Spring-Assisted Surgery for Treatment of Sagittal Craniosynostosis.

ABSTRACT: Craniosynostosis (CSS), the premature fusion of calvarial sutures, most commonly involves the sagittal suture. Cranial vault remodeling (CVR) is a traditional method of CSS correction. Minimally invasive methods are becoming widely accepted, including spring-assisted surgery (SAS). The equipment required for SAS is minimal therefore adaptable to resource challenged health systems. This paper outlines the experience of SAS in Moldova.A retrospective study was performed for patients treated with SAS for sagittal CSS from 2011 to 2018 in Moldova. Perioperative data were recorded including age, length of surgery, blood loss, volume transfused and length of stay. Four patients had pre- and post-operative computed tomography (CT) scans which were used to calculate changes in cephalic index, normative cephalic index, and intracranial volume.Thirteen patients underwent SAS. Diagnoses were made clinically and confirmed with CT. Mean age at surgery was 4.0 months, and length of surgery 62.7 minutes. All but one patient received a blood transfusion, as is standard of practice in Moldova. The mean length of post-operative recovery in ICU was 30.9 hours. No complications required surgical revision. Springs were removed after 4 to 5 months. All patients had a subjective improvement in scaphocephaly. Based on the available CT scans, an increase in cephalic index (7.3%), normative cephalic index (11.8%), and intracranial volume (38.1%) was observed. One patient underwent SAS at 11 months and required cranioplasty for asymmetry at the time of spring removal.SAS is a safe and cost-effective method of CSS correction that can be utilized in countries with limited health system resources.

Managing Ulcers Associated with Pyoderma Gangrenosum with a Urinary Bladder Matrix and Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare disease that presents as painful ulcerations with inflammation and undermining at the borders. The ulcers can occur anywhere on the body but are most commonly seen on the lower extremities. The etiology of PG is unknown, and there are no definitive diagnostic criteria; PG is a diagnosis of exclusion, which can present serious delays in treatment.Patients should be treated with an interdisciplinary approach with aggressive immunosuppression, treatment of any comorbidities, maximization of nutrition status, reconstructive surgery for treatment of the wound, and physical therapy for deconditioning.This article presents a case study of one patient treated with a porcine urinary bladder matrix and negative-pressure wound therapy; this treatment combination provided pain relief, coverage of the wound, an acceptable aesthetic outcome, and long-term stability.

American Society of Plastic Surgeons Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline Revision: Reduction Mammaplasty.

SUMMARY: A multidisciplinary work group involving stakeholders from various backgrounds and societies convened to revise the guideline for reduction mammaplasty. The goal was to develop evidence-based patient care recommendations using the new American Society of Plastic Surgeons guideline methodology. The work group prioritized reviewing the evidence around the need for surgery as first-line treatment, regardless of resection weight or volume. Other factors evaluated included the need for drains, the need for postoperative oral antibiotics, risk factors that increase complications, a comparison in outcomes between the two most popular techniques (inferior and superomedial), the impact of local anesthetic on narcotic use and other nonnarcotic pain management strategies, the use of epinephrine, and the need for specimen pathology. A systematic literature review was performed, and an established appraisal process was used to rate the quality of relevant scientific research (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology). Evidence-based recommendations were made and strength was determined based on the level of evidence and the assessment of benefits and harms.

Pneumocystis Jirovecii Pneumonia During Sirolimus Therapy for Kaposiform Hemangioendothelioma.

Sirolimus is an effective therapy for children with kaposiform hemangioendothelioma with or without the Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon. We report the case of a child with kaposiform hemangioendothelioma and the Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon who developed Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) while on sirolimus and a prednisolone taper, after lack of adequate response to prednisolone, propranolol, and vincristine. He had a prompt positive clinical and laboratory response to sirolimus, but 4 weeks after starting it, at the age of 4 months, he developed PCP. This led to respiratory failure, which required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Sirolimus was temporarily discontinued, and he was successfully treated for PCP with sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and methylprednisolone. He was restarted on sirolimus 3 weeks after discharge and given sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim prophylaxis. At the age of 22 months, while still on sirolimus, the lesion continued to improve with test results revealing stable hemoglobin and platelet counts. PCP is a rare but life-threatening side effect of sirolimus therapy, especially in the setting of concurrent steroid treatment. Pneumocystis prophylaxis should be considered for patients receiving sirolimus.