Anterior approach in humeral plating osteosynthesis

CONTEXT

Humeral plating osteosynthesis is controversial, particularly regarding the choice between anterior and lateral approach, data for which in the context of a low-income country are lacking.

HYPOTHESIS

The anterior approach is an easy surgical technique, allowing good anatomic reconstruction. We hypothesize that the anterior approach is associated with fewer neurovascular lesions and functional sequelae than the lateral approach.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective study with assessment update was carried out over a period of 6years 4months from January 2010 to June 2016, with consecutive recruitment in the city of Yaoundé, Cameroon. It consisted in a review of medical records, with physical reassessment on pre-designed and tested data-sheet. Sixty-two osteosyntheses were documented in 60 subjects operated on for humeral fracture or non-union. The following variables were studied: sociodemographic data, fracture profile, clinical profile, and functional shoulder and elbow results. Data analysis used the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 23.0. Associations between qualitative variables were assessed on Chi square test, or Fisher test when the expected sample size was less than 5, and between quantitative and qualitative variables on Student t-test for comparison of means; p values≤0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The anterior approach showed better results. Operative time was shorter, at 102.5min on average, for 262cm³ blood loss, versus 141.6min and 330cm³ on the lateral approach, with a significant correlation between the two variables. The incidence of postoperative radial paralysis was significantly higher with the lateral approach (22.6% versus 3.2%; p=0.02), and there were likewise higher rates of postoperative infection (9.7% versus 6.5%), secondary displacement, implant damage, and malunion. Reduction was more often anatomical with the anterior approach (28.1% versus 11%) and cortical fixation was better (83.9% versus 61.3%). Functional shoulder and elbow recovery was nearly normal with both approaches, with superimposable values and no statistically significant difference in (p=0.4).

CONCLUSION

Cameroon being a low-income country, the anterior approach is of therapeutic and prognostic interest, being easy to perform, with a low rate of postoperative complications and good functional outcome.

Unusual Life-Threatening Pneumothorax Complicating a Ruptured Complex Aspergilloma in an Immunocompetent Patient in Cameroon

An aspergilloma is a well-recognized lesion of the lung caused most of the time by the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. Its main complication is hemoptysis and has been very rarely associated with tension pneumothorax. We present the case of a 47-year-old man with a history of treated and healed tuberculosis, which was successfully managed in our service for a ruptured right upper lobe complexed aspergilloma, complicated by a massive and tension pneumothorax. The patient underwent thoracotomy and lung resection with quick recovery. Conclusively, although rare, an aspergilloma may rupture and cause a life-threatening air leakage.

[Assessment of concomitant floating knees injuries severity]

Le genou flottant est issu d’un traumatisme de haute énergie, dont la genèse suggère de vaste dégâts aussi bien sur le plan locorégional que général. Faisant référence au polytaumatisme. Le but de notre étude était de recenser toutes les lésions concomitantes au genou flottant dans notre milieu de pratique et d’évaluer la sévérité. Nous avons mené une étude descriptive et rétrospective couvrant une période de 14 ans et 9 mois. Sur un échantillon de 75 genoux flottants, avec une moyenne d’âge de 35 ans. Soixante six patients avaient obtenu un score d’ISS supérieur ou égal à 16 donc qualifié de polytraumatisé. Les traumatismes crâniens, les lésions thoraciques et abdominales retrouvés en même temps que le genou flottant exigent une réanimation adéquate.