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C C Breugem

Publications and source records attributed to C C Breugem.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Vascular malformations of the lower limb with osseous involvement.

Vascular malformations are rare congenital lesions which often have associated skeletal changes. Over a period of ten years, 90 patients at our clinic had a vascular anomaly of the lower limb, examined by either CT or MRI. Of these, 18 (20%) had bony involvement. A questionnaire was sent to these patients (8 men, 10 women) to evaluate their age of presentation, initial symptoms and current complaints. Radiological imaging revealed 15 low- and three high-flow lesions. The mean age at presentation to a physician was six years of age. Pain was the most common complaint. Disparity in leg length of 2 cm or more was observed in ten patients. Of the 16 patients with muscle infiltration, 13 had four or more muscles involved. Treatment by resection alone would require radical surgery.

Adolescent↗

Use of magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation of vascular malformations of the lower extremity.

Vascular malformations are anatomically subdivided according to the predominant channel anomaly into either capillary, arterial, venous, lymphatic, or combinations. They can be further subdivided into high- or low-flow malformations. Any lesion that has an arterial component is considered a high-flow malformation. Once the diagnosis of a vascular malformation is made, it is of paramount importance to define not only the flow characteristics but also the full range of extension, because the prognosis and appropriate treatment vary substantially for each type of anomaly. The two most useful noninvasive imaging techniques for assessing vascular malformations are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography. The aim of this review is to give surgeons involved in treating patients with vascular malformations an opportunity to gain some background on MRI scans when assessing vascular malformations. Although MRI is a powerful modality for assessing vascular malformations, we will also discuss some of the limitations of MRI. We further suggest a diagnostic flow chart developed on the basis of MRI features designed to help determine the composition of a vascular birthmark when intervention is anticipated.

Blood Vessels↗

Magnetic resonance imaging findings of vascular malformations of the lower extremity.

Vascular malformations are congenital lesions resulting from a defect during embryogenesis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a very effective method for demonstrating detailed information regarding involved structures, extent, and flow characteristics of vascular malformations. In previous MRI studies, most of the emphasis is laid on the difference between high- and low-flow lesions, whereas little detailed information is available about the extent of local tissue involvement. These additional characteristics may influence the approach in treating these malformations and improve understanding of the pathogenesis. We retrospectively reviewed MRI scans of 40 patients with vascular malformations of the lower extremity. Thirty-four patients had low-flow lesions, and six had high-flow lesions. Of the low-flow lesions, 23 patients (67.6 percent) had muscle infiltration, with four of the six high-flow lesions having muscle infiltration. Nine of the 11 male patients (81.8 percent) with low-flow lesions had associated muscle infiltration, in comparison with 14 of the 23 female patients (60.9 percent) with low-flow lesions (p = 0.206). Eighty percent of the vascular malformations located on the thigh with muscle involvement had involvement of the anterior muscle group, whereas 86.6 percent of the patients with a vascular malformation located on the leg and with associated muscle involvement had at least the posterior muscle group involved (p = 0.0049). Ten patients (25 percent) of the whole group had bone infiltration. Low-flow lesions often had multifocal lesions (20.6 percent), whereas associated muscle atrophy was visible in 10 low-flow lesions and in two high-flow lesions. In low-flow lesions with muscle infiltration (n = 23), 43 percent (n = 10) had associated surrounding muscle atrophy (p = 0.009). Hypertrophy of the subcutaneous tissue was visible in 11 low-flow patients (32.4 percent). The high amount of muscle and bone involvement in vascular malformations of the lower extremity is emphasized with this study. Of particular interest was the difference in affected muscle groups. The angiosome concept is used to explain this preponderance, and we feel the angiosome concept could also be used when assessing possible intervention. The surrounding muscle atrophy and multifocal nature of these anomalies are further important considerations when assessing the possibility of intervention.

Adolescent↗

High voltage electrical injury leading to a delayed onset tetraplegia, with recovery.

High voltage electrical injury can cause considerable damage to the central nervous system. Delayed spinal cord injury is uncommon, usually incomplete, and comprises predominantly motor fallout. The injury can be progressive, with only a few patients showing partial improvement. We present a case report of a 20-year-old male who had a delayed onset spinal cord injury after a high voltage electrical injury. The symptoms started several days postburn with an ascending paralysis, leading to tetraplegia. Gradual recovery became evident at 3 months after the accident, starting with his arms and later showing partial recovery of his lower limbs. The mechanisms of injury and pathophysiology to the spinal cord are poorly understood. Possible explanations for the delayed onset of neurologic complications are given. The exact reasons for the delayed, ascending paralysis and the mechanism of recovery still need further investigation.

Adult↗

Retrospective study of nonsyndromic craniosynostosis treated over a 10-year period.

Since the first operation for premature suture closure in North America in 1888, there have been some fundamental changes in the treatment of these sutures, the latest being the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's 1996 approval of a bioabsorbable fixation device. This retrospective study documents our experience with procedures performed primarily by Bennie J. van R. Zeeman for isolated craniosynostosis over a 10-year period. It was an attempt to evaluate factors affecting outcome and to determine the safety of the techniques used to correct these congenital defects. Diagnoses included plagiocephaly (116) and sagittal (44), metopic (17), and bilateral coronal (12) synostosis. All patients underwent fronto-orbital advancement or calvarial vault remodeling, or both. The average patient age at time of sagittal synostosis surgery was 13.4 months; unilateral coronal synostosis, 12.2 months; deformational plagiocephaly, 9.8 months; metopic synostosis, 8.6 months; and bilateral coronal synostosis, 10.4 months. Perioperative complications were minimal, with one mortality. Postoperative complications included three cases involving infection. The problem of reoperation for the removal of wires and plates remains the greatest postoperative complication. Because of poor patient compliance, no accurate postoperative follow-up has been recorded. On the basis of our experience, we wish to point out some problems inherent in this surgery and also the complications that can occur despite careful coordinated planning and team effort.

Bone Plates↗