A unique approach to neurosurgical wound closure with porcine urinary bladder matrix: an illustrative case series.

INTRODUCTION: PUBM is a non-synthetic, completely resorbable xenograft product with a myriad of uses, including management of burns, acute and chronic wounds, soft tissue reinforcement, and hernia repair. The material is available in both powder and sheet forms which allows for excellent coverage of irregularly shaped wounds. CASE REPORT: The authors present 2 challenging neurosurgical wound cases. The first case is a large thoracolumbar wound secondary to a laminectomy complicated by a high output CSF fistula and dermal dehiscence. The second case is a deep postoperative surgical site infection in the setting of a large amount of surgical hardware. Both cases were successfully managed to complete wound healing with PUBM. CONCLUSION: Neurosurgical wounds can be technically challenging and difficult to manage. CSF fistulas lack evidence for standard treatment strategy, making complications and chronic wounds more likely. The application of PUBM in the closure of neurosurgical wounds has not been thoroughly studied and may lead to improved wound closure.

Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency mimicking congenital cytomegalovirus infection on imaging.

Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency is a rare and underdiagnosed disease. It can present with clinical manifestations as early as in utero. Both genetic and metabolic testing are available to determine the presence of the disease. Key to survival is early detection and diagnosis, with dietary treatment to prevent further neurological and structural damage to the brain. We present a newborn who presented with ultrasound brain abnormalities in utero that mimicked cytomegalovirus but was diagnosed with pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency after genetic testing.

Split-thickness skin grafting in the management of cutaneous sequelae of intramuscular pentazocine injections: a novel approach.

INTRODUCTION: Pentazocine, a synthetic opioid with partial agonist and antagonist activity administered by parenteral injection, was used clinically in the 1970s. Dermatologic complications at injection sites were reported soon after its introduction. These complications are thought to be underreported. Many well-documented cases describe the development of fibrosis and calcinosis at the site of parenteral pentazocine injections, but few reports document management or successful treatment of the long-term sequelae of these manifestations. CASE REPORT: The successful use of STSG for the treatment of chronic nonhealing ulcers secondary to pentazocine-induced cutaneous fibrosis in a 78-year-old male is presented. In the early 1970s, he was started on 3-times-daily intramuscular pentazocine injections to treat pain secondary to ulcerative colitis. He injected himself in the proximal thighs and buttocks for a period of approximately 10 years. He gradually developed severe soft tissue calcifications of both buttocks and anterior thighs. In the mid-to-late 1980s, the pentazocine injections were discontinued. The diffuse sclerosis and disfiguring fibrosis remained. CONCLUSIONS: This case underscores the lasting effects of pentazocine-induced cutaneous sclerosis and fibrosis, with cutaneous complications manifesting in this patient even decades after use. It also highlights the novel use of STSG as a treatment strategy for these cutaneous complications.

Hypervitaminosis D without toxicity.

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent and there are an increasing number of reports of vitamin D toxicity, mostly related to the misuse of over-the-counter supplements. We report a case with marked hypervitaminosis D (25(OH)D 196 ng/mL) without clinical or biochemical toxicity and normal serum calcium, phosphorus, and 1,25(OH)2D levels. The decline and normalization of the patient's 25(OH)D and urine calcium after cessation of supplements indicated that these supplements were the likely etiology of her hypervitaminosis D. Over-the-counter medications would benefit from regulation by the Food and Drug Administration to prevent incidental toxicity, as seen in our patient.

Gangrenous appendicitis contained within a Spigelian hernia.

A 66-year-old man with abdominal pain had a 5-year-old mass subsequently identified as a Spigelian hernia. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a strangulated and gangrenous appendix contained within the hernia, necessitating an appendectomy. This case highlights the importance of early identification and exploration of this rare hernia, so that early management can prevent the development of more serious and dangerous symptoms.

Atraumatic spontaneous hemorrhagic cholecystitis.

Hemorrhagic cholecystitis is a rare subtype of acute cholecystitis. It is considered a medical emergency, with a morbidity rate of 32% to 58% and a mortality rate of 15% to 20%. It presents with an acute onset of intense abdominal or back pain that can be mistaken for other conditions such as thoracic aortic dissection. Diagnosis hinges on a high index of suspicion and confirmatory studies, such as computed tomography scan or ultrasound. Specific risk factors identified in the literature include a history of trauma and anticoagulant use. We present an atypical case of spontaneous hemorrhagic cholecystitis with no antecedent risk factors.

Stage IV colorectal cancer presenting after necrotizing soft tissue infection.

Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are highly aggressive and may be lethal if untreated. Polymicrobial infections of the groin and lower limb have been documented secondary to invasive colorectal cancer (CRC). We present a case of CRC diagnosed more than 4 years after the development of NSTI. There are documented cases of NSTIs concomitant with a preexisting CRC. In this case, however, the patient's initial presentation was an NSTI followed by later diagnosis of CRC. A previously treated NSTI that is not healing appropriately may be an early indicator for CRC.