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The aim of this study was to analyze x-ray results in patients who underwent pedicle subtraction osteotomy for complex deformations (flat back, kyphosis) leading to fixed sagittal imbalance.Thirty-four patients underwent surgery between 1996 and March 2003 in two centers, the orthopedic surgery unit devoted to spinal surgery and sports traumatology at the Strasbourg University Hospitals and the spinal surgery unit at the Chenove Clinic (Dijon). The series included 20 women and 14 men, mean age 46.5 years (range 14-74 years) treated for: postoperative flat back (n = 19), kyphoscoliosis (n = 6), ankylosing spondylarthritis (n = 5), and malunion (n = 4). After careful planning to achieve the necessary degree of correction, the patient was installed on a Cotrel table with a stable support enabling limited blood loss and facilitated reduction maneuvers via elevation of the lower limbs. The technique started by resection of the posterior arch, the transverse processes, and the pedicles, followed by partial resection of the body with a chisel under fluoroscopic control. The closure was achieved by in situ reduction with compressive rotation. Adjacent discs were then evaluated to search for any opening which could be filled by an anterior graft to complete the stabilization. The osteosynthesis used 2-, 4-, and 6-rod assemblies. The 6-rod assemblies enabled anchoring the fixation above and below before the osteotomy. Two prebent rods completed the assembly at reduction after osteotomy. Weight-bearing started on day 4. A protective corset was worn for three months by 19 patients. The patients resumed their occupational activities on average 6.73 months postoperatively without change in activity for 63%. Overall satisfaction was close to 90% excellent outcome.All clinical results were analyzed with the Profil software of Surgiview. X-ray data were analyzed with Spineview. A self-administered clinical questionnaire was used to evaluate pain, result of the operation, and the impact on the patient's body image. On average, the wedge osteotomy measured 28.9 degrees for correction of lumbar lordosis by 31.5 degrees with a maximum of 65 degrees. The misalignment at C7 was reduced from 51 mm to 2 mm. At the pelvic level, version improved 16 degrees, sacral slope 8 degrees. There were four dura mater breaches which had to be sutured, but with no clinical consequence (one progression to meningocele). Mean intraoperative blood loss was 1400 cc (300-4500cc) for a mean operative time of 260 minutes (165-450 min). There were two early infections at day 15 postop which resolved with antibiotics. Four patients developed resolutive sciatica (n = 2) or cruralgia (n = 2) during the following months. The short-term follow-up revealed eight non-unions (25%) with rupture of osteosynthesis material and loss of correction. The opening in the adjacent discs and the insufficient posterior closure explained this mechanical complication.Pedicle subtraction osteotomy is an original operative technique reserved for specialized centers. A well-experienced team is needed to control the risks involved. Sagittal balance should be one of the important goals for modern spinal surgery.

During past decades, major progress has been accomplished in the management of acute asthma. Most recent recommendations include evidence-based rationale. The improved quality of clinical guidelines makes them efficient models for medical education. The pediatric pharmacopoeia provides a great variety of choices of drugs as well as for asthma medical devices. These innovations dramatically facilitated the medical management of asthmatic children, but they did not solve all problems. Physicians now use higher doses of salbutamol, but the early prescription of systemic glucocorticoids for moderate exacerbation of asthma is still underused, given the most recent clinical guidelines and meta-analysis. Furthermore, repeated emergency department visits to the wards and lack of primary care physician should systematically be appraised when evaluating severity, as they are both major risk factors for severe exacerbations, even though they are not considered in acute asthma severity scores. Finally, initiating (or reinforcing) patient education at the time of exacerbation also presents important challenges, as emergency visits are a favorable moment to commence the therapeutic education of the child and his family. Indeed, framing the controller medications and educating families about how to manage the disease and to improve their domestic environment are the genuine tools available for the prevention of asthma exacerbations, and particularly those most severe.

To evaluate the completeness of personal child health record in France.Cross-sectional multicentric study, based on child health records analysed and parents' interviews; 1685 children were included: 863 infants aged from 12 to 18 month and 822 children aged from three and a half to four and a half years.One Apgar score was recorded in 96% of cases; the sitting position's acquisition was registered in 91%; the age of walk in 81%. Growth curves were plotted in 64% of cases for weight and in 62% for height in infant's records and 22% of cases for both in older children's records. Ten per cent of the last visit to a physician were not recorded in infants health records, 19% in those of children; as well an hospitalisation for respectively 1,5% and 3,3% and a performed operation for 1,8% and 5,1% respectively. Immunization batches were exhaustively indicated in 68% and 50% of the records.Many important data for medical follow-up are missing in the child health records, especially for the oldest children. Physicians and parents should be incited to a better use of the personal record.

A case of retention of urine after ophthalmic zoster is reported. The sphincter vesicae disorder was of central origin, being caused by a meningoencephalitis. The patient progressively recovered. The respective responsibilities of brain suffering and meningeal involvement in these urinary tract disturbances are discussed.

Radiographs of the lumbar spine frequently demonstrate asymmetry of posterior articular facets, but this is asymptomatic in patients with good abdominal and lumbar muscles when the anomaly is only of a moderate degree. It can, however, cause rotatory instability of the subjacent vertebra leading to lumbago. It is then frequently associated with osteo-articular complications affecting the posterior arch, this being a logical consequence of a sequence of changes which can be explained by simple mechanical factors.

A case is described of a child aged twelve with rib abnormalities, a Klippel-Feil syndrome and a complete fusion between C2 and C7. The atlas showed abnormal ossification of the anterior and posterior arches. No similar description has been found in the literature. A posterior spine fusion between C1 and C2 was performed.

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International audience