Analysis of Geriatric Burns in a Burn Center: Behavioral and Clinical Characteristics

Purpose@#Elderly people are particularly susceptible to burn injuries due to physiological and anatomical aging processes. As the elderly population is expected to grow, the number of burn injuries among this group is also likely to increase. Researchers and health professionals must analyze the causes of geriatric burn injuries, establish targeted preventive policies, and provide education on strategies to minimize burns. @*Methods@#To understand the epidemiological causes of burns in the elderly, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients admitted to our burn center in Korea between January 2019 and December 2021. Of 1,082 patients admitted with burn injuries, 323 (29.9%) were aged 65 years or older and were included in further examination. @*Results@#The elderly patients included more women (64.1%) than men (35.9%), and the causes of burns differed according to gender. Flame burns were more common among men than women, and only men experienced electrical burns. Most older people live alone (54%); accordingly, the most common place of injury for these patients was home (77%), followed by the workplace (14%), with the causes of burns differing between those locations. Sixteen patients (4.9%) started medical treatment at least 2 weeks post-injury, while 29 patients (8.9%) began burn treatment after 1 month. Scalding (55.4%) was the most common cause of burn injury. Most injuries were deep second-(35%) or third-(39%) degree burns, and the most common treatment method was surgery (64.7%). The most frequently affected areas were the legs (24%) and feet (23%). @*Conclusion@#Through this analysis of the clinical profile of burns in the elderly, we endeavored to help establish suitable preventive policies.

The periareolar excision technique for improved scars in breast burns

Regardless of size or severity, post-burn breast scars can be traumatic for patients. There are various approaches to post-burn scar management, but herein we present the results of a novel approach in which we tried to remove the scars in an early stage of treatment. Breast burn patients, whose wound area included the nipple-areolar complex, were treated using a periareolar incision design similar to that of periareolar reduction mammoplasty. The remnant scar was located only along the periareolar complex. As a result, more cosmetically satisfactory results were achieved compared to skin grafting or local flap procedures.

Early Debridement and Cultured Allogenic Keratinocyte Dressing Prevent Hypertrophic Scarring in Infants with Deep Dermal Burns

BACKGROUND: Deep dermal burns are frequently treated with excision and skin grafting. Otherwise, wound healing may take up to 4 to 6 weeks, with serious scarring. Especially in pediatric patients, post-burn scarring could result in psychologic trauma and functional disability. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of early debridement and dressing using cultured allogenic keratinocytes in infants with deep dermal burns to prevent hypertrophic scarring. METHODS: From April 2016 to April 2018, 18 infants were treated for deep dermal burns. Except for 5 infants who underwent skin grafting or excision, 13 infants were included in this study. We performed early debridement in these patients using Versajet™ and serial dressings using Kaloderm®. RESULTS: The average operative date was 8.3 days after the accident. The mean healing time was 18.3 days after the accident. The patients did not experience any contraction, but 3 patients had hyperpigmentation, 2 patients had mild hypertrophic scarring, and 1 patient had mixed pigmentation (hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation). CONCLUSIONS: Our prophylactic scar therapy, using early debridement with Versajet™ and dressings with Kaloderm®, may be beneficial for infants with dermal burns. This method was able to shorten the healing time, resulting in better scar outcomes. Our follow-up findings revealed that the scars had an aesthetically pleasing appearance and patients were able to perform normal activities without restrictions.

Percutaneous Drainage and Sclerotherapy for Delayed Lumbar Morel-Lavalee Lesion: Two Case Reports

Closed internal degloving is a significant soft-tissue injury associated with a trauma that results in a tear of the subcutaneous tissue away from the underlying fascia. Although the diagnosis of Morel-Lavallee lesion (MLL) is routinely based on clinical and radiological examinations, in one-third of the cases, there is a possibility that clinicians may fail to diagnose MLL due to its inconsistent clinical manifestations. Additionally, it often involves initial skin bruising due to underlying soft-tissue injury. We present two cases of delayed MLL without a fracture treated using percutaneous drainage and sclerotherapy. Our cases demonstrated successful treatment with a minimally invasive percutaneous approach. The potential advantage of using a percutaneous technique is to preserve the subdermal arterial plexus, which is the only remaining blood supply to the skin in the area of the lesion. Maintaining this blood supply may result in healthier skin at the time of any open procedure.

Pilomatricoma: An Unusual Presentation

No abstract available.

Pulsatile Tinnitus Caused by a Dilated Mastoid Emissary Vein

Although pulsatile tinnitus can be audible, objective demonstration of this heartbeat-synchronous sound has rarely been successful. We report a rare case of pulsatile tinnitus in a 44-yr-old female patient, which was induced by a large mastoid emissary vein (MEV) and objectively documented by Doppler sonography of the left posterior auricular region. The tinnitus was intermittent and the patient could adapt to the tinnitus without intervention on the mastoid emissary vein. These findings suggest that a single large MEV can cause pulsatile tinnitus in the absence of other vascular abnormalities, and imaging studies of the posterior fossa and Doppler ultrasonography can aid the diagnosis in such cases.

Subcision Using a Spinal Needle Cannula and a Thread for Prominent Nasolabial Fold Correction

Deepening of the nasolabial crease is an esthetically unpleasing aging phenomenon occurring in the midface. Various treatment modalities have been introduced to improve the appearance of prominent nasolabial folds, all of which have pros and cons. Currently, a minimally invasive technique using synthetic dermal fillers is most commonly used. A simple and easy subcision procedure using a wire scalpel has also been used and reported to be effective for prominent nasolabial fold correction, with minimal complications. As an alternative to the wire scalpel, we used a 20-gauge metal type spinal needle cannula (Hakko Co.) and 4-0 Vicryl suture (Ethicon Inc.) for subcision of nasolabial folds. This technique is less expensive than the use of a wire scalpel and easily available when needed. Therefore, on the basis of favorable results, our modified subcision technique may be considered effective for prominent nasolabial fold correction.

A Beveled Frontal Hairline Incision for Subcutaneous Forehead Lift

Anterior frontal hairline incisions have been used for subcutaneous forehead lifts, reduction foreheadplasty, endoscopic forehead lifts in patients with long foreheads. However, the resulting visible hairline scar has been a major concern. To obtain a more aesthetic scar, different types of incisions have been used. Since 2005, we have been using 30~45degrees anteriorly beveled incisions 4~5 mm behind the anterior frontal hairline when performing subcutaneous forehead lifts. In the present study, 32 patients who underwent subcutaneous forehead lifts and could be followed up for more than 6 months were evaluated for the incisional scars. Using a questionnaire, all the patients were interviewed regarding their postoperative hairstyle changes and reaction to the scars from the subcutaneous forehead lifts. Their responses with respect to the scars were as follows: less than expected, 30 patients; equal as expected, 2 patients; worse than expected, no patients. The surgeon's evaluation of scar visibility was as follows: barely visible (scar and alopecia were not seen or barely seen), 19 patients; minimally visible (a fine scar was seen), 12 patients; markedly visible (a wide scar or alopecia was seen), 1 patient. Except 1 patient, all other patients did not change their hairstyles permanently to camouflage their scars. Therefore, the 30~45degrees anteriorly beveled incision 4~5 mm behind the anterior frontal hairline was demonstrated to result in an aesthetically acceptable scar.

Subcision: An Ancillary Procedure to Face-Lift Operation to Improve Prominent Nasolabial Folds

Face-lift operations have been performed to correct the stigma of aging of the lower face, and its techniques have been modified to obtain more favorable results. However, the lack of significant improvements in the appearance of nasolabial folds has been a problem in face-lift procedures, requiring surgeons to perform ancillary procedures such as fat strip, dermofat, and superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) grafting to address the issue. In this report, we describe a subcision technique using a wire scalpel or a thread as an ancillary procedure to a face-lift operation to improve the appearance of nasolabial folds. The procedure is simple, safe, easy, and effective with minimal complications.

Perforator-based Fasciocutaneous Rotation Flap

Myocutaneous flaps have improved the management of soft tissue defects on buttocks and lower extremity. However, there are several inherent disadvantages of muscle flaps such as functional deficits of the donor sites and the bulkiness at the recipient site. To overcome these disadvantages, we have used perforator-based fasciocutaneous rotation flaps for reconstruction of the buttock and lower extremity defects. From March 2003 to February 2005, we have treated 14 patients using perforator-based fasciocutaneous rotation flaps. 10 flaps were based on perforators of the gluteus maximus muscle, and 4 flaps were nourished by perforators from the tibialis anterior and posterior system. The mean postoperative follow-up period was about 1 year. The technique involves localization of the flap perforators preoperatively with a Doppler. The flaps were elevated superficial to the fascia with preservation of one to three perforators. The donor site is then closed primarily. All flaps completely survived and there was no perioperative complications. There was no functional disability of the donor area with esthetically pleasing results. Perforator-based fasciocutaneous rotation flaps for the reconstruction of buttock and lower extremity defects are excellent alternatives to musculocutaeous flaps. The vascularity of the flaps is robust and dissection is technically easy. Perforator flaps do not require sacrificing muscles, but provide sufficient volume and are durable Furthermore, these flaps result in less scar formation and allow more liberal dissection with safety. We conclude that perforator-based fasciocutaneous rotation flaps are very useful for reconstruction of the buttock and lower extremity.

Sensory Restoration of Abdomen after Free TRAM Flap for Breast Reconstruction

The purpose of this study is to assess abdominal sensation after free TRAM flap for breast reconstruction. 74 patients underwent breast reconstruction with free TRAM flap by authors and were followed up to check the sensation on abdomen following the surgery at the out patient clinic. They are compared with 20 female volunteer controls. Abdomens were divided into 13 zones, and assessed for superficial touch, superficial pain, temperature, two-point discrimination, and vibration. For all five sensory modalities, subjects were found to have decreased sensation in the umbilical and infraumbilical regions. This was statistically significant compared with controls. Division following pedicle dissection showed more reduction of sensation than non-dissection side. Both Inguinal areas below the donor site closure also showed markedly decreased sensation. Sensation on most area of abdomen recovered in postoperative 1 year, however, there were remained hypoesthesia in umbilical and infraumbilical area after post operative 1 year. This study clearly demonstrates that there is a significant and persistent reduction in abdominal sensibility following free TRAM flap surgery.

Clinical Analysis of Blow-In Orbit Fracture and Its Treatment

Blow-in orbit fracture is relatively rare fracture which is an inward displacement of the orbital rim or wall fragment, resulting in decreased orbital volume. The objective of this article is to analyze blow-in fracture status of orbit and to suggest appropriate management in this unusual fracture. The study included 23 cases who had treatment of blow-in fractures of orbit from July, 1995 to June, 2001. Their ages ranged from 4 years to 63 years. There were 17 males and 6 females. The diagnosis of blow-in fracture was accomplished with physical examination, ophthalmologic examination, plain X-ray, and facial CT scan. According to Antonyshyn's classification, we classified them into 2 large groups which were pure type and impure type. Pure type blow-in fractures are relatively uncommon and 5 cases were documented in a series of 23 patients. Impure type fractures included the orbital rim and 18 cases were documented. Clinical symptoms of blow-in fractures were proptosis, limitation of eyeball movement, diplopia, blepharoptosis, subconjunctival hemorrage and blindness. 2 patients with globe rupture and blindness underwent enucleation due to direct injury by bony segment. We conclude that early and appropriate surgical treatment with complete examination is very important to prevent blepharoptosis, proptosis, limitation of eyeball movement and optic nerve compression. However, when globe rupture and blindness by direct injury of bony segment happened, the operation of enucleation was needed in this particular case.