Annals of plastic surgery
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Annals of plastic surgery · Apr 2001
Evaluation of a combined calcium sodium alginate and bio-occlusive membrane dressing in the management of split-thickness skin graft donor sites.
The optimal treatment of the split-thickness skin graft (STSG) donor site remains an unresolved issue. This study was conducted to evaluate the combined use of calcium sodium alginate and a bio-occlusive membrane dressing in the management of STSG donor sites. This study was a prospective evaluation of all patients requiring an STSG over a 6-month period ending October 1998. ⋯ The bio-occlusive dressing eliminated the pain typically associated with fine mesh gauze dressings. The absorptive property of the calcium sodium alginate eliminated the problem of seroma formation and leakage seen routinely with the use of a bio-occlusive dressing alone. These results confirm that this technique is both efficacious and cost-effective.
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Annals of plastic surgery · Feb 2001
Review Case ReportsBotfly myiasis: case report and brief review.
The painful, boil-like lesion of furuncular myiasis is a result of the invasion of subcutaneous tissues by larvae of Dermatobia hominis, the human botfly. This arthropod is indigenous to Mexico, and Central and South America, and imported cases to the United States are increasing as travel to these regions continues to rise. ⋯ Surgical removal sometimes results in damage to the larva with retention of larval fragments in the wound. The authors describe a patient and a novel approach that ensures removal of the intact larva and its surrounding burrow.
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Many plastic surgery procedures are performed under local anethesia. When the procedure involves the head and neck, oxygen is perilously close to the surgical field. ⋯ By removing one component of the fire triangle, the risk of fire is averted. An in-depth look at each component is needed because fire hazards involve some surprising sources.
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Annals of plastic surgery · Jan 2001
Operative management of neuromatous knee pain: patient selection and outcome.
The management of intractable knee pain secondary to neuromata continues to be optimized. Forty-three patients with intractable knee pain were studied prospectively. Consideration for this procedure requires pain of at least a 1-year duration, failure of conservative management, pain localization at a Tinel's point, and at least a 5-point reduction of pain on a visual analog scale after nerve blockade with 1% lidocaine. ⋯ Selective denervation for neuromatous knee pain is beneficial in select patients. Patient satisfaction was 84% (21 of 25 patients) after the procedure. No patient was made worse.
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Annals of plastic surgery · Dec 2000
Case ReportsManagement of lawnmower injuries to the lower extremity in children and adolescents.
Lawnmower-associated trauma remains a substantial source of extremity injury in the pediatric and adolescent patient populations, producing complex wounds that require a combined orthopedic and plastic surgical approach. The authors review their experience with 16 patients, 2 to 17 years of age (mean age, 6.2 years), who were admitted to Duke University Medical Center for lower extremity lawnmower trauma between January 1988 and December 1999. The average hospitalization time was 13.5 days, and an average of 2.9 surgical procedures per patient were performed. ⋯ Wound closure was achieved with direct closure or skin grafting in the majority of patients. However, five microsurgical free flap transfers were required for extensive defect reconstruction of the foot (N = 4) and knee (N = 1). Adequate immediate debridement, fracture reduction, and early primary or if necessary secondary wound coverage including microsurgical free tissue transfer to prevent further damage and long-term disability in these type of devastating injuries is recommended.