Clavicle Fracture Site Surgical Contouring: A Case Report.

Clavicle fractures are frequent injuries accounting for approximately 4% of all fractures in adults with about 35% occurring in the shoulder region among which midshaft fractures are the most common (>66%). Nonsurgical management is the treatment of choice for most clavicle fractures; however, poor functional and aesthetic outcomes may result from nonunion, symptomatic malunion, and aesthetic impairment which are the most common complications. A young woman was referred to our clinic for a "Step Deformity" resulting after primary, nonsurgical treatment of a midshaft clavicle fracture. Residual deformity was corrected with a novel simple and little invasive approach. Midshaft clavicle fractures typically only require conservative nonsurgical treatment, nevertheless suboptimal outcomes may occur. Selective osteotomies and fixation are deemed too invasive when only cosmetic impairment of the clavicle contour is present without any functional or sensitive damage and most patients are discouraged from undergoing surgery. Thus far, no specific focus on this topic, nor exploration of possible correction can be found in the published literature. These residual deformities may be very noticeable sometimes and cause psychological distress and social life impairment. Despite no related functional impairment, this deformity should still be addressed, to improve patients' quality of life.

Comparative study of pre- and postauricular flaps for external auditory canal defect reconstruction.

Background: Malignancies involving the external auditory canal deserve critical evaluation due to this area's aesthetic and functional importance. Flaps can be very useful for the restoration of the external auditory canal. A variety of flaps available for the surgical treatment of external acoustic meatus defects exist, depending on the precise location and size. Objectives: Our study aimed to compare aesthetic and functional results in the postoncological reconstruction of external auditory canal defects using a preauricular flap and postauricular revolving door flap. Methods: Sixteen patients treated at our plastic surgery unit for defects involving the external auditory canal between January 2014 and December 2020 were included in the study. All defects were the result of a primary or secondary skin cancer excision. Patients were divided into two groups, one receiving the preauricular flap technique and the other the postauricular revolving door flap technique. Results: Three separate visual analog scales reported excellent scores for the two procedures, though the postauricular revolving door flap had slightly better results. Both preauricular flap and postauricular revolving door flap reconstructive techniques showed good options for external auditory canal reconstruction in postexcision skin cancer patients. From an aesthetic point of view, the revolving door flap appeared to be a more elegant surgical approach in this type of reconstruction because the scar was hidden in the postauricular sulcus. Conclusions: Reconstruction with a postauricular revolving door flap allowed for a more natural movement with no external pedicle. Evidence-Based Medicine EBM Level: IV.

Betadine-soaked gauzes intraoperative sizing in breast augmentation surgery.

In breast augmentation surgery, the correct evaluation of the implant size required is crucial to achieve satisfactory final result. Intraoperative volume decision is usually made by the use of silicone gel breast sizers. Intraoperative sizers have some disadvantages: the progressive loss of structural integrity, the increased risk of cross infection, the high costs. However, during breast augmentation surgery, it is mandatory to fill and expand the newly dissected pocket. In our practice we fill the dissected space with Betadine-soaked and then squeezed gauzes. The use of multiple soaked gauzes as sizers is advantageous for the following reasons: they fill and expand the pocket, they are useful to check the volume and to show the circumferential contour of the breast, to keep the pocket clean while dissecting the second one, to check final hemostasis and to compare the two breasts' size before definitive implant insertion. We simulated an "intra operative setting" where standardized volume Betadine-soaked gauzes were packed into a breast pocket. This easily reproducible and accurate technique is inexpensive and produces reliable and highly satisfactory results; it can be incorporated into the practice of any surgeon performing breast augmentation. Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) level: IV.

Epithelioid Hemangioma of the Nose: A Challenging Diagnosis.

Epithelioid hemangioma is a rare reactive vasoproliferative disease presenting with painless vascular nodules in the dermal and subcutaneous tissues of the head and neck. Clinical diagnosis can be difficult as, in most cases, the only symptom is a progressively tender swelling next to a vessel course. Thus far, few cases of epithelioid hemangioma localized to the nose have been described in the literature. Herein, we present a case of a 47-year-old woman with just such a lesion of the nose, focusing on its diagnosis and treatment.