Denise Jacquemin

Shoulder function after latissimus dorsi transfer in breast reconstruction

Background/Aims:  Latissimus dorsi (LD) transfer in the case of breast reconstruction remains frequently used because this muscle provides a good size source of tissue in reconstructive surgery. Given that, the consequences of the LD removal on shoulder function and the actual loss of maximal strength developed must be investigated.

Biochemical investigations after burning injury: Complement system, protease-antiprotease balance and acute-phase reactants

Seventeen burned patients were investigated--Group I (n=10) with a mean burned area expressed as unit burn standard (UBS) of 69 +/- 24 and Group II (n = 7) with a mean UBS of 23 +/- 8. Blood samples were collected immediately after admission, 6-12 h after injury, during the morning and evening of day 1, and then daily for 2 weeks. This prospective study demonstrated complement activation in vivo in all burned patients, measured by C3d/C3 ratio index which was not related to the extent of the burned surface. A significant protease-antiprotease imbalance, correlated to the severity of burns, was found, leukocyte elastase was increased throughout the observation period, alpha 2-macroglobulin drastically decreased in severely burned patients, and alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor promptly decreased below the normal level in patients with more than 40 UBS. Finally, there was a delayed but then persistent acute-phase reactant protein response involving C-reactive protein, haptoglobin and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, the concentrations of which reached a plateau on days 6 or 7.

Maladie de Dupuytren. Revue de 326 patients operes.

The COC (Orthopedic Society of Charleroi) has presented an analysis of operated cases. We have taken 326 files into account. The pre-operative evaluation is based upon the classification by Tubiana, Michon and Thomine. The analysis pays special attention to the post-operative results in terms of several factors: the age, the stage of illness, the extent of illness and the improvement. For this final summing up, we put forward criteria which for us are better in the evaluation of the final result.

Couverture de pertes de substance du tibia distal par lambeau pedicule perforant en helice : deux cas cliniques.

Distal lower leg soft tissue defect is frequently a challenge to repair, particularly on the tibial crest. The coverage of this kind of lesion has some limitations because of regional minimal blood supply and paucity of local soft-tissue flaps. The perforator pedicled propeller (PPP) method tries to find a new place in lower leg reconstruction in bringing similar tissues at the recipient site and avoiding long and difficult free flap transfer or muscular sacrifice. The authors report on the use of PPP method for a tibial crest exposure after trauma and for a soft tissue defect with osteomyelitis on the tibial crest.

Biochemical Mediators in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) after Burning Injury

Seventeen burned patients, 5 of whom developed the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), were investigated. Occurrence of ARDS was correlated with the severity of burn in ARDS patients (UBS: 82±27) and non ARDS patients (UBS: 36 ± 18) respectively (p < 0.005) and with inhalation injury.