The management of high-energy pilon fractures is still controversial. Open reduction and internal fixation are often associated with serious complications. Various methods have been used to treat these injuries, with variable results. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the clinical and radiographic outcome of the ILIZAROV technique in patients with high-energy pilon fractures. Thirty cases of distal tibia epiphysis fractures (pilon fractures) were managed from 1999 to 2012. The study group included 5 cases of open fractures. The mean age was 47 years. According to Rüedi and Algower classification; 11 fractures were type II, and 19 type III. All fractures were a consequence of high-energy trauma. Fractures of the lower fibula were present in 28 of the patients. An external Fixator was applied for open fractures. Closed injuries were operated on 3 to 13 days after injury, with an average of 8 days. The mean follow-up was 48 months. All fractures united. The external fixator was removed after a mean of 22 weeks (10 - 28 weeks). Two patients with a type III fracture had a delayed union and were treated with corticotomy and dynamisation of the ILIZAROV fixator. Only one secondary displacement of a type III fracture was noted after two months and was treated by adjuction of 2 olive wires. There were no cases of osteomyelitis or deep infections. Pin-tract infections occurred in ten patients. We had not any case of nervous injury due to introduction of the pins. Using radiological criteria for assessement of reduction of the articular fragments, there was excellent and good restoration of articular structure in 24 cases. The average American Orthopeadic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hind foot score was excellent in 16, good in 6, fair in 6 and poor in 2. Soft tissue healing occurred without need for plastic surgery in all cases. The movements of the ankle ranged from 0 to 20° of dorsiflexion and 5° to 40° of plantar flexion. Twenty patients had gone back to their preinjury profession. The ILIZAROV technique is a safe and a very effective treatment for severe pilon fractures with minimum complications and good healing results.

Introduction. Isolated fracture of the trochlea is an uncommon condition requiring a particular mechanism of injury. Its association with a distal radial fracture is rare. We aimed through this case report to identify the injury mechanism and to assess surgical outcomes. Case Presentation. We report a 26-year-old female who was admitted to our department for elbow trauma following an accidental fall on her outstretched right hand with her elbow extended and supinated. On examination, the right elbow was swollen with tenderness over the anteromedial aspect of the distal humerus. The elbow range was restricted. Standard radiographs showed an intra-articular half-moon-shaped fragment lying proximal and anterior to the distal humerus. There was a comminuted articular fracture of the distal radius with an anterior displacement. A computed tomography revealed an isolated shear fracture of the trochlea without any associated lesion of the elbow. The patient was surgically managed. Anatomical reduction was achieved and the fracture was fixed with 2 Kirschner wires. The distal radial fracture was treated by open reduction and plate fixation. The postoperative course was uneventful with a good recovery. Conclusion. Knowledge of such entity would be useful to indicate the suitable surgical management and eventually to obtain good functional outcomes.

Cellulitis is a frequent soft tissue and skin infection. The lower limbs are affected in 70 to 80% of cases. Cellulitis in aged persons is not yet well described in literature. A retrospective descriptive study conducted in the Internal Medicine Department of Sahloul hospital in Sousse in Tunisia. It included patients whose age was up to 65 years old admitted into hospital for cellulitis of the legs, the arms or the face. One hundred fifty eight patients with a mean age of 73 years old (range: 65 to 94 years old) were included. Female to male sex ratio was 0.68. Among them, we noted diabetes mellitus in 81 cases (50.6%). The infection was located in the lower limbs in 155 cases (98%), in the face in two cases (1.3%) and in the upper limb in one case (0.7%). Twenty one patients (13.3%) presented with severe cellulitis and one presented with necrotizing fasciitis. All patients received intra venous antibiotic therapy. Surgical treatment was indicated in 14 cases. Cefazolin was prescribed in 77 cases (48%). Favorable evolution was noted in 144 patients (91.1%). Forty four patients (27.8%) received prophylactic antibiotics. Prevention of skin and soft tissue infection is a crucial step to preserve health in aged persons.

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Septic arthritis of the pubis symphysis is rare and difficult to diagnose. The objective of our study was to describe the biological, clinical, radiological and therapeutic aspects of this disease. This is a retrospective study of 4 cases of septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis collected in the Department of Rheumatology and Orthopaedics in Sousse in Tunisia over a period of 16 years (2000-2016). Our population consists of 3 women and one men. The mean age was 47 years (18-83). Clinical signs of appeal were inflammatory groin pain, pubic pain and fever. Symptoms appeared after forceps delivery in 2 cases, after surgery on the pelvis in one case and in a context of sepsis in one case. Radiographs showed pubic disjunction with irregular shoreline in all cases. CT performed in all patients and MRI in 2 patients showed erosions of the banks of the pubic symphysis with infiltration of the soft parts in all cases. The causative organisms were isolated in 3 cases by biopsy of soft tissue abscess under CT in 2 cases and vaginal swab in one case. Identified germs were staphylococcus aureus Méti-S (n=1), proteus mirabilis (n=1) and varied flora (n=1). The treatment consisted of appropriate antibiotics in all cases and surgical drainage of soft tissue abscess resistant to medical treatment in 2 cases. The outcome was favorable in all cases. Diagnosis of septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis is based on clinic supported by microbiologic culture results, image methods, and proteins augment during acute phase.

Les tumeurs à cellules géantes des gaines synoviales (TCGGS) des tendons représentent la forme localisée de la synovite villonodulaire hémopigmentée. Elles s'observent le plus souvent au niveau des mains. Notre but était d'étudier les caractéristiques épidémio-cliniques et thérapeutiques des TCGGS, évaluer les résultats du traitement chirurgical et dégager les facteurs de récidives. Il s'agit d'une étude rétrospective de 50 cas de TCGGS de la main colligés entre 1992 et 2016 au service d'orthopédie de l'hôpital Sahloul de Sousse en Tunisie. Les caractéristiques cliniques et épidémiologiques des TCGGS ont été précisées. L'âge moyen des patients était de 33 ans (9-69 ans) avec un sexe-ratio de 0,6. Les motifs de consultation étaient l'apparition constante d'une tuméfaction (100%), la gêne à la mobilisation des articulations inter-phalangiennes (6%) et la douleur digitale (18%). Toutes les tumeurs étaient localisées au niveau de la région digitale, surtout au niveau de l'index (42%). La localisation était palmaire dans 66% des cas. Tous les malades ont été opérés, l'aspect macroscopique montrait une tumeur encapsulée, polylobée et jaune brunâtre qui se prolongeait dans la gaine des tendons fléchisseurs (4 cas) et sous le tendon extenseur (2 cas). Nous avons noté un seul cas de récidive, soit 2% qui ont été repris chirurgicalement. Les résultats fonctionnels étaient bons dans tous les cas. Le diagnostic de TCGGS doit être évoqué devant une tuméfaction digitale. Leur prise en charge fait appel à la chirurgie qui reste difficile et doit être correctement exécutée pour éviter les récidives.

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BackgroundJuvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) groups several entities having in common the presence of arthritis that begin before the age of 16, persist for more than six weeks and have no identified cause.ObjectivesThe aim of our study was to determine the feature of the different clinical forms of JIA.MethodsThis is a retrospective study of 54 cases of JIA according to the criteria of the International League Association of Rheumatology in department of Rheumatology collected over a period of 16 years [1998-2014].ResultsOur population consists of 28 men and 26 women (sex ratio of 1.12). The average age of symptoms onset was 10.4 years [4-15 years]. Late diagnosis in adulthood was noted in 8 patients (15% of cases). The polyarticular form was the most common, affecting 66% of cases (15.1% with rheumatoid factor and 50.9% without rheumatoid factor). The other forms were in descending order: oligoarticular form (15.1%), arthritis with enthesitis (9.4%), systemic form (7.6%) and psoriatic arthritis (1.9%). Stunting and hip disease were observed respectively in 30.2 and 32.1% of cases. Extra- articular signs were fever (18.9%), uveitis (3.8%), pericarditis (3.8%), pleurisy (1.9%), rash (1.9%), peripheral lymphadenopathy (1.9%) and myocarditis (1.9%). The treatments used were: corticosteroids (66%), non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (43.4%), aspirin (17%), methotrexate (47.2%) and biotherapy (anti-tnf alpha) (9.4%).ConclusionsJIA is an heterogeneous group of diseases having in common the presence of arthritis. Our series is characterized by the prevalence of hip disease. The treatment depends on the form of the disease.Disclosure of InterestNone declared