Daniel Tordjman

Acute felon and paronychia: Antibiotics not necessary after surgical treatment. Prospective study of 46 patients

Paronychia and felon are the most common infections of the hand. Surgical treatment is required once an abscess develops, but systematic use of postoperative antibiotic therapy remains open for discussion. Antibiotics both favor the selection of resistant bacteria and increase the cost of treatment. To our knowledge, no study has demonstrated their benefit following excision, yet many practitioners prescribe them systematically and empirically. In our current practices, we do not use antibiotic coverage following excision of uncomplicated paronychia or felon (no signs of arthritis, osteitis, flexor tenosynovitis, lymphangitis), except in potentially at-risk patients (immunosuppressed, diabetic, cardiac valve prosthesis recipient). Since this approach seems to lead to good outcomes, our objective was to evaluate them clinically in this study. Our prospective study included 46 patients who were not considered at risk. There were 26 cases of paronychia, 3 cases of felon and 17 patients presenting both paronychia and felon. All cases were abscessed and uncomplicated. All patients underwent surgical excision, and none received postoperative antibiotics. Follow-up took place on the day after surgery, at days 7, 14, 21 and 45. The main criterion for evaluation was healing of the infection and the wound. We recorded 45 cases of healing with no complications and a single case of recurrence. Surgical excision of paronychia or felon without antibiotic coverage gives excellent results with only rare recurrence. The single failure can be attributed to inadequate excision. Antibiotic therapy has no role in managing uncomplicated felon or paronychia in patients who are otherwise not at risk. Successful treatment depends above all on the completeness of the surgical excision.

Surgical Treatment of Symptomatic Congenital Type I Lunotriquetral Coalition: Technique and a Report of 4 Cases.

Lunotriquetral (LT) synchondrosis is an uncommon variant of congenital LT coalition. Unlike complete LT fusions, this incomplete pseudoarthrosis-like coalition can become symptomatic. Surgical LT arthrodesis is a described treatment for this variant of LT coalition (Minnaar type I). We report 4 patients who underwent LT fusion with a second-generation headless compression screw and distal radius cancellous autograft. Fusion was achieved in all cases at an average of 2.5 months postoperatively. All the patients were satisfied with complete pain relief in 2 patients and minimal pain in 2 patients, and all improved their range of motion. We recommend this procedure, and report the techniques for this limited wrist arthrodesis as treatment for the symptomatic LT synchondrosis.

Lésions nerveuses associées aux fractures de l’extrémité distale du radius

Nerve damage is a common complication of distal radius fractures. It may be a result of the injury event or be iatrogenic. It is the source of disability and potential handicap. There is little published data on this topic and no study has validated the strategies needed to prevent or manage these nerve-related complications. There is no consensus on treatment. Prevention requires a good knowledge of the various surgical approaches and rigorous fracture fixation technique. The objective of this article is to take stock of recent data from the scientific literature.

Two-stage extensor tendon graft using the Paneva-Holevitch procedure: A new technique

Reconstruction of the extensor tendons remains a therapeutic challenge. Tendon transfers and grafts are a potential source of morbidity at the donor site, and the graft stock is limited. In the index finger, the tendon of the extensor indicis proprius can be anastomosed to the tendon of the extensor digitorum, and then the extensor digitorum tendon turned over after being cut at the forearm. We assessed the feasibility of this reconstruction on 12 upper limbs from 6 cadavers and we report the case of a 24-year-old patient who suffered destruction of the extensor apparatus in the index and middle fingers. For the cadaver study, in each case, the tendon could be moved onto the proximal interphalangeal joint, after having done an anastomosis downstream of the extensor retinaculum. The mean graft length was 13cm (9.7-15.2). This method was used in one clinical case with an excellent outcome. This is a simple technique that is without consequences since the tendons used are already cut, therefore saving a tendon graft. This technique should be part of our therapeutic arsenal.

Nerve injuries associated with distal radius fractures

Nerve damage is a common complication of distal radius fractures. It may be a result of the injury event or be iatrogenic. It is the source of disability and potential handicap. There is little published data on this topic and no study has validated the strategies needed to prevent or manage these nerve-related complications. There is no consensus on treatment. Prevention requires a good knowledge of the various surgical approaches and rigorous fracture fixation technique. The objective of this article is to take stock of recent data from the scientific literature.

Mise au pointLésions nerveuses associées aux fractures de l’extrémité distale du radiusNerve injuries associated with distal radius fractures

Nerve damage is a common complication of distal radius fractures. It may be a result of the injury event or be iatrogenic. It is the source of disability and potential handicap. There is little published data on this topic and no study has validated the strategies needed to prevent or manage these nerve-related complications. There is no consensus on treatment. Prevention requires a good knowledge of the various surgical approaches and rigorous fracture fixation technique. The objective of this article is to take stock of recent data from the scientific literature.