Extension-block pinning for fracture-dislocation of the proximal interphalangeal joint

INTRODUCTION

Dorsal fracture-dislocation of the proximal interphalangeal joint is an unstable fracture that associates the anterior marginal fracture of the second phalangeal base and the dorsal dislocation of the proximal interphalangeal joint under the influence of the median band traction of the extensor apparatus. Stiffness and residual pain are frequent sequelae. Treatment involves choosing between the various methods with the objective of providing stable reduction allowing early mobilization.

HYPOTHESIS

We relate our experience concerning treatment by proximal interphalangeal extension-block pinning. It consists in reduction by external manipulation and stabilization by extension-block pinning.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This technique was used in 22 Trojan-type fractures. The average age of our patients was 36 years, with a predominance of males. In half of the cases, the fracture involved more than 40% of the second phalangeal articular surface.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up in this series was 2 years and 7 months. Assessed based on functional, clinical, and radiological criteria, the results were good in 82% of the cases. The proximal interphalangeal joint was painless and the active mobility sector mean was greater than 85°.

DISCUSSION

The dorsal dislocation fracture of the proximal interphalangeal joint is an unstable lesion. Its treatment must provide stable reduction allowing early mobilization. Various therapeutic means are described. We opted for extension-block pinning, a simple and reproducible technique with encouraging results.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV retrospective study.

[Use of injectable urapidil in pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of injectable urapidil (Eupressyl(®)) for the treatment of severe pregnancy-associated arterial hypertension.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We carried out a prospective study of 100 cases encompassing the various types of severe pregnancy-associated arterial hypertension, with clinical and biological monitoring of the mother and the collection of neonatal data. Treatment was initiated if the blood pressure was higher than 160/110mmHg and efficacy was defined as a lowering of blood pressure to 150/100mmHg or below.

RESULTS

Treatment with urapidil alone was effective in 80 cases (80%). In 20% of cases, essentially the most severe forms of preeclampsia, efficacy was achieved only if urapidil was associated with labetalol or if urapidil was replaced with nicardipine. We observed no material complications other than two cases of hypotension due to excessively rapid administration of a bolus of nicardipine to replace urapidil treatment.

CONCLUSION

Injectable urapidil seems to be an antihypertensive agent that is easy to use and effective in 80% of cases and that has very few secondary effects on the mother or the foetus. Further comparative studies are required to determine the potential of this drug for use in the management of pregnancy-associated hypertension.

Primary cutaneous aggressive epidermotropic CD4/CD8 double-negative cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma

The classification of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) is based on clinical, histological and immunohistochemical findings. Diagnosis may be difficult given the significant heterogeneity of these tumours. We describe herein an original case of primary cutaneous aggressive epidermotropic CD4/CD8 double-negative cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma that illustrates the difficulty in classification.

VAX1 mutation associated with microphthalmia, corpus callosum agenesis, and orofacial clefting: the first description of a VAX1 phenotype in humans

Vax1 and Vax2 have been implicated in eye development and the closure of the choroid fissure in mice and zebrafish. We sequenced the coding exons of VAX1 and VAX2 in 70 patients with anophthalmia/microphthalmia (A/M). In VAX1, we observed homozygosity for two successive nucleotide substitutions c.453G>A and c.454C>A, predicting p.Arg152Ser, in a proband of Egyptian origin with microphthalmia, small optic nerves, cleft lip/palate, and corpus callosum agenesis. This mutation affects an invariant residue in the homeodomain of VAX1 and was absent from 96 Egyptian controls. It is likely that the mutation results in a loss of function, as the mutation results in a phenotype similar to the Vax1 homozygous null mouse. We did not identify any mutations in VAX2. This is the first description of a phenotype associated with a VAX1 mutation in humans and establishes VAX1 as a new causative gene for A/M.

Surgically placed wound catheters (SPWC) and local anaesthetic infusion in breast surgery: efficacy and safety analysis

BACKGROUND

The effectiveness of surgically placed wound catheters (SPWC) and local anaesthetic infusion in the management of post-operative pain following breast surgery is controversial. This meta-analysis was performed to assess efficacy SPWC compared to other techniques of pain management.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The meta-analysis included randomised control trials that compared SPWC with other forms of pain control. Post-operative opioid requirements and pain measured in visual analogue scale (VAS) were analysed using Comprehensive Meta-analysis Software version 2. Literature was reviewed for the safety of the SPWC and local anaesthetic infusion.

RESULTS

Four randomised controlled trials evaluating 147 women were included in the final analysis. The overall standard difference in means was 0.094 and 0.033 for post-operative opioid requirement and pain respectively favouring the SPWC and local anaesthetic infusion group. It is a safe technique with no major adverse events as a result.

CONCLUSION

Surgically placed wound catheters and local anaesthetic infusion is clinically safe in a wide range of surgical procedures on the breast and there appears to be a trend towards improved post operative pain relief. The studies analyzed in this review have several important drawbacks such as inadequate power to detect significant differences (none of them included more than 50 patients). A well designed RCT of patients undergoing breast surgery with an adequate number is of patients required to emphatically demonstrate if the operative site infusion with local anaesthetic solution postoperatively is safe and efficacious compared to opioid based regimens alone for post operative pain relief.