ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Tissue expansion is a time-tested and frequently used procedure for utilizing local tissue to replace large defects. We aimed to assess the success & complications of tissue expansion in correction of post burn scalp alopecia. METHODS: In this study, 30 patients of scalp burn alopecia of 5 to 35 years age group were treated with tissue expansion of the scalp at Bahawal-Victoria Hospital from January 2013 to December 2014. The area of the scalp loss was within 1/5 to 2/5. Our technique employed an insertion site distal to the area needed to be expanded, attempting to minimize complication like extrusion & wound dehiscence. The patients were followed-up weekly during first month and then fortnightly for next four months. RESULT: Our study involved 8 male (26.67%) and 22 female subjects (73.33%) with a mean age of 21years. Flame burn accounted for the mostly 53.3% (n=16) of scalp burns & parieto-temporal region was most commonly affected in 33.4% (n=10) of subjects. Desired aesthetic results were achieved in all the patients without any major complication. Minor complication included mild infection in 8 (26.67%), seroma in 4 (13.33%) & wound dehiscence in 2 (6.67%) patients. CONCLUSION: Tissue expansion is a simple, safe, & efficient technique for aesthetic scalp reconstruction. With a simple modification of distal incision and tunneling, we succeeded in minimizing complications. Versatile design of the expanded scalp flap can distribute the expanded hair-bearing scalp properly in the reconstructed recipient site.
ABSTRACT
Ferric antimonate, a cation-exchanger, has been investigated as an adsorbent for the removal of phenol and polyhydric phenols from aqueous solution. It has been found that ferric antimonate in H+ form selectively adsorbs polyhydric phenols having hydroxyl groups on adjacent positions. While phenol, resorcinol, and quinol did not show any appreciable adsorption, catechol, pyrogallol, and gallic acid having hydroxyl groups on adjacent positions exhibited considerable adsorption on ferric antimonate. Batch equilibrium experiments were carried out to study the effect of contact time, initial concentration of phenolic compounds, and temperature on the adsorption of phenolic compounds on ferric antimonate. The equilibrium time was found to be 1.5 hours for gallic acid and pyrogallol and 2 hours for catechol and salicylic acid. The adsorption data of the phenols at temperatures of 30 degrees, 40 degrees, and 50 degrees C have been described by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The best fit was obtained with the Langmuir model in the whole range of concentrations studied at all temperatures, indicating a monolayer adsorption onto a homogeneous adsorption surface. On the basis of the Langmuir isotherm, the maximum adsorption capacity of ferric antimonate for gallic acid, pyrogallol, catechol, and salicylic acid was found to be 3.915, 3.734, 2.397, and 2.758 mg/g, respectively at 30 degrees C. The maximum sorption capacity of ferric antimonate for the phenolic compounds studied is in the following order: gallic acid > pyrogallol > salicylic acid > catechol. The adsorption of phenolic compounds was found to decrease with an increase in temperature. Thermodynamic parameters like free energy, enthalpy, and entropy changes were calculated and discussed. The adsorption of polyhydric phenols on ferric antimonate is exothermic and spontaneous in nature.
