difference but only treated adults or children. CONCLUSION: The respondents in the study are probably more sensitive to the effects of hydrotherapy that non-respondents. It is difficult to assess the real impact of hydrotherapy in plastic surgery because distinguishing spontaneous favorable evolution of a scar from one only due to the hydrotherapy or multidisciplinary management is difficult. However, hydrotherapy seems to have its role among multidisciplinary management.

[Cleft lip and palate: Health-related quality of life (French VSP-A scale) for patients and their family. About 51 families]. / Fentes labio-palatines : qualité de vie (VSP-A) patients et parents. À propos de 51 familles.

PURPOSE, OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to investigate the quality of life of patients undergoing cleft lip or cleft lip and palate as well as the perception of quality of life of patients perceived by their parents slot. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-one adolescents and young adults (29 boys and 22 girls) who underwent cleft lip (FL 22) or lip and palate (CLP 29) and their parents have received psychological and surgical joint consultation. The minimum age for inclusion was 10 years (mean age 15.5 years). A quality of life questionnaire (VSP-A) "children" was given between 10 and 11 years and a questionnaire "adolescents" beyond. Parents have them answered a questionnaire of perceived quality of life of their children. The results were analyzed and compared to a control population (Statistics Student test). Perceived parents lived in relation to their children was obtained through the study of linear regression curves. RESULTS: The response rate to the questionnaires was 66.7% for parents, 85.7% for children and 63.6% for teenagers. The quality of life of the patients was assessed by the patients to 65.1/100 on average. The index of overall quality of life was superimposed on the control population (p=0.66). Perceived quality of life of patients by their parents was fairly close to the quality of life described by patients (66.5). On the areas of family, education, recreation, quality index was proportionately less than for other areas. For each of these areas, parents overestimated the quality of life of their child. Compared to the control group the fields of education, leisure, vitality quality index were significantly lower in the/FL population P.

[Split-thickness skin graft donor site: which dressing use?]. / Site donneur de greffe de peau mince : quel pansement utiliser ?

INTRODUCTION: The management of split-thickness skin graft donor sites is targeted towards promoting the healing process, reducing pain. This has been an inconclusive topic. The aim of this study was to list and to discuss the French practices in term of split-thickness skin graft (STSG) donor site dressing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multicentric national study by questionnaire (Google Drive(®)) for the attention of the plastic and/or pediatric surgeons. The type of dressing used on skin and sclap and the rhythm of dressing changes were analyzed. RESULTS: The study included 26 surgical centers on 40 contacted. The alginate is mainly used (Algostéril(®)) (17/26). It is left in position until healing (13/17). Five other types of dressings have been reported: paraffin gauze (3/26), lipidocolloides (1/26), Mepitel(®) (1/26), Mepilex(®) (1/26), indifferent use of gauze or alginate dressings (4/26). Twenty-two out of 26 centers make no difference in dressing choice between skin and scalp. Medical practices did not differ between adult or pediatric departments. CONCLUSION: Cost-effectiveness has become an important issue in wound management, requiring judicious use. The lack of consensus regarding split-thickness skin graft donor site dressing and our clinical practices force us to reconsider the best therapeutic option. This study coupled with the analysis of the literature highlights the difficulties of the practitioner in choosing the best dressing. The alginate seems to get the preference of our practices by its ease of use, its absence of change (reduces pain by limiting manipulations) and its moderate cost.

[Tissular expansion in giant congenital nevi treatment]. / Nævus pigmentaires congénitaux géants : quelle place pour l'expansion cutanée.

UNLABELLED: Surgical management of giant melanotic naevi remains a surgical challenge. Tissue expansion provides tissue of the same quality for the repair of defects. The aim of this study is to review tissular expansion for giant melanotic naevi. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study from 2000 to 2012. All children patients who underwent a tissular expansion for giant congenital naevi had been included. Epidemiological data, surgical procedure, complication rate and results had been analysed. RESULTS: Thirty-tree patients had been included; they underwent 61 procedures with 79 tissular-expansion prosthesis. Previous surgery, mostly simple excision had been performed before tissular expansion. Complete naevus excision had been performed in 63.3% of the cases. Complications occurred in 45% of the cases, however in 50% of them were minor. Iterative surgery increased the complication rate. CONCLUSION: Tissular expansion is a valuable option for giant congenital naevus. However, complication rate remained high, especially when iterative surgery is needed.

Should we question early feminizing genitoplasty for patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia and XX karyotype?

BACKGROUND: There is a wide difference of opinion between the medical-surgical community and advocacy group regarding Disorders of Sexual Development (DSD) secondary to congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) being ranked in the intersex category. This rupture is even more evident when the issue of genitoplasty is brought up. For physicians it is obvious and unequivocal that a person with CAH and an XX karyotype has a female gender identity, whereas associations tend to rank persons with CAH in the intersex category and advocate holding-off on surgical management. MATERIAL/METHODS: A retrospective case study vs. control group, spanning over 40years, included 21 patients who were treated in 3 different centers. Each patient and their parents were contacted independently and interviewed regarding interpersonal relationships, psychological impact of genitoplasty, gender identity and opinion on optimal care management for this disorder. Three couples controls (parent-child) per CAH patients were used and matched according to age, sex assigned at birth and ethnic origin. RESULTS: Sex assigned at birth seemed to concord with the gender identity perceived by the patients in 85.7% of cases. In fact, 89.7% of patients and 100% of parents felt that feminizing genitoplasty should be performed within the first year of life. There is however a significant difference compared to controls who felt that surgical management should occur later on in life. No difference was highlighted during childhood regarding parents-child relationships or social integration. However, during adolescence, the parents-child relationship tended to be significantly more painful for the CAH group. Integrating their parenting role was significantly harder for patients in the CAH-DSD group. In the population of CAH-DSD patients who had genitoplasty the level of sexual fulfillment was not lower to the one reported by the control group. CONCLUSION: Female sex assignment seems legitimate according to this study and the development of gender identity in these patients matches the sex assigned at birth. Resolving early on the adequacy of the genital anatomy with the sex assigned is promoted by patients as well as their parents. Proper psychomotor development and sexual satisfaction underline the absence of complications related to the surgical technique and the relevance of early surgical management.

[Recurrence of pregnancies with gastroschisis: a case report]. / Récidive de grossesse avec fœtus atteint de laparoschisis : à propos d'un cas.

Gastroschisis, a parietal anomaly belonging to median celosomia, is characterized by right lateral-umbilical evisceration. Its frequency, estimated at 1 birth in 2700, shows an excellent final prognosis conditioned by the digestive ischemic damage found at birth whose therapeutic management is often limited. No genetic cause is currently incriminated in the genesis of gastroschisis, except syndromic group associations. In this original observation, we report the case of a couple with a normal history whose obstetric management of the first pregnancy showed a fetus with gastroschisis at 12 WG, with primary closure at birth. The same couple began a second pregnancy in post-partum with on the first-quarter echography showing gastroschisis. A boy was delivered vaginally with extraction, who died of a multivisceral failure at 48h of life. Although no genetic factor is currently identified in gastroschisis onset and although only environmental factors such as illicit substance consumption, young maternal age, and socio-economic precariousness explain the genesis of this parietal anomaly, our observation is original because of the recurrence of this anomaly in the same woman during two successive pregnancies. The early characteristic of the second pregnancy, starting as soon as menstruation returned, can explain the organogenesis of this second gestation in a similar environmental context.

Frequency and socio-psychological impact of taunting in school-age patients with cleft lip-palate surgical repair.

OBJECTIVES: Cleft lip-palate (CLP) is a "social" pathology because of its impact on the child's facial appearance and speech. School is the first place where children are confronted to others and when they start socializing. Taunting and bullying are common and their psychological impact remains hard to assess. The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of taunting in school and its impact in CLP patients who had surgical repair. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter prospective study where we consecutively included patients ≥ 12 years who had CLP repair. During a multidisciplinary consultation they were asked to complete a questionnaire (3 parts: surgical outcomes, taunting and its impact, socio-economic status) previously approved by our psychologists. RESULTS: 55 patients were included (37 B, 18 G) (mean age 15.5 years): 11 CL, 13 CP and 31 CLP. 69% of patients reported having suffered from taunting and peer victimization in school. In 84% of the cases, taunting was linked to the CLP defect itself. The teasing started in primary school to reach a peak of aggressiveness in middle school. 42% of patients reported that bullying occurred at least once a day (16/38). Regarding the psychological impact of taunting, 50% of patients reported sadness, 31% depression and 26.3% were marked for life. At one time or another 29% of patients did not want to attend school because of the teasing. The grade retention rate amounted to 37.7% (20/53), and 2 patients were in special education classes. As a matter of fact, 50% of these children repeated their 1st or 2nd year of primary school. Furthermore, 47% of patients wanted to change something to their face, but 63% of them never spoke to their surgeon about additional surgeries even though they were teased in school. CONCLUSIONS: Taunting is common in children with CLP. This study highlights the high frequency and impact of taunting on the daily lives and self-perception of patients with CLP or CLP repair. It is important for healthcare professionals to be aware of this issue in the context of a multidisciplinary approach.

[Recurrent distal ileal obstruction by a trichobezoar in a 5-year-old child]. / Occlusion iléale récidivante par trichobézoar chez une enfant de 5ans.

The diagnosis of trichobezoar can be difficult, due to its low prevalence in the pediatric population, limited knowledge of behavioral disorders in children and their prevention, and the difficulty of the clinical diagnosis. We report a case of intestinal occlusion in a 5-year-old child, whose diagnosis was delayed and the trichobezoar, revealed intraoperatively, confined 15cm from the ileocecal valve. Diverging management strategies are proposed in the literature concerning the indication of CT for diagnostic and prognostic purposes, and fibroscopy, still considered as the diagnostic reference. Surgical exploration can lead to the final diagnosis. Bowel obstruction requires emergency surgery to avoid intestinal complications and must be followed by psychological therapy to limit recurrence.

Role of angiogenesis-related genes in cleft lip/palate: review of the literature.

OBJECTIVES: Cleft lip and cleft palate (CLP) are the most common congenital craniofacial anomalies. They have a multifactorial etiology and result from an incomplete fusion of the facial buds. Two main mechanisms, acting alone or interacting with each other, were evidenced in this fusion defect responsible for CLP: defective tissue development and/or defective apoptosis in normal or defective tissues. The objective of this work was to study the implication and role of angiogenesis-related genes in the etiology of CL/P. METHODS: Our methodological approach included a systematic and thorough analysis of the genes involved in CL/P (syndromic and non-syndromic forms) including previously identified genes but also genes that could potentially be angiogenesis-related (OMIM, Pub Med).We studied the interactions of these different genes and their relationships with potential environmental factors. RESULTS: TGFß, FGA, PDGFc, PDGFRa, FGF, FGFR1, FGFR2 growth factors as well as MMP and TIMP2 proteolytic enzymes are involved in the genesis of CLP (P>L). Furthermore, 18 genes involved in CLP also interact with angiogenesis-related genes. DISCUSSION: Even if the main angiogenesis-related genes involved in CLP formation are genes participating in several biological activities and their implication might not be always related to angiogenesis defects, they nevertheless remain an undeniably important research pathway. Furthermore, their interactions with environmental factors make them good candidates in the field of CLP prevention.

Surgical and prosthetic treatment for microphthalmia syndromes.

Our aim was to evaluate the long-term outcomes of prosthetic treatment and orbital expansion in the management of microphthalmia syndromes. We did a retrospective single-centre study of all cases of microphthalmia treated between 1989 and 2010. The patients were divided into three groups: isolated microphthalmia, microphthalmia associated with micro-orbitism, and complex microphthalmia syndrome. To evaluate the results a score was computed for each patient by assessing the length of the palpebral fissure, the depth of the conjunctival fornix, and local complications together with an evaluation of the satisfaction of patients and their families. Forty-four children were included (27 boys and 17 girls). Twenty-seven had unilateral microphthalmia (61%) and 17 bilateral microphthalmia (39%). Twelve patients were lost to follow up. The mean duration of follow-up was 12 years (range 4-21). Management involved an ocular conformer in only 31 patients (71%). The treatment was deemed satisfactory in all except 10 children. Surgical treatment with orbital expansion permitted good symmetry of the orbital cavities with a final mean difference of 9% (range 3-17) compared with the initial 16.8% (range 13.6-20.3). The prosthetic treatment gives satisfactory results. Despite limited indications and difficult follow-up, our experience emphasises the value of surgical treatment for severe micro-orbitism.

VAC® therapy a therapeutic alternative in giant omphalocele treatment: a multicenter study.

Giant omphalocele is associated to morbidity and mortality because of the strain the reintegrated herniated mass places on the hemodynamic equilibrium and breathing functions of affected infants. Currently, care management consists in a reintegration in one time or progressive reintegration. We report here a multicenter retrospective study about alternative management by VAC® therapy for giant omphaloceles. The study included three patients (1 girl, 2 boys) presenting with giant omphaloceles, born at full term in three different University Hospitals (prenatal diagnosis, normal karyotype). VAC® therapy was implemented at different times according to the cases (at Day 11, Month 1 and Month 5 after birth). The initial pressure applied was -10 mmHg progressively increased to -50 mmHg. A middle size VAC GranuFoam Silver® Dressing was used in all cases. Wound healing occurred at Month 4 for the first case, Month 6 and Month 8 for the other two. VAC® therapy is a good alternative for the care management of giant omphaloceles with more advantages especially when using prosthetic material. We also aimed at refining the most adapted indications in these specific situations, and finally we envisioned a harmonization of care for these children.

Cleft palate associated with cervico-facial teratoma: report of two cases and review of the literature.

We report two original cases of association of cleft palate and lateral cervico-facial teratoma. We discuss the embryological explanation. The first child presented a cleft palate associated with two cervico-facial localisations of teratoma. The other had Pierre Robin sequence associated with lateropharyngeal teratoma with an extra sub maxillary localisation. Most reported cases were of midline teratomas, leading different authors to advance a mechanical origin to the cleft. Our cases are different: we could hardly find reported cases of associate lateral tumours and cleft palate, which would suggest two different embryologic mechanisms, or at least a combination of more complicated phenomenons.