Dermofasciectomy in the management of Dupuytren's disease.

Dupuytren's disease may present with well-defined subcutaneous cords or as more diffuse disease with involvement of the skin. Fasciectomy is the procedure commonly carried out for the full range of disease, but is associated with rates of recurrence of up to 66%. We reviewed 143 rays in 103 patients undergoing dermofasciectomy for diffuse disease with involvement of the skin. We found recurrence in 12 rays (8.4% of rays; 11.6% of patients) during a mean follow-up of 5.8 years, eight as cords and four as nodules. We suggest that dermofasciectomy is a better method of disease control than fasciectomy for the more diffuse type of disease with involvement of the skin.

Can blood taken from intraosseous cannulations be used for blood analysis?

Intraosseous infusion is increasingly finding application for venous access to infuse drugs and fluids in paediatric resuscitation including burns. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of using blood samples taken from the bone marrow cavity for routine blood analysis. In paediatric resuscitation where alternative venous access is not available this could prove valuable. Peripheral venous blood samples were compared with blood obtained from the bone marrow cavity in patients undergoing bone marrow aspiration for the investigation of possible medical pathology. Haemoglobin, haematocrit, sodium, urea, creatinine, and calcium levels values were sufficiently similar to be clinically useful. The potassium level was elevated in most bone marrow samples and the difference from peripheral venous samples variable. Great caution should be exercised in their interpretation. Glucose levels should also be interpreted with care. In conclusion, blood samples obtained intraosseously may give a useful guide to peripheral blood levels of some haematological and biochemical variables. This is potentially useful where a peripheral venous sample cannot be obtained. The values must be interpreted with care. Whether these findings can be extended to paediatric patients who are not haemodynamically stable has not been assessed.

Intraosseous infusion for burns resuscitation.

Two examples of resuscitation of a scalded child by intraosseous infusion, following failed peripheral venous cannulation, are presented. The technique of intraosseous infusion is reviewed and it is concluded that this technique provides a valuable second-line technique for establishing emergency venous access in children. It is quick, reliable and enables the rapid infusion of intravenous fluids and drugs into the systemic venous system. Complications are rare but can be serious and close observation of the infusion site is advisable.

Spontaneous pneumothorax in association with a major burn.

We report a case of a spontaneous pneumothorax in association with a major burn. The pneumothorax remained undetected for 4 days and the patient underwent a 2 h aeromedical transfer which could potentially have been hazardous. We strongly recommend that arterial blood gas analysis is performed before air transport of moderate or severely burned patients. If blood gases are abnormal a chest X-ray should also be performed. In practice a strong case can be made for routinely obtaining a chest X-ray in these patients. In-flight monitoring should include pulse oximetry.

Entrapment against radiators--an underestimated burn hazard to the elderly.

Five cases of burns caused by residents of nursing homes falling out of bed and becoming trapped against radiators or hot pipes are reported. The current guidelines for nursing homes in relation to heating surfaces are reviewed and recommendations are made on how this hazard can be avoided.

A flap for segmental loss of a digital nerve. The Venkataswami flap revisited.

The use of a V-Y advancement flap for reconstruction of a volar/lateral soft tissue defect in a digit involving segmental loss of the neurovascular bundle of up to 10 mm at middle phalangeal level is described. This flap allows immediate reconstruction with primary repair of the nerve and gives good functional results. Two cases are presented.

Modification of the Wise pattern breast reduction for oncological mammaplasty of upper outer and upper inner quadrant breast tumours: a technical note and case series.

The upper outer quadrant of the breast is the most common site for the incidence of breast cancer, and the upper inner quadrant the most cosmetically sensitive area. If an oncoplastic approach is considered however, these quadrants do not fall within the classical Wise pattern for oncological mammoplasty. We use a simple modification of the Wise pattern that facilitates oncological mammoplasty of tumours in these quadrants without the need for secondary or extended pedicles. In planning this modification excision of skin overlying the tumour is usually also possible. The modification of the Wise pattern technique that we use is described as a technical note, and a case series of 11 patients who underwent this procedure is presented. To date there have been no recurrences. This is a simple cosmetically acceptable modification of the Wise pattern breast reduction for oncological mammoplasty.

The application of the rotation flap to the dorsum of the hand.

We have described the application of the rotation flap to the dorsum of the hand. This has proved useful for closing certain defects on the dorsum of the hand. The flap is designed as a rotation flap and the secondary defect is then closed by advancement using the laxity at the dorsal wrist crease. We have reported on 10 cases. These adhere to the principle of repairing like with like and yield results which are both aesthetically and functionally excellent. The preservation of the axial elements of the flap theoretically makes it more robust and more resistant to infection.

Absence of BRAF gene mutations in uveal melanomas in contrast to cutaneous melanomas.

The recent discovery of activating mutations in the BRAF gene in many cutaneous melanomas led us to screen the genomic sequence of BRAF exons 11 and 15 in a series of 48 intraocular (uveal) melanomas, together with control samples from three cutaneous melanomas and the SK-Mel-28 cell line, which has a BRAF mutation. The same mutation was detected in two-thirds of our cutaneous melanoma samples, but was not present in any uveal melanomas. This finding further underlines the distinction between uveal and cutaneous melanomas, and suggests that BRAF inhibitors are unlikely to benefit patients with uveal melanoma.