Multifocal atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumour in an infant-a rare case report.

BACKGROUND: Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumours (AT/RT) are uncommon but aggressive, malignant tumours in the paediatric age group. Presentation of concomitant supratentorial and infratentorial lesions in an infant is extremely rare. We discuss an infant diagnosed with such lesions. Systematic PubMed search was conducted using keywords 'atypical teratoid /rhabdoid tumor', 'paediatric' and 'multifocal'. Reports were included for patients younger than 18 years with two or more lesions. The search yielded additional five cases and were tabulated. Age, sex, location, treatment given and survival/outcome were noted. CASE REPORT: A 10-month-old child presented with complaints of drowsiness and intractable vomiting. Imaging showed multifocal supra- and infratentorial lesions with obstructive hydrocephalus. The child underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt followed by surgical removal of the posterior fossa lesion. Histopathological features were consistent with AT/RT. CONCLUSIONS: Multifocal AT/RT are very rare. The impact of multifocality in the outcome is not known as very few reports are available. Newer targeted therapies may offer insight in improving outcomes in the future.

Non-vascularised corticocancellous (tricortical) iliac bone graft longer than 3 cm for non-union after failed surgical treatment.

PURPOSE: We hypothesised that traditional iliac tricortical bone grafts (no vascularised) still have a reasonable role in promoting satisfactory bony healing in non-union defects of certain sizes. Here, we report the clinical/radiological outcomes through a retrospective case series. METHODS: We screened 74 patients with definitive non-union in the long bones of the upper extremities who visited the outpatient department from 2008 to 2018. Among these patients, 25 who met our inclusion/exclusion criteria were investigated. RESULTS: The mean age was 51.92 years, and there were 12, 9, 1, and 3 lesions of the radius, ulna, clavicle, and humerus, respectively. The tools for primary fixations were plate and intramedullary nails in 24 and 1 patients, respectively. Six patients presented with atrophic non-union. The mean period from a previous surgery was 6.84 months. The mean defective bone sizes were 1.81 and 3.50 cm pre-debridement and post-debridement, respectively. All devices had locking plates longer than the previous plate, and the graft was concurrently fixed by screws in three patients. At a mean of 15.92 weeks after the revision surgery, all patients experienced union. At the final follow-up, the clinical outcomes were satisfactory. No significant differences in clinical outcomes were found according to the lesion, type of non-union, period from the previous surgery, or harvest length of the iliac bone. CONCLUSIONS: If the proper indications and some technical aspects are considered, a non-vascularised iliac bone graft longer than 3 cm could still be a reasonable option for treating diaphyseal non-union of the upper extremities. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, retrospective case series.

Free Fibula Flap for Congenital Pseudarthrosis of the Tibia: Indications and Challenges.

Background: Congenital pseudoarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) is a rare pathological disease associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). It presents with tibial bowing and can progress into a nonhealing fracture. Treatment options include conservative approaches such as serial bracing or various surgical options.Surgically, the aims are to achieve long-term bone union, prevent limb length discrepancies (LLDs), and avoid mechanical axis deviation, soft tissue lesions, nearby joint stiffness, and pathological fracture.The purpose of our study is to highlight our experience with both the conservative approach and the use of vascularized free fibula reconstruction of these deformities, including the challenges encountered with a long-term follow-up until skeletal maturity. Methods: We present a retrospective analysis of a total of nine (9) patients consisting of three (3) girls and six (6) boys. Six (6) children were treated with a vascularized fibula flap, and the other three (3) were treated conservatively. Outcomes measured included fractures, LLD, ankle valgus deformity, donor site morbidity, and number of surgical corrections. Results: All patients had flap survival. Three (3) of six children had a previous failed surgery with intramedullary nail and bone graft prior to performing a vascularized free fibula reconstruction. The follow-up period ranged from 8 months to 200 months. The complications included stress fractures (50%), LLD (66.6%), and ankle valgus (33.3%). During growth phases, these children required multiple corrective surgeries. Conclusions: Fibula free flap is a good treatment option for CPT even in patients with prior surgical failures with variable results.Level of Evidence - Level 4 - Case series Therapeutic Studies-Investigating the Results of Treatment.

Mini anterior interhemispheric approach for A3 segment distal anterior cerebral artery aneurysms.

INTRODUCTION: Aneurysms of the A3 segment of the distal anterior cerebral artery (DACA), in relation to the genu of the corpus callosum, are specific sub-group which pose unique surgical challenges due to their discrete anatomical location. We describe a mini-anterior interhemispheric approach which can be safely utilised to clip these aneurysms rather than the traditional bifrontal approach. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the clinical and radiological data of ruptured DACA-A3 aneurysms operated between 2014 and 2021 at our institute. A curvilinear scalp incision within the hairline followed by raising small, unilateral, free frontal bone flap, avoiding the opening of frontal sinus. Superior sagittal sinus is displaced medially, inter-hemispheric dissection carried out with posterior trajectory and small callosotomy is performed. DACA is skeletonised, proximal control is established, and the A3 aneurysm is dissected and clipped. RESULT: Our cohort of 18 patients had a definite female preponderance (F:M::2:1) with mean age of 55.6 years. On admission three patients were categorized as WFNS Grade I, thirteen in Grade II, and two in Grade III for subarachnoid haemorrhage. All the patients had evidence of blood in the interhemispheric fissure; intraparenchymal haemorrhage was seen in seven, with intraventricular haemorrhage in six patients. Within the A3 segment six aneurysms were infragenu (inferior), eight were at the genu (anterior) and four were supragenu (superior). Two (11.1%) elderly patients succumbed post-surgery following ischemic infarcts and associated complications. At the time of follow-up at 3 months of the remaining sixteen (72.2%) patients, thirteen had a good outcome (mRS 0-3) and three (16.7%) had a poor outcome (mRS > 3). CONCLUSION: The mini anterior interhemispheric is an effective minimally invasive alternative for A3 segments aneurysms and helps to avoid the complications of the conventional bifrontal interhemispheric approach.

A 2-Year Prospective Study of Complication Rates After Cranioplasty: Is 8 Weeks' Interval Associated with Increased Complications?

BACKGROUND: The commonly observed complications after cranioplasty include infections, intracranial hemorrhage, and seizures. The timing of cranioplasty after decompressive craniectomy (DC) is still under debate, with literature available for both early and delayed cranioplasties. The objectives of this study were to note the overall complication rates and more specifically compare complications between 2 different time intervals. METHODS: This was a 24-month, single-center, prospective study. Since timing is the most debated variable, the study cohort was divided into 2 groups (≤8 weeks and >8 weeks). Furthermore, other variables such as age, gender, etiology of DC, neurologic condition, and blood loss were correlated with complications. RESULTS: A total of 104 cases were analyzed. Two thirds were traumatic etiology. The mean and median DC-cranioplasty intervals were 11.3 weeks (range 4-52 weeks) and 9 weeks, respectively. Seven complications (6.7%) were observed in 6 patients. There was no statistical difference observed between any of the variables and complications. CONCLUSIONS: We observed that performing cranioplasty within 8 weeks of the initial DC surgery is safe and noninferior to cranioplasty performed after 8 weeks. Therefore if the general condition of the patient is satisfactory, we are of the opinion that an interval of 6-8 weeks from the primary DC is safe and a reasonable time frame for performing cranioplasty.

Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage in the Young: An Institutional Registry Analysis.

Background: Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) accounts for about 10-15% of all strokes. Generally, it is a disease of the elderly; worldwide, the incidence of SICH in the young is showing an increasing trend, especially in India and the Asian continent. An attempt is also made to analyze the presence of factors, which may predict the risk of SICH among young hypertensives. Methods: A six-year retrospective review of patients aged below 50 years who presented with SICH was included in the study. Patients with bleeds secondary to an identifiable cause such as tumor, trauma, vascular malformations, and coagulopathy-induced bleeds were excluded from the study. The outcome was measured at 90 days using the modified ranking scale, and predictors of outcome (good outcome modified ranking score (mRS): 0-3; poor outcome mRS: 4-6) were analyzed. Results: SICH in the young accounted for 28.4% of all intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients admitted during the study period (344/1210). The mean age of our male-dominant (78.5%) cohort was 42.9 ± 6.24 years, and the median Glasgow coma score (GCS) on presentation was 11 (IQR: 8-14). A prior history of hypertension (HTN) was obtained in 51.2% (176), and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was documented in 237 (68.9%) patients. The basal ganglia was the most common location of the bleed (62.2%). At 90 days, 200 patients (58.1%) had good outcome and 144 (41.9%) had poor outcome with an overall mortality of 75 (21.8%). Independent predictors of poor outcome were poor GCS, larger volume, and high serum creatinine values. Conclusion: The incidence of SICH among the young accounts for nearly 30% of admitted ICH. Poor outcome and mortality are high with HTN being the single most important modifiable risk factor in the cohort.

Is the Systematic Sponge Count an Impediment to Patient Care During Plastic Surgical Procedures?

Nurses and surgeons collaborate to conduct safe surgery. We follow time-consuming and labor-intensive protocols, such as the systematic counting and verifying of surgical sponges. However, the counting process may be distracting from other patient-centered tasks. To understand the perception of plastic surgery professionals about the intraoperative sponge count, we designed an online questionnaire. One hundred plastic surgeons and residents from 32 different countries completed the survey. The results showed that most often (70%) the scrub person determines when sponges will be counted, and 34.3% of the time, a sponge count is incorrect at the first count and then corrected. The main reason for an incorrect sponge count appears to be a change in personnel (53%). Radiological imaging is required during an average of 8.7% of surgeries to rule out a retained sponge in the patient. Notably, missing sponges are most frequently found elsewhere in the operating room. Younger surgeons prefer to pause during the surgical procedure until the sponge count is completed and noted to be correct. This approach appears to be associated with fewer counting errors, a shorter counting time, and a significant reduction in distraction of the whole surgical team. Performing a cavity sweep before beginning wound closure and using large surgical sponges are also suggested as alternatives to counting sponges. A sponge count can become an impediment to patient care because it has limited reliability and causes distraction among the team. A surgical pause can be implemented until the sponge count is completed or until any discrepancy is resolved.

Bridging the Gap - A Traffic Light System to Ease Communication Amongst Surgeons, Hand Therapists and Patients.

Communication in the healthcare setup is essential for patient safety and for seamless delivery of services to the patient. We have adopted a novel way of communication in the form of a colour-coded visual aid in the form of a traffic light system to guide the patients through the course of their treatment. This shows the treatment plan in the form of Red, Amber, Green and Blue. The Red (Stop) denotes complete immobilisation with Splints, Amber (Proceed with caution) denotes active movements only, Green (Go forward) denotes Passive and Active movements and Blue shows when the patient can undergo guided weight bearing and strengthening exercises without a splint. The implementation of this system has created a streamlining of our protocol and improvement in the quality of the care we deliver. Level of Evidence: Level V (Therapeutic).

Analysis of clinical and patient-reported outcomes in post-ELAPE perineal reconstruction with IGAP flap - A 5-year review.

BACKGROUND: Extralevator abdominoperineal excisions (ELAPE) are now the accepted treatment option for low rectal cancers, which result in large perineal defects necessitating reconstruction. The aim of our study was to assess the clinical outcomes as well as the quality-of-life parameters (QOLP) following these reconstructions. METHODS: A series of 27 patients who underwent ELAPE and immediate reconstruction with inferior gluteal artery perforator flaps (IGAP) between December 2013 to December 2018 were retrospectively analysed on patient demographics, disease and treatment, complications, and QOLP. RESULTS: With a mean age of 71.6 years, all patients had low rectal cancers and underwent ELAPE (24 open, 3 lap-assisted) and immediate IGAP flap reconstruction. The follow-up period was 1 year. The overall perineal early minor complication rate was 25.9% and the early major complication rate of 14.8%. QOLP, such as tolerance to sit, perineal pain, perineal aesthetics, showed high patient satisfaction of 77.7%, 40.74%, and 66.6%, respectively at 1 year. The perineal hernia rate was 14.8% with all patients being female (p 0.0407; significant). CONCLUSION: IGAP flaps are a reliable option for reconstructing post-ELAPE defects with good patient satisfaction and outcomes.

Therapeutic Potential of Exosomes Derived from Diabetic Adipose Stem Cells in Cutaneous Wound Healing of db/db Mice.

(1) Background: Diabetes impairs angiogenesis and wound healing. Paracrine secretion from adipose stem cells (ASCs) contains membrane-bound nano-vesicles called exosomes (ASC-Exo) but the functional role and therapeutic potential of diabetic ASC-Exo in wound healing are unknown. This study aims to investigate the in vivo mechanistic basis by which diabetic ASC-Exo enhance cutaneous wound healing in a diabetic mouse model. (2) Methods: Topically applied exosomes could efficiently target and preferentially accumulate in wound tissue, and the cellular origin, ASC or dermal fibroblast (DFb), has no influence on the biodistribution pattern of exosomes. In vivo, full-thickness wounds in diabetic mice were treated either with ASC-Exo, DFb-Exo, or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) topically. ASC-Exo stimulated wound healing by dermal cell proliferation, keratinocyte proliferation, and angiogenesis compared with DFb-Exo and PBS-treated wounds. (3) Results: Diabetic ASC-Exo stimulated resident monocytes/macrophages to secrete more TGF-ß1 and activate the TGF-ß/Smad3 signaling pathway. Fibroblasts activated by TGF-ß1containing exosomes from ASCs initiate the production of TGF-ß1 protein in an autocrine fashion, which leads to more proliferation and activation of fibroblasts. TGF-ß1 is centrally involved in diabetic ASC-Exo mediated cellular crosstalk as an important early response to initiating wound regeneration. (4) Conclusions: The application of diabetic ASC-Exo informs the potential utility of a cell-free therapy in diabetic wound healing.

A case of perianal and gluteal scrofulodefma.

A 47-year-old male presented with multiple perianal and gluteal pus discharging sinuses. On examination, undermined sinus edges, thick and hyperpigmented surrounding skin, sacral tenderness and a lax anal sphincter were noted. Based on clinical, radiological and histopathological evaluations, patient was diagnosed to have sacral tuberculosis with perianal and gluteal scrofuloderma and he was started on anti-tuberculosis treatment.

Isolated splenic hydatidosis.

A 27-year-old female presented with pain in the left hypochondrium for the past six months. An abdominal examination revealed mild splenomegaly. An abdominal ultrasonography showed two cystic lesions at the superior pole of the spleen. Contrast enhanced CT scan abdomen confirmed the USG findings, demonstrating splenomegaly with nonenhancing cystic lesions having internal septations and suspicious daughter cysts within it, strongly suggestive of hydatid cysts. On serological testing, the patient was positive for IgG Antibodies against Eccinococcus. Following Pneumococcal vaccination, splenectomy was performed taking precautions to prevent accidental rupture or spillage of contents into the peritoneum. The postoperative period was uneventful with the patient making a swift recovery. Histopathological examination revealed extensive necrosis within the cysts. In the midst of the necrotic material, hooklets were seen. These features were consistent with a diagnosis of an infected Hydatid cyst. It is of utmost importance that a correct preop diagnosis is made since all precautions must be taken to prevent dissemination or seeding of the surgical field. Death has been reported due to anaphylactic shock resulting from spillage during excision or biopsy. The most important factor in diagnosing splenic hydatid cyst is the awareness of its possibility.

Anterior plagiocephaly in an atypical case of apert syndrome.

Apert syndrome is a congenital craniosynostosis syndrome comprising of bilateral coronal synostosis , symmetric syndactyly of hands and feet and midface hypoplasia. We present an atypical phenotype of this syndrome with right sided unilateral coronal synostosis. However, type I apert hand and other clinical and radiological features suggestthe diagnosis. Genetic analysis revealed an absence of the specific missense mutations in the FGFR 2 gene that is found in patients with this syndrome. We conclude that this patient represented a rare atypical variant of Apert syndrome. Further analysis is required to map the associated genotype.

Perforator plus fasciocutaneous flaps in the reconstruction of post-burn flexion contractures of the knee joint.

BACKGROUND: A post-burn flexion contracture of the knee joint is a disabling condition which interferes with an upright posture and a bipedal locomotion. Islanded perforator flaps have been used to resurface the tissue defect which is produced as a result of the contracture release. Despite their various advantages, they are limited by an increased tendency to undergo venous congestion. Perforator-plus flaps can be used to overcome this limitation, while retaining the merits of the islanded perforator flaps. METHODS: Ninteen patients with post flame burn flexion contractures of the knee joints underwent surgical releases and coverages by various local fasciocutaneous perforator-plus flaps. The patients were followed up for 6 months and the various aspects of the functional and the aesthetic rehabilitations were assessed. RESULTS: All the local fasciocutaneous perforator-plus flaps resurfaced the tissue defect over popliteal fossa with good colour and texture match and maintenance of the contour. None of the flaps had any significant early or delayed complications (which included venous congestions) which necessitated reoperations. All the patients were satisfied with the functional and aesthetic outcomes. CONCLUSION: Local fasciocutaneous perforator-plus flaps can be considered as one of the primary treatment modalities for the surgical release and reconstruction of post burn flexion contractures of the knee.