Innovative Technique of Chest Wall Reconstruction After Extensive Tumour Ablation Surgery.

Chest wall reconstruction is among one of the most challenging surgeries because the defect comprises multiple components and each needs to be reconstructed separately with like tissues. Chest wall reconstruction ranges from simple skin cover to complex bony and or mediastinal/precordial reconstruction. Various methods of reconstruction include autologous as well alloplastic techniques. Autologous techniques include regional or distant flaps with or without bone. Whereas alloplastic techniques include the placement of a variety of implant materials like titanium plate/mesh, stainless steel mesh, medpore and biocompatible 3D-printed models. we present this article where extensive resection was performed, aiming to complete removal of recurrent chest wall chondrosarcoma and defect included all components of chest wall including precordial lining. The reconstruction was performed by using combined autologous as well as alloplastic techniques using acrylic implant.

Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic-Induced Dietary and Lifestyle Changes and Their Associations with Perceived Health Status and Self-Reported Body Weight Changes in India: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic is accompanied by dramatic changes in lifestyle and dietary behaviors that can significantly influence health. We conducted an online cross-sectional survey to assess COVID-19 pandemic-induced dietary and lifestyle changes and their association with perceived health status and self-reported body weight changes among 1000 Indian adults in early 2021. Positive improvements in dietary habits, e.g., eating more nutritious (85% of participants) and home-cooked food (89%) and an increase in overall nutrition intake (79%), were observed. Sixty-five percent of participants self-reported increased oat consumption to support immunity. There were some negative changes, e.g., more binge eating (69%), eating more in between meals (67%), and increasing meal portion size (72%). Two-thirds of participants reported no change in lifestyles, whereas 21 and 23% reported an increase, and 13 and 10% reported a decrease in physical activity and sleep, respectively. Overall, 64 and 65% of participants reported an improvement in perceived health and an increase in body weight during the COVID-19 period compared to pre-COVID-19, respectively. The top motivations for improving dietary habits included improving physical and mental health and building immunity. In conclusion, the overall perceived health was improved and there was an increase in self-reported body weight in most participants during COVID-19. Diet emerged as the most crucial determinant for these changes.

Island Nasolabial Flap for Tongue Reconstruction: Locoregional Flap of Choice and an Alternative to Free Flap for Tongue Cancer.

Reconstruction following excision for tongue cancer carries important functional consequences. Island nasolabial flap (NLF) is robust and oncologically safe and has a good functional outcome, identical to free flap reconstruction. We retrospectively analyzed the data of 11 tongue cancer patients operated between January 2019 and August 2019. Surgical resection and neck dissection followed by immediate reconstruction by island NLF were done. Post-operative functional outcome assessed using the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire. Age of patients ranged between 39 and 70 years. All patients had either T2 or T3 tongue cancer. No incidence of flap necrosis noted in any patient. On an average, all were discharged between 3rd and 5th post-operative days. Cosmetic and functional outcomes were satisfactory in all patients. Island nasolabial has an excellent reach and can reach any part of the oral cavity, even to the contralateral side and base of the tongue. It has an excellent post-operative tongue function, almost equivalent to free flap. Hence, it should be considered locoregional flap of choice for tongue reconstruction.

Bowen's Disease of the Palm and Its Management with In-step Graft.

Bowen's disease is an in situ squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, commonly seen in the elderly, on sun-exposed areas. Although it can occur on any site of the body, the involvement of glabrous skin is rare. Bowen's disease of hand is very rare, only a few cases are reported and none of them is managed surgically with immediate reconstruction. Through this article, we present a case of Bowen's disease of the palm managed by oncologically safe excision and cosmetic reconstruction by in-step graft.

Are lasers superior to lights in the photoepilation of Fitzpatrick V and VI skin types? - A comparison between Nd:YAG laser and intense pulsed light.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There are no large volume comparative studies available to compare the efficacy of lasers over lights for hair removal in Fitzpatrick V and VI skin types. This study is designed to compare the efficacy of Nd:YAG laser versus IPL in the darker skin types. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine patients included in Group-1 were treated with Nd:YAG and 31 in Group-2 with IPL. Both groups received 5 sessions of treatment. The hair counts were assessed using digital photography and manual counting method before and after treatment and the results were analysed. Patient satisfaction scores and pain scores were recorded in each session and compared. RESULTS: Mean hair reduction in the IPL group was 25.70 and Nd:YAG group was 24.12 (95% CI). In the Nd:YAG group, 59% of subjects had burning sensation while the figure was 32.3% in IPL group. Burning was less in IPL group (p < 0.023). There were no statistically significant differences noticed regarding hyperpigmentation in both the groups (p < 0.115). CONCLUSION: Both Nd:YAG and IPL are equally effective for epilation of the darker skin types. Nd:YAG is associated with mild burning sensation in a significant number of patients. Patient satisfaction scores were comparable in both the groups.

Camphor burns of the palm and non-suicidal self-injury: An uncommonly reported, but socially relevant issue.

Camphor is a waxy white sublimating chemical derived from natural as well as synthetic sources and widely used in various communities worldwide for a number of medicinal, culinary, and religious reasons. Camphor is burnt as an offering to God in many religious communities. We report three incidences of self inflicted injury from burning camphor on the palm resulting in full thickness burns. Non-suicidal self-injury is socially unacceptable destruction or alteration of body tissue when there is no suicidal intent or pervasive developmental disorder and we have explored an association between this and burn injury. This report also highlights the unique social and cultural pattern of this burn injury and the importance of psycho-therapeautic help for these victims.