A unique case of pure lateral spinal cord herniation

BackgroundSpinal cord herniation (SCH) remains a challenging diagnosis for neuroradiologists and may require treatment challenging for neurosurgeons. Most cord herniations are usually found at anterior thoracic levels.Clinical presentationA 28-year-old woman presented at our department with a 7-year history of progressive myelopathy. MR analysis showed a displacement of the spinal cord in a lateral thoracic dural defect. The herniated cord was released using a microscope and the patient significantly recovered 6 months after surgery.ConclusionWe present a unique case of pure lateral SCH. In the light of reviewed literature and operative findings, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are discussed.     

Microsurgery and burn sequelae: what is practical use?

The use of microsurgery in the management of burn sequelae is not a new idea and free flaps have been used in this context since the 1970s. New technologies like negative pressure treatment and skin substitute have certainly decreased the indication of free flaps. The authors with their experience combined to a review of the literature, try to clarify these indications for each anatomical location. From a technical point of view, they find that realizing a free flap for these patients is more complicated (venous damage, lack of donor site who has been burned…). Despite this, microsurgery must still belong in the decision tree and there are some irreplaceable indication specially for hand reconstruction.     

The cryopreservation of composite tissues: principle, literature review and preliminary results of our own experiments

The cryopreservation of cells and human tissues has generated a great interest from the scientific community since 1949 when the cryoprotective activity of glycerol was discovered. For a homogeneous cellular group or a one-layer cellular tissue it is easy to define the optimal technique conditions of its cryopreservation (cryoprotective agents, speed and steps of freezing, speed of warming). It is considered successful when a high recovery of the cellular structures and tissue components after warming is achieved. The cryopreservation of a whole composite tissue is less easy to obtain. Each tissue presents its own parameters and its own reactivity during the cryopreservation process. The challenge consists in, on the one hand, the selection of the ideal cryoprotective agents'combination which can fit the needs of the different tissues and on the other hand, the definition of adequate technical parameters. The aim of this work is to demonstrate the feasability to cryopreserve a composite tissue in order to carry out surgical reconstructive procedures of particular anatomical and functionnal units (metacarpo-phalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints, flexor system apparatus, extensor system, median nerve, etc.) with complete revitalization of the allograft using vascular microsurgical procedures. To do so, our present work is divided into three different parts. The first chapter deals with the fundamental principles of the cryobiology of biological structures with special interest in the liquid transfer process between the extracellular and intracellular compartments and ice initiation and agregation during the freezing process. The different physical and chemical reactions and their consequences on the biological tissues are described according to the different cryoprotective agents used, should they belong to the extracellular or intracellular cryoprotective groups. The second chapter makes a review of the litterature concerning the results of all experiments made on the cryopreservation of the different tissue structures as skin, vessels, bones, cartilage, periosteum, nerves, cornea, on the one hand, and the different organs as kidneys, liver, heart, trachea, lung, parathyroid glands and ovaries, on the other hand. We are reporting the results of these experiments focusing on the immunomodulation effect of cryopreservation on the antigenic response of biological structures. These experiments were made either on organs or on the cells involved in the immunogenic process. In the third chapter, we are reporting the results of our experiments carried out in the Aquitaine Hand Institute in the field of the cryopreservation of the xenografts of digital segments on the rabbit. These digital segments were cryopreserved, then warmed and revitalized through vascular microsurgical techniques. The preliminary results are very encouraging and pave the way to the allotransplantation of cryopreserved composite organs in our common surgical activity.     

Monitoring free flaps with cutaneous microdialysis: preliminary study in oral cavity reconstruction

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative monitoring of free flaps with microdialysis allows early diagnosis of anastomotic complications. Feasibi-lity studies are required to examine flap accessibility for oral cavity reconstruction.CASES: We present our preliminary findings in two patients who underwent radial free flap reconstruction of the floor of the mouth. For the first patient, a microprobe was used to monitor the flap for 45 hours. In the second case, an abdominal microprobe served as a control in healthy skin with another probe located in the cutaneous flap for 4 days. Flap monitoring, starting from the recovery room, was successful with easy manipulations for the nurse. Correlation between the monitoring curves and the clinical aspect of the flap was excellent.DISCUSSION: The microprobe should be short (1 cm), and carefully anchored. Naso-gastric feeding is required during monitoring. A close correlation has been found between glucose level and systolic pressure. The use of a comparative microprobe in healthy abdominal skin is helpful in learning to use the dialysis curves.     

Multidisciplinary management of intracranial aneurysms: The experience of Lille university hospital center

BackgroundIn recent years, the multidisciplinary approach has become an important concern for the management of intracranial aneurysms.ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate the functional outcomes of patients treated for an intracranial aneurysm (ruptured or unruptured), when the treatment modality was defined in a multidisciplinary fashion.Materials and methodsIn this retrospective study, we included all patients (n = 209) treated for an intracranial saccular aneurysm at Lille university hospital between January 2009 and December 2009. There were 70 men and 139 women with a mean age of 50.5 years (range 24 to 73 years). The clinical data were recorded before treatment including the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) and the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) scores. Microsurgical approach was performed in 110 patients whereas 99 patients underwent an endovascular procedure. A modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was reported at 3 months after treatment. Intracranial vascular imaging was performed before and immediately after the treatment and then renewed at 3 years in all patients to detect any recurrence.ResultsAmong the 121 patients with ruptured aneurysm, the functional outcomes were similar between patients who underwent microsurgery and patients who had an endovascular treatment. In the 88 patients with an unruptured aneurysm, functional outcomes were also similar between the two treatment modalities. Among the 99 patients treated by the endovascular approach, 4 had a significant aneurysm reopening on follow-up imaging leading to additional treatment (3 clipping, 1 coiling). No aneurysm recurrence was reported among the 110 patients who underwent microsurgical treatment.ConclusionIn a trained team, the multidisciplinary approach appears to be a valuable strategy in the management of intracranial aneurysms, to achieve good functional outcomes.