A 17-Year Experience in Hand and Digit Replantation at an Academic Center.

BACKGROUND RESULTS: of replantation surgery following upper extremity traumatic amputation are extensively described in the literature, with success rates varying from 57 to 100 percent. The purpose of this study was to evaluate replantation success rate at a Level I trauma center over a 17-year period and to assess definable factors contributing to these results. METHODS: A retrospective review of all digit and hand replantations at a Level I trauma center was performed using CPT codes from 2001 through 2018. Descriptive analyses, Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and logistic regressions were used. Significance was defined as p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: Analysis consisted of 76 patients with 101 amputated parts (93 digits and eight hands). Fifty-six single digit amputations (30 percent success rate), 37 multidigit injuries (22 percent digit success rate), and eight hand amputations (50 percent success rate) were attempted. The overall success rate was 25 of 76 patients (33 percent) and 29 of 101 parts (29 percent). The most common mechanism of injury was laceration (n = 56), followed by crush (n = 30), and avulsion (n = 11), with repair of laceration-type injuries having the greatest success rate (36 percent). CONCLUSIONS: The authors report a lower success rate of hand and digit replantation than previously described in the literature. Whole hand and thumb replantations resulted in the highest survival rate in our series. Laceration mechanism showed a higher success rate than crush or avulsion-type injuries. The authors' modest results highlight the importance of effective internal auditing of low-volume replantation centers such as their own. Quality improvement measures are proposed for higher future success in replantation surgery at the authors' institution. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

Omental Flap to Non-healing Posterior Trunk Wound: A Case Report.

Large posterior trunk wounds often require flap reconstruction. One option for posterior truncal reconstruction not readily considered, often due to the combined anterior and posterior approaches required for harvesting and coverage, is the omental flap; however, the omental flap stands as a robust backup in non-healing wounds when local flap options have been exhausted. We present a case of a posterior trunk wound that had previously undergone multiple unsuccessful local and regional flaps for reconstruction and was ultimately treated with a pedicled omental flap which went on to heal without any post-operative complications.

Incorporation of 3D stereophotogrammetry as a reliable method for assessing scar volume in standard clinical practice.

Significant disfigurement and dysfunction is caused by hypertrophic scarring, a prevalent complication of burn wounds. A lack of objective tools in the assessment of scar parameters makes evaluation of scar treatment modalities difficult. 3D stereophotogrammetry, obtaining measurements from 3D photographs, represents a method to quantitate scar volume, and a 3D camera may have use in clinical practice. To validate this method, scar models were created and photographed with a 3D camera. Measurements from 3D image analysis of these scar models were compared to physical measurements of scar model volume. Reliability of 3D image analysis was assessed with both scar models and burn patient scars. Measurements of scar models by two independent observers were compared to determine inter-rater reliability, and measurements from 3D images of burn patient hypertrophic scars were compared to determine the consistency of the method between observers. The time taken for patient photography was recorded. No significant differences were found between the two methods of volume calculation (p = 0.89), and a plot of the differences showed agreement between the methods. The correlation coefficient between the two observers' measurements of scar model volume was 0.92, and the intra-class correlation coefficient for patient scar volume was 0.998, showing good reliability. The time required to capture 3D photographs ranged from 2 to 6 min per patient, showing the potential for this tool to be efficiently incorporated into clinical practice. 3D stereophotogrammetry is a valid method to reliably measure scar volume and may be used to objectively measure efficacy of scar treatment modalities to track scar development and resolution.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Hypertrophic Scarring of Split Thickness Autograft Donor Sites in a Pediatric Burn Population.

TITLE: Prevalence and Risk Factors for Hypertrophic Scarring of Split Thickness Autograft Donor Sites in a Pediatric Burn Population. OBJECTIVE: The split-thickness autograft remains a fundamental treatment for burn injuries; however, donor sites may remain hypersensitive, hyperemic, less pliable, and develop hypertrophic scarring. This study sought to assess the long-term scarring of donor sites after pediatric burns. METHODS: A retrospective review of pediatric burn patients treated at a single institution (2010-2016) was performed. Primary outcomes were prevalence of donor site hypertrophic scarring, scarring time course, and risk factor assessment. RESULTS: 237 pediatric burn patients were identified. Mean age at burn was 7 yrs., mean %TBSA was 26% with 17% being Full Thickness. Mean follow-up was 2.4 yrs. Hypertrophic scarring was observed in 152 (64%) patients with 81 (34%) patients having persistent hypertrophic scarring through long-term follow-up. Patient-specific risk factors for hypertrophic scarring were Hispanic ethnicity (P=0.03), increased %TBSA (P=0.03), %Full Thickness burn (P=0.02) and total autograft amount (P=0.03). Donor site factors for hypertrophic scarring were longer time to epithelialization (P<0.0001), increased donor site harvest depth (P<0.0001), autografts harvested in the acute burn setting (P=0.008), and thigh donor site location (vs. all other sites; P<0.0001). The scalp, arm, foot, and lower leg donor sites (vs. all other sites) were less likely to develop HTS (P<0.0001, 0.02, 0.005, 0.002, respectively), along with a history of previous donor site harvest (P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Hypertrophic scarring is a prominent burden in donor site wounds of pediatric burn patients. Knowledge of pertinent risk factors can assist with guiding management and expectations.

Lack of efficacy with 1064-nm neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser for the treatment of onychomycosis: a randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Laser therapies have been Food and Drug Administration approved for temporary nail plate clearance; however, there is minimal evidence of their long-term efficacy. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the clinical and mycological clearance of toenails treated with 1064-nm neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser versus no treatment. METHODS: This was a randomized, controlled, single-center trial comparing 2 treatments with 1064-nm neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser (fluence of 5 J/cm(2), rate of 6 Hz) spaced 2 weeks apart versus no treatment in 27 patients (N = 125 affected nails) with clinical and mycological diagnosis of onychomycosis. At 3 months, patients were assessed with mycological cultures and proximal nail plate measurements. Patients treated with laser were also assessed with proximal nail plate measurements at 12 months. RESULTS: At 3 months, 33% of patients treated with laser achieved a negative mycological culture compared with 20% of the control group (P = .49), and had more proximal nail plate clearance compared with control subjects (0.44 vs 0.15 mm, P = .18), which was not statistically significant. At 12 months, there was no difference in nail plate clearance between laser versus control subjects (0.24 vs 0.15 mm, P = .59). LIMITATIONS: Our study was limited by the small sample size and number of treatments. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant mycological culture or clinical nail plate clearance with 1064-nm neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser compared with control.