Dermabrasion and staged excision of facial lesions in a neurofibromatosis case for improvement of facial appearance.

BACKGROUND: Neurofibromatosis may present with different skin lesions. Disfiguring lesions on the face might be challenging for the surgeon or clinician to correct and may have adverse effects on patients' social lives, especially in young women. OBJECTIVE: To present the dermabrasion technique combined with serial excisions of a deeper accompanying lesion to treat superficial facial lesions in a young neurofibromatosis patient. METHODS: Dermabrasion was applied to superficial lesions on the face, and staged excision was applied to the deeper lesion located on the forehead. RESULTS: We obtained high patient satisfaction with the result. The deep lesion was excised totally, and superficial lesions were decreased with dermabrasion. CONCLUSION: Dermabrasion may become a good alternative in cases of neurofibromatosis with superficial facial lesions.

Soft-tissue coverage and outcome of gustilo grade IIIB midshaft tibia fractures: a 15-year experience.

BACKGROUND: The authors describe a 15-year experience with Gustilo grade IIIB fractures of the midtibia based on the type and timing of soft-tissue coverage. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed and patient demographics, risk factors, choice and timing of coverage, fracture outcome, and limb survival data were collected. RESULTS: Sixty-five fractures were treated. Soft tissue coverage was performed either acutely [<1 week (48 percent)] or delayed [>1 week (52 percent); with either a soleus muscle flap [group A; n = 25 (38 percent)] or a free tissue transfer [group B; n = 40 (62 percent)]. In group A, 17 (68 percent) were performed acutely (subgroup A1) and eight (32 percent) were delayed (subgroup A2). In subgroup A1, eight (47 percent) had uncomplicated healing, whereas seven (41 percent) ended in nonunion. In subgroup A2, all eight patients went onto nonunion. The overall limb survival rate for group A was 92 percent (n = 23). In group B, 14 (35 percent) were performed acutely (subgroup B1) and 26 (65 percent) were delayed (subgroup B2). In subgroup B1, six (43 percent) had uncomplicated healing, and six (43 percent) ended in nonunion. In subgroup B2, six (23 percent) healed primarily, and 17 (65 percent) went onto nonunion. The overall limb survival rate for group B was 88 percent (n = 45). CONCLUSIONS: Soft-tissue coverage is not the only determinant for successful outcome. Delayed coverage resulted in higher nonunion rates. Despite high nonunion rates, 89 percent of fractures ultimately healed successfully.

The vascularized medial femoral condyle periosteal bone flap for the treatment of recalcitrant bony nonunions.

The purpose of this study was to examine our experience with this flap for the treatment of recalcitrant nonunions of the extremities. A retrospective chart review was performed on 11 consecutive patients treated with the medial femoral periosteal bone flap from June 2003 to March 2005. Patient demographics, nonunion characteristics, complications, and long-term outcome based on radiographic and clinical parameters were analyzed. Nine free transfers and 3 pedicled flaps were used for a total of 12 nonunion sites in 11 patients. The average age of the patient population was 49 years (21-64 years). The location of the nonunion sites were femur (n = 4), tibia (n = 2), humerus (n = 3), clavicle (n = 2), and radius (n = 1). The nonunion sites were secondary to traumatic fractures complicated by osteomyelitis (n = 10) and tumor extirpation (n = 2). The time period of nonunion prior to the use of vascularized periosteal bone graft ranged from 10 months to 23 years (median = 23 months). All patients had previous attempts at debridement with or without antibiotic bead placement, and all underwent rigid fixation with or without nonvascularized bone grafts prior to vascularized grafting. Following flap placement, 9 (75%) of the nonunion sites healed primarily without complication at an average period of 3.8 months (2-7 months). Two nonunions healed secondarily following hardware modification. There was only 1 flap failure secondary to arterial thrombosis, resulting in a below-knee amputation. The rate of limb salvage was 91%. Donor-site morbidity was minimal, with postoperative seromas occurring in 3 patients.

Functional reconstruction of the pelvic ring with simultaneous bilateral free fibular flaps following total sacral resection.

The treatment of large sacral tumors involving the pelvis is challenging and may require radical resection. Sacral resection disrupts the continuity between the spine and pelvis, resulting in loss of skeletal support for weight bearing. Without pelvic reconstruction, patients remain nonambulatory. This report describes a case of functional pelvic ring reconstruction utilizing bilateral simultaneous free fibular flaps following radical sacrectomy. Vascularized free fibular grafts may be used to restore pelvic continuity for cases involving total sacral resection.

Delaying the reverse sural flap provides predictable results for complicated wounds in diabetic foot.

Defective wounds in diabetic foot are difficult to manage. Several studies reported the use of reverse sural flap in a small number of patients with varying success. We presented our experience with the reverse sural island flap (RSIF) in a series of 37 patients associated with diabetic foot using the delay procedure. The ages of the patients ranged between 36 and 73 years. We did not perform angiographic evaluation to determine the existence of vascular connections between the branches of the peroneal and posterior tibial artery; however, Doppler ultrasound evaluation was done to determine the patency of anterior and posterior tibial arteries, as well as lesser saphenous vein before the operation. The flaps were transferred using a 3-step delay procedure. While all the first and second steps of the operations were done under local anesthesia, the third steps were performed using general anesthesia in 12 and spinal anesthesia in 25 patients. All flaps survived except 4 showing partial necrosis due to venous insufficiency. Delaying the RSIF is a reliable procedure for diabetic foot skin defects.