Effectiveness of Intralesional Triamcinolone in the Treatment of Keloids in Children.

BACKGROUND: The current treatment of keloids includes surgery, intralesional steroids, and radiotherapy, among others. Radiotherapy is not recommended in children due to its effects on growing tissues. Our aim was to study intralesional triamcinilone therapy of keloids in children and analyze the impact of body location, age of the lesion, and etiology of the keloid on clinical response. METHODS: We conducted a prospective clinical trial with patients 1 to 14 years of age evaluated for keloid treatment. A soft tissue ultrasound was performed to measure the keloid volume, prior to intralesional infiltration with triamcinolone acetonide. A posttreatment ultrasound quantified the volume differences attributed to therapy. For the analysis, Mann-Whitney/Wilcoxon test for paired samples and a multiple regression analysis were performed. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients with a total of 25 keloids were enrolled, with a median age of 12 years (range 6-14 yrs). The initial lesional volume was 1.25 cc (range 0.2-6.3 cc) and the final volume was 0.2 cc (range 0.0-1.53 cc), corresponding to 82.7% of size reduction (p < 0.001). Regarding the relationships between response and body location, etiology and age of the lesion, the multiple regression analyses obtained p-values of 0.46, 0.16, and 0.87, respectively. One patient failed to improve. Average follow-up was 30 months. CONCLUSIONS: Triamcinolone acetonide is highly effective for the treatment of pediatric keloids. There is no relationship between clinical response and the factors evaluated, such as lesion location, etiology and age of the keloid.

To remove or not remove...asymptomatic sewing needle within hepatic right lobe in an infant.

PURPOSE/BACKGROUND: The ingestion or accidental insertion of foreign bodies is extremely rare before 6 months of age. We report the case of a 3-month-old infant with a sewing needle into the right hepatic lobe, without symptoms. The extraction was performed through laparotomy. The issue is revisited, and the decision making tree is discussed.

CLOVES Syndrome: Severe Neonatal Presentation.

Congenital Lipomatous Overgrowth, Vascular Malformations, Epidermal Nevi and Spinal Abnormalities (CLOVES syndrome) is a newly described and rare overgrowth disorder with serious morbidity. The course of this disease is not well understood and few cases have been reported among neonates. Moreover, not all of the signs of this syndrome are present at birth, making a high index of suspicion necessary. We present a cohort of three newborns with CLOVES syndrome who died due to septic and hemodynamic complications directly related to extensive vascular malformations. We discuss the clinical presentation in the neonatal period and propose a clinical classification.

Evaluación de zona dadora en reconstrucción auricular de microtia con técnica suprapericóndrica en la obtención de cartílago costal / Evaluation of donor site in auricular reconstruction of microtia with supraperichondrial costal cartilage harvest technique

Aim: To assess the presence of donor site sequel of patients undergoing ear reconstruction with costal cartilage harvest, using supraperichondrial technique. methods: Cross-sectional study; patients under 15 years. The cartilages were harvested with perichondrium. Three observers performed donor site assessment; they were independent to this study (validated Strasser score: deformity, asymmetry, contour and scar). Children and their mothers were applied satisfaction survey. Analysis of the association between variables: nonparametric tests. Results: 19 reconstructions, 18 patients, age 8 (6-15) years, follow-up 50 (14-96) months; number of rib cartilage harvested 3 (2-4) units. Expert assessment: excellent in 2 (10.5%) cases, good in 10 (52.6%), regular in 7 (36.8%). Most mothers and patients rated the result as good. There was no significant difference in the score, with respect to the number of harvested costal cartilages. To separate them by age, poorer results were obtained at surgery before 10 years of age than in older (p < 0.03). Conclusion: Ear reconstruction and supraperichondrial technique for costal cartilage allows obtain good results in donor site. There is high satisfaction when evaluated by the patient and his mother, as well as observers. The result is not dependent on the number of harvested cartilage, but is related to age at surgery, best results were obtained in patients operated over 10 years of age.

Objetivo: Evaluar presencia de secuela en zona dadora de pacientes sometidos a reconstrucción auricular con cartílago costal con técnica suprapericóndrica. material y método: Corte transversal; pacientes menores de 15 años. Cartílagos fueron levantados con pericondrio. Evaluación de zona dadora fue realizada por tres observadores independientes (escala validada de Strasser: deformidad, asimetría, contorno y cicatriz). A niños y madres se les aplicó encuesta de satisfacción. En el análisis de la asociación entre variables se utilizan pruebas no paramétricas. Resultados: 19 reconstrucciones, 18 pacientes, mediana edad 8 (6-15) años, seguimiento 50 (14-96) meses, número de cartílagos costales obtenidos 3 (2-4) unidades. Evaluación de expertos: excelente en 2 (10,5%) casos, bueno en 10 (52,6%) y regular en 7 (36,8%). La mayoría de las madres y pacientes calificó como bueno el resultado. No hubo diferencia significativa en el puntaje con respecto al número de cartílagos costales cosechados. Al separarlos por edad se obtuvo peores resultados en los intervenidos antes de los 10 años que en mayores (p < 0,03). Conclusión: La reconstrucción auricular con cartílago costal y técnica suprapericóndrica, permite obtener buenos resultados en zona dadora. Existe alta satisfacción al ser evaluada por el paciente y su madre, así como por los observadores. El resultado no es dependiente del número de cartílagos; sí en relación a la edad de la cirugía: mejores resultados en pacientes operados sobre los 10 años de edad, lo que concuerda con otros estudios.

Injertos y colgajos en pacientes sometidos a quimio o radioterapia: son seguros?: revisión de la literatura / Is it safe do grafts or flaps in a patient being treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy?: literature review

Es conocido que la radiación ha sido asociada a una cicatrización disminuida de las heridas, necrosis grasa y decoloración. La quimioterapia, por otra parte, se ha descrito con efectos adversos como infección, necrosis, contractura o deformación de los colgajos. Los antecedentes previos son los causantes de cierta confusión al enfrentar pacientes oncológicos que durante su evolución requieren solucionar defectos de piel y tejidos blandos: es seguro realizar injertos o colgajos en un paciente que está siendo tratado con quimio o radioterapia? Por medio de la revisión de la literatura publicada buscamos dar respuesta a esta interrogante.

It is known that the radiation has been associated with decreased wound healing, fat necrosis and bleaching. Chemotherapy, on the other hand, has been described with side effects as infection, necrosis, contraction or deformation of the flaps. The previous history are causing some confusion that may arise when facing cancer patients that during their evolution require fix skin and soft tissue defects: is it safe do grafts or flaps in a patient being treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy? Through the review of the published literature we seek to answer this question.

Liposuction and lipoinjection treatment for congenital and acquired lipodystrophies in children.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this clinical study was to establish liposuction and lipoinjection as a noncosmetic procedure in children to correct lipodystrophies. METHODS: Liposuction, fat injection, or a combination of both was performed on 30 patients between 1994 and 2006 at Roberto del Rio Hospital or Clinica Alemana, Santiago, Chile. Liposuction was indicated in patients with excessive amounts of fatty tissue or tumor-like swelling. Combined liposuction and lipoinjection was performed on patients with deficit and excess in soft tissues. Lipoinjection was used for patients with soft-tissue insufficiencies. Samples of fat obtained by liposuction were submitted to histopathologic examination. Traditional tumescent technique was used for liposuction. The supernatant obtained by simple filtration was used for fat injection. Short- and long-term postoperative follow-up included registration of complications and assessment of aesthetic and functional outcome. The kappa test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Thirty patients, nine boys and 21 girls, were operated on, with an average age of 11 years (range, 4 to 17 years). A total of 43 procedures were performed: 27 liposuctions, 10 lipoinjections, and six combined procedures. Average hospital stay was 1.1 days. Of a total 20 patients who underwent liposuction, six required revision. Histopathologic study showed 19 lipomatoses and one lipoblastomatosis. Cosmetic outcomes based on Strasser scale were as follows: six excellent, 19 good, four mediocre, and one poor. CONCLUSIONS: Liposuction and lipoinjection as sole or combined procedures are safe methods for the pediatric population. They are well tolerated, with a low rate of complications and satisfactory aesthetic results.