Comparative study of internal device vs. external device in Le Fort III distraction for syndromic craniosynostosis.

BACKGROUND: Le Fort III distraction for syndromic craniosynostosis is performed using internal or external devices. We compared the results of both devices. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 60 patients with syndromic craniosynostosis treated with Le Fort III distraction (internal or external device) between 2001 and 2021. We verified demographic data, surgery-related data, and complications using medical records. For each of the two devices, we compared the various factors associated with the device to each other. RESULTS: External deviceThirty-two patients with syndromic craniosynostosis were included. The mean age at surgery was 11.7 years, and the mean elongation length was 20.0mm. Class-III occlusion reoccurred in 11 patients and was significantly associated with age at surgery. Seven complications (device problems and others) were noted. Cranial pin slippage was significantly related to the elongation length.Internal deviceTwenty-eight patients with syndromic craniosynostosis were included. The mean age at surgery was 10.4 years, and the mean elongation length was 18.7mm. There were 15 complications, including device problems, zygomatic-maxillary fractures, and infections. Elongation length was significantly related to these complications. Class-III occlusion reoccurred in nine patients and was significantly related to age at surgery. CONCLUSION: This study found that complications are significantly more likely to occur in internal devices than in external devices, especially device infection. Our findings identified several factors that may assist surgeons in selecting between external and internal devices. The relationship between the amount of extension and device-related problems found in this study will be beneficial for solving these problems.

A Case of a Chronic Expanding Hematoma Caused by an Epidermal Cyst.

Chronic expanding hematoma (CEH) is a rare type of hematoma that expands slowly and continuously without compromising coagulation. Its etiology is often unknown. However, we experienced a rare case of CEH, in which an epidermal cyst was thought to be the cause. A 57-year-old man had developed a painless soft-tissue tumor in his left buttock 45 years earlier, which slowly grew to 11 cm in diameter. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging suggested a large cyst containing several masses. Surgery revealed a hematoma and keratin debris surrounded by a white fibrous cyst wall and a fibrous nodule measuring 4 cm in diameter. On histopathological examination of the white fibrous wall, an epidermal component was observed contralateral to the superficial punctum, but the epidermal component was absent from most of the wall, including the fibrous nodule. Based on a pathological examination, the CEH was suggested to have been caused by partial rupturing and inflammation of an epidermal cyst. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports of epidermal cysts causing CEH. In addition, the large fibrous nodule protruding from the CEH cyst wall was considered to be rare. This was considered to be a rare CEH that may have originated from an epidermal cyst.

A Sublatissimus Dorsi Abscess Due to Pasteurella multocida Caused by a Cat Scratch.

We encountered a 51-year-old male patient who was not immunocompromised. Thirteen days before his admission, his right forearm was scratched by his pet cat. Swelling, redness, and purulent discharge appeared at the site, but he did not seek medical attention. He developed a high fever and was hospitalized with a diagnosis of septic shock, respiratory failure, and cellulitis on plain computed tomography. After admission, the swelling on his forearm was relieved with empirical antibiotics, but the symptoms spread from his right axilla to his waist. We suspected necrotizing soft tissue infection and made a trial incision in the lateral chest up to the latissimus dorsi, but were unable to prove it. However, an abscess was later found under the muscle layer. Second incisions were made to allow the abscess to drain. The abscess was relatively serous, and no tissue necrosis was observed. The patient's symptoms improved rapidly. In retrospect, the patient probably already had the axillary abscess on admission. It may have been detected at this point if contrast-enhanced computed tomography had been performed, and early axillary drainage may have accelerated the patient's recovery, which could also have prevented the formation of the latissimus dorsi muscle abscess. In conclusion, the Pasteurella multocida infection on the patient's forearm induced a very unusual presentation and caused an abscess to form under the muscle, unlike necrotizing soft tissue infections. Early contrast-enhanced computed tomography may aid earlier and more appropriate diagnosis and treatment in such cases.

A Case of Multiple Radiation-related Complications during Long-term Follow-up after Sacral Ulcer Surgery.

We report the clinical course of a patient who developed a sacral radiation ulcer 19 years after treatment for cervical cancer. The patient's postoperative course after a free latissimus dorsi muscle flap transfer was favorable, but various late radiation complications, including rectal perforation, a rectal fistula, sacral necrosis, a rectointestinal fistula, and sacroiliac joint osteomyelitis, occurred within 11 years. Plastic surgeons who treat such ulcers need to know that patients may develop other serious radiation-related complications. Being aware of these complications will allow appropriate measures to be taken and aid decisions regarding future surgical strategies. More careful assessment of sacral necrosis and bone resection may have ameliorated some of the complications. When encountering similar patients, we believe that careful magnetic resonance imagery (MRI) and intraoperative evaluation are warranted, as sacral necrosis may be detectable in some patients.

Costal Cartilage Graft to Prevent Drooping after Free Flap Reconstruction of the Lower Lip.

For large lower lip defects, a thin flap combined with a tendon is the standard reconstructive option. However, this method can result in flap ptosis, which occurred in two of our patients. To correct the ptosis, we transplanted costal cartilage into the reconstructed lower lips, which produced good or moderate results. We report our experience based on long-term follow-up. In case 1, reconstruction was performed with a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap. Within 10 years of the first cartilage transplant, two additional surgeries were required due to cartilage/screw breakage. These problems may have been triggered by the bulkiness of the flap and/or the angle at which the cartilage was anchored in place. There have not been any further problems for 3 years. In case 2, reconstruction was performed with a free anterolateral thigh flap. The skin around the flap had poor extensibility, and the patient had marked Class II occlusion. We grafted cartilage without fixing it to the mandible. However, temporary interference with the maxillary dentition was observed. In conclusion, costal cartilage grafts are effective against flap ptosis after free flap reconstruction of the lower lip in patients without Class II occlusion. To achieve long-term stability, the optimal angle and positioning of the cartilage and the extensibility of the skin must be thoroughly investigated before surgery, and a thick piece of cartilage must be firmly fixed in place.

Skin Grafting Using Collagen Fiber Orientation Matching.

Skin contracture after skin grafting is undesirable. It is generally accepted that full-thickness skin grafts contract less than split-thickness skin grafts. However, unexpected secondary skin-graft contracture sometimes occurs after full-thickness skin grafting. We tried to elucidate the causes of skin contracture from the viewpoint of the orientation of collagen fibers to find a way to reduce skin-graft contracture. METHOD: First, we examined the collagen fiber orientation of the skin over the whole body in Sprague-Dawley rats. Next, two pieces of skin (width: 30 mm × 30 mm; thickness: ca. 2 mm) were stripped off a rat for grafting. The pieces were grafted to different sites so that the collagen fibers of the graft and surrounding skin ran parallel or perpendicular to each other. The collagen fiber orientation before and after the skin grafting was determined using Osaki's microwave method, a mechanical method, and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: The rat skin exhibited marked variations in collagen fiber orientation among different sites. The direction of the collagen fiber orientation corresponded to that of minimal mechanical strain. We found that the collagen fiber orientation in skin grafts remained almost unchanged after skin grafting. CONCLUSIONS: Mismatched collagen fiber orientation between grafts and the surrounding skin is considered to be a cause of secondary contracture after skin grafting. We propose that skin grafts that minimize the difference in collagen fiber orientation between the skin graft and the surrounding skin should be selected.

A Ventral Hernia-repair-related Mycobacterium mageritense Mesh Infection Treated with NPWT without Mesh Removal.

Abdominal hernias are often repaired using prosthetic mesh, which is susceptible to infections. Normally, it is necessary to remove the mesh. However, successful mesh salvation with negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has recently been reported. We encountered Mycobacterium(M) mageritense infection after hernia repair using the mesh. M. mageritense is classified as a fast-growing nontuberculous mycobacterium, but few cases have been reported. Nontuberculous mycobacterium can cause rare chronic infections. Skin and soft-tissue infections by nontuberculous mycobacterium involving localized abscess formation and chronic abscesses under various situations have been reported. We report an 85-year-old woman in whom a ventral hernia repair-related M. mageritense mesh infection was treated with NPWT without mesh removal. The hernia was repaired using Bard Ventralex mesh. Pus discharge was seen on the seventh postoperative day, and there was a small area of necrosis under the mesh. From the 13th postoperative day, NPWT was performed for 4 weeks. On the 29th postoperative day, a M. mageritense infection was diagnosed, which was resistant to multiple drugs. After the NPWT, most of the wound showed good granulation tissue formation. In conclusion, the mesh used to repair a hernia became infected with M. mageritense, but NPWT was able to salvage it. In cases of mesh infection involving small necrotic areas, performing NPWT under the guidance of an infectious disease expert may make it possible to preserve the mesh.

A Case of Dissecting Cellulitis which Was Initially Suspected to Be a Trichilemmal Cyst.

We treat infected cysts on a daily basis, but it is difficult to diagnose similar lesions produced by inflammatory conditions that are not primarily caused by bacteria. Dissecting cellulitis of the scalp (DCS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that results in disfiguring, painful, and purulent lesions. It often takes a long time to diagnose. The pathophysiology of DCS remains unclear. Various treatments for DCS have been proposed, depending on the severity of the disease. However, none of these treatments are clearly superior to the others. If DCS spreads to the entire occipital region, aggressive surgical treatment may be beneficial in terms of the patient's quality of life. However, surgical interventions, such as drainage, are not effective at preventing the progression of the disease. Herein, we report the case of a young female patient who developed a cyst in the occipital region. We initially suspected that the lesion was a normal infected trichilemmal cyst. However, DCS was subsequently suspected because the lesion exhibited an unusual course after drainage and debridement. We consider that we made a diagnosis relatively early, but if we had sufficient knowledge about DCS we could have made a diagnosis even earlier by performing debridement sooner. Minocycline was administered for 5 months, which caused the lesion to disappear. After 2 years, no recurrence had been observed.

A case of cryptococcal necrotizing fasciitis and immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in a renal transplantation recipient.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Immunocompromised patients are at high risk of unexpectedly serious infections caused by uncommon bacteria or fungi. We experienced a case of Cryptococcus neoformans-induced necrotizing fasciitis (NF) of the lower extremities. The progress so far has been reported by the urology department [1]. Moreover, after the NF had been treated, the patient developed immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). We report from surgeon's view point. CASE PRESENTATION: A 51-year-old male renal transplant patient complained of pain in both lower extremities (LE). After the initial debridement, periodic acid-Schiff after diastase digestion (D-PAS) staining confirmed the diagnosis. No symptoms were seen in the lungs or cerebrospinal system. The patient was reluctant to undergo surgical treatment but several debridement improved patient's condition. After the LE wound healed, prednisolone was discontinued, then painful nodules appeared on both LE. Based on the negative culture results and the fact that the patient had been treated with flucytosine and fluconazole, we suspected that the nodules had been caused by IRIS. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: It was difficult to diagnose Cryptococcus-induced NF and paradoxical IRIS. Cooperation from other specialists was essential. CONCLUSION: We think this patient needed earlier and more definitive debridement. Fortunately, we were able to save the patient's life and maintain his LE function. In immunocompromised patients, cryptococcus can be a pathogen. In addition, IRIS can occur during treatment. Management of IRIS is the capital point of sepsis management, careful anti-inflammatory drug control by specialists is required.

A radiation ulcer that required partial lung resection and recurred in a small residual area of ectopic calcification.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Surgery for chest radiation ulcers must involve appropriate wide margins, but it is not usually possible to remove all radiation-damaged tissue. Therefore, it is difficult to determine how extensive such surgery should be. There have not been any reports about the recurrence of such ulcers years after surgery. In addition, how ectopic calcification should be treated and the need for partial lung resection in such cases have not been fully elucidated. We report the case of a patient who had a large severe radiation ulcer. CASE PRESENTATION: A 46-year-old patient underwent cancer resection and received postoperative radiotherapy. Seventeen years later, a chest ulcer developed. Computed tomography showed a depression of the lung parenchyma, which exhibited old radiation pneumonitis, and pathological fractures of the ribs around the ulcer. We excised a region of skin that exhibited a clear change in color together with an additional 1 cm around this area including 4 ribs and grossly calcified area. The lung was partially resected because of strong adhesion, and the chest wall was reconstructed. Two small calcifications remained and which required additional surgery several years later. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Since multiple surgeries were required, we consider that more generous resection margins were necessary from the beginning. CONCLUSION: In such cases, it might be necessary to perform more extensive surgery that includes asymptomatic calcified areas.

Successful salvage of an infected breast prothesis by changing from continuous to intermittent suction under continuous irrigation.

INTRODUCTION: Implant-based breast reconstruction is a widely performed procedure. However, prostheses are susceptible to infection and there are currently no established guidelines on treatment. In the present case, a prosthesis was salvaged by changing from continuous irrigation and suction to continuous irrigation and intermittent suction. This case report has been reported in line with the SCARE criteria [1]. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 50-year-old female patient underwent implant-based breast reconstruction following surgery for breast cancer. One month later, the left breast prosthesis was infected with abscesses. Surgical treatment and continuous irrigation were performed as postoperative therapy. However, recurrent infection was detected a few days after surgery. Continuous irrigation was changed to continuous irrigation with intermittent aspiration, which successfully controlled the infection. DISCUSSION: Factors that limit the effectiveness of continuous irrigation and aspiration have not yet been identified. Inflow/discharge shunt routes may be established in continuous aspiration, and, thus, sufficient cleaning may not be possible. On the other hand, the storage of water throughout the wound in intermittent aspiration may facilitate cleaning. CONCLUSION: Intermittent suction worked well in this patient and, thus, warrants further study.

Severe Skin Ulcer on the Hand Caused by Hemodialysis Shunt-related Venous Hypertension That Required a Skin Graft.

In dialysis patients, peripheral venous hypertension-induced hand ulcers are rare. We report a case in which a severe hand ulcer was treated with skin grafting after shunt ligation. The patient was a 60-year-old woman who been undergoing dialysis for 13 years. Twelve years ago, a shunt was created in her right wrist via a side-to-side anastomosis. Swelling and congestion occurred in the right hand, and skin ulcers developed on the dorsal proximal portions of the index, middle, ring, and little fingers. No central vein obstruction was apparent. The right wrist shunt was explored, and the distal vein was ligated. A new shunt was created at the right elbow, but the proximal end of the vein that was used for the wrist shunt had to be used, resulting in complete cephalic vein occlusion from the wrist to the elbow. The swelling extended to the entire forearm. Four weeks after the wrist and elbow shunts were ligated, conservative treatment had resulted in granulation tissue formation in the ulcers. Debridement and full-thickness skin grafting from the abdomen were performed. Overall, skin graft survival was 75%. In conclusion, in this patient, side-to-end anastomosis of the proximal vein might be appropriate for shunt creation. When venous hypertension is suspected, ensuring an appropriate alternative shunt, promptly detecting the cause of the problem, and appropriate treatment are important. Venous hypertension must be completely resolved before surgery for ulcers.

Squamous cell carcinoma developed in a chronic radiation-induced chest wall ulcer that is difficult to undergo thorough preoperative histological examination.

INTRODUCTION: We report a case in which squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) developed in a large chronic radiation-induced thoracic ulcer after flap surgery in areas where preoperative histological examinations are difficult. PRESENTATION OF CASE: The patient was a 75-year-old female. She had undergone resection and radiotherapy for left breast cancer 15 years earlier. Six years ago, the ulcer expanded from the subclavian to xiphoid levels, exposing the lung and pericardium. A histopathological examination, which avoided the lung and pericardium, was performed. Inflammation was diagnosed. We reconstructed the chest wall with a pedicled rectus abdominis flap. Eighteen months later, three verrucous tissue-lined fistulas formed. A histological examination revealed well-differentiated SCC. Six months later, the patient died of massive bleeding from a fistula. DISCUSSION: It is unclear exactly when the SCC occurred. As three fistulas formed at the margins of the flap around the pericardium, we suspect that the cancer developed within or near the pericardial region. We need to reflect on the lack of a thorough biopsy. As no pericardial biopsy was performed, we should have asked a thoracic/cardiac surgeon to conduct a biopsy during the debridement operation. If the tumor had been localized to the pericardium, it could have been removed. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to consider the best method for performing the most thorough histological examination possible, even in areas where histological examinations are difficult, as all ulcers can contain tumors.

Acquired agminated melanocytic nevus in the acral area is a potential mimicker of acral lentiginous melanoma: A three-case series report and published work review.

Agminated nevus refers to a clustered group of melanocytic nevi confined to a localized area of the body. It rarely involves acral skin, but recognition of acquired agminated nevus (AAN) in the acral area is clinically important because it may mimic acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM). However, acral AAN has only been described in a few case reports and its clinical characteristics remain unclear. We report three additional cases of acral AAN to further analyze the differential points between ALM. Clinical images, including those of dermoscopy, of three cases of acral AAN were reviewed. The lesions were located on the sole or lateral border of the foot. All acral AAN were flat and large in size (>20 mm in greatest dimension), and associated with asymmetry and irregular border. However, no parallel ridge pattern suggesting ALM was observed on dermoscopy. In two patients, the lesions on the sole were totally resected; microscopic evaluation of these two lesions confirmed junctional nests of banal melanocytes. AAN lesions on the sole with chronic mechanical pressure are slightly larger and more diffuse; thus, they may be more likely to be overdiagnosed as malignancy upon inspection than those in the non-acral area. Understanding the concept of the disease and careful dermoscopic evaluation leads to an accurate diagnosis.

Function Preservation of the Upper Lip after Tumor Resection Using Residual Orbicularis Oris Muscle and Attached Levator Labii Superioris Alaeque Nasi.

We report a case, function preservation of the upper lip after tumor resection was possible using residual orbicularis oris muscle and attached levator labii superioris alaeque nasi. Patient was 67-year-old male with squamous cell carcinoma at the vermilion border. The tumor was resected with an 8-mm margin, leaving the oral mucosa as intact as possible. To reconstruct the red lip, we used the oral mucosa as a rotational transposition flap. The white lip was reconstructed with a cheek rotation flap. A levator labii superioris alaque nasi muscle flap, which was attached to the remaining orbicularis oris muscle, was used to increase marginal lip volume. The movement of the reconstructed lip was good. At 9 postoperative months, induration of the red lip was palpable, and we suspected that the blood supply to the levator labii superioris alaque nasi was borderline insufficient. Slight drooping of the reconstructed lip occurred. We dissected this was caused by dissection of mid facial muscles from orbicularis oris muscle to ease downward rotation of the cheek flap and obscure the original nasolabial fold. Although some drooping and induration of the lip occurred, the white and red lip were reconstructed in a single-stage procedure, which resulted in good movement and preserved the function of the orbicularis oris muscle.