Controverses en neuroanesthésie–réanimation : les positions en neurochirurgie

Positioning of the neurosurgical patient has several features such as the existence of specific positions (i.e: sitting, prone hyperlordotic, crouching ou kneeling positions) or the range of facilities for the same surgical indications. The last point, a source of controversy, is the subject of this review. Current indications for the sitting position, positioning for lumbar spine surgery and prevention of eye injuries are successively addressed.     

Mastectomies avec conservation de l’étui cutané : comment éviter les souffrances cutanées ?

Skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) has emerged as the surgical technique best adapted to the treatment of early breast cancers or breast cancer recurrences after conservative treatment; the technique is particularly appreciated by the patients who had been expecting the development of immediate, high-quality breast reconstruction for over 15 years. SSM preserves anatomical landmarks on the skin surface (notably the under-breast fold and the conical shape of the breast). The procedure must be performed by a skilled surgical team in order to maximize the quality of breast resection and reconstruction, particularly to avoid postoperative complications, notably damage to blood vessels within the skin flap and prosthesis infection. These complications generally affect the cosmetic outcome of the reconstruction, with serious short-term and long-term consequences for the acceptability of the surgical procedure, and may sometimes compromise the delivery of adjuvant treatments (either chemo- or radiotherapy). Based on our previous experience (1000 new cases since 1992), we will compare the advantages and drawbacks of the procedure, discuss its indications, describe the clinical situations encountered and the various specific interventions available, as well as the methods to reduce the risks of tissue damage and skin necrosis.     

Prise en charge des spasticités douloureuses : pourquoi et comment utiliser les blocs locorégionaux ?

Muscle spasticity causes pain, disability, and difficulties in the rehabilitation of patients with cerebrovascular lesions, head, brain or spine trauma, coma, or neurologic diseases such as multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or cerebral palsy. Regional blocks have a threefold use in patients with painful spasticity: diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic. Blocks are feasible on an outpatient or day-hospital basis. Blocks are applied most often to 4 peripheral sites: the pectoral nerve loop, median, obturator, and tibial nerves. The main indication is debilitating or painful spasticity. Peripheral blocks with local anesthetics are used as tests, to mimic the effects of motor blocks and determine their potential adverse effects, transiently and reversibly. Peripheral neurolytic blocks are easy to perform, effective, and inexpensive.     

Faut-il cimenter les vertèbres ostéoporotiques ?

Acrylic cement vertebroplasty is being increasingly used to treat osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs), although no controlled studies supporting this trend have been published. Vertebroplasty remains controversial as a treatment for osteoporotic fractures because it is a local response to a systemic disease and because the pain caused by osteoporotic fractures usually subsides within a few days or weeks. Current data suggest that pain severity may decrease by half, on average, in 90–100% of patients. Although vertebroplasty is usually well tolerated, serious neurological complications have been reported in a few patients. The most common adverse event is nerve root pain, usually caused by leakage of the cement into the intervertebral foramen. Whether vertebroplasty is followed by an increased risk of osteoporotic fractures in the adjacent vertebras remains unclear. Resorbable cements are being developed and may provide better results than the acrylic cements used today. At present, acrylic cement vertebroplasty to treat osteoporotic VCFs is appropriate in only a minority of patients selected carefully by a multidisciplinary team including a rheumatologist.