An Innovative Primary Repair Technique for Large Cutaneous Defects Post-excision of Complicated Preauricular Sinuses: A Case Report.

Preauricular sinuses are congenital anomalies arising from the incomplete fusion of hillocks of His of the first and second branchial arches. Surgery is warranted when there is recurrent infection or abscess formation. However, the presence of scarring and skin thinning could result in large tissue defects after complete excision. In such cases, meticulous preoperative planning with regard to the reconstruction technique is imperative. We describe the clinical presentation, surgical technique, and postoperative outcomes of such a case in a young toddler, with a focus on the rationale behind the chosen management strategy. By sharing our experience, we aim to contribute to the existing literature on the management of complicated preauricular sinuses and provide insights that may guide clinicians facing similar challenges.

Facial Nerve Palsy Secondary to Parotid Abscess: Report of a Rare Case and Review of the Literature.

A parotid lesion with facial nerve involvement almost always indicates malignancy. Facial nerve palsy as a complication of parotid abscess is extremely rare. The postulated mechanisms include ischaemic neuropathy secondary to the compression of the facial nerve by the parotid swelling, local toxic effect and perineuritis from the inflammatory process. Here, we present our experience in managing a case of facial nerve palsy due to a parotid abscess in an otherwise healthy 44-year-old female. The abscess was drained surgically and the facial nerve function returned to normal at two months. Histopathological examination of the parotid tissue showed no features of malignancy. The severity of facial nerve impairment varied from grade II to total palsy. The mainstay of treatment of a parotid abscess is surgical drainage along with medical therapy including broad-spectrum antibiotics, adequate hydration and sialogogues.

Challenges in Diagnosing Foreign Body Aspiration in Children.

Foreign body aspiration in children is a medical emergency that is associated with significant morbidity and requires medical intervention. The variability of clinical presentations results in delayed diagnosis and treatment. Hence, a high index of clinical suspicion and a thorough examination is needed to expedite the management. We report the case of a toddler girl who aspirated a piece of peanut and was diagnosed as having bronchopneumonia upon presentation with respiratory symptoms for six days. Rigid bronchoscopy was performed and the foreign body was removed successfully without any complications. We aim to highlight the importance of considering the diagnosis of airway foreign body in children with unexplained respiratory distress in our case study.