ABSTRACT
Background@#The initial redness of the scar on a postoperative suture site is a natural phenomenon that fades over time. However, with a long period of redness, patients complain about cosmetic discomfort, and the possibility of pigmentation changes is induced. We investigated the use of a long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser as a noninvasive treatment for improving the redness of these scars. @*Methods@#A retrospective chart review was conducted on 36 patients who underwent excision of a nevus on the face. Fourteen patients received laser treatment and another 22 patients used only scar management ointment. Patients were followed up 1 week after the sutures were removed. The photographic images taken at the time of suture removal and 2 months later were reviewed. The evaluation was performed on a 7-point scale by adding the Japan Scar Workshop (JSW) scar scale’s redness and erythema scores. @*Results@#The average initial JSW scar scale score of the treatment group was 4.6, and that of the nontreatment group was 4.2. When the re-evaluation was performed 2 months later, the score of the treatment group decreased to 2.2 and that of the nontreatment group decreased to 3.1. The difference in the JSW scar scale between the treatment group and the nontreatment group according to laser performance was statistically significant (P=0.03). @*Conclusions@#The treatment method with a long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser that is less invasive and has a quick effect can be a good alternative for improving this initial scar redness.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to prove the effectiveness of the open medial (glenoid-based) anteriorinferior capsular shift in patients with multidirectional shoulder instability. Materials and Methods: We reviewed 19 patients treated by medial anterior-inferior capsular shift for multidirectional shoulder instability from March, 1998 to December, 2003. 15 patients of them have experienced recurrent dislocation. 8 patients(42%) showed bilateral laxity and 11 patients(58%) generalized ligamentous laxity, and 2 patients(10.5%) voluntary subluxation. An average follow-up was 24 months (range : 9~32 months). Results: Pain improved in 18 patients of all. There was an average loss of 10 degree of external rotation, but no limitation of activity of daily living. There was no redislocation and subluxation, but two patients had some apprehension in sports activity. With Rowe score, the result was excellent or good in all patients. There were hematoma and local skin problem in 1 patient, but all had healed up. Conclusion: Medial anterior-inferior capsular shift in multidirectional shoulder instability provided satisfactory results in pain relief, patient's satisfactions and stability of glenohumeral joint. Though some of them have anterior gleniod deformities and large Hill-Sachs lesions, we could get good stabilities.