Paul Bonnevialle

Low-dose-rate intraoperative brachytherapy combined with external beam irradiation in the conservative treatment of soft tissue sarcoma.

PURPOSE Conservative treatment of soft tissue sarcomas most often implies combination of surgical resection and irradiation. The aim of this study was to evaluate low-dose-rate intraoperative brachytherapy, delivered as a boost, in the local control of primary tumors, with special concern about treatment complications. METHODS AND MATERIALS Between 1986 and 1995, 112 patients underwent intraoperative implant. This report focuses on the group of 58 patients with primary sarcomas treated by combination of conservative surgery, intraoperative brachytherapy, and external irradiation. Most of the tumors were located in the lower limbs (46/58-79%). Median size of the tumor was 10 cm, most of the lesions being T2-T3 (51/58-88%), Grade 2 or 3 (48/58-83%). The mean brachytherapy dose was 20 Gy and external beam irradiation dose 45 Gy. In 36/58 cases, iridium wires had to be placed on contact with neurovascular structures. RESULTS With a median follow-up of 54 months, the 5-year actuarial survival was 64.9%, with a 5-year actuarial local control of 89%. Of the 6 patients with local relapse, 3 were salvaged. Acute side effects, essentially wound healing problems, occurred in 20/58 patients, late side effects in 16/58 patients (7 neuropathies G2 to G4). No amputation was required. The only significant factor correlated with early side effects was the location of the tumor in the lower limb (p = 0.003), and with late side effects the vicinity of the tumor with neurovascular structures (p = 0.009). CONCLUSION Brachytherapy allows early delivery of a boost dose in a reduced volume of tissue, precisely mapped by the intraoperative procedure. Combined with external beam irradiation, it is a safe and efficient treatment technique leading to high local control rates and limited functional impairment.

Luxations traumatiques du genou associées à une interruption de l'artère poplitée : Étude critique rétrospective d'une série de 14 cas

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Complex femorotibial dislocation of the knee joint generally results from high-energy trauma caused by a traffic or a contact sport accident. Besides disruption of the cruciate ligaments, in 10-25% of patients present concomitant palsy of the common peroneal nerve and more rarely disruption of the popliteal artery. The purpose of this work was to assess outcome in a monocentric consecutive series of knee dislocations with ischemia due to disruption of the popliteal artery and to focus on specific aspects of management. MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective series included eleven men and three women, aged 18 to 74 years (mean 47 years). The right knee was injured in five and the left knee in six. Trauma resulted from a farm accident in six patients, fall from a high level in two, a traffic accident in three and a skiing accident (fall) in one. Two other patients with morbid obesity were fall victims. Nine patients had a single injury, two presented an associated serious head injury, one a severe chest injury, and one multiple trauma with coma, chest contusion, and abdominal lesions. One patient had a fracture of the distal femur with associated ischemia. Five knee dislocations were open with a popliteal wound for three and a posteromedial wound for two. Four patients presented total sciatic nerve palsy and nine palsy of the common peroneal nerve. The dislocation was documented in ten cases: lateral (n=1), anterior (n=4), posterior (n=5). For four patients, the dislocation had been reduced during pre-hospital care. Preoperative arteriography was available for eight patients and confirmed the disruption of the popliteal artery; the diagnosis was obvious in six other patients who were directed immediately to the operative theatre without pre-operative imaging. Revascularization was achieved with a upper popliteal-lower popliteal bypass using an inverted saphenous graft. The graft was harvested from the homolateral greater saphenous vein in eight patients and the contralateral vein in six. On average, limb revascularization was achieved after 10.07 hours ischemia. Intravenous heparin was instituted for 810 days followed by low-molecular-weight heparin. The dislocation was stabilized by a femorotibial fixator in nine patients and a cruropedious cast in five. An incision was made in the anterolateral and posterior leg compartments in twelve patients. A revision procedure was necessary on day one in one patient because of recurrent ischemia; a second bypass using an autologous venous graft was successful. One other 75-year-old patient also presented recurrent ischemia on day five; the bypass was reconstructed but the patient died from multiple injuries. Seven thin skin grafts were used to cover the aponeurotomy surfaces. Mean duration of the external fixator was 3.4 months. The five patients treated with a plaster case were immobilized for 2.7 months on average. Ligament repair was performed in three patients (one lateral reconstruction and one double reconstruction of the central pivot for the two others). A total prosthesis with a rotating hinge was implanted in two patients aged 67 and 74 years after removal of the external fixator at six and seven months. Failure of the ligament repair also led to arthroplasty in a third patient. RESULTS Blood supply to the lower limb was successfully restored as proven by the renewed coloration of the teguments and-or presence of distal pulses in 13 patients. Transient acute renal failure required dialysis in one patient. Four patients developed pin track discharges and there was one case of septic arthritis of the knee joint which was cured after arthrotomy for wash-out and adapted antibiotics. Outcome was assessed a minimum 18 months follow-up (average 22 months) for the 13 survivors. The three sciatic palsies recovered partially at five and six months in the tibial territory but with persistent paralysis in the territory of the common peroneal nerve. The nine cases of common peroneal nerve palsy noted initially regressed completely or nearly completely in three patients, partially in three and remained unchanged in three. The results were assessed as a function of the final knee procedure: outcome was satisfactory for the patients with a total knee arthroplasty. Outcome of the three ligamentoplasties was good in one, fair in one, and a failure in one (revision arthroplasty). Patients treated by immobilization without a second surgical procedure complained of joint instability with a variable clinical impact; their knee retained active flexion greater than 90 degrees and complete extension. DISCUSSION An analysis of the literature and the critical review of our clinical experience was conducted to propose a coherent therapeutic attitude for patients presenting this type of trauma. The prevalence of disruption of the popliteal vascular supply in patients with knee dislocation is between 4 and 20%. The rate is closely related to that of injury to nerves and soft tissue. Ischemia should be immediately suspected in all cases of knee dislocation. The pedious and tibial pulses must be carefully noted before and after reduction of the dislocation to determine whether or not there is an organic arterial lesion. If the pulses are absent initially, they should be expected to reappear strong, rapidly and permanently after reduction. Otherwise, arteriography should be performed. Dislocation stretches the artery between two points of relative anchorage in the adductor ring and the soleus arcade to the point of rupture. Repair requires a bypass between the upper popliteal artery and the tibioperoneal trunk using an inverted saphenous graft because the walls are torn over several centimeters. The traumatology and vascular surgical teams must work in concert from the beginning of the surgical work-up in order to establish a coherent operative strategy founded on primary reduction of the dislocation, installation of a fixator and then vascular repair and aponeurotomy incisions. It would be preferable to wait until the bypass is proven patent and wound healing is complete before proposing ligament repair. This should be done after a precise anatomic work-up to assess each ligament lesion. Bony avulsion or simple disinsertion can however be repaired in the emergency setting at the time of the bypass as well as any ligament rupture which is obvious and-or situated on the medial collateral approach. Secondarily, elements of the central pivot can be repaired in young patients with an important functional demand. Arthroplasty is not warranted except in the elderly patient. Dissection of the popliteal fossa or debridement of the wound enables a careful anatomic assessment of the nerve trunks. In the event of a peroneal nerve disruption, it is advisable to fix the nerve ends to avoid retraction. Beyond three months without clinical or electromyography recovery, surgical exploration is indicated. In the event more than 15 cm is lost, there is no hope for a successful graft. Complete knee dislocation is extremely rare. It can be caused by high-energy trauma associated with several ligament ruptures, particularly rupture of the central pivot observed in 10-25% of cases with common peroneal nerve palsy. Compression, contusion or disruption of the popliteal artery is very rarely caused by the displacement of the femur or the tibia. Limb survival may be compromised. Mandatory emergency restoration of blood supply will modify immediate and subsequent surgical strategies. There has not however been any study exclusively devoted to double joint and vascular involvement. Our objective was to present a critical retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of knee dislocations with ischemia due to disruption of the common popliteal artery treated in a single center and to describe the specific features of management strategies for a coherent diagnostic and therapeutic approach.Resume Quatorze luxations du genou avec interruption de l’axe arteriel poplite ont ete retrospectivement analysees. Les circonstances du traumatisme etaient 6 accidents agricoles, 2 chutes d’un lieu eleve, 3 accidents de la voie publique et une chute a ski. Deux patientes, victimes d’une simple chute presentaient une obesite morbide. Neuf etaient mono traumatises, 4 polytraumatises et un patient presentait une fracture du femur oppose. Cinq des luxations etaient ouvertes et 13 s’accompagnaient d’une paralysie partielle ou totale dans le territoire sciatique. Une luxation etait laterale, 4 anterieures et 5 posterieures. Dans quatre cas, elle avait ete reduite sur place. Huit arteriographies preoperatoires ont ete realisees. En moyenne, la revascularisation s’est faite en 10,07 heures apres pontage poplite haut-poplite bas avec un greffon veineux saphenien. La luxation a ete stabilisee par 9 fixateurs externes femoro-tibiaux et par plâtre 5 fois. Des aponevrotomies des loges antero-laterales et posterieures de jambe ont ete pratiquees 12 fois. Deux patients ont presente une recidive de l’ischemie : un patient a beneficie avec succes d’un nouveau pontage, le second est decede de son polytraumatisme. Les 3 syndromes paralytiques sciatiques totaux n’ont partiellement recupere que dans le territoire tibial posterieur ; les 9 paralysies initiales du fibulaire commun n’ont regresse completement que 3 fois et partiellement 3 fois. Une reparation ligamentaire a ete effectuee chez 3 patients et une arthroplasties a charniere rotatoire chez 3 patients, deux en programme chez deux hommes de 67 et 74 ans, l’autre apres echec de la reparation ligamentaire. Parmi les patients traites uniquement par immobilisation, 5 se plaignaient d’une instabilite. Une analyse de la litterature et la revision critique des dossiers ont abouti a proposer une attitude coherente devant ce type de traumatisme qui reclame une prise en charge multidisciplinaire, des indications larges de l’arteriographie et doit integrer dans les decisions therapeutiques l’âge, les demandes fonctionnelles et la recuperation neurologique.

Results with a minimum of 10 years follow-up of the Coonrad/Morrey total elbow arthroplasty

INTRODUCTION Few series have evaluated the long-term results of total elbow arthroplasty (TEA). MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifteen patients with a Coonrad/Morrey total elbow implant were reviewed with a minimum follow-up of 10 years. There were nine women and six men with a mean age of 55 years at surgery. The aetiology was rheumatoid arthritis in eight cases, post-traumatic arthritis in five, psoriatic arthritis in one, and sequelae of neonatal septic arthritis in one. The TEA was performed as primary surgery in ten cases and during a revision surgery in four. RESULTS At 136 months average follow-up (120-160), MEPS was 82 ± 14 points (range 60-100) with a Quick DASH score of 41 points (range 13-83). Fourteen patients had no or slight pain and six had a functional range of motion. Elbow function was normal in eight of 15 patients. Radiolucent lines were found around the humerus in six cases (all of them incomplete) and around the ulnar component in eight (five of them complete) with loosening and migration of the ulnar stem occurring in two cases. Wear of the bushings was moderate in five cases and severe in two. There were ten complications with a revision needed in three cases. Revision-free survival rate for the implant was 100% at 5 years and 90% at 10 and 13 years. DISCUSSION The Coonrad/Morrey total elbow gives long-term satisfactory results. Increased incidence of radiolucent lines around the ulnar stem and bushing wear with longer follow-up is of concern and represents the failure mode for this total elbow arthroplasty implant. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV.

Selective capsular repair for the treatment of anterior-inferior shoulder instability : Review of seventy-nine shoulders with seven years' average follow-up

HYPOTHESIS Selective capsular repair for the treatment of antero-inferior shoulder instability gives satisfactory results at mid-range follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seventy-five patients (79 shoulders) with anterior instability underwent selective tightening of the anterior capsule and repair of any labral lesion. RESULTS At an average of seven years (5-12 years), results according to the Duplay-Walch score and Rowe score were satisfactory in 80% and 92% of the cases, respectively. Most patients (84%) were able to return to their previous sports activity at the same level, and 90% were satisfied with their surgery. Recurrence of instability was observed in 10 patients (12.6%). Restriction of motion was limited to external rotation and averaged a loss of 12.6 degrees elbow at the side, and 6 degrees at 90 degrees of abduction. Dynamometric evaluation found slight decrease in strength in internal rotation in 32 shoulders. According to the Samilson and Prieto classification, signs of osteoarthritis were present in 52% of the cases. Older age at the first episode of instability was the only factor correlated with development of postoperative osteoarthritis. DISCUSSION This study supports the results of other studies that anatomic stabilization of the shoulder demonstrates high levels of recovery of shoulder stability (recurrence rates 12.6%), with minimum restriction of range-of-motion, but with a relatively high incidence of possible development of osteoarthritis. CONCLUSION This retrospective study from a single center revealed that selective capsular repair for the treatment of posttraumatic anterior glenohumeral instability yielded a 90% of satisfaction rate and 80% excellent and good functional results. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level 4; Retrospective case series, no control group.

Hemiarthroplasty for osteoarthritis in shoulder with dysplastic morphology

HYPOTHESIS Hemiarthroplasty for shoulder osteoarthritis with a glenoid dysplasia gives satisfactory results at medium-range follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS From 1998 to 2006, 9 patients (10 shoulders) with glenoid dysplasia and osteoarthritis were treated with shoulder hemiarthroplasty. The mean age at surgery was 54 years (range, 44-73 years). At a minimum of 24 months after surgery, all patients were retrospectively reviewed with a clinical and radiographic evaluation. The average duration of follow-up was 71 months (range, 28-126 months). RESULTS One shoulder underwent revision surgery for anterior dislocation within 6 months after the initial procedure. The pain level improved significantly, with no or slight pain for 9 of the 10 shoulders. Postoperatively active external rotation and anterior elevation increased significantly, with a mean of 34.5° and 124°, respectively. The average American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score was 81.5 points at the last follow-up, and results were considered as excellent or satisfactory in 7 shoulders according to the modified Neer rating scale. Erosion of the glenoid was considered as slight on radiographs, and radiolucencies were seen around humeral stem in one case. DISCUSSION The opportunity of glenoid component implantation in case of anatomic shoulder replacement with dysplastic morphology has to be carefully evaluate because of bone stock insufficiency, glenoid orientation, and the age of patients. CONCLUSIONS Despite a limited number of patients in this study, hemiarthroplasty gave satisfactory clinical results in most cases. It seems to be a reliable option to treat osteoarthritis in case of dysplastic morphology of shoulder.

Distal leg fractures: How critical is the fibular fracture and its fixation?

INTRODUCTION Extra-articular distal tibia fractures include a tibial fracture line located partially or totally in the metaphyseal bone and a fibular fracture in variable areas or sometimes absent. There is no consensus in the literature on the conduct to address the fibula fracture. The main objective of this study was to assess its impact on tibial reduction and union. HYPOTHESIS Fibular fixation plays a positive role in reducing tibial displacement and improving mechanical stability of the entire lesion. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study was based on the multicenter observational group of the 2009 SOFCOT symposium, i.e., 142 metaphyseal fractures of the tibia. The fibula was intact in 10 cases and fractured in 132. In the three main categories of surgical treatment for the tibia (nailing, plating, external fixation) (126 fractures), the fibular lesion was not treated in 79 cases (61%) in this series, nine were treated with intramedullary pinning, and 38 with plate and screw fixation. RESULTS There was no statistical relation between the anatomic situation of the diaphysis and the anatomic type of the fibular fracture or between the anatomic type of the fibular fracture and its situation compared to the tibial fracture line. The intertubercular and neck fractures were type A1 or B1 (P<0.001) and were combined to a tibia fracture with a torsional component; the medial-diaphyseal and subtubercular fractures were associated with tibial fracture lines with a simple transversal or comminution or metaphyseal-diaphyseal component (P<0.032). The rate of pseudarthrosis of the fibular fracture was 4.7% at 1 year; in all these cases, fibular treatment had been conservative. All treatments combined, the tibial axes were statistically better corrected when the fibula was treated with fixation. In four of the 11 cases of axial tibial malunion, the primary fibular fixation caused or worsened them. DISCUSSION The present clinical series provides results similar to the biomechanical studies. The consequences of fibular fixation perpetuating a tibia reduction abnormality or on the contrary the absence of fibular fixation appeared as probable factors of residual reduction defects, lack of stability of the tibiofibular complex, and tibia non-union. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level IV (prospective cohort study).

La fixation externe monoplan dans les fractures récentes du fémur: Étude critique d’une série de 53 cas

Resume Devant la rarete des publications sur la fixation externe (FE) dans les fractures femorales, les auteurs rapportent leur experience a propos d’une serie retrospective monocentrique de 53 cas chez 49 patients. Il s’agissait d’adultes jeunes (m = 31 ans) a predominance masculine, victimes de traumatisme a haute energie. Tous etaient polyfractures sauf 7 et 24 etaient polytraumatises. Quarante-quatre fractures etaient ouvertes (2 types I, 10 types II, 4 types IIIA, 23 types IIIB, et 5 types IIIC de Gustilo). La fracture etait diaphysaire 27 fois, et metaphyso-epiphysaire distale 26 fois. Neuf foyers presentaient une perte de substance corticale dont 4 segmentaires totales. Le fixateur axial dynamique monoplan femoro-femoral (Orthofix) a ete seul utilise. Trois patients ont ete amputes apres infection ou echec de revascularisation. Un est decede (lesion bilaterale) en raison d’un traumatisme crânien severe. Trente-huit des 53 femurs etaient alignes a 5 pres dans les deux plans et 23 etaient de longueur egale. Pour 10 patients, la F.E. a ete rapidement convertie en osteosynthese interne, et ceux-ci ont consolide en 7,4 mois en moyenne. Sur les 34 fractures restantes, 25 (17 diaphysaires et 8 metaphyso-epiphysaires) ont consolide en premiere intention sans apport osseux en 7,3 mois mais deux ont presente une fracture iterative. Neuf fractures ont evolue vers une pseudarthrose (5 diaphysaires, 4 metaphysaires distales) reprises avec succes par 5 enclouages et 4 plaques dont deux compliquees d’infection et d’une fracture iterative. Quatorze mobilisations sous anesthesie et 14 arthrolyses ont ete necessaires. L’intolerance des fiches en raison de douleurs ou d’infections superficielles a ete frequente. Au recul minimum de 1 an, la flexion active moyenne du genou etait de 90. Parmi les 34 patients evalues, 4 genoux etaient quasi bloques. Cette experience valide les indications classiques de la fixation, souligne les difficultes reductionnelles, la lenteur de l’osteogenese et la frequence des echecs de la consolidation.PURPOSE OF THE STUDY External fixation has not been widely used for femoral fractures and few series are reported in the literature. External fixation is generally reserved for severe open fractures, for vessel injury or multiple trauma with life threatening. We present a retrospective analysis of a serie treated in a single center in order to detail the indications of this fixation technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS From 1984 to Jun 2002, 49 patients with femoral fractures were treated by external fixation. The series included 36 men and 13 women, mean age 31 years. All were victims of high-energy trauma: traffic accident (n = 40), fall from high level (n = 4), firearm wound (n = 5). Multiple fractures were present in all patients except seven and 24 patients had multiple injuries. Forty fractures were open fractures: two type 1, ten type 2, four type 3a, 23 type 3b and five type 3c in the Gustilo classification. Twenty-seven were shaft fractures and 26 involved the distal metaphyseoepiphyseal portion of the femur. Loss of cortical stock was noted in five cases and total loss of a segment in four. Surgery was deferred in 19 patients, mean six days. A single-plane external fixation was used (Orthofix) with a femorofemoral frontolatateral assembly. Transepiphyseal screw fixation was also used to stabilize the distal fracture in eleven cases. RESULTS One patient with a bifocal fracture of the femur died from head trauma. Three patients required above knee amputation after failure of a vessel bypass or due to septic necrosis of the reconstruction flap. Five patients required a second reduction within days of external fixation. On the AP view, femoral alignment was successfully reestablished at +/- 5 degrees in 45 cases, ranged from 5 degrees to 10 degrees in seven and was greater than 10 degrees in one. On the lateral view, alignment was between 5 degrees and 10 degrees in 42 cases and greater than 10 degrees in one. Femur length was equal to the healthy side in 23 cases, and was shortened 1-2 cm in 26. Four metaphyseal fractures resulted in a 3 cm shortening. Bone healing time was available for 42 patients (1 death, 3 amputations, 3 lost to follow-up). Elective conversion to internal fixation was performed in ten patients (five lateral cortical plates and five centromedullary nailings). These patients all achieved first-intention bone healing with a mean time of 7.4 months. Exclusive external fixation was planned for 34 fractures. First-intention healing was achieved in 25 (17 shaft and 8 distal) without bone graft with an average time of 7.3 months. Ten patients had one or more osteitis foci on pin tracts. Two patients in this group developed recurrent fracture after removal of the external fixator. Nine fractures did not heal and required revision with centromedullary nailing (n = 5) or plate fixation with autograft (n = 4). Nailings for nonunion were successful but plate fixation was compromised by infection in one patient and recurrent fracture after plate removal in another. Fourteen patients underwent joint mobilization under general anesthesia and 14 had open arthrolysis. Mean follow-up was 2.8 years. Mean active flexion was 90 degrees (30-130 degrees). Ten patients exhibited flexion between 30 degrees and 60 degrees and 19 between 70 degrees and 100 degrees. Knee flexion was greater than 110 degrees in 15 patients. Residual 10 degrees flexion was noted in six knees. Mean leg length discrepancy was 0.4 +/- 0.6 after distal fracture and 0.8 +/- 1.3 after diaphyseal fracture. DISCUSSION The indications and results of external fixation in this series are in line with reports in the literature. For diaphyseal fractures, healing is long and difficult, partly because of the insufficient mechanical properties of external fixation. The rate of infection and stiff knee is high, particularly for distal fractures of the femur. CONCLUSION External fixation remains the only solution to stabilize certain open diaphyseal fractures or for patients with life-threatening multiple injuries. This techniques allows control of the other traumatic lesions while waiting for internal fixation. For fractures of the distal femur, external fixation can only be advocated for metaphyseodiaphyseal fractures with an intact or reconstructed epiphyseal portion.

Long-term outcome of distal ulna resection-stabilisation procedures in post-traumatic radio-ulnar joint disorders.

INTRODUCTION Distal radius fractures represent 20% of fractures in adults. Although good results are usually obtained with treatment, functional sequelae are not uncommon, with injury of the distal radio-ulnar joint (DRUJ) being the most frequent. Various treatments have been described to address these disorders. Distal ulna resection-stabilisation (DURS) is our technique of choice when preservation of the DRUJ is impossible. PATIENTS AND METHOD Twenty patients operated between 1985 and 1996 were reviewed with minimum 6-year follow-up. Nine of them were men and 11 were women, with an average age 45 years. The initial trauma was a distal radius fracture in all cases. The main complaint was ulnar pain with no limitation of mobility in five patients, painful limitation of prono-supination in 14, and palmar subluxation of the ulna in one case. Radiographic evaluation and CT scan showed DRUJ incongruence in 14 patients with ulna head instability, and ulno-carpal abutment with degenerative changes at the DRUJ in six cases. In three patients, malunion of the distal radius was associated with degenerative DRUJ lesions. RESULTS The satisfaction rate was 95% at an average follow-up of 11 years (range 6.7 to 18.6 years). Pain scores decreased progressively from 2.2 to 0.5 post-operatively. Range of motion improved in supination from 37 degrees to 80 degrees , and in pronation from 66 degrees to 84 degrees . Improvements were 15 degrees in ulnar inclination, 9 degrees in radial inclination, 16 degrees in flexion, and 23 degrees in extension. Distal ulna palpation was not painful, and no instability was observed on movement. Wrist strength was equivalent to 80.8% of the healthy contra-lateral side. Radiographic results showed no anomaly of the resected ulna, no sign of abutment on the radius and no ulnar translation of the carpus at follow-up. Only one patient, who presented algoneurodystrophic syndrome after the initial trauma, had a recurrence after DURS. DISCUSSION-CONCLUSION DRUJ injuries are frequent in the context of wrist trauma. If not well-treated, they could lead to significant functional sequelae of the wrist. Radiographic evaluation should clarify the status of the DRUJ to choose between conservative or radical surgical treatment. If the DRUJ surfaces are preserved, conservative treatment, which consists of correcting the distal radius malunion and stabilising or shortening the ulna, is the treatment of choice. When the DRUJ surfaces are injured, DURS is our treatment of choice. This approach presents a low complication rate and more than 90% of satisfactory results, often with a pain-free wrist, functional range of motion and good strength. However, a rigorous technique, with limited ulna head resection, dorsal capsuloplasty, reconstruction of the extensor retinaculum and dorsal placement of the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon, is a prerequisite for success. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level IV retrospective therapeutic study.

Locked plating for internal fixation of the adult distal femur: influence of the type of construct and hardware on the clinical and radiological outcomes.

INTRODUCTION Distal femoral fractures are rare and serious. Along with traditional internal fixation, new, dedicated hardware have appeared (distal nails, locked plating). We report the results of a multicenter prospective study of these fractures treated with locked plating. HYPOTHESIS The short-term results are satisfactory and related to the type of construct and the hardware used, with better results for elastic assemblies and titanium implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS From June 2011 to May 2012, 92 patients, mean age 64 years, were included in 12 centres. The fractures were classified as follows: 44 type A, 7 type B, and 41 type C according to the AO classification. Thirteen fractures were open. The plates were uniaxial. The assemblies were elastic in 52 cases, rigid in 26, and unconventional in 14. RESULTS Seventy-six patients underwent a radiological follow-up at 6 months and 66 patients had a clinical result evaluated at 1 year. The mean range of motion was 100° and the mean IKS score was 122. The bone union rate was 87% within 12 weeks. Seven valgus, two varus, ten flexion deformities, and three recurvatum greater than 5° were observed (19.5%). Revisions involved two cases with loss of fixation, five cases of infection, and one case of arthrofibrosis (requiring arthroscopic arthrolysis). Secondary bone grafting was carried out in seven cases (four successfully). No influence of the type of assembly or the hardware used was demonstrated. DISCUSSION The results remain modest, underscoring the severity of these fractures. Neither the type of construct nor the hardware used influenced the radiological and clinical outcomes. The hypothesis was not confirmed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level IV prospective, non-comparative study.

Adjuvant treatment with zoledronic acid after extensive curettage for giant cell tumours of bone

BACKGROUND Giant cell tumours (GCT) of bone are benign neoplasms associated with a high rate of local recurrence after extensive intra-lesional curettage. Recently, understanding of the biological molecular availability of strong anti-osteoclastic drugs has suggested their potential value in reducing local recurrences after curettage. Through a phase II clinical trial, we investigated the effect of a short treatment with zoledronic acid (ZOL) after intra-lesional curettage of GCT, as well as local recurrence and tolerance of the treatment. METHODS AND PATIENTS Twenty-four patients were enrolled in a multicentre, phase 2 study. The patients were treated with extensive intra-lesional curettage followed by five courses of ZOL (4 mg IV every 3 weeks). The clinical and biological tolerance of each patient was assessed. Patients were reviewed clinically and by X-ray every 6 months until the end of the study (36 months). RESULTS Eighteen out of 20 patients reported side-effects with ZOL, mainly grade 1 and 2 effects. The local recurrence rate was 15%; three patients had a recurrence, one at 4 months (huge GCT of the sacrum), one at 24 months (patient who discontinued the treatment after the first course of ZOL), and one after the observational period, at 58 months. Finally, local relapse-free survival was 82 ± 9% at 60 months. CONCLUSION Short adjuvant treatments with ZOL after extensive intra-lesional curettage of GCT were associated with a low rate of recurrence but did not prevent local recurrence in this study. No serious general adverse effects were observed. More studies are needed to evaluate the potential benefit of medical bisphosphonate injections combined with intra-lesional curettage in the treatment of GCTB.