Burn scar reconstruction of the neck with FTSG obtained from lower abdominal skin.

Burns account for a significant proportion of injuries, and of these the face, neck, and anterior torso are commonly affected. Burn scars remain a lasting reminder of the insult both for the patient and the outside world. There is little doubt that the change in appearance and the limitation imposed by a burn scar contribute to negative body image. Treatment of hypertrophic scars in the neck has been quite challenging if there is no intact tissue for local flaps. So application of full-thickness skin grafts could be of great value. We applied full-thickness grafts obtained from lower abdominal skin for treatment of severe neck contractures in four patients when other treatment modalities such as local flaps could not be used. Full-thickness skin graft of the neck is a safe and reliable treatment option with fairly good functional and aesthetic results. It has little donor site morbidity in spite of providing a large surface area of full-thickness skin.

Relationship between birth weight and time of first deciduous tooth eruption in 143 consecutively born infants.

BACKGROUND: Deciduous teeth play an important role in the proper alignment, spacing and occlusion of permanent teeth. The calcification of deciduous teeth begins during the fourth prenatal month, and calcification of all deciduous teeth begin by the end of the sixth prenatal month. The eruption date varies and is genetically influenced. Delayed eruption of deciduous teeth, especially the first teeth, causes nutritional problems for the infants. It also results in parental concerns. In this study, we compared the timing of eruption of the first deciduous teeth in infants in relation to their birth weight. METHODS: A total of 143 infants born at Shariati Hospital in Tehran from December 2004 to December 2005 were included in the study. Data on sex, birth weight, gestational age, and time of first tooth eruption were collected. RESULTS: The mean birth weight was 3220 +/- 420 g with 5.5% of infants weighing less than 2500 g, and 19.9% weighing more than 3500 g. Patients were monitored weekly from the third month of age until the time of first tooth eruption. The mean age of first tooth eruption was 7.68 +/- 1.84 months. CONCLUSION: There was a negative linear correlation between the time of first deciduous tooth eruption and birth weight, suggesting that delayed tooth eruption may be related to lower birth weight.

Comparison of sole to palm reconstruction using the combined medial plantar and medial pedis free flaps and abdominal pedicle flap for extensive palm injuries.

The coverage of soft- tissue defects of the hand specially volar side needs special consideration. Although certain local flaps have been described and used for resurfacing the palm, Extensive injury requires distant or free flaps for coverage. Abdominal pedicle flap has been traditionally used for extensive hand injuries, however there is no doubt that one of the ideal tissues for resurfacing the volar of hand is plantar tissue. We reconstructed the hand with a new procedure of combined medial plantar and medial pedis free flap , and compared it with 15 cases, whom their extensive palm injuries reconstructed with abdominal pedicle flap. The result was significantly better in respect to sensation, Texture of the Hand and patient satisfaction in compare of abdominal flap.

Incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage and post hemorrhagic hydrocephalus in preterm infants.

Germinal matrix-intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is the most common variety of neonatal intracranial hemorrhage and is characteristics of the premature infant. The importance of the lesion relates not only to its high incidence but to their attendant complications (IC: hydrocephalus). Brain sonography is the procedure of choice in diagnosis of germinal matrix- intraventricular hemorrhage and hydrocephalus. In this study we have used brain sonography for detection of intraventricular hemorrhage and post hemorrhagic hydrocephalus and their incidences. The studied population was consisted of premature neonate (birth weight equal or less than 1500 g and gestational age equal or less than 37 weeks) who admitted in Mofid Hospital NICU (Tehran, Iran) during a one year period. For all neonate (including criteria) brain sonography in first week of life was done and in presence of IVH, serial Brain sonography was done weekly for detection of hydrocephalus. A total of 57 neonate entered the study. Intraventricular-germinal matrix hemorrhage was seen in 64.4% (35 patients). Forty percent of patients with intraventricular-germinal matrix hemorrhage had grade I, 11% grade II, 25.7% grade III, 2.8% grade VI. Hydrocephalus was detected in 20 percent of patients who had intraventricular-germinal matrix hemorrhage. That incidence of IVH in our study in comparison with other area and situation is higher. Hydrocephaly had direct relation with severity of IVH. This shows that with control of risk factor of IVH, we can control Post hemorrhagic hydrocephalus.