Functional reconstruction of the upper extremity in tetraplegia. Application of Möberg's and Allieu's procedures.

The authors conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the benefit of 43 reconstructive procedures and tendon transfers, performed in 37 sessions to restore hand and arm function in 25 tetraplegic patients. These operative procedures were either single or multiple, depending on the patients' needs for restoration. The initial clinical situation was assessed based on a simplified version of the international classification of Giens, modified in Edinburgh.

[The rehabilitation of elderly amputees].

Rehabilitation of elderly amputees raises several issues. Taking into account that amputations are frequently performed in elderly patients, with vascular diseases, it seems relevant to ask whether it is preferable to perform an amputation and quickly rehabilitate the patient or to attempt revascularisation and save the patient's limb. The knowledge of the outcome of amputation is crucial for the choice of treatment.

Longitudinal study of the bone mineral content and of soft tissue composition after spinal cord section.

We present the results of a 1 year longitudinal study of bone mineral measurements and soft tissue composition in supra- and infra-lesional areas of 31 patients with a spinal cord injury (level D2-L3). Like others, we observed a rapid decrease of BMC in the paralysed areas, of approximately 4%/month during the first year in areas rich in trabecular bone and of approximately 2%/month in areas containing mainly compact bone. Lean soft tissue mass (muscle mass) decreases dramatically during the first months post injury in the legs, while fat content tends to increase.