Annals of plastic surgery
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Annals of plastic surgery · Feb 2012
Case ReportsFungal colonization within a tissue expander: a case report.
Fungal contamination derived from prosthetic substances is not common, although because of the following reasons the number of cases has increased in the recent years: increased life expectancy, and therefore a greater number of surgical candidates; higher rates of underlying diseases, which are accompanied by immunosuppressive disorders that can cause a higher susceptibility for such infections. Most reports of infection in breast prosthesis and tissue expanders are bacterial infections, and fungi cases are still rare. ⋯ This fungal growth inside saline-filled tissue expander was asymptomatic and not troublesome. It also caused no changes in the patient's treatment course.
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Annals of plastic surgery · Jan 2012
Comparative Study Controlled Clinical TrialA controlled clinical trial with pirfenidone in the treatment of pathological skin scarring caused by burns in pediatric patients.
Pathologic skin scarring reversion remains a big challenge for surgeons, as disfiguring scars have a dramatic influence on patient's quality of life. ⋯ Topical administration of 8% PFD gel 3 times a day is more effective and safe in the treatment of hypertrophic scars caused by burns in children, as compared with standard pressure therapy.
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Annals of plastic surgery · Jan 2012
Endoscopy-assisted cubital tunnel release under carbon dioxide insufflation and anterior transposition.
The optimal treatment for cubital tunnel syndrome is widely debated. The purpose of this study is to describe the technique of an endoscopic-assisted ulnar nerve decompression using carbon dioxide insufflation in association with subcutaneous anterior transposition and to assess the success or failure of the method of treatment. ⋯ Endoscopy-assisted cubital tunnel release under carbon dioxide insufflation demonstrated similar results compared with conventional open surgeries, besides, it may avoid problems such as long incision, painful scarring, and have additional advantages of providing an extended endoscopic view, which is safe and mini-invasive with favorable results in a 12-month follow-up.
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Annals of plastic surgery · Jan 2012
Zone I flexor profundus tendon repair in children 5-10 years of age using 3 "figure of eight" sutures followed by immediate active mobilization.
A review of the English medical literature over the last 20 years reporting on flexor profundus lacerations revealed only 55 reported cases of zone I flexor profundus lacerations in children. The standard repair technique in young children (5-10 years of age) has been either tendon reinsertion into bone (usually Bunnell technique) for distal zone I injuries or a 2-strand repair (usually modified Kessler technique) for proximal zone I injuries. We report on 22 children (5-10 years of age) with zone I flexor profundus tendon lacerations (10 children had distal zone I injury and 12 had proximal zone I injury) repaired with a 6-strand technique (3 separate "figure of 8" sutures) followed by early postoperative active mobilization. ⋯ However, using Moremen and Elliot criteria (on the basis of the net active motion of the distal interphalangeal joint only), 11 children had an excellent outcome, 3 had a good outcome, and 8 had a fair outcome. Our results were compared with previously reported series. It was concluded that the 6-strand figure of 8 suture technique may be used in pediatric zone I injuries and it is strong enough to allow safe early postoperative active mobilization in the 5- to 10-year age group children.
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Annals of plastic surgery · Dec 2011
Objective quantification of subjective parameters in scars by use of a portable stereophotographic system.
Current evaluation of scars predominantly relies on subjective evaluation and lacks objective evidence for quantification of therapeutic outcomes by methods suitable for application in daily clinical practice. The aim of this study was to analyze 3-dimensional parameters obtained by use of a portable stereophotographic system in conjunction with subjective clinical findings. ⋯ Portable stereophotography can be used in a clinical setting and retains 3-dimensional features in digital reconstructions for subjective assessments, while simultaneously acquiring objective parameters. The objective parameters enabled to complement or even replace subjective clinical findings, and this method proved to be useful for follow-up of therapeutic outcomes in scars.