The Use of MartriDerm in Nail Bed Reconstruction of Thumb Injured by a Pellet.

Gunshot injuries to the hand and upper extremity can be divided into low and high-energy injuries. Nonballistic firearms such as pellet guns are generally considered low-energy guns but can be associated with serious morbidity and even mortality. Management is tailored according to the severity and type of injured structures. Here, we present the case of a 21-year-old soldier who accidently shot his thumb with an air gun while on a bird hunting trip, whose case was managed with extraction placement of bone graft and collagen matrix to prevent nail deformity. This case was written to increase the awareness about the need for safe use of such guns and to display the authors preferred way of management.

Our Experience in Using Lateral Chest Flap to Treat Axillary Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects apocrine gland-bearing areas' causing abscesses and sinuses. Multimodality treatment is suggested for management. The surgical option is becoming more widely used, especially in drug-resistant cases. In this article, we describe a series of bilateral axillary hidradenitis cases which we treated with wide local excision and immediate reconstruction with lateral chest flap. Methods: Fourteen patients presented to our clinic with bilateral hidradenitis suppurativa of the axilla. The cases were all resistant to medical treatment. They were managed by excision and simultaneous reconstruction with lateral chest flaps. Results: At 3 months postoperatively, all patients had full shoulder range of motion and were completely satisfied with the aesthetic outcome, except for one patient who complained of the bulky look of his axilla. Liposuction was performed for him' with a pleasant resultant outcome. Conclusions: Our patients underwent wide local excision of bilateral disease plus reconstruction with lateral chest flaps in the same session. Our aim was to introduce a treatment option for moderate to severe axillary hidradenitis suppurativa that offers good aesthetic and functional outcomes.

A Simple Option Added for Reconstruction of Posterior Neck Defects.

Background: Posterior neck defects are uncommon and are mainly caused by infections or tumors. Consequently, the reconstruction options are limited in the literature. They vary according to the size and type of the defect, and options range from grafts to free flaps. In this article, we present a series of cases where we used a transpositional locoregional flap as a simple and effective way for the coverage of posterior neck defects. Materials and Methods: In a series of 11 patients, we designed locoregional transpositional flaps unilaterally or bilaterally, according to the defect size. Dissection was carried on a subfascial plane. Results: All flaps survived without necrosis. We had two incidents of minimal wound gaping that healed without any intervention. Conclusion: In this series, we introduce a new option and its algorithm to reconstruct moderate-sized posterior neck defects using locoregional transpositional flaps, either unilaterally or bilaterally. It is simple, easy to conduct, and has a better color match and less complication rate than other options mentioned in the literature.

Diffuse Type Neurofibroma of the Forearm.

Nerve sheath tumors comprise 5% of soft tissue masses of the upper limb in adults. Neurofibromas are divided into three types: localized, diffuse, and plexi- form. The diffuse type is rare and is typically found in the head and neck region. We present a rare case of diffuse type neurofibroma found in the forearm, presented to our clinic as a slowly enlarging mass of the left forearm of 3 years duration. The lesion was suspicious in the magnetic resonance imaging, and biopsy revealed diffuse type neurofibroma. We opted for total excision of the lesion that was found to be not possible due to involvement of the major nerves. The final pathology report showed no malignancy. Nerve tumors of the upper limb can be either benign or malignant. Neurofibroma associated with neurofibromatosis has malignant potential. The diffuse type is rare, and it most commonly occurs in the head and neck region. It has a low malignant transformation rate. Magnetic resonance imaging is the diagnostic modality of choice; however, it can be inconclusive. Biopsy should be taken to confirm the diagnosis and plan for management. Our case was managed by near total excision in order to preserve the major forearm nerves because of high clinical suspicion.

A Rare Anatomical Finding of Undescribed Accessory Palmaris Longus in the Distal Forearm: A Case Report.

Upper limb muscle anomalies and their clinical implications have been described frequently in the literature reviews. In this article, we are presenting a case of aberrant forearm muscle that had not been described before, and could be considered as a palmaris longus muscle variation. A 24-year-old man presented to the emergency department, Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar, with right forearm laceration with multiple cut structures for which he was admitted for exploration and repair. Intraoperatively, flexor digitorum superficialis of the third, fourth, and fifth digits, flexor carpi radialis, and palmaris longus were injured' and all of them were repaired. We noticed an aberrant muscle-which was also injured-that originated from the distal third of the radius on its medial aspect to insert into the palmar fascia; pulling this muscle's tendon resulted in tightening of palmar fascia' same as the palmaris longus. Along with the importance of deep knowledge of typical human anatomy, hand surgeons must be aware that an aberration from normal anatomy might be anticipated, to provide the best care to our patients.

A Rare Presentation of Hand TB Extending to the Space of Parona.

Most cases of hand infections are caused by gram-positive cocci and gram-negative bacilli. Atypical hand infections are rare and are caused by uncommon pathogens like Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB). Musculoskeletal tuberculosis accounts for 20% of TB cases, and only 2% of these cases involve the hand and foot. In this article, we describe a case of hand TB that had spread from the thenar space to the space of Parona. The patient was treated with a combined surgical and medical approach. A 29-year-old male patient presented to our clinic with the complaint of pain and swelling of the right hand that had been worsening for 4 months before presentation. It was associated with mild weakness and night sweats. On physical examination, he had two separate swellings: one at the thenar eminence and one at the volar side of the wrist. He was taken for incision, which showed caseous material on both sites. It was sent for culture that revealed mycobacterium tuberculosis. The patient was placed on anti-TB medications for a total of 6 months. Tuberculous infection of the hand is a rare condition; the most common musculoskeletal sites are the spine, hip, and knee. Early diagnosis and treatment of TB infection in hand are essential for retaining optimal function. The diagnosis usually depends on the clinical presentation supported by laboratory tests and imaging studies. Treatment consists of medical, surgical, or combined treatment. Surgical intervention should aim to remove all the infected material in addition to debridement of the involved tissues.

Unusual Presentation of Extensor Tendon Rupture Caused by a Dorsal Wrist Synovial Cyst.

Synovial cysts are juxta-articular-fluid-filled collections that are lined by synovial cells, distinguishing them from a very close cystic lesion, which is the ganglion cyst. They usually present with pain and unpleasant appearance; here we present a case of wrist synovial cyst that caused extensor tendon rupture. A 50-year-old woman presented to our clinic with a cystic lesion on the dorsum of her wrist, with an inability to extend her index finger. The lesion was found intraoperatively engulfing the extensors of the index and causing a rupture. The cyst was excised and the tendon was reconstructed; pathology report confirmed the lesion as synovial cyst. Synovial cysts and ganglion cysts are two different entities but they have been used interchangeably in the literature; pathology is the only way to differentiate between them because they usually present with identical scenarios. None of them were reported to cause extensor tendon rupture, as presented in our article. Synovial cysts can cause rupture to extensor tendons if they arise from the sheath, and it is better to anticipate synovial cyst and remove it surgically before causing any further damage, if the lesion appeared to rise from the tendon sheath on further imaging.

A Rare Sequela of Constriction Band Syndrome: Case Report.

The patient in this case report is a 19-year-old man who presented with left foot cauliflower lesion. He complained of an inability to wear proper shoes, in addition to an unpleasant appearance of his foot. The lesion was present since his birth. Based on history and physical examination, the top 2 differential diagnoses at this stage were pediatric neurofibroma and constriction band syndrome (CBS). Laboratory investigations and x-ray were ordered for the patient. X-ray showed absence of most of the phalanges of the first, second, and third toes, with swelling of the overlying soft tissues of the foot. CBS was confirmed. Excision of the lesion was done along with skin graft applied on the area. Biopsy showed skin with dermal fibrosis and extensive adipose tissue infiltration without any sign of atypia or malignancy. The patient was discharged with regular follow-up appointments.

A Modification to Enhance the Survival of the Island FDMA Flap by Adding a Skin Bridge.

Distal thumb injuries are common in high construction load regions, and it is a challenging task for the plastic surgeon to find the optimum choice that preserves thumb length and provides a sensory substitute to the lost tissue. Introducing first dorsal metacarpal artery flap has solved the dilemma. One drawback is that the flap is susceptible to distal necrosis, which can happen because of tight tunneling or insufficient venous drainage. We combined Foucher and Holevich characteristics to design a flap that promises to solve the problem. METHODS: This is a case series that includes 9 patients where we describe a technique that has the potential to enhance the survival of the first dorsal metacarpal artery (FDMA) flap and decreases the rate of distal necrosis via addition of a 5-mm skin bridge to the pedicle and by avoiding tunneling. Distal necrosis of the patients in this study patients was compared with that in a control of 10 patients in whom we did the conventional FDMA flap. Patients were followed for 6 weeks to trace early postoperative complications (infection, dehiscence, and necrosis) and the establishment of protective sensation (pain and temperature). RESULTS: None of our patients had distal necrosis, infection, or dehiscence, and all had protective sensation in the flap. In comparison, 4 patients in the control group developed distal necrosis. CONCLUSION: FDMA is one of the best choices when it comes to distal thumb reconstruction, but it has the disadvantage of distal necrosis, which might be avoided when using the technique mentioned in this study.