Cutaneous mercury granuloma: a case report.

Cutaneous mercury (Hg) granuloma is a rare disorder caused by the traumatic introduction of elemental Hg into skin or soft tissue. Typically, cutaneous elemental Hg deposits cause limited systemic effects. Prominent systemic toxicity may, however, occasionally occur. Herein we report a case of cutaneous Hg granuloma resulting in chronic painful local wounds and systemic toxicity in the form of abdominal pain, visual disturbances, and psychiatric abnormalities. The related literature also is reviewed.

Transition from chief residency to specialty training: issues and solutions.

Three fourths of chief residents in general surgery receive further specialty training. The end to start-of-year transition can create administrative conflicts between the residency and the specialty training program. An Internet-based questionnaire surveyed general surgery and surgical specialty program directors to define issues and possible solutions associated with end to start-of-year transitions using a Likert scale. There was an overall response rate of 17.5 per cent, 19.6 per cent among general surgery directors, and 15.8 per cent among specialty directors. Program directors in general surgery felt strongly that the transition is an administrative problem (P < 0.001). They opposed extra days off at the end of the chief resident year or ending in mid-June, which specialty directors favored (P < 0.001). Directors of specialty programs opposed starting the year 1 or 2 weeks after July 1, a solution that general surgery directors favored (P < 0.001). More agreement was reached on whether chief residents should take vacation week(s) at the end of the academic year, having all general surgery levels start in mid-June, and orientation programs in July for specialty trainees. Program directors acknowledge that year-end scheduling transitions create administrative and patient care problems. Advancing the start of the training year in mid-June for all general surgery levels is a potential solution.

Ankyloglossum superius syndrome: diagnosis and surgical management.

Ankyloglossum superius (or ankyloglossia superior) is a rare congenital craniofacial condition characterized by tongue tip adherence to the hard palate and associated limb abnormalities. There have been few reports of this condition in the literature. We present a patient with ankyloglossum superius syndrome and discuss diagnosis and surgical management.

Extracorporeal bypass preserved composite anterior thigh free flap (periosteo-musculo-fascio-cutaneous) for hemipelvectomy reconstruction: utilizing the periosteal component for abdominal wall fascial reconstruction.

We present a case of a right external hemipelvectomy for chondroblastic osteosarcoma originating from the right ilium and reconstruction with salvage parts; cardiopulmonary bypass preserved anterior thigh free flap. The resection required sacrifice of the right common iliac artery and vein and the entire right gluteus maximus muscle. The first stage of the procedure was a high above-knee amputation on the ipsilateral leg. The amputated extremity was placed on extracorporeal bypass utilizing the common femoral artery and vein. This technique, previously unreported, supported the successful utilization of the anterior thigh free flap for both soft tissue and abdominal wall facial reconstruction.