P. Haentjens

Influence of tumor site and histology on long-term survival in 193 children with extracranial germ cell tumors.

AIMSnAlthough germ cell tumors (GCT) supposedly share the same cell type of origin, their clinical course differs considerably depending on tumor site and histology. The aim of this work was to study long-term survival stratified for tumor site and tumor histology.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnThe medical records of 193 consecutive infants and children with extracranial GCT were studied. The GCT arose in the following anatomical sites: sacrococcygeal (n = 70), ovary (n = 66), testis (n = 20), retroperitoneum (n = 12), neck (n = 8), mediastinum (n = 7), and miscellaneous (n = 10). Histological analysis revealed 152 teratomas (mature: 115, immature: 37), 27 yolk sac tumors, 8 mixed tumors, 2 dysgerminomas, 2 gonadoblastomas, 1 choriocarcinoma and 1 embryonal carcinoma.nnnRESULTSnOverall survival (OS) for the whole patient group was 0.91 +/- 0.02, and event-free survival (EFS) was 0.88 +/- 0.02 at ten years. Patients with gonadal GCT had a higher probability of OS than those with extragonadal GCT (p = 0.029). Patients with cervical and mediastinal tumors had a lower probability of EFS than those with gonadal, retroperitoneal or sacrococcygeal GCT (p = 0.018). Patients with choriocarcinoma, embryonal carcinoma, immature teratoma, yolk sac tumor and mixed GCT had a lower probability of EFS than patients with mature teratoma or gonadoblastoma (p < 0.001).nnnCONCLUSIONSnMortality in children with extracranial germ cell tumors is not only dictated by malignant histology, but also, as in the case of mature teratomas, by occurrence at certain sites.

Surgical treatment of acute type-V acromioclavicular injuries in athletes

SummaryIn a prospective study, 18 consecutive athletes with an acute type-V acromioclavicular sprain were treated with a coracoclavicular repair using a double velour Dacron graft. All patients were reviewed after a mean follow-up period of 6 years (range: 2–9 years). At follow-up, 12 patients (66.7%) showed a good or excellent result according to the Imatani evaluation system, and six patients (33.3%) demonstrated a fair or poor result according to the same system. Loss of reduction was encountered in eight shoulders (44.4%) despite an initial anatomical reduction. No correlation was seen between the overall scores at follow-up and the degree of residual dislocation, between the overall scores and the presence of coracoclavicular calcifications or ossifications, between the overall scores and the development of post-traumatic arthritic changes, or between the overall scores and the presence of osteolysis of the distal clavicle.

Nonunion of a carpal scaphoid fracture in a child.

We report a case of a nonunion of a carpal scaphoid in a child treated successfully by cast immobilization. Contrary to the general opinion that nonunion of the scaphoid bone should be treated operatively, even in children, we showed that healing can be obtained by nonoperative treatment methods.

Treatment of isolated distal ulnar shaft fractures with below-elbow plaster cast

In a prospective study 52 patients with an isolated fracture of the distal ulna were treated with a below-elbow plaster cast. The histories of 46 patients were reviewed after a mean follow-up of 3.5 years (ranging from 10 months to 7 years). Forty-three fractures united. There were two non-unions. One fracture displaced while in the plaster, so that there was no longer any bone contact between the fragments. The fracture was consequently treated by open reduction and internal fixation. The type of fracture, the initial displacement (all fractures had bone contact) or the initial angulation (maximum 10 deg) was not found to influence the final clinical results. Below-elbow plaster cast appeared to produce satisfactory results in 89% of the patients.

Nonunion of a comminuted intra-articular wrist fracture after external fixation - A case report and review of the literature

SummaryNonunion is a very rare complication of a comminuted intra-articular wrist fracture treated by external fixation. The authors describe the likely reasons and the after-care, in order to avoid this complication.