Knowledge and Attitudes in First Aid Practices for Thermal Burns: a Cross-sectional Study Among Adults in Northern Greece.

Background: Burns are a major cause of morbidity, including prolonged hospitalization, disfigurement, disability, and emotional trauma. Long-term absence from work and high healthcare costs for burn treatment have a significant socio-economic impact. Objective: his study aims to evaluate the level of knowledge for burn management in the adult population of Thrace in Northern Greece and to determine factors associated with a better level of knowledge. Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted οn a random sample of the adult population of Thrace. Data were collected using a structured pre-coded questionnaire, which included subjects' socio-demographic characteristics and the first aid practices for burns. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the effect of subjects' characteristics on their knowledge of burn first aid practices. Results: A total of 711 subjects (49.6% males; mean age, 41.89±16.48 years) were included in the study. The incidence of a previous burn was 55.4%. Only 10.5% of the subjects would apply the optimal practice, consisting of rinsing the burn wound with cool running water for at least 10 minutes, applying only non-adhesive dressing on it and leaving the blisters intact. The optimal practice was independently associated with female gender (aOR=1.86, p=0.016), high education level (aOR=2.00, p=0.023), the presence of >3 children (aOR=2.27, p=0.009) and previous training in first aid (aOR=2.36, p=0.001). A large number of participants reported the application of toothpaste (38%), moisturizer (35.4%), aloe (31.8%) or yogurt (27.7%) to the burn surface. Conclusion: Only a small proportion of the participants were aware of the optimal burn first aid practices, most of them female, of high socioeconomic status. We recommend a more targeted approach in the design of health campaigns in the future, in order to reach vulnerable parts of the population.

The Ageing Foot.

Feet suffer significant stress throughout a lifetime and undergo ageing-associated problems due to gradual tissue degeneration affecting the skin, connective tissue, and nerves. Oxygen supply to the tissues may be diminished. The skin gets dry and calluses, ulcers and fungal infections of the skin and nails are not uncommon. Ligaments and tendons degenerate and, without proper prevention, deformities including claw toes, hammer toes, tendonitis, and bursitis may occur. Skeletal toe deformities such as bunions, bony spurs, and hallux valgus may increase discomfort, while stress fractures may have an adverse impact on the patients' quality of life. The ageing foot pathology may add up to common age-related problems, such as crystal deposition arthropathies, diabetes mellitus, peripheral circulatory disorders, and peripheral edema, increasing morbidity. This review summarizes ageing-related feet problems, focusing on prevention and treatment. Foot health has a paramount role in overall wellbeing, therefore prevention, proper foot care, and prompt diagnosis and management of ageing-related changes are vital for maintaining a healthy, active status.

A Linear Waxy Verrucous Plaque of the Scalp.

Nevus sebaceous of Jadassohn (NSJ) is an inborn, cutaneous hamartoma that is presented as a round-oval, or linear, yellowish-orange hairless plaque with an excess of sebaceous glands, typically localized to the head or neck. NSJ disease progresses slowly in three general stages. Due to its embryological origin, it yields an already documented potential for a variety of epidermal and adnexal tumors. The incidence of secondary neoplasms within NSJ is 10-30%, and the risk of neoplastic transformation increases with age. The majority of neoplasms are benign. Regarding malignant tumors, NSJ is usually associated with basal cell carcinoma. All neoplasms are typically encountered in long-standing lesions. Owing to NSJ's ample variety of associations with neoplasms, its management demands a case-driven tailored treatment. We present the case of a 34-year-old female with NSJ.

Dermal Matrices: Game Changers in Leg and Foot Soft Tissue Reconstruction? A Case Series.

The present article aims to present the use of dermal matrices in severe degloving, avulsion, and necrotizing injuries of the leg and foot in 3 patients. Conventional reconstruction would require the use of free flaps, since exposure of vessels, nerves, joints, and tendons rendered the mere resurfacing with skin grafts insufficient, and extensive cutaneous detachment precluded the use of local fasciocutaneous flaps. All injuries underwent thorough and repeated surgical debridements and wash outs, followed by negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). Once negative tissue cultures were obtained, the extremities were resurfaced with dermal matrix and immediately covered by split thickness skin grafts. NPWT on the grafted area for a week effectively secured the grafts on the recipient area. Complete healing was achieved in all grafted areas within 7 to 12 days. The function of joints and tendons as well as the quality of resurfacing at the weight bearing areas were tested and found satisfactory within a follow-up period of 5 to 15 months. The use of combined NPWT and dermal matrices in carefully selected patients provides a reliable and durable reconstructive option for leg and foot injuries with satisfactory functional outcomes.

Anatomical Variations of the Axillary Arch and Implications in Breast Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Langer's axillary arch (AA), the most common anatomical variant in the axillary area of definite clinical significance. This is an updated review of the reported variations in the structure, highlighting its morphological diversity and its potential in complicating axillary lymph node biopsy, lymphadenectomy, or breast reconstruction. METHODS: A review of the literature concerning the AA published between 1812 and 2020 was performed using the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane medical databases. The frequency, laterality, morphology, origin, lateral attachment points, vascularization, and neurosis of the AA were the parameters retrieved from the collected data. RESULTS: The prevalence of AA ranged from 0.8% to 37.5%. It is more often unilateral, muscular in nature, and extending from the latissimus dorsi to the pectoralis major. It is vascularized by the lateral thoracic vessels or the subscapular artery and innervated by the thoracodorsal nerve. CONCLUSIONS: Langer's AA, when present, may complicate surgical procedures in the area; therefore, every surgeon performing breast or axillary surgery should be aware of this entity and its variations to ensure maximal effectiveness and safety in the management of patients.

Lower Limb Pain Attributed to Bone Marrow Edema Syndrome: A Commonly Ignored Pathology.

Bone marrow edema syndrome (BMES) is a highly uncommon, self-limited syndrome of unclear etiology. The syndrome most commonly affects middle-aged men. Magnetic resonance imaging is essential for the diagnosis because of the characteristic pattern of bone marrow edema. The diagnosis of BMES is a challenge for clinicians. Other causes of lower extremity pain, with poor prognosis, must be excluded. We present three cases of BMES. All three patients initially complained of mild lower extremity pain, which progressively deteriorated and led to a severe limitation of their daily activities. They were all treated conservatively by weight-bearing restriction and symptoms resulted within a few months. The aim of the present study is to outline this rare, benign pathology.

Sentinel lymph node metastasis in primary cutaneous basosquamous carcinoma. A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Basosquamous carcinoma (BSC) is a rare, biologically aggressive tumor. This cross-sectional study aims to define risk factors for subclinical nodal metastasis in primary BSC, and identify the patients who would benefit from routine sentinel node biopsy (SLNB) as part of the initial management. METHODS: A total of 142 patients, with histologically proven BSC without palpable lymph nodes, underwent SLNB after the initial excision. Clinicopathological features and demographics were analyzed between the patients with detected micrometastasis (SLNM) and those with negative SLN. RESULTS: In 7.7% patients, subcapsular and <0.1 mm SLNM were found. The frequency of SLNM was 0.9%, 11.8%, and 80.0% in patients with maximum lesion diameter ≤ 2 cm, 2.1-3.0 cm and >3.0 cm, respectively (P < 0.001) and was strongly associated with perineural (P < 0.001; OR = 26.46, 95% CI = 5.62-124.52) and lymphatic invasion (P < 0.001; OR = 17.35, 95% CI = 4.44-67.91). Within 18-84 months, no recurrence or metastasis were observed in SLNM positive patients. False negative SLNB rate of 15.4% was recorded. CONCLUSION: Cutaneous BSC is associated with early nodal metastatic potential. Tumor size >2 cm, lymphatic and perineural invasion are significant determinants for SLN micrometastasis. In the absence of palpable lymphadenopathy, wide resection and SLNB with long-term follow-up are highly recommended in these patients.

The Efficacy of Versajet™ Hydrosurgery System in Burn Surgery. A Systematic Review.

Prompt debridement of burns and early grafting increase survival rates while reducing morbidity and length of hospitalization. Among the debridement methods, hydrosurgery is gaining popularity during the last decade. This review aims to review all available clinical evidence regarding the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of the hydrosurgical management of burns.This is a systematic review based on a MEDLINE and Scopus databases search of articles in English from 2015 to October 2016. The terms "hydrosurgery," "hydrodebridement," "hydroscalpels," "water jet surgery," and "Versajet" were used in combination and with the terms "acute wound" and "burns." Retrieval of included studies and critical appraisal of data were assessed following the PRISMA structure.There is good but limited evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of the method (level of evidence I-II). No significant differences compared to the conventional surgical debridement are yet documented by currently available literature. There is fair and limited evidence (level III) concerning the cost-effectiveness of the method.Although there is increasing evidence on the safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of hydrosurgery in burns, large-scale prospective randomized control trials with long-term follow-up are necessary to establish the superiority of the method over conventional surgical debridement in terms of selectivity of removed tissues, reduced necessity for dressings and reoperations, healing time, engraftment, and scar quality. All cost-influencing dynamics of this per se expensive modality need to be thoroughly analyzed to resolve its cost-saving potential.

Warfarin-induced skin necrosis.

Warfarin-induced skin necrosis is an infrequent complication occurring in individuals under warfarin treatment who have a thrombophilic history or after administration of large loading doses of warfarin particularly without simultaneous initial use of heparin. A 62-year-old lady developed skin necrosis 4 days after initiating warfarin therapy of 5 mg daily without initial co-administration of heparin. The patient had a normal clotting profile. Skin necrosis progressed to eschar formation after cessation of warfarin and heparinization stopped expanding. Warfarin was reintroduced at 2 mg daily, initially together with low molecular weight heparin. Autolytic debridement of the necrotic tissue was followed by healing of the cutaneous deficit by secondary intention. Prompt diagnosis and discontinuation of warfarin are crucial for the prognosis.

Angiographic embolisation of pelvic ring injuries. Treatment algorithm and review of the literature.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relation between pelvic fracture patterns and the angiographic findings, and to assess the effectiveness of the embolisation. METHODS: This retrospective study, included patients with pelvic fractures and angiographic evaluation. Demographics, Injury Severity Score (ISS), associated injuries, embolisation time, blood units needed, method of treatment and complications were recorded and analysed. Fractures were classified according to the Burgess system. RESULTS: Between 1998 and 2008, 34 patients with pelvic fractures underwent angiographic investigation. Twenty six were males. The mean age was 41 years. Twenty-seven were motor vehicle accidents and seven were falls. There were 11 anterior posterior (APC) fractures, 12 lateral compression (LC), eight vertical shear (VS) patterns and three with combined mechanical injuries. The median ISS was 33.1 (range 5-66). From the 34 who underwent angiography, 29 had positive vascular extravasations. From them, 21 had embolisation alone, two had vascular repair and embolisation, five required vascular repair alone and one patient died while being prepared for embolisation. Five cases were re-embolised. The findings suggested that AP fractures have a higher tendency to bleeding compared with LC fractures. Both had a higher chance of blood loss compared to VS and complex fracture patterns. We reported 57 additional injuries and 65 fractures. The complications were: one non lethal pulmonary embolism, one renal failure, one liver failure, one systemic infection, two deep infections and two psychological disorientations. Seven patients died in hospital. CONCLUSION: Control of pelvic fracture bleeding is based on the multidisciplinary approach mainly related to hospital facilities and medical personnel's awareness. The morphology of the fracture did not have a predictive value of the vascular lesion and the respective bleeding.

Spontaneous rupture of the patellar tendon and the contralateral quadriceps tendon, associated with lupus erythematosus: analysis of the literature.

Bilateral rupture of the patellar tendon is a rare injury. A case of a 67-year-old man with systemic lupus erythematosus under corticosteroid treatment for the last 10 years, who sustained spontaneous rupture of the patellar tendon and the contralateral quadriceps tendon, is herein presented. The patient was operated bilaterally, had an optimal outcome considering his age and the comorbidities, and was followed up for 24 months.

Synergistic action of protease-modulating matrix and autologous growth factors in healing of diabetic foot ulcers. A prospective randomized trial.

This study tests the hypothesis that addition of a protease-modulating matrix enhances the efficacy of autologous growth factors in diabetic ulcers. Fifty-one patients with chronic diabetic foot ulcers were managed as outpatients at the Democritus University Hospital of Alexandroupolis and followed up for 8 weeks. All target ulcers were > or = 2.5 cm in any one dimension and had been previously treated only with moist gauze. Patients were randomly allocated in three groups of 17 patients each: Group A was treated only with the oxidized regenerated cellulose/collagen biomaterial (Promogran, Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ), Group B was treated only with autologous growth factors delivered by Gravitational Platelet Separation System (GPS, Biomet), and Group C was managed by a combination of both. All ulcers were digitally photographed at initiation of the study and then at change of dressings once weekly. Computerized planimetry (Texas Health Science Center ImageTool, Version 3.0) was used to assess ulcer dimensions that were analyzed for homogeneity and significance using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, Version 13.0. Post hoc analysis revealed that there was significantly greater reduction of all three dimensions of the ulcers in Group C compared to Groups A and B (all P<.001). Although reduction of ulcer dimensions was greater in Group A than in Group B, these differences did not reach statistical significance. It is concluded that protease-modulating dressings act synergistically with autologous growth factors and enhance their efficacy in diabetic foot ulcers.

Postoperative analgesic effect of locally infiltrated levobupivacaine in fleur-de-Lys abdominoplasty.

BACKGROUND: This prospective double-blind study compared the analgesic properties of locally infiltrated levobupivacaine with those of ropivacaine in fleur-de-lys abdominoplasty. METHODS: A total of 46 patients subjected to fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty under general anesthesia were included. The patients were randomly assigned to receive local infiltration of the peri-incisional and dissected area with the following solutions: group A (placebo group, n = 15) received 100 ml of saline 0.9%, group B (n = 15) received 50 ml of ropivacaine 0.75% in 50 ml of saline 0.9%, and group C (n = 16) received 60 ml of levobupivacaine 0.25% in 40 ml of saline 0.9%. The anesthetic technique was standardized for all the groups. The patients were asked to assess their pain at rest on a visual analog scale (VAS) at 2 h, 4 h, and 24 h postoperatively. Data were analyzed by mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA), simple ANOVA, and repeated measures ANOVA, followed by Tukey's test. RESULTS: Groups B and C did not differ significantly in their VAS scores at 2 h postoperatively, but group C experienced significantly less pain (p < 0.001) than either the control group or the B group at 4 h and 24 h postoperatively. Group B also registered significantly lower VAS scores (p < 0.001) than the placebo group at 4 h postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that for mini abdominoplasty, adequate analgesia is achieved for at least 4 h postoperatively by local tissue infiltration with either ropivacaine or levobupivacaine. However, in terms of intensity and duration of analgesia, levobupivacaine was found to be more effective than ropivacaine in reducing postoperative pain associated with mini abdominoplasty.