Reciprocal angulation of vertebral bodies in a sagittal plane: approach to references for the evaluation of kyphosis and lordosis.

In order to establish a sagittal plane curve reference table for standing subjects examined laterally, we determined an easily reproducible standard posture. A sample of 100 healthy subjects from 20 to 29 years of age, was chosen (43 women, 57 men). The reciprocal angulations of each vertebral body in relation to the others were fed into a digitalizer and studied by computer.

[Mesenteric neurofibromatosis. Apropos of a case].

The authors report a case of severe Recklinghausen's disease, revealed early in infancy, by spinal deformities and then by severe dislocations with kypho-scoliosis surgically treated by anterior and posterior fusion. Other localisations of neurofibromatosis were present, especially bones and skin. During the disease's course a wide sub-cutaneous tumor of the chest wall was removed.

[Megaspondylodysplasia : orthopaedic management (author's transl)].

The authors describe three cases of megspondylodysplasia, an original syndrome first described in 1972. This congenital lesion is associated with severe kyphoscoliosis, multiple hemimelic enchondromatoses of the spine, hands, feet, knees and hips and hypertrophy of half of the body. In the discussion, differentiation between this syndrome and other diseases such as Ollier's or Mafucci's disease is described.

[Anterior strut grafting in kyphosis and kyphoscoliosis (author's transl)].

The authors have reviewed 58 cases submitted to strut grafting in the concavity of the curve. There were 44 kyphoscolioses and 12 kyphoses. The average follow-up was more than two years and the average pre-operative deformity was 127 degrees.

[Major scoliosis, over 100 degrees, in adults. 183 surgically treated cases].

Most severe scoliosis and kyphoscoliosis are not unfrequent in European countries. The purpose of their treatment is not only cosmetic but, often, vital. Patients are hypotrophic and their vital capacities usually very poor.

[Critical evaluation of the surgical treatment of vertebral lesions due to neurofibromatosis. 31 cases (1954-1973)].

Scoliosis is a complication of spinal lesions in neurofibromatosis, and leads frequently to major deformities with dislocations. The authors conducted a critical study of 31 cases surgically treated during the 1954-73 period of time. The techniques of spine straightening and of arthrodesis were recalled.