Camel-Related Facial Injuries: A Seven-Year Retrospective Study.

Facial injuries caused by camels can be associated with adverse long-term effects on patients' quality of life. We aimed to investigate camel-related facial injuries in Al-Ain City, UAE, focusing on their incidence, types, mechanisms, anatomical distribution, and outcomes, to enhance preventive measures. We retrospectively collected data from all patients who were admitted to our hospital with camel-related facial injuries from January 2014 through January 2021. Thirty-six patients were included; all were males, with a mean (range) age of 31 (14-66) years, 29 (80.5%) were camel caregivers. The most common mechanisms of injury were falling while riding a camel and camel kicks. The head was the most commonly injured region in 52.7%. Twenty-three (63.8%) patients had facial bone fractures. The middle third of the face accounted for 71.4% of the bony fractures. The most performed surgical procedures in our patients were soft tissue laceration repair and open reduction with internal fixation of fractures (ORIF). Camel-related facial injuries affect young adult male camel caregivers working on camel farms. Orbital and maxillary bone fractures are the most predominant fractures requiring operative management. Legislation for compulsory helmet usage may reduce the incidence of these injuries and their serious consequences.

Management of Fourniers gangrene secondary to perineal invasion by rectal cancer.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Fournier's gangrene is a known disease process resulting in a severe necrotizing soft tissue infection involving the perineum and scrotum. Although most cases are known to be associated with diabetes (Go et al., 2010 [1]), it is rare to develop this extensive infection secondary to tumor invasion from the rectum. Treatment typically requires several debridements until infection is fully controlled. CASE PRESENTATION: A 65 year old man with a history of locally invasive and unresectable rectal cancer presents to our emergency department with severe perineal and scrotal pain and was found to be in septic shock. He had previously undergone a diverting colostomy as well as radiation to the pelvis. He underwent several surgical debridements until the infection was controlled. He then required procedures to close the large defects created until complete wound healing was achieved within 3 months of presentation. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: This condition is associated with a high morbidity and mortality, and its management can be split in to two stages. The early phase includes resuscitation, initial debridements and likely several sequential debridements as well as fecal diversion. The late phase then involves the healing process with reconstruction efforts. A multi-disciplinary team is required for appropriate management under the direction of the general surgeon, which also include urologists, plastic surgeons and wound care nurses. CONCLUSION: Fournier's gangrene secondary to tumor invasion should be recognized as a potential cause other than the typical culprits. Resuscitation, antibiotics, debridements and a team approach is needed to recover from such a debilitating disease.

Camel-Related Head Injury in a High-Income Developing Country.

Introduction: Injury caused by large animals varies according to the regional distribution of the animals and their relationship to humans. Camels are usually friendly to humans; however, occasionally they become very hostile, especially in rutting season. Most in-hospital trauma deaths are related to head injury. Very few studies in the literature have discussed camel-related head injuries. We aimed to study the incidence, mechanism of injury, types, and outcome of camel-related head injury in a high-income developing country to give recommendations on preventive measures. Methods: We retrospectively collected data from all patients who were admitted to Al Ain Hospital with a camel-related head injury from January 1, 2015, to January 1, 2021. Data collected included demography, mechanism of injury, anatomical location, severity of the injury, associated injuries, and management. The patients were followed up during their hospital stay to record the length of hospital stay, complications, and outcome. Results: During the study period, 98 patients were admitted to Al Ain Hospital with camel-related injury. Thirty-nine (39.8%) of the admitted patients with a camel-related injury sustained a head injury; a camel-related head injury was more common during August (23.1%). Thirty-four (87.2%) patients were camel caregivers. Thirty-three patients (84.6%) were injured on farms. Seven patients suffered an intracranial hemorrhage, and six (85.7%) of them had a history of fall from a camel. Glasgow Coma Score was significantly correlated to the severity of head injury measured by Abbreviated Injury Severity of the head (P = 0.006, Spearman's correlation). One patient died during the study period after having decompressive craniectomy for subdural hemorrhage (overall mortality 2.6%). Conclusions: The majority of camel-related head injury occurred in camel caregivers at camel farms and can be considered a work-related injury. Careful handling of camels, especially during the summertime can reduce the toll of camel-related head injury and its serious consequences. None of the injured patients was wearing a helmet at the time of injury. Legislation for compulsory helmet usage by camel caregivers at farms may decrease the incidence of head injuries in those patients.

Hepatic hydatid cyst presenting as a cutaneous fistula.

Hepatic hydatid cysts are usually asymptomatic. Nevertheless, they may rupture, causing anaphylactic shock or fistulation. Cutaneous fistulae caused by ruptured hepatic hydatid cysts are extremely rare. Herein, we report a case of infected cutaneous fistula caused by a ruptured hepatic hydatid cyst. A 57-year-old man presented to Al-Ain Hospital complaining of swelling in his right upper quadrant (RUQ) of 5 months' duration. The abdomen was soft, having a fluctuant tender swelling of 12 cm × 15 cm in the RUQ associated with a pus discharging fistula. The patient was admitted with a provisional diagnosis of abdominal wall abscess with pending sepsis. Surgical incision and drainage were performed under general anesthesia. Initially, around 15 ml of pus was drained, followed by the removal of multiple sized transparent cysts typical of hydatid disease. Postoperative abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan showed multiloculated hepatic cysts in the sixth, seventh, and left lobes with the involvement of the abdominal wall. The patient was treated with oral albendazole 400 mg twice daily for 30 days. Repeated CT scan at 4-month follow-up showed a significant reduction of size of the cysts, indicating proper response to treatment. A cutaneous fistula as a complication of a ruptured hepatic hydatid cyst is extremely rare. Awareness of this complication, especially in endemic areas, and using proper imaging and serological tests are vital for reaching a proper diagnosis.

Life-threatening duodenal perforation complicating endoscopic retrograde cholangiopanceatography: A case series.

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for biliary and pancreatic diseases. It is associated with low rate of complications. However, some complications as duodenal perforation can be fatal. PRESENTATION OF CASES: 852 patients underwent ERCP at our hospital, six patients had a duodenal perforation (0.7 %). All patients were admitted with clinical and biochemical findings of obstructive jaundice without acute cholangitis. All patients had biliary tree dilatation confirmed on abdominal ultrasound scan and/or magnetic resonance cholangiopanceatography. Two patients were initially managed surgically, one of them died due to multi-organ failure. The other four patients were initially treated conservatively; two of them failed conservative management with one death due to sepsis, other two patients recovered without complications. The overall mortality rate was (33.3 %). DISCUSSION: Multiple attempts of CBD cannulation and pre-cut sphincterotomy may increase the possibility of duodenal perforation. In the presence of clinical suspicion of perforation, an early radiological imaging is helpful for an early intervention. CONCLUSION: A high index of suspicion is essential for early diagnosis and intervention to improve the clinical outcome. In difficult ERCP, performing a post-procedural fluoroscopy study with contrast injection is essential.

Small bowel angiomyxoma causing intussusception: Case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Angiomyxoma-related intussusception in adults is extremely rare. Herein, we report an adult man who presented with mechanical small bowel obstruction caused by ileo-colic intussusception triggered by an angiomyxoma of the terminal ileum and review the literature on this topic. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A-40-year-old man was referred to Al-Ain Hospital with a clinical picture of small bowel obstruction. He has no previous abdominal surgery. Clinical examination showed a distended soft abdomen, and hyperactive bowel sounds. Abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography scan showed a doughnut sign confirming the presence of ileo-colic intussusception as the cause for small bowel obstruction. At laparotomy, a mass was found in the right iliac fossa. Right hemi colectomy was performed with ileo-colic anastomosis. An ileal pedunculated mass triggered the intussusception. Histopathology of the mass was diagnostic of an angiomyxoma of small bowel. Echocardiogram showed no atrial synchronous myxoma. The patient was discharged home with good general condition. At three years follow up, the patient remained asymptomatic without evidence of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Myxoma of small bowel should be included in the differential diagnosis of small bowel obstruction in the young age group particularly if the diagnosis of intussusception was made preoperatively.