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Background: Sub-occipital Pott's disease is rare, but dangerous., Aim: To recall diagnostic aspects and spatially the neuroradiological ones of sub-occipital Pott's disease., Methods: We describe three patients with sub-occipital Pott's disease followed in our department from 2002 to 2007., Results: There were two women and one man (mean age at onset: 48 years). The early clinical picture was non specific. Exploration, in addition to standard radiographies included a computerized Tomography (CT) (n=2) and MRI (n=1 and n=3). The diagnosis was confirmed histologically on a biopsy of the abscess (n=1), a bacteriological evidence (n=2) and retained thanks to argument presumption (n=3). The treatment was based on quadruple antituberculous chemotherapy with external traction (n=2 and n=3) associated with urgent surgery (n=1) because of the worsening of the neurological complications. The evolution was fatal (n=1) and positive (n=2 and n=3)., Conclusion: Tuberculosis should be suspected in patients with chronic torticollis and residing in an area when tuberculosis is endemic. Medical treatment is based on a quadruple antituberculosis chemotherapy with traction in the presence of atlanto-axial instability. Surgery is reserved in case of neurological worsening or persistent instability.

Background: The first metatarsophalangeal joint arthrodesis is a fusion with optimal alignment of the first metatarsal and first phalanx which conferring indolence, strength and stability., Aim: The goal of this study was to evaluate the place of arthrodesis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint in surgery of the fore foot., Methods: This work is based on analysis of records of 35 patients between 1995 and 2006. 39 first metatarsophalangeal joint arthrodesis were practice (3 were bilateral). They had a follow up of from three to ten years. All patients were called for a complete exploration radiographic and clinical evaluation according to the criteria of KITAOKA. The average age of patients was 54 years., Results: They were 28 women and 7 men. The indications were hallux rigidus in 51% cases and rheumatoid arthritis in 41% cases. The procedure used mostly a stable fixation with a compressive screw. The dorsal flexion recommended is between 20 and 30°. Ankylosis of the ankle or the inter-phalangeal joint was an against indication for the first metatarsophalangeal joint arthrodesis. The study found a patient subjective satisfaction rate of 92 per cent, there was no pain for 89 per cent of cases. It was noted 4 non-fusion cases paradoxically with satisfactory functional result. There was no pain of inter-phalangeal joint in all cases when X-rays showed arthritis in 4 cases., Conclusion: The first metatarsophalangeal joint arthrodesis, provided we respect a few simple principles, restores painless and satisfying function of foot.

A sample of 267 unrelated Moroccan males from different ethnic groups (Arabs, Berbers and Sahrawi), was typed for 17 Y-STR loci (DYS19, DYS385, DYS389 I, DYS389 II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635, Y GATA H4). Discrimination capacity (96.3%) and haplotype diversity (99.91%) were calculated. A total of 257 haplotypes were identified, of which 237 were unique and 10 were found in two individuals each. DYS385 showed the highest diversity (0.887) followed by DYS458 (0.820) as a single locus marker., (Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)