Fasciocutaneous Propeller Flap Based on Perforating Branch of Ulnar Artery for Soft Tissue Reconstruction of the Hand and Wrist

BACKGROUND: A skin defect of the hand and wrist is a common manifestation in industrial crushing injuries, traffic accidents or after excision of tumors. We reconstructed a skin defect in the ulnar aspect of the hand and wrist with a perforator-based propeller flap from the ulnar artery. The aims of our study are to evaluate the utility and effectiveness of this flap and to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the flap in hand and wrist reconstruction with a review of the literature. METHODS: Between April 2011 and November 2016, five cases of skin defect were reconstructed with a perforator-based propeller flap from the ulnar artery. There were four males and one female. The age of patients ranged from 36 to 73 years. Skin defect sites were on the dorso-ulnar side of the hand in three cases and palmar-ulnar side of the wrist in two cases. The size of the skin defect ranged from 4 × 3 cm to 8 × 5 cm. We evaluated the viability of the flap, postoperative complication and patient's satisfaction. RESULTS: There was no failure of flap in all cases. The size of the flap ranged from 4 × 4 cm to 12 × 4 cm. One patient, who had a burn scar contracture, presented with limited active and passive motion of the wrist after the operation. The other patients had no complications postoperatively. Cosmetic results of the surgery were excellent in one patient, good in three patients, and fair in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: The fasciocutaneous propeller flap based on a perforating branch of the ulnar artery is a reliable treatment option for the ulnar side skin defect of the hand and wrist.

Anesthetic considerations in a child with Sotos syndrome: A case report

Sotos syndrome is a rare sporadic genetic disorder characterized by pathognomonic facial features, motor developmental delay induced by hypotonia, learning difficulties, and cardiac and renal anomalies. This report describes the case of a 4-year-old child with Sotos syndrome who underwent a right hydrocelectomy under general anesthesia. We report our experience with airway management, choice of anesthetic drugs, and other anesthetic implications in Sotos syndrome.

A Case of Dermatomyositis Complicated with Pneumomediastinum Successfully treated with Cyclosporine A: a Case Report and Review of Literature

Dermatomyositis (DM) is a systemic inflammatory disease affecting skeletal muscles and other organs. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (PnM) has been previously reported as a rare complication of DM and it is known to occur more frequently in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). Here we report on a case of a 52-year-old woman with DM who developed spontaneous PnM, which was treated successfully with high-dose steroid pulse therapy and cyclosporine A (CsA). This case suggests that CsA can be an effective therapeutic agent in DM refractory to glucocorticoid therapy, with ILD or pulmonary fibrosis accompanied by DM. CsA should be considered as an initial immunosuppressive agent for patients with PnM in DM.

Percutaneous Anterolateral Vertebroplasty for a Myelomatous Pathologic Fracture of the Subaxial Cervical Spine: A Case Report

The authors describe a patient with multiple myeloma who was treated for an acute cervical vertebra body fracture by percutaneous vertebroplasty. A 48-year-old female patient presented a severe neck pain without neurologic deficit. A myelomatous pathologic fracture of C4 was diagnosed, and percutaneous vertebroplasty was performed successfully through a left anterolateral approach. Her posterior neck pain was immediately relieved with vertebroplasty and no instability was observed over 18 months of follow-up.

Internal Fixation for Femoral Neck Fracture in Patients between the Ages of Twenty and Forty Years

PURPOSE: To retrospectively analysis of results of operatively treatment for femoral neck fracture occurred in twenties to thirties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 20 patients were selected whom we were able to follow up at least 2 years after internal fixation for femoral neck fracture in twenties to thirties from 1998 to 2005. Mean age was 32.2 (21~39) and average follow up period was 26.3 (24~45) months. According to preoperative X-ray, there were 6 cases for Garden classification stage I, 10 for stage II and 4 for stage III, and 7 cases for subcapital fracture, 9 for transcervical fracture, 4 for basicervical fracture. In all cases, operations were performed within 12 hours after the injury. The operations were done after satisfying reduction with the Garden alignment index, with three cannulated screws for internal fixation. Postoperative results were analyzed by clinical symptoms and radiological examinations during follow up periods. RESULTS: In immediately postoperative radiological examination, satisfying anatomical reduction with Garden alignment index was obtained in all cases, and unions were obtained within 4.5 months after the operation (3~6 month). Avascular necrosis of femoral head occurred in 7 cases of all patients (35.0%). The average time of occurrence of avascular necrosis of femoral head after operation was 10.7 months (9~15 months). Avascular necrosis was occutted 5 (31.3%) in fracture without displacement (Garden stage I, II), 2 (50.0%) in fracture with displacement (Garden stage III) and 4 in subcapital fracture, 3 in transcervical fracture. CONCLUSION: The incidence of avascular necrosis of femoral head after the operation for displaced and nondisplaced femoral neck fracture between twenties and forty years was no significant difference.

Interrupted aortic arch diagnosed with loss of femoral pulse in a patient undergoing patent ductus arteriosus ligation: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

A 12-year-old boy with ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus was presented to the operating room. Upon clamping the patent ductus arteriosus, the femoral arterial pressure curve was lost; however, it returned upon unclamping. Upon further dissection, an interrupted aortic arch was found between the left subclavian artery and patent ductus arteriosus. The surgery was discontinued for further evaluation.

Effect of arterial oxygen tension during reperfusion on myocardial recovery in patients undergoing valvular heart surgery / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Valvular heart surgery (VHS) utilizing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is inevitably associated with ischemic-reperfusion injury, which is known to depend on oxygen tension during reperfusion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of arterial oxygen tension during reperfusion on myocardial recovery in patients undergoing VHS. METHODS: Fifty-six patients undergoing isolated VHS were randomly exposed to an oxygen fraction of 0.7 (hyperoxic group, n = 28) or 0.5 (normoxic group, n = 28) during reperfusion. All patients received an oxygen fraction of 0.7 during CPB. In the normoxic group, the oxygen fraction was lowered to 0.5 from the last warm cardioplegia administration to 1 minute after aortic unclamping, and was then raised back to 0.7. Hemodynamic data were measured after induction of anesthesia, weaning from CPB, and sternum closure. The frequency of cardiotonic medications used during and after weaning from CPB, and the short-term outcomes during the hospital stay were also assessed. RESULTS: The frequency of vasopressin and milrinone use during weaning from CPB, but not norepinephrine, was significantly less in the normoxic group. The post-operative cardiac enzyme levels and short-term outcomes were not different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Normoxic reperfusion from the last cardioplegia administration to 1 minute after aortic unclamping in patients undergoing VHS resulted in significantly less frequent use of vasopressin and inotropics during weaning from CPB than hyperoxic reperfusion, although it did not affect the post-operative myocardial enzyme release or short-term prognosis.

Multiple Extradural Arachnoid Cyst : A Case Report / 대한척추외과학회지

Multiple extradural arachnoid cysts of the spine are extremely uncommon in children with only a few cases reported. The authors report a case of multiple extradural spinal arachnoid cysts in children with a review of the relevant literature.