Purpose of the study: Benign tumors of peripheral nerves are exceptional. Schwannomas predominate. Most tumors are revealed by tumefaction or pain over a nerve trajectory. The risk of degeneration is very low. Magnetic resonance imaging is the exploration of choice. The risk of sequelae or recurrence must nevertheless be determined with precision. We reviewed our experience with 93 benign tumors of peripheral nerves to search for factors predictive of prognosis.

Material and methods: This retrospective analysis included patients seen between 1979 and 2004. We collected a series of 89 patients, 41 women and 48 men, mean age 48 years, age range 18–80, with 93 benign tumors. Mean time from symptom onset (pain) to diagnosis was 20 months. The patients consulted for pain (n=78), presence of a mass (n=79) or both (n=66). Percussion produced paresthesia in 54 patients. Pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging was available for 45 patients. The same surgeon performed nerve microsurgery in all patients. A prior procedure had been performed in another institution for 23 patients. The tumors were: schwannoma (n=74), neurofibroma (n=14), plexiform neurofibroma (n=3), angiolipoma (n=1) and intranervous lipoma (n=1). Mean tumor size was 31 mm (range 7–120 mm). Tumors were located in the brachial plexus (n=13), the upper limb (n=29), the trunk (n=1) and the lower limb (n=50). Complete resection was achieved in 83 cases, with removal of a non-stimulatable fascicle in 50 cases and a motor fascicle in

4. Nerve repair was required for 11 cases: 5 by direct suture and 6 with grafts. Resection was impossible for 4 tumors treated by neurolysis, decompressive epineu-rotomy, biopsy and interfascicular dissection.

Results: Mean follow-up was 96 months (range 3–300). Outcome was very good for 42, good for 25, fair for 8 and poor for 5 (all seen secondarily). Nine patients were lost to follow-up. There were no cases of recurrence.

Discussion: Microsurgical procedures are necessary for resection of nerve tumors in order to preserve the fascicles and thus function. Unresectable tumors and secondary grafts yield les satisfactory results, in our series and in the literature. Similarly, the duration of the symptoms and the size of the tumor increase the risk of operative difficulty and sequelae. Despite high-performance imaging techniques, surgery is the only sure way to establish certain diagnosis.

Purpose: Progress in medical and surgical management has reduced the incidence of osteitis. Nevertheless, this type of complication remains a difficult therapeutic challenge for frail polyoperted patients exposed to infection for several months. Based on a technique developed by A.C. Masquelet and cooperative work with the infectiology unit, we propose an alternative to eminent amputation.

Material and methods: The series included eighteen surgery patients (fifteen men and three women, mean age 37 years) Mean follow-up was fifteen months. Fourteen patients had undergone one or several operations. Bone loss varied from 5 to 17 cm with shaft loss in ten patients and metaphyseal loss in eight. Fifteen reconstructions involved the lower limb: three femurs, nine tibias and three tarsal bones. Three cases involved the upper limbs: elbow, radius, and radiocarpal bones, one each. Meti-R bacilli were identified in eleven patients. Reconstruction was based on the Masquelet spacer technique to induce membranes in all cases. External fixation was used in sixteen cases and pinning in two. A second operation was performed after normalisation of biological parameters and wound healing.

Results: There were no early complications. Late wound healing required a secondary flap in three patients. There was one graft failure after early reinfection. The spacer was in place for a mean four months. Healing was achieved at six months on the average. A second graft was required in two patients.

Discussion: This series demonstrates the usefulness of this bone reconstruction method irrespective of the soft tissue trophicity and the degree of bone loss. It allows maximal debridement of infected tissue, the only method allowing effective eradication of infection. The close cooperation with the infectiology unit was particularly helpful for the management of the more difficult cases allowing bone grafting beyond usual limits.

Purpose: Meralgia paraesthetica is usually caused by entrapment of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) at the inguinal ligament. We present our experience with 114 patients who underwent surgical management for meralgia paraesthetica.

Material: We reviewed 114 patients (48 men, 66 women, five bilateral cases) who underwent surgery for meralgia paraesthetica between 1987 and 1999; local anaesthesia was used for neurolysis in most cases. We identified five aetiologies: idiopathic (n=69, three bilateral), abdominal surgery (n=19), iliac graft harvesting (n=12, one bilateral), hip surgery (n=7), trauma (n=7, one bilateral).

Methods: We analysed outcome at more than two years follow-up for the entire series and by aetiology using a standard 12-point evaluation scale accounting for residual pain, sensorial disorders, and patient satisfaction.

Results: The overall results were good, mean score 9/12 (range 1–12). Ninety-two patients were very satisfied or satisfied. Among the 27 patients who were not satisfied, five developed recurrence. Mean time to full pain relief was 70 days (range 1 – 364 days). Recovery of thigh sensitivity was noted at 128 days (range 1 – 364).

Discussion: The essential criteria of poor prognosis were duration of the meralgia before surgery and its aetiology. Neurolysis of an LFCN injured by trauma or iliac graft harvesting provided less satisfactory results (scores 7 and 6 respectively) than for idopathic meralgia paraesthetica or abdominal-surgery injury (scores 9 and 10 respectively). Eight of the neurolysis procedures in this series did not provide satisfactory results (score 5).

Conclusion: Neurolysis appears to be the surgical treatment of choice for mearlgia paraesthetica. In skilled hands, neurolysis can be performed under local anaesthesia, although certain difficulties can be encountered: obesity, modified anatomy due to prior operations, nerve variability (frequent). Knowledge of these different elements is essential not only to achieve neurolysis but also prevent iatrogenic injury.

Purpose: We have sometimes observed paralysis of the long portion of the triceps in patients operated after traumatic damage to the axillary nerve. In anatomy textbooks, the motor branch of the long portion of the triceps arises from the radial nerve within the triceps. We studied the position of the motor branch of the long portion of the triceps in order to better detail its origin.

Material and methods: Group I: this group included nine patients with trauma-induced lesions of the axillary nerve associated with clinical involvement of the long portion of the triceps. Group II: this group was composed of 20 cadaver specimens of the secondary posterior trunks. Group III: fif-teen approaches to the subclavian plexus with dissection of the secondary posterior trunk. Lesions to the axillary nerve were retrieved from the operation reports in group I. The origin of the motor branch of the long portion of the triceps was identified in group II. The same origin was identified by neurostimulation in group III.

Results: In group I there were six lesions of the axillary nerve situated a mean 10 mm from the division of the secondary posterior trunk and three lesions of the secondary posterior trunk. There were four type IV lesions and five type V lesions. In group II, the motor branch of the long portion of the triceps arose a mean 6 mm from the division of the secondary posterior trunk in 13 cases, at the division in five cases, and 10 mm downstream in two cases, but never from the radial nerve. In group III, the branch of long portion of the triceps arose a men 4.5 mm from the division of the secondary posterior trunk in 11 cases, and at the division in four cases, but never from the radial nerve.

Discussion: In patients with trauma to the axillary nerve with paralysis of the long portion of the triceps, lesions to the axillary nerve occur proximally and are severe. In our study, the motor branch of the long portion of the triceps always arose from the axillary nerve or the secondary posterior branch. This shows that paralysis of the long portion of the triceps is a sign of poor prognosis in patients with traumatic lesions to the axillary nerve. This association is for us an element in favour of a proximal and serious lesion to the axillary nerve.

Conclusion: Involvement of the long portion of the triceps must be searched for in patients with traumatic lesions to the axillary nerve. Paralysis of the long portion of the triceps is a sign of a serious lesion requiring early surgical repair before two months.