Preliminary results with non-centrifuged autologous fat graft and percutaneous aponeurotomy for treating Dupuytren's disease.

The aim of this study was to describe our experience with treating Dupuytren's disease using needle aponeurotomy and non-centrifuged autologous fat grafting. The study included 17 patients (18 hands). Patients were treated with needle aponeurotomy and non-centrifuged autologous fat graft under general anesthesia. The fat grafts were injected into the surgical area so as to stay in contact with the operated site. An extension splint was used for 1 week postoperatively and the patients received hand therapy for 3 weeks. Before the treatment, the contracture in the proximal interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints was a mean of 45.06 ± 13.44 degrees and 36.56 ± 13.09 degrees, respectively. It was 1.61 ± 1.65 and -0.56 ± 3.78 degrees at 3 months, respectively. The difference between these measurements was statistically significant. The mean follow-up period was 12 months. The results were satisfactory and no complications were observed during the follow-up period. Based on the results of the study, percutaneous aponeurotomy with non-centrifuged autologous fat grafting was found to have significantly beneficial effects in the treatment of Dupuytren's disease.

Pharyngocutaneous fistulae after total laryngectomy: analysis of the risk factors and treatment approaches.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence and predisposing factors in the development of postoperative pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) after total laryngectomy. METHODOLOGY: A total of 166 patients with complete medical records who underwent total laryngectomy (TL) due to laryngeal cancer were analysed retrospectively. The mean age of the patients was 57.4 (+ 19.6) years. This study looked at a total of 32 different parameters considered to be effective in the development of pharyngocutaneous fistula after total laryngectomy. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients (19.2%) had a pharyngocutaneous fistula. Aged over 61 years (p = 0.003), Diabetes Mellitus (DM) (p = 0.002), alcohol use (p = 0.006), history of preoperative radiotherapy (p = 0.001), preoperative tracheotomy (p = 0.017), postoperative low levels of haemoglobin (Hb) (p = 0.029), low levels of preoperative albumin (p = 0.001), total protein and a low alb/glb (albumin/globulin) ratio (p = 0.001), serum prealbumin levels on the third and seventh postoperative days (p = 0.001), high postoperative CRP levels (p = 0.002), T4 stage (extralaryngeal) and presence of transglottic lesion (p = 0.003), presence of stage IV (p = 0.012) lesion, primary surgery accompanied by bilateral neck dissection (p = 0.047), T-shaped oesophagus suture, postoperative bleeding (p = 0.07), presence of postoperative fever (p = 0.001), presence of skin defect in the anterior neck (p = 0.001) and presence of postoperative depression (p = 0.001) were found to be statistically significant factors in the development of PCF. CONCLUSIONS: Our study found many parameters associated with an increased risk of the development of PCF. According to the multivariate regression analysis, aged over 61 years, DM, preoperative RT, preoperative tracheostomy, postoperative Hb under 10 g/dl, prealbumin under 17 mg/dl on the third postoperative day, and a postoperative fever of 38.3 degrees C and above were found be associated with a higher risk of the development of fistulae more than the other risk factors.

Pectoralis major myofascial flap in salvage laryngectomy.

OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the pectoralis major myofascial flap on pharyngocutaneous fistula formation and time to oral feeding. METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed 155 total laryngectomies. Patients were divided into two main groups. Group 1 included 110 patients who were treated primarily by total laryngectomy and group 2 comprised 45 patients who were treated by salvage laryngectomy with or without a pectoralis major myofascial flap. RESULTS: The use of a pectoralis major myofascial flap did not have a significant effect on pharyngocutaneous fistula formation in the salvage group (p = 0.376). When comparing the oral feeding day of patients with pharyngocutaneous fistula, a significant difference was observed between the salvage group with pectoralis major myofascial flap reinforcement and the salvage group without pectoralis major myofascial flap reinforcement (p = 0.004). DISCUSSION: Our study demonstrated that pectoralis major myofascial flap reinforcement did not decrease the rate of pharyngocutaneous fistula formation. Instead, it prevented the formation of large fistulas that would require surgical management, and showed a similar time to oral feeding and length of hospital stay to primary laryngectomy.

Respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma (REAH) of the nasopharynx with high 18F-FDG uptake on PET/CT.

Respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma (REAH) is a rare benign non-neoplastic sinonasal lesion that usually presents in the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, or olfactory cleft. We report a case of nasopharynx REAH mimicking a malignant tumour with incidental high 18-FDG uptake in a patient with colon cancer. Less than five similar cases have been reported to date, and this is the first case of REAH to show high uptake on PET/CT scans. Although hamartoma arising from the nasopharynx region is very rare, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis because it is a benign lesion and complete surgical resection is curative.

Concomitant vagal neurofibroma and aplasia of the internal carotid artery in neurofibromatosis type 1.

We report the case of a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 who had both aplasia of an internal carotid artery (ICA) and a vagal neurofibroma. To our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature of the simultaneous presence of these two rare disorders in a single patient. We believe that this is also the first report of an absence of an ICA in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1. The patient was a 19-year-old woman who complained of a slowly growing neck mass. The mass occupied the right parapharyngeal space and upper cervical region. The patient had no other masses on physical examination, but widespread café au lait spots were evident. This led us to suspect the presence of a vagal neurofibroma. The tumor was removed, and pathology confirmed the diagnosis. No intracranial aneurysms were detected on cerebral angiography.