High-Frequency Generator in Wound Healing of Marjolin's Ulcer After Carcinoma Resection.

Marjolin's ulcers (MU) are skin malignancies that form over burn injuries. These very aggressive ulcers can result in functional and wound healing impairment, and require a well thought out treatment plan. Physiotherapy offers resources to help promote recovery of these patients, as described in this case report, in which the patient with a history of burn in the lower limbs evolved to malignancy 32 years later. This patient underwent tumor resection of the left foot, with recurrence and lymphadenectomy. Physical therapy included the application of high-frequency generator (HFG) for wound healing and exercises for functional recovery. The treatment lasted for many months and resulted in the improvement of the surgical wound areas, pain, swelling, sensitivity, strength muscle, and gait. It was observed that the use of HFG can be a tool in the tissue repair of surgical wound after the resection of MU; however, further studies need to be carried out to suit parameters and ensure safety of cancer patients.

Conhecimentos dos profissionais de enfermagem de centro cirúrgico sobre hipotermia em pacientes cirúrgicos oncológicos / Knowledge of the nursing staff in a surgical center about hypothermia in cancer surgical patients / Conocimiento de losprofesionales de enfermería de centro quirúrgico sobre hipotermia en pacientes quirúrgicos oncológicos

Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar o conhecimento dos profissionais de enfermagem de centro cirúrgico sobre hipotermia em pacientes cirúrgicos oncológicos, antes e após intervenção educativa. Método: Trata-se de um estudo descritivo de caráter exploratório, transversal, de campo e com abordagem quantitativa. Foram entrevistados 21 profissionais de enfermagem, e os dados foram coletados antes e após a intervenção educativa. Resultados: O resultado após a aplicação do teste mostrou maior aprovação, e a intervenção educativa evidenciou melhor aproveitamento em comparação ao teste de conhecimento prévio dos profissionais de enfermagem. Conclusão: Diante desse fato, compete ao enfermeiro o planejamento de intervenções e o estabelecimento de prioridades para que metas sejam alcançadas, diminuindo complicações relacionadas à hipotermia. Por fim, é fundamental que o enfermeiro de centro cirúrgico norteie sua equipe e seja o elo do conhecimento técnico-científico para melhorar a qualidade da assistência ao paciente cirúrgico.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the knowledge of the surgical center nursing staff about hypothermia in oncological surgical patients, before and after educational intervention. Method: This is a descriptive exploratory, cross-sectional, field study with a quantitative approach. Twentyone nursing professionals were interviewed, and data were collected before and after the educational intervention. Results: The result after application of the test showed greater approval, and the educational intervention evidenced better use in comparison with the prior test to assess the knowledge of the nursing professionals. Conclusion: Faced with this fact, it is up to the nurse to plan for interventions and to establish priorities for achieving goals, in order to reduce complications related to hypothermia. Therefore, it is critical that the surgical center nurse guide the team and be the link between technical and scientific knowledge in order to improve the quality of the surgical patient care.

Objetivo: Este estudio tiene como objetivo el análisis del conocimiento de los profesionales de la enfermería del cirujano sobre la hipotermia en los pacientes cirúrgicos oncológicos, antes y después de la intervención educativa. Método: Trata-se de un estudio descritivo de caráter exploratorio, transversal, de campo y com abordaje cuantitativo. Foram entrevistados 21 profesionales de la enfermería, y los datos fueron recogidos antes y después de una intervención educativa. Resultados: El resultado de la aplicación de la prueba debe ser mayor, y una intervención educativa es evidente. Conclusión: Diante el hecho, compite en el enfermo o el planeamiento de lasintervenciones y el establecimiento de las mediciones para que se cumplan, disminuyendo las complicaciones relacionadas a la hipotermia. Diantedisso, es fundamental que el enfermero de cirujano centro norteamericano su equipo de medicina o elo de conocimiento técnico-científico para mejorar la calidad de la asistencia al paciente cirúrgico.

Retrospective study of the physical therapy modalities applied in head and neck l ymphedema treatment.

BACKGROUND: Secondary lymphedema after head and neck cancer treatment is a serious complication and its management can be a challenge. The purpose of this study was to verify which physical therapy modalities were applied in the treatment of head and neck lymphedema through a retrospective analysis. METHODS: A retrospective study was developed, based on the analysis of medical records of 32 patients treated in the physiotherapy outpatient department of the Brazilian Institute of Cancer Control (IBCC). RESULTS: The physiotherapy included manual lymphatic drainage, massage, exercises, patient education, and compression therapy with an average of 23.9 ± 14.8 sessions. Measurement results showed a significant reduction of face and neck lymphedema (p < .05) and pain (from 7.8 ± 2.2 to 3.6 ± 1.6; p < .001). CONCLUSION: The physical therapy modalities based on strategic manual lymphatic drainage, shoulder girdle massage, facial, tongue and neck exercises, compressive therapy at home, and patient education showed reduction of the lymphedema and pain, both of them secondary to head and neck cancer treatment.

Protocolo de avaliação de linfedema de cabeça e pescoço / Protocol of assessment of head and neck lymphedema

Introdução: No Brasil, são esperados 14.160 novos casos de câncer de cavidade oral em 2009 e os principais tratamentos, cirurgia e radioterapia, favorecem o desenvolvimento do linfedema de cabeça e pescoço, sendo a sua mensuração dificultada pela falta de padronização e reprodutibilidade das medidas realizadas. Objetivo: Propor um protocolo de avaliação do linfedema de cabeça e pescoço e testar sua reprodutibilidade intra e interavaliadores. Método: O protocolo consistiu de 11 medidas da cabeça e do pescoço, as quais foram realizadas por 2 avaliadores separadamente com intervalo de 2 minutos entre as avaliações, e após 15 minutos foi realizada uma nova avaliação por um dos avaliadores, selecionado aleatoriamente. O teste de correlação de Pearson foi utilizado para comparação intravaliadores e o T-Student para interavaliadores. Resultados: Foram incluídos 21 pacientes no pós-operatório de câncer de cabeça e pescoço com ou sem esvaziamento cervical. Houve correlação entre as medidas intravaliadores (p < 0,05), exceto na medida 2, do ângulo da mandíbula ao canto interno do olho à esquerda (p = 0,27) e não houve diferença significante entre as medidas interavaliadores (p > 0,05). Conclusão: O protocolo proposto mostrou maior abrangência da cabeça e pescoço, praticidade, baixo custo e reprodutibilidade tanto intra quanto interavaliadores.

Introduction: In Brazil, 14160 new cases of oral cavity cancers are expected to be diagnosed in 2009. The main treatments for this type of cancer, surgery and radiotherapy, may lead to the development of lymphedema of the head and neck, which is a condition difficult to assess because of a lack of standardization and reproducibility of measurements. Objective: To devise a protocol for the assessment of head and neck lymphedema, and test inter- and intraobserver reproducibility. Method: The protocol consisted of 11 measurements of the head and neck. Patients were assessed independently by two observers, with an interval of two minutes between assessments; 15 minutes after the second assessment, a third assessment was performed by one of the observers who was selected at random. Intraobserver comparisons were made using the Pearson?s correlation coefficient, and the Student?s t-test was used for interobserver comparisons. Results: Twenty-one patients who underwent head and neck surgery with or without neck dissection participated in this study. There was a good intraobserver correlation between measurements (p < 0.05), except for the measurement of the angle between the mandible and the inner corner of the left eye (measurement 2, p = 0.27). There were no significant differences between the interobserver measurements (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The protocol devised in this study allowed a better assessment of the head and neck at low costs, was practical, and showed inter- and intraobserver reproducibility.