Split Skin Graft Take in Leg Ulcers: Conventional Dressing Versus Locally Adapted Negative Pressure Dressing.

BACKGROUND: Split-thickness skin grafting is widely used in the management of leg ulcers but is fraught with suboptimal take especially in less than ideal wound beds. The use of negative pressure dressing to prepare wound beds is an established practice. However, its use to improve graft survival is yet to be a common practice. We aim to compare quantitative and qualitative split thickness skin graft take in leg and foot ulcers using either traditional wound dressing or negative pressure dressing methods. METHODS: Sixty-two cases were recruited for the study and assigned into two groups of 31 cases each by convenient sampling method. Group A patients had negative pressure dressings in both phases, whereas group B patients had traditional wound dressing in both phases. The percentage skin graft take for both groups, and the pattern of complications were assessed. Results were analyzed using IBM SPSS statistics for windows (version 21.0; IBM Corp, Armonk, NY). Student t-test was used to compare the percentage graft take, whereas Chi-square was used to compare significance of complications in both dressing methods. RESULTS: The negative pressure dressing showed better skin graft take with mean value of 99.2 ± 0.95% compared with traditional dressing with mean take of 89.7 ± 6.44%, which was statistically significant with a P value of <0.001. The complication rate was 12.9% in the negative pressure dressing group and 96.8% in the traditional wound dressing group, showing about 7.5 times more complication in the traditional wound dressing. This is statistically significant with a P value < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Negative pressure dressing for split-thickness skin graft contributes significantly to improved split-thickness skin graft take with reduced complication rate as compared with conventional wound dressing method.

Experience with the emergency vascular repair of upper limb arterial transection with concurrent acute compartment syndrome: two case reports.

Upper extremity vascular injuries occurring with acute compartment syndrome are very challenging to manage in an emergency context in resource-poor settings. The need to always recognize the likelihood of coexisting compartment syndrome guides surgeons to perform concomitant fasciotomy to ensure a better outcome. We managed three vascular injuries in the upper extremities in two patients with concomitant imminent compartment syndrome observed intraoperatively. The first injury was complete brachial artery disruption following blunt trauma, while the second and third injuries were radial and ulnar artery transection caused by sharp glass cuts. Both patients were treated with vascular repair and fasciotomy. Secondary wound coverage was applied with split-thickness skin grafting, and the outcomes were satisfactory. Concomitant fasciotomy potentially improves the outcomes of vascular repair in emergency vascular surgery and should be considered for all injuries with the potential for acute compartment syndrome.

Anthropometric Predictors of Appropriate-Sized Plastibell for Neonatal Circumcision.

Background: Using anthropometric parameters to determine the appropriate Plastibell size before circumcision ensures that cumbersome carrying of all the sizes before each procedure is eliminated and also complications reduced. Methods: Male neonates who presented for routine circumcision by Plastibell method were recruited. Collected on a proforma were their age in days, weight in Kg, stretched penile length (SPL) in cm, penile diameter (PD) in cm and the Plastibell size used by the "circumciser". The routine circumcision was carried out for each neonate according to protocol. P value was set at <0.05. Results: There were 231 neonates who had Plastibell circumcision. Their mean age, weight, SPL and PD were 15.6(±5.73) days, 3.7(±0.58) Kg, 3.66 (±0.58) cm and 3.79 (±0.64) cm, respectively. Plastibell size 1.3 is the most used (53.6%). There was a positive correlation between weight, SPL, PD, on one hand and Plastibell size , on the other hand with P-values of <0.001, <0.001 and <0.001 respectively. The weight was a weak determinant for Plastibell sizes 1.1 and 1.3: (OR 7.104; 95% CI 1.108 - 45.559; P = .039) and (OR 2.044; 95% CI 1.054 - 3.963; P = .034) respectively. The SPL is also a weak predictor for Plastibell sizes 1.2 and 1.5: (OR 2.176; 95% CI 1.136 -4.136; P = .019) and (OR .043; 95% CI .072 - .984; P = .047), respectively. Conclusion: The anthropometric parameters correlate well with Plastibell sizes. However, they are not effective in predicting the appropriate sized Plastibell for neonatal circumcision.

Wound bed preparation using nonsurgical methods: A prospective comparative study of honey versus unripe papaya (Carica papaya).

Background: The rapidity of wound bed preparation is determined in part by the type of dressing agent employed. The extension phase in which the wound is characterized by the presence of sloughs and eschar and microbial invasion could be managed nonsurgically. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the rapidity of wound bed preparation using unripe papaya versus honey. Materials and Methods: Sixty-four patients were assigned into two equal groups, each dressed, respectively, with unripe papaya or honey. All selected patients were monitored for eschar separation and bacterial clearance time. Data obtained with a pro forma were analyzed with SPSS version 25. Results: Unripe papaya dressing had a mean eschar separation time of 5.53 ± 2.20 days and bacterial clearance time of 6.81 ± 3.64 days compared to the honey group which had an eschar separation time of 30.09 ± 27.90 days and bacterial clearance time of 15.33 ± 13.62 days. P <0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively, in comparing both outcome measures between the two groups. There was a statistically significant difference in both eschar/slough separation time and bacterial clearance time both in favor of the group prepared with unripe papaya. Conclusion: The use of unripe papaya was superior to honey in wound bed preparation with respect to eschar/slough separation, bacterial clearance ultimately resulting in reduced length of hospital stay.

Résumé Contexte: La rapidité de la préparation du lit de la plaie est déterminée en partie par le type de pansement utilisé. La phase d'extension dans laquelle la plaie est caractérisée par la présence de mucosités et d'escarres et par une invasion microbienne pourrait être gérée de manière non chirurgicale. Objectif de l'étude: L'objectif de cette étude était de comparer la rapidité de la préparation du lit de la plaie en utilisant de la papaye non mûre par rapport au miel. Matériels et méthodes: Soixante-quatre patients ont été répartis en deux groupes égaux, chacun habillé respectivement avec de la papaye non mûre ou du miel. Tous les patients sélectionnés ont été suivis pour la séparation de l'escarre et le temps de clairance bactérienne. Les données obtenues à l'aide d'un pro forma ont été analysées à l'aide de la version 25 de SPSS. Résultats: Le pansement à la papaye non mûre Le temps moyen de séparation de l'escarre était de 5,53 ± 2,20 jours et le temps de clairance bactérienne de 6,81 ± 3,64 jours pour le groupe papaye non mûre, contre 30,09 ± 27,90 jours pour le groupe miel et 15,33 ± 13,62 jours pour le temps de clairance bactérienne. P < 0,001 et P < 0,001, respectivement, dans la comparaison des deux mesures de résultats entre les deux groupes. Il y a eu une différence statistiquement significative dans le temps de séparation de l'escarre/du bourbier et dans le temps de clairance bactérienne en faveur du groupe préparé avec de la papaye non mûre. Conclusion: L'utilisation de papaye non mûre était supérieure au miel dans la préparation du lit de la plaie en ce qui concerne la séparation de l'escarre/de la pellicule, la clairance bactérienne et, en fin de compte, la réduction de la durée du séjour à l'hôpital. la durée du séjour à l'hôpital. Mots-clés: Clairance bactérienne, séparation de l'escarre, miel, papaye, lit de la plaie.

Atasoy Flap Reconstruction in the Management of Multiple Fingertip Injuries: A Case Report.

Fingertips are very useful in social expression, exploration, and hand protection. Injuries affecting this part of the hand require a protective functional restoration which in multiple digital involvements requires the use of larger flap options mainly from the abdominal wall and chest wall. The use of the Atasoy flap is mainly for solitary cases. This report aims to show the successful use of the Atasoy flap to reconstruct multiple fingertip injuries. We present a right-handed adolescent male who sustained multiple fingertip injuries to the middle, ring, and little fingers, and extensor zone 1 injury of the thumb of the left hand from a milling machine accident. He had fingertip reconstruction with Atasoy flap on a single theatre session with a satisfactory outcome. Atasoy flaps which afforded the obvious advantage of replacing like with like and avoided additional wounds endeared this option to both the surgeon and the patient.

Wound Bed Preparation Using Unripe Pawpaw in a Resource-poor Environment: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic wounds affect mainly the productive age group in developing countries and stretch the limited healthcare facility. We aimed to establish the efficacy or otherwise of pawpaw dressing in management of common forms of wounds in resource-poor settings using the Nigerian pawpaw in humans. METHODS: This study was a prospective research carried out at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki Nigeria between September 2019 and August 2020 using patients with lower extremity wounds. Thirty patients who had lower extremity wounds that required debridement were enrolled in the study after giving consent. They had wound dressing with unripe pawpaw as an enzymatic debriding agent to evaluate the rapidity of eschar separation and bacterial clearance. The data obtained with a proforma were analyzed using IBM SPSS. RESULTS: There were 16 males and 14 females with an average wound size of 127.13+ 103cm2. Eschar separation occurred earliest after 3 d of dressing and the latest after 14 d with a mean period of 5.5+ 2.255 days. A case had negative bacterial culture on the first test. Others had a variable period of clearance with a maximum of 18 d and a mean of 6.73+3.750 days. Both eschar separation and bacterial clearance correlated positively with the wound size. CONCLUSION: Wound bed preparation with unripe pawpaw dressing showed promising outcomes with rapid eschar and slough separation, and bacterial clearance resulting in a faster wound healing. This is recommended for wounds needing debridement in which the patients are not fit for anesthesia or could not afford the cost of surgery.

Anesthesia for inguinal hernia repair: Experience with a tertiary hospital-based surgical outreach in a developing world.

Background: The dearth of adequate facilities and anesthetists limits the number and extent of surgical cases that can be attended to in surgical outreach programs. Inguinal hernia remains a common health burden in the developing world. Tertiary hospitals provide good anesthetic complements to safe surgeries and will be a veritable tool in surgical outreaches. Objectives: The objective of the study is to assess the types/techniques of anesthesia used in uncomplicated open inguinal hernia repair in a tertiary hospital-based surgical outreach program. Materials and Methods: This study was a prospective analysis of anesthetic techniques used in all uncomplicated inguinal hernia repairs performed in outreach program over 1 week in May 2018. Data were collected with a pro forma, analyzed with SPSS, and presented in tables and figures. Results: One hundred and ninety-five patients with uncomplicated inguinal hernias were recruited for the study. The patients' age ranged from 0 to 89 years, with a mean age of 33.62 ± 22.75 years. Most cases occurred in children. The male-to-female ratio was 7:1, and the majority were primary hernia repairs. Eighty-seven (44.6%) patients had local anesthesia (LA), 65 (33.3%) had general anesthesia (GA), while 43 (22.1%) had spinal anesthesia (SA). One hundred and sixty-two (83.1%) patients needed intraoperative analgesic augmentation. One hundred and sixty-nine (86.7%) patients were operated as day-case surgeries, while 26 (13.3%) patients were discharged the day after surgery. The failure rate of LA and SA put together was 74.6%, but there was no conversion to GA. Anesthetic complication was observed in 3.4% of cases. Conclusion: Organizing inguinal hernia repair outreach in a tertiary hospital offers the benefit of a full complement of anesthesia, which ensures safe and smooth surgery with low anesthetic complications. Most cases were done as daycare surgeries despite the high failure rate of LA and SA. Contexte: Le manque d'installations adéquates et d'anesthésistes limite le nombre et l'étendue des cas chirurgicaux qui peuvent être traités dans les programmes de proximité chirurgicale. La hernie inguinale reste un fardeau de santé courant dans les pays en développement. Les hôpitaux tertiaires fournissent de bons compléments anesthésiques aux chirurgies sûres et seront un véritable outil dans les interventions chirurgicales. Objectifs: Évaluer les types / techniques d'anesthésie utilisés dans la réparation de hernie inguinale ouverte non compliquée dans un programme de proximité chirurgicale en milieu hospitalier tertiaire. Méthode: Une analyse prospective des techniques d'anesthésie utilisées dans toutes les réparations de hernie inguinale non compliquées effectuées dans le cadre d'un programme de sensibilisation sur une semaine en mai 2018. Les données ont été recueillies à l'aide d'un formulaire, analysées avec SPSS et présentées sous forme de tableaux et de figures. Résultats: Cent quatre-vingt-quinze patients atteints de hernies inguinales non compliquées ont été recrutés pour l'étude. L'âge des patients variait de 0 à 89 ans avec un âge moyen de 33,62 + 22,75 ans. La plupart des cas sont survenus chez des enfants. Le ratio homme / femme était de 7: 1 et la majorité était des réparations primaires de hernie. Quatre-vingt-sept (44,6%) des patients ont eu une anesthésie locale (LA), 65 (33,3%) une anesthésie générale (AG), tandis que 43 (22,1%) une anesthésie rachidienne (SA). Cent soixante-deux (83,1%) patients ont eu besoin d'une augmentation analgésique peropératoire. Cent soixante-neuf (86,7%) patients ont été opérés en garderie tandis que 26 (13,3%) patients ont obtenu leur congé le lendemain de la chirurgie. Le taux d'échec de LA et SA réunis était de 74,6%, mais il n'y a pas eu de conversion en GA. Une complication anesthésique a été observée dans 3,4% des cas. Conclusion: l'organisation de soins de proximité pour la réparation de la hernie inguinale dans un hôpital tertiaire offre l'avantage d'un complément complet d'anesthésie qui garantit une chirurgie sûre et en douceur avec de faibles complications anesthésiques. La plupart des cas ont été pratiqués en garderie malgré le taux d'échec élevé de l'anesthésie locale et rachidienne. Mots-clés: Réparation de hernie inguinale, chirurgie de jour, anesthésie générale, anesthésie locale, anesthésie rachidienne.

Feeding behavior among health-care workers in a tertiary health institution Southeast Nigeria.

Background: Feeding behavior is an important factor in the prevention and management of noncommunicable diseases, which are the leading cause of death globally. Objective: This study is aimed to investigate the feeding behaviors among health-care workers in a tertiary hospital in southeast Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study was a cross-sectional survey. A total of 418 participants (186 males and 232 females) were involved in the study. The instrument is a sociodemographic questionnaire and a modified form of the British Heart Foundation's questions to assess the nutritional value of individuals. The participants were consecutively recruited from their workstations. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires, which were hand distributed and collected back on the same day after completion. Results: The study showed that health workers in the teaching hospital had an overall "fair" feeding behavior (86.13 ± 8.52 out of 140). It also showed that females had a significant (P < 0.05) overall better feeding behavior (88.15 ± 9.00) compared to males (83.62 ± 7.18). The studied participants had poor feeding behavior in carbohydrates and fats and oil consumption and just fair behavior in fruits and vegetables, salt intake, and water consumption. The feeding behavior was inadequate, and there was no significant gender or profession-related differences in the overall behavior of the participants. Conclusion: The health-care workers in the tertiary health institution in southeast Nigeria have inadequate feeding behavior. They should join in the global call and awareness on healthy feeding behavior to prevent and reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases.

RésuméContexte: Le comportement alimentaire est un facteur important dans la prévention et la gestion des maladies non transmissibles, qui sont les cause de décès dans le monde. Objectif: Cette étude vise à étudier les comportements alimentaires des agents de santé dans un hôpital tertiaire de au sud-est du Nigéria. Matériel et méthodes: L'étude était une enquête transversale. Un total de 418 participants (186 hommes et 232 femmes) ont été impliqués dans l'étude. L'instrument est un questionnaire sociodémographique et une forme modifiée des questions de la British Heart Foundation évaluer la valeur nutritionnelle des individus. Les participants ont été recrutés consécutivement à partir de leurs postes de travail. Les données ont été collectées en utilisant des questionnaires auto-administrés, qui ont été distribués à la main et récupérés le même jour après avoir été remplis. Résultats: l'étude a montré que les agents de santé de l'hôpital universitaire avaient globalement un comportement alimentaire "équitable" (86,13 ± 8,52 sur 140). Il a également montré que les femmes avaient un un meilleur comportement alimentaire global (P <0,05) (88,15 ± 9,00) par rapport aux mâles (83,62 ± 7,18). Les participants étudiés avaient une mauvaise alimentation comportement dans les glucides et les graisses et la consommation d'huile et juste comportement équitable dans les fruits et légumes, la consommation de sel et la consommation d'eau. Le comportement alimentaire était inadéquat et il n'y avait pas de différences significatives liées au sexe ou à la profession dans le comportement général des participants. Conclusion: Les agents de santé de l'institution de santé tertiaire du sud-est du Nigéria ont un comportement alimentaire inadéquat. Ils devraient se joindre à l'appel mondial et à la sensibilisation sur les comportements alimentaires sains pour prévenir et réduire le fardeau des maladies non transmissibles.

Breast necrotizing fasciitis following stillbirth managed with nipple areola conservation in a resource-poor setting: a case report.

Breast necrotizing fasciitis is a rare condition that has a tendency to rapidly progress with untoward morbidity and potential mortality. Its rarity often results to misdiagnosis and the fulminant course of the disease. We wish to present a case managed with nipple areola conservation following early intervention. We report a 28-year-old woman managed for unilateral right breast necrotizing fasciitis following stillbirth and resultant breast congestion in a background hypoalbuminemia. Early intervention ensured nipple-areola salvage. Wound was covered with split-thickness skin grafting. Early aggressive intervention in necrotizing fasciitis of the breast in a post-stillbirth lady with congestion contributed to preservation of nipple areola complex with eventual satisfactory management using split-thickness skin grafting.

Comparing hospital stay and patient satisfaction in a resource poor setting using conventional and locally adapted negative pressure wound dressing methods in management of leg ulcers with split skin grafts: a comparative prospective study.

INTRODUCTION: chronic leg ulcers cause a prolonged hospital stay with devastating effects on the patients. Several modifiable factors are taken care of to reduce the duration of stay. A further measure to hasten wound bed preparation pre-grafting and to hasten graft healing post-grafting is with negative pressure dressing. METHODS: sixty-two patients were placed in two groups of 31 cases each. The wound beds were prepared with negative pressure apparatus locally adapted with suction machine for group A and with conventional gauze dressing using 5% povidone iodine soaks for group B. Grafted wound was also dressed similarly for the respective groups. Grafts were inspected on the 5th post-operative day and were determined with planimeter grid. Grafts were monitored until completely healed and patients were discharged. Satisfaction and length of stay were determined at discharge. RESULTS: the mean hospital stay pre-grafting and post-grafting were 12.2 (±8.64) days and 13.6 (±2.03) days respectively for the negative pressure dressing and 28.8 (±30.9) days and 21.8 (±21.97) days respectively for the traditional dressing group. These differences with p values of 0.038 for the pre-grafting stay and 0.006 for the post-grafting stay were statistically significant. The patients managed with negative pressure dressing also recorded greater satisfaction with the process and the outcome. CONCLUSION: negative pressure dressing contributes significantly to reducing the length of hospital stay in chronic leg ulcers both in wound bed preparation and in graft healing resulting to better patient satisfaction than in patients treated with conventional gauze dressing and 5% povidone iodine soaks.

Abdominoplasty for male truncal obesity: case report.

Truncal obesity and its associated health risk is an enormous burden. The traditional surgical treatment modality is liposuction or lipoabdominoplasty. An uncommon mode of the treatment is the use of abdominoplasty alone or as a surgical component. The aim of this report is to show a satisfactory outcome of abdominoplasty as the only surgical component in the management of severe truncal obesity in elderly male patient. We report a 75 year old Nigerian trader who had truncal obesity with gross abdominal asymmetry and cardiovascular and diabetes mellitus co-morbidities as well as bilateral knee osteoarthritis and social isolation due to truncal disfigurement. He was offered abdominoplasty as a sole surgical option for correction of anterior abdominal wall asymmetry. Apart from post operative wound complications and blood transfusion reactions, the patient had a good recovery and improved quality of life. Abdominoplasty is a rewarding treatment when used as a sole surgical option in centrally obese patients with anterior abdominal wall asymmetry and significant subcutaneous fat thickness.