Complement-driven hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Overactivation of the complement alternative pathway drives the pathogenesis of primary atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). Genetically-determined or acquired dysregulation of the complement is frequently identified in patients with aHUS, pregnancy-related hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and severe hypertension-associated HUS. In contrast, it is still unclear whether self-limited complement activation, which frequently occurs in other forms of HUS, provides key mechanistic clues or results from endothelial damage.

[Study of litigation files leading to a definitive settlement over three years in the orthopaedic trauma ward in a public hospital].

Objective: To know the future of appeals against a public establishment of health.

Material And Methods: We studied 16 files of dispute having ended in a definitive payment over three years in the service of orthopaedics of the Amiens hospital (2001-2003).

Results: The majority of the plaintiffs are people (63%), and the average age is of 45,6 years (24 year/68 years).

[Recent fractures of the radial head associated with elbow instability treated with floating Judet prosthesis].

Purpose Of The Study: Fracture of the radial head associated with elbow instability is infrequent. We report a retrospective series of floating Judet prostheses implanted for comminutive fractures of the radial head associated with elbow laxity caused either by dislocation or rupture of the medial collateral ligaments.

Material And Methods: The series included ten patients who underwent surgery from October 1996 to September 2002 at the Amiens University Hospital.

[Core decompression of the femoral head for avascular necrosis].

Purpose Of The Study: Core decompression of the femoral head is a conservative surgical treatment with controversial efficacy. We studied retrospectively a series of 32 cases of femoral head osteonecrosis treated by core decompression between 1988 and 2000 in 25 patients. We examined the epidemiological and clinical features as well as the laboratory findings, comparing cases requiring secondary hip replacement and those who had a favorable outcome.