Prevalence of large-joint osteoarthritis in Asian and Caucasian skeletal populations.

Objective: To determine ethnic variations of large-joint osteoarthritis (OA) in past populations.

Methods: One thousand two hundred and nine adult skeletons, excavated from archaeological sites in Japan, China and France were assessed for OA as defined by the presence of eburnation.

Results: Within Asian skeletal populations, elbow OA and patellofemoral joint OA were more common in hunter-gatherers than in agriculturalists.

[Rehabilitation of the rheumatoid dorsal wrist by the Sauve-Kapandji operation combined with a realignment-stabilization synovectomy].

The authors present a series of 25 cases of rheumatoid wrists, operated by tendon and intra-carpal synovectomy, accompanied by an arthrodesis of the lower ulnar articulation following a metaphyseal resection of the lower extremity of the ulnar according to Sauve and Kapandji. This series is "young", as the mean follow-up is 2 years. It involves 25 patients, including 4 operated on both wrists.

[Achromic ungual melanoma. Apropos of a case].

A 55-year-old woman presented with suppurative paronychia that became chronic. In fact, this was an exceptional case of amelanotic subungual melanoma. This case is compared with a general review of subungual melanomas.

[Fracture of the base of the first metacarpus].

The authors report a group of 73 cases of fractures of the base of the first metacarpal treated between 1974 and 1989. Fifty-three articular fractures (73%) and 20 non-articular fractures are described. Sixty-eight patients were treated surgically: 49 diverging pin insertions were used, 15 Lars Thoren technique, 5 rigid osteosyntheses with AO miniaturized material.

[Experimental study of an axial vascularized pedicle flap induced in rats].

The authors report an experimental study about induced flaps in rats. The aim of this study is to determine that neoangiogenesis can be formed from surgically introduced pedicle. Two main groups were studied: in the first one the arteriovenous pedicle was be anastomased at its distal end, in the other, an arteriovenous loop was created microsurgically.

[Fractures of the base of the first metacarpus].

The authors report a group of 73 cases of fractures of the base of the first metacarpal treated between 1974 and 1989. Fifty-three articular fractures (73%) and 20 non-articular fractures are described. Sixty-eight patients were treated surgically: 49 diverging pin insertions were used, 15 Lars Thoren technique, 5 rigid osteosyntheses with AO miniaturized material.

[False aneurysm of the profunda femoris artery after fracture of the upper end of the femur. Apropos of a case].

A case of false aneurysm arising at the origin of a branch of the profunda femoris artery following an intertrochanteric fracture of the femur is reported. The complication was due to the fracture itself by impalement by a bony fragment of the lesser trochanter. A review of the literature revealed 14 similar cases and confirmed the rarity of this complication.

[Bony metastases of the fingers. Apropos of 3 cases. Review of the literature].

Bone metastases of fingers are rare, are of highest incidence in men 40 to 60 years, and may reveal the presence of a primary cancer. Radiologic imaging shows almost constant osteolytic lesions, the primary usually being located in the bronchi. Short-term prognosis is poor, with a mean survival of three and a half months.

[Conservative treatment of esophagus ruptures and perforations. Esophageal diversion by minimal pharyngostomy].

In ruptures or perforation of the oesophagus, the difficult choice between conservative methods (suture or drainage) and total exclusion of the organ can be avoided by minimal pharyngostomy. This procedure, which supersedes lateral oesophagostomy and makes use of an aspiration silicone-lined catheter to divert the oesophageal contents, is simple, rapid, effective and reversible. It is carried out in a region devoid of dangerous anatomical variants, in the avascular space below the greater cornu of the hyoid bone (a palpable landmark), the incision being made on the convexity of a curved clamp which pushes back the pharyngeal wall at the level of the sinus pyriformis.