[Staghorn calculi in the child. Apropos of 17 cases representing 20 kidneys]

The authors report their experience involving 72 cases of lithiasis in the child, 17 involving staghorn calcuti. Of a total of 79 staghorn calculi, 17 affected children. Such staghorn calculi in the child were almost always infected (proteus), often extensive but not associated with any impairment of renal function for a long period. No metabolic disturbance which could explain the formation of these calculi was found, in particular no cases of hyperparathyroidism. Treatment is surgical. The operation is long, difficult and delicate, always requiring peroperative contact films and often clamping of the renal pedicle in the case of nephrotomy. Such clamping is much better tolerated with the use of contact refrigeration of the kidney. On the basis of the results of quantitative renal scintigraphy, nephrotomy seemed better tolerated by the kidneys of children than by the kidneys of adults. True recurrences were rare (3/20) and small "forgotten" calculi (2/20) were often well tolerated.