Injury
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Bone distraction lengthening has been used for hand reconstruction. The healing process involved in this technique is affected by many factors. Here, the effectiveness and rates of healing of the phalanges and the metacarpals were evaluated in cases of traumatic finger amputation treated using an Ilizarov mini-fixator. ⋯ Distraction lengthening of the digits after traumatic amputation is an effective procedure for hand reconstructive surgery for either the phalanges or the metacarpals and is less invasive than other techniques. The rate of healing of the metacarpals is two times faster than that of the phalanges.
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Traumatic lacerations, burns and ulcerations are a common cause of admission in the plastic surgery wards. Clinical evaluation alone sometimes provides insufficient or even inaccurate information. Thermographic camera is a new tool that could provide additional information regarding skin vascularization, presence of inflammation or involvement of deep tissue. ⋯ Preoperative evaluation helped in assessing bone involvement, inflammation and infection in order to decide the necessity of surgery. Postoperative evaluation was useful in preventing and lowering the rate of complications. Thermographic camera could be a new helpful and non-invasive tool especially in emergency hospitals in order to assess rapidly and objectively wound status and to start if necessary, a surgical treatment.
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Treatment of tibial defects with important soft tissue involvement after bilateral lower limb trauma are challenging for both orthopedic and plastic surgeons. Several therapeutic options are described in armamentarium of reconstructive surgeons such as bone grafts, bone substitutes, distractions osteogenesis, limb prosthesis, free flaps, negative pressure therapy and unfortunately amputation. We describe a patient with tibial and soft tissue defect reconstructed using a chimeric flap composed of latissimus dorsi, serratus anterior muscle and two ribs. At the 1-year follow-up the patient is able to walk with a walker and is still enrolled in rehabilitation program.
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Closed brachial plexus lesions (BPLs) are generally associated with a traumatic mechanism of forced traction between the neck and the shoulder-arm complex. For brachial plexus reconstruction different techniques have been proposed with donor motor nerves like intercostal nerves, or the ipsilateral cervical plexus, the phrenic nerve, the contralateral C7 root, and many others. Despite all these surgical possibilities, the overall recovery is generally poor and not satisfactory. ⋯ In this anatomical feasibility study, the possibility to transfer the peroneal component of the sciatic nerve as a donor for complete BPLs has been evaluated. This technique would conceptually bring an important motor and sensory contribution to the upper limb using pure motor and sensory branches of the sciatic nerve. Performing immediate tendon transfer for foot drop palsy could significantly decrease the morbidity of the surgical procedure.
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Penile fracture is a rare urological emergency caused by blunt trauma to the erect penis and it may be accompanied by urethral injury. Complete urethral rupture is very uncommon and is usually managed by primary anastomosis. However, these patients are more likely to develop post-operative complications such as urethral strictures. ⋯ Buccal mucosa graft was used for surgical repair of urethral injury. At 36-month follow-up patient did not experience erectile or voiding problems. The application of this technique could possibly reduce the incidence of urethral strictures in these patients and further prospective studies with larger samples should be conducted.