Thomas Bihel

Terrorist attacks in Paris: Surgical trauma experience in a referral center

BACKGROUND On November 13th, 2015, terrorist bomb explosions and gunshots occurred in Paris, France, with 129 people immediately killed, and more than 300 being injured. This article describes the staff organization, surgical management, and patterns of injuries in casualties who were referred to the Teaching European Hospital Georges Pompidou. METHODS This study is a retrospective analysis of the pre-hospital response and the in-hospital response in our referral trauma center. Data for patient flow, resource use, patterns of injuries and outcomes were obtained by the review of electronic hospital records. RESULTS Forty-one patients were referred to our center, and 22 requiring surgery were hospitalized for>24h. From November 14th at 0:41 A.M. to November 15th at 1:10 A.M., 23 surgical interventions were performed on 22 casualties. Gunshot injuries and/or shrapnel wounds were found in 45%, fractures in 45%, head trauma in 4.5%, and abdominal injuries in 14%. Soft-tissue and musculoskeletal injuries predominated in 77% of cases, peripheral nerve injury was identified in 30%. The mortality rate was 0% at last follow up. CONCLUSION Rapid staff and logistical response, immediate access to operating rooms, and multidisciplinary surgical care delivery led to excellent short-term outcomes, with no in-hospital death and only one patient being still hospitalized 45days after the initial event.

Brachial plexus endoscopic dissection and correlation with open dissection.

Shoulder endoscopy is evolving and becoming extra-articular. More and more procedures are taking place in the area of the brachial plexus (BP). We carried out an anatomical study to describe the endoscopic anatomy of the BP and the technique used to dissect and expose the BP endoscopically. Thirteen fresh cadavers were dissected. We first performed an endoscopic dissection of the BP, using classical extra-articular shoulder arthroscopy portals. Through each portal, we dissected as many structures as possible and identified them. We then did an open dissection to corroborate the endoscopic findings and to look for damage to the neighboring structures. In the supraclavicular area, we were able to expose the C5, C6 and C7 roots, and the superior and middle trunks in 11 of 13 specimens through two transtrapezial portals by following the suprascapular nerve. The entire infraclavicular portion of the BP (except the medial cord and its branches) was exposed in 11 of 13 specimens. The approach to the infraclavicular portion of the BP led directly to the lateral and posterior cords, but the axillary artery hid the medial cord. The musculocutaneous nerve was the first nerve encountered when dissecting medially from the anterior aspect of the coracoid process. The axillary nerve was the first nerve encountered when following the anterior border of the subscapularis medially from the posterior aspect of the coracoid process. Knowledge of the endoscopic anatomy of the BP is mandatory to expose and protect this structure while performing advanced arthroscopic shoulder procedures.

Hand injury without any deficit: Is systematic surgical exploration justified?

Out of 100,000 inhabitants, 700 to 4000 suffer a hand wound each year. Numerous hand wounds that may not have a clinically evaluated deficit, actually have damage to a major structure after surgical exploration in the operating room (OR). The aim of our study was to evaluate the incidence of major structure damage within a population of patients presenting a hand wound with no deficit on the clinical examination. Every patient older than 12 years, consulting for a wound deeper than the dermis with no clinical signs of major structure damage underwent surgical treatment and exploration of the wound under regional anesthesia in the OR. After each surgery, the surgeon filled out an anonymous study form describing the wound characteristics and the potential findings of major structure damage. Of the 145 wounds with normal clinical examination, we found that 58.6% had a major structure damaged. Given that damage to any major structure in the hand can lead to functional sequela, and the fact that a well-conducted clinical examination by a qualified hand surgeon is not sufficient to eliminate major structure damage, we recommend systematic surgical exploration of hand wounds, even when no clinical deficit is evident. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III.: Type of sudy: diagnostic study.

All-Endoscopic Resection of an Infraclavicular Brachial Plexus Schwannoma: Surgical Technique

Due to recent progress in shoulder arthroscopy, all-endoscopic brachial plexus (BP) dissection has progressively become a standardized procedure. Based on previously described techniques, we present an additional neurological procedure that may be performed all-endoscopically, that is, the excision of an infraclavicular BP schwannoma. Starting from a standard shoulder arthroscopy with posterior and lateral portals, additional anterior and medial portals are progressively opened outside the joint under endoscopic control to access the BP. At first, dissection of the subcoracoid space allows the identification of the posterior and lateral cords, along with the axillary artery. Then, by performing a pectoralis minor tenotomy, the medial cord and axillary vein are exposed, giving access to the whole infraclavicular plexus. Intraneural dissection is performed using arthroscopic tools such as a long beaver blade, a grasper, and a smooth dissector to progressively extract the encapsulated tumor from the nerve without any damage. Using a standardized technique, endoscopy may be an advantageous tool in selected cases of BP benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors.