Pediatric Treadmill Friction Burns to the Hand: Outcomes of an Initial Nonoperative Approach.

Treadmill burns that occur from friction mechanism are a common cause of hand burns in children. These burns are deeper and more likely to require surgical intervention compared to hand burns from other mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors associated with healing time using an initial nonoperative approach. A retrospective chart review was performed examining children (<15 years) who were treated for treadmill burns to the hand between 2012 and 2019. Patient age, burn depth, total body surface area of the hand injury, and time to healing were recorded. Topical wound management strategies (silver sheet, silver cream, non-silver sheet, and non-silver cream) and associated treatment durations were determined. For patients with burns to bilateral hands, the features, treatment, and outcomes of each hand were assessed separately. Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between time to healing and patient characteristics and treatment type. Seventy-seven patients with 86 hand burns (median age 3 years, range 1-11) had a median total body surface area per hand burn of 0.8% (range 0.1-1.5%). Full-thickness burns (n = 47, 54.7%) were associated with longer time to healing compared to partial-thickness burns (HR 0.28, CI 0.15-0.54, P < .001). Silver sheet treatment was also associated with more rapid time to healing compared to treatment with a silver cream (HR 2.64, CI 1.01-6.89, P = .047). Most pediatric treadmill burns can be managed successfully with a nonoperative approach. More research is needed to confirm the superiority of treatment with silver sheets compared to treatment with silver creams.

Dermal Hydrofluoric Acid Toxicity Case Review: Looks Can Be Deceiving.

Hydrofluoric acid is a caustic compound found in a wide variety of items for household and industrial uses. Dermal exposures can be visually unimpressive on presentation but still have fatal complications. This case review includes a description of a patient presenting with a dermal hydrofluoric acid burn that was effectively treated with topical calcium gluconate gel. Also highlighted are the challenges faced with recognizing the severity and appropriately treating dermal hydrofluoric acid burns in the emergency department.

Envenomation by an opisthoglyphous snake, Erythrolamprus aesculapii (Dipsadidae), in southeastern Brazil.

Snakebites by aglyphous or opisthoglyphous snakes are common in Brazil. We report a case of snakebite by the opisthoglyphous Erythrolamprus aesculapii. The victim presented with pain, edema, and bleeding at the bite site, along with erythema, similar to a Bothrops envenomation. In this type of snakebite, if the snake is not brought to the hospital, the victim may receive unnecessary serum therapy, with the risk of adverse reactions to the antivenom. The possibility of reducing after-effects with anti-inflammatory drugs and early antibiotic therapy for secondary infection need to be further investigated, preferably in multicenter studies, while observing good clinical practice.

[Enzymatic débridement as a treatment option for deep dermal burns of the hand]. / Enzymatisches Débridement als Therapieoption bei tiefdermalen Verbrennungen der Hand.

Burns and thermal injuries from other causes often affect exposed body regions such as the hands. Besides aesthetic aspects, deep dermal burns of the skin are often critical from a functional point of view, especially for important subcutaneous structures. This article reports the course of two patients who received enzymatic debridement with bromelain-based salve as a treatment for deep grade burns of the hands.

Envenomation by an opisthoglyphous snake, Erythrolamprus aesculapii (Dipsadidae), in southeastern Brazil

Abstract Snakebites by aglyphous or opisthoglyphous snakes are common in Brazil. We report a case of snakebite by the opisthoglyphous Erythrolamprus aesculapii. The victim presented with pain, edema, and bleeding at the bite site, along with erythema, similar to a Bothrops envenomation. In this type of snakebite, if the snake is not brought to the hospital, the victim may receive unnecessary serum therapy, with the risk of adverse reactions to the antivenom. The possibility of reducing after-effects with anti-inflammatory drugs and early antibiotic therapy for secondary infection need to be further investigated, preferably in multicenter studies, while observing good clinical practice.

The effect of probiotic treatment on elderly patients with distal radius fracture: a prospective double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised clinical trial.

Probiotic treatment has been shown to improve bone formation, increase bone mass density and prevent bone loss. We aimed to assess the effect of probiotic treatment on functional recovery in elderly patients with a distal radius fracture. A total of 417 elderly patients with an acute distal radius fracture were enrolled in this double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. They were randomised to receive skimmed milk containing either a commercial probiotic (Lactobacillus casei Shirota) or placebo daily for a period of 6 months after the fracture. Treatment outcomes were the DASH (disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand) score, pain, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) score, active range of motion and grip strength, all of which were measured on a monthly basis. Throughout the duration of the study, DASH score, pain, CRPS score, wrist flexion and grip strength of patients receiving probiotics exhibited a significantly faster pace of improvement than those on placebo, with treatment outcomes of patients receiving Lactobacillus casei Shirota at month 4 at comparable levels with those of patients receiving placebo at month 6. In elderly patients with a fracture of the distal radius, administration of the probiotic could greatly accelerating the healing process.

Effects of lubricant and autologous bone marrow stromal cell augmentation on immobilized flexor tendon repairs.

The purpose of the study was to test a novel treatment that carbodiimide-derivatized-hyaluronic acid-lubricin (cd-HA-lubricin) combined cell-based therapy in an immobilized flexor tendon repair in a canine model. Seventy-eight flexor tendons from 39 dogs were transected. One tendon was treated with cd-HA-lubricin plus an interpositional graft of 8 × 10(5) BMSCs and GDF-5. The other tendon was repaired without treatment. After 21 day of immobilization, 19 dogs were sacrificed; the remaining 20 dogs underwent a 21-day rehabilitation protocol before euthanasia. The work of flexion, tendon gliding resistance, and adhesion score in treated tendons were significantly less than the untreated tendons (p < 0.05). The failure strength of the untreated tendons was higher than the treated tendons at 21 and 42 days (p < 0.05). However, there is no significant difference in stiffness between two groups at day 42. Histologic analysis of treated tendons showed a smooth surface and viable transplanted cells 42 days after the repair, whereas untreated tendons showed severe adhesion formation around the repair site. The combination of lubricant and cell treatment resulted in significantly improved digit function, reduced adhesion formation. This novel treatment can address the unmet needs of patients who are unable to commence an early mobilization protocol after flexor tendon repair.

[Hydrofluoric acid burns of the hands in the home environment: correct therapeutic approach]. / Le ustioni delle mani da acido fluoridrico in ambiente domestico: corretto approccio terapeutico.

The broad market penetration of products with components used primarily in the industrial sector requires the precise knowledge of their mechanism of action in order to perform a correct therapeutic approach. The article reports on three cases of domestic hydrofluoric acid burn that came to our Plastic Surgery Unit over the last three years. The treatment options are discussed in detail with emphasis on the importance of a constant update about such emerging diseases.

High-pressure paint gun injection injury to the palm.

High-pressure injection injuries often have a misleadingly benign presentation. However, it is important to recognize the potential surgical urgency and long-term sequelae associated with these injuries. We present a case of paint gun injection to the palm and review the literature on high-pressure paint injection injuries. The 3 factors most important for the fate of the limb are material type, injection pressure, and injury site. The immediate use of antibiotics and tetanus prophylaxis, with or without steroids, is indicated. Urgent debridement in the operating room is imperative and can decompress the neurovascular structures and flexor tendon sheath by removing the irritating agents. Reported overall amputation rates have been as high as 30%.

Hypothenar hammer syndrome from ice hockey stick-handling.

Ulnar artery thrombosis and hypothenar hammer syndrome are rare vascular complications that could potentially occur with repeated blows or trauma to the hand. Although initially reported as an occupational hazard among laborers and craftsmen, it has been observed more recently among recreationalists and athletes. Until now, it has never been reported as a complication in ice hockey players. In this case report, a 26-year-old Canadian professional ice hockey player presented with acute dominant right hand paleness, coolness, and pain with hand use. The patient used a wooden hockey stick with a large knob of tape at the end of the handle, which he regularly gripped in the palm of his right hand to help with face-offs and general stick-handling. Sonographic evaluation demonstrated no arterial flow in the distal right ulnar artery distribution, and ulnar artery occlusion with no aneurysmal degeneration was confirmed by magnetic resonance angiogram. Intraarterial thrombolytic therapy was initiated, and subsequent serial angiograms demonstrated significant improvement in distal ulnar artery flow as well as recanalization of right hand deep palmar arch and digital arteries. The patient's symptoms resolved, and he was maintained on therapeutic anticoagulation for 3 months prior to returning to playing ice hockey professionally, but with a padded glove and no tape knob at the handle tip. This case highlights a unique presentation of hockey stick-handling causing ulnar artery thrombosis that was likely from repeated palmar hypothenar trauma. Appropriate diagnostic imaging, early intraarterial thrombolysis, and postoperative surveillance and follow-up were crucial for the successful outcome in this patient.

Use of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rh-BMP-2) in treatment of wrist and hand nonunion with comparison to historical control groups.

The purpose of this study is to report the percentage of patients achieving union, time to union, and complications with the use of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rh-BMP-2) in surgical repair of established nonunion in the hand and wrist. Twenty-seven patients with nonunion of the hand and wrist were treated between 2005 and 2011 with surgical repair and augmentation using 4.2 mg of rh-BMP-2. Sites of nonunion included the phalanx (seven), carpus (nine), distal radius (five), and distal ulna (six). Radiographic union and complications were the primary and secondary outcomes, respectively. Eighty-nine percent (24/27) of patients achieved union within an average of 4.3 ± 2.8 months of surgery. There were no direct complications from administration of rh-BMP-2. Radiographic union was consistent with published rates for nonunion repair of scaphoid, phalanx, and distal radius fractures. Rh-BMP-2 did not produce superior rates of union in the patients with wrist and hand nonunion.