Management of mole gun injuries: Review of 19 cases with proposed treatment algorithm.

Injuries caused by mole guns are mostly localized in the hands and characterized by contaminated and necrotic tissues due to the blast effect and a large number of residual foreign bodies in the wound. This study analyzed the medical records of patients' who had hand injuries caused by mole guns and presents our approach through a reconstruction algorithm. Data from 19 consecutive patients who sustained mole gun injuries between March 2015 and May 2019 were reviewed in this retrospective study. Demographics, affected tissues at the injury site, surgical treatment, presence of foreign bodies, and postoperative complications were recorded. A treatment algorithm was created based on the results of this study. Six patients underwent one operation, while the remaining 13 underwent more than one operation. A bone defect was found in four patients, skin and soft tissue defects in six patients, and a neurovascular defect in six patients. Two or less foreign bodies were seen in seven patients. Foreign body removal and debridement procedures are important in the first surgical session. The repair of defectless structures during the same session is also essential. Preparation of the structures with defects that will be repaired 5-7 days later simplifies the secondary surgery.

Negative pressure wound therapy in the early period after hand and forearm replantation, is it safe?

OBJECTIVE: In this study, effectiveness and reliability of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in the early period after replantation will be examined retrospectively in a series of patients. METHOD: Patients who underwent replantation between 2007 and 2014, and had tissue defect or partial necrosis in the absence of a major circulation problem were included in this retrospective study. Following debridement of necrotic tissues on the postoperative 7-10 days, NPWT was applied to all patients one day later and adjusted as intermittent 75 mmHg pressure. Intermittent phase adjustment was arranged as 5 minutes suction and 2 minutes resting, and resting pressure was adjusted as 35 mmHg. NPWT was applied for six days and dressings were changed in every three days in the first six day period. Open wounds was debrided again and grafted with split-thickness skin graft and NPWT was continued over the graft for 4 days more. RESULTS: There were 11 patients included of which nine amputations were complete and two were nearly total amputations of forearm. Granulation tissue was observed following 6 days of NPWT application in all patients. Graft survival was observed to be almost complete. Wound infection did not occur and tissue cultures obtained in the course of debridement were all negative. Partial oxygen saturations were between 96-99% during the NPWT. CONCLUSION: NPWT (75 mmHg) can be used in the intermittent mode in order to improve wound healing and shorten the period to start physical therapy in the early period after replantation and revascularisation.

A cause of severe chemical burn: topical application of herbal medicines.

We report a 73-year-old male patient with progressive chemical burn on his lower extremities following topical application of a mixture of the oils derived from Rosmarinus officinalis, Brassica nigra alba and Laurus nobilis. It should be kept in mind that herbal medicines which seem harmless can sometimes be dangerous and life-threatening, especially in elderly and diabetic patients.

Nous rapportons un patient de 73 ans atteint d'une brûlure chimique sur ses membres inférieurs causée par une application topique d'un mélange d'huiles provenantes de Rosmarinus officinalis, Brassica nigra alba et Laurus nobilis. Il faut garder à l'esprit que les médicaments à base de plantes qui semble innocents pourraient parfois être dangereux et potentiellement mortels, en particulier chez les patients âgés et diabétiques.