Effective Collaboration in the Surgical Management of Macroglossia in Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome.

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a complex congenital overgrowth disorder necessitating a multidisciplinary approach for effective management. A 5-year-old Saudi girl with BWS received comprehensive care involving various specialists, including a plastic surgeon who performed a keyhole technique tongue reduction to address macroglossia. The intervention resulted in significant improvements in speech and quality of life, with no postoperative complications. Intensive speech therapy further enhanced speech development. This case report emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach and the critical role of the plastic surgeon in managing BWS patients with macroglossia to achieve optimal outcomes.

Lumbar Spine Ganglion Cyst: A Case Report.

Ganglion cysts are typically periarticular soft tissue lesions commonly found in the wrist and forearm, with spinal involvement being rare. We present a clinical case of a 54-year-old female with a ganglion cyst at the L3-L4 level, causing radiculopathy symptoms. Despite initial difficulty in diagnosis due to MRI findings, surgical resection confirmed the extradural mass as a ganglion cyst. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, with immediate relief of radiculopathy symptoms. Challenges included distinguishing between synovial and ganglion cysts and accurately locating the cyst intraoperatively. This case highlights the importance of considering ganglion cysts in the differential diagnosis of spinal lesions and underscores the efficacy of surgical management for symptomatic relief.

Alkaptonuria Diagnosis Following a Discectomy: A Case Report.

Alkaptonuria is a rare genetic disorder characterized by the excessive production of homogentisic acid, leading to the formation and deposition of pigment polymers throughout the body. It is extremely rare, affecting only around one in 100,000 individuals. Despite the normal life expectancy, it can cause severe morbidities. Alkaptonuria is typically managed supportively with pain medication, dietary modifications, and surgical interventions, which are considered to be the gold standard of therapy. Here we present a case of a 33-year-old male with no previous medical or surgical history who presented with severe acute back pain radiating to the left leg. Genetic testing confirmed a homozygous pathogenic variant for alkaptonuria. This case highlights the challenges in diagnosing alkaptonuria, emphasizing the significance of early detection, and clinical evaluation for improved outcomes. Furthermore, it underscores the need to consider alkaptonuria as a multidimensional disease, necessitating further research to enhance our understanding and develop effective management. Therefore, this study serves as an opportunity for future trials and studies aimed at digging deeper into the intricacies of alkaptonuria to increase our understanding and establish comprehensive management plans for affected individuals.

Isolated Congenital Lower Limb Lipoatrophy: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Lipoatrophy and lipodystrophy can often be used interchangeably in the literature. However, there are some key differences. Inflammation plays a preliminary role in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) loss in lipoatrophy, whereas lipodystrophy does not. There are acquired causes of SAT loss such as injurious stimuli (ie, drug injections), panniculitis, or even microtrauma. Moreover, there are congenital causes such as familial partial lipodystrophy, which follows a more localized pathology, and congenital generalized lipodystrophy, which follow a diffuse spread of SAT loss. These etiologies are further subdivided based on the mutations and clinical presentations. We present a case of a 12-year-old girl with unilateral left lower limb SAT loss since birth, without any signs of inflammation. Therefore, a diagnosis of familial partial lipodystrophy was suspected. However, genetic testing appeared unremarkable. The patient is set for conservative therapy until late adolescence for possible fat grafting.

Submental liposuction with VASER complicated with hidradenitis suppurativa in neck area: a case report.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that is characterized by deep-seated painful nodules, classically in the intertriginous skin and apocrine gland-rich areas of the body such as the anogenital, axillary, inframammary and inguinal regions. This is a case of a 35-year-old female, who is known to have gluteal HS, she underwent neck liposuction procedure that was then complicated by anterior neck HS, which is considered as an atypical location. The patient received medical treatment with antibiotics and showed huge improvement. In addition, in patients who do not show response to medical therapy, surgical treatment is usually carried out by incising the area affected and leaving the wound open to be healed by secondary intention or covering it with a skin graft if the area is extensive.

The Effect of Visual Impairment on Postural Stability After Lumbar Spine Fracture: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

The role of vision in maintaining postural stability is crucial, and its loss, whether congenital or acquired, can significantly impact sensory-motor interactions, leading to musculoskeletal abnormalities and defective gait patterns. This case report discusses the complex interplay between visual impairment, post-traumatic kyphosis, and the development of spinal deformity in a 79-year-old blind patient. The patient sustained a simple fall resulting in an L1 compression fracture in 2016. Despite conservative treatment for the fracture, progressive spinal deformity became evident both clinically and radiographically. Further assessments, including evaluation of bone healing, facet arthroplasty, disc degeneration, and canal compromise, were performed. The patient's altered gait and postural abnormalities were indicative of the impact of visual impairment on postural stability. After addressing osteoporosis through endocrinology consultation and medical management, the patient underwent posterior spinal instrumentation and deformity correction, leading to a successful post-operative recovery with a return to baseline functional status. Visual impairment disrupts postural stability by limiting sensory input and prompting compensatory mechanisms, which may increase postural sway and instability. This abnormal gait further contributes to spinal deformities, and the fear of falling can exacerbate postural instability, limiting mobility. Over time, persistent postural imbalance leads to the creation of a state of continual asymmetric stress related to the spinal axis, which can progress to the development of spinal deformities, creating a self-perpetuating cycle.  This case underscores the significance of vision in postural stability and the adverse effects of visual impairment on spinal alignment. The development of spinal deformities in visually impaired individuals, especially in the presence of risk factors like osteoporosis, emphasizes the need for early intervention and postural training to prevent irreversible deformities. Decisions regarding surgical or non-surgical interventions for spinal deformities in visually impaired patients must consider multiple factors, including clinical symptoms, appearance, pain, functional limitations, and social issues. Future research should explore effective interventions for improving postural stability in visually impaired individuals and preventing the development of spinal deformity.

Public Perception of Plastic Surgery in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: The general public perceives plastic surgeons as cosmetic surgeons. This study aimed to assess the general public's awareness of the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A short, anonymous, web-based survey was distributed to the public using SurveyMonkey as a platform. Participants were asked to choose the surgeon for managing 16 case scenarios, 11 of which were commonly managed by plastic surgeons. RESULTS: In total, 2,116 participants completed the survey. The participants correctly chose plastic surgery as the specialty for managing 3 of the 11 listed plastic surgery case scenarios. CONCLUSION: More efforts are needed from plastic surgeons and media to educate the public about the scope of plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Temporal trend of carpal tunnel release surgery: a population-based time series analysis.

BACKGROUND: Carpal tunnel release (CTR) is among the most common hand surgeries, although little is known about its pattern. In this study, we aimed to investigate temporal trends, age and gender variation and current practice patterns in CTR surgeries. METHODS: We conducted a population-based time series analysis among over 13 million residents of Ontario, who underwent operative management for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) from April 1, 1992 to March 31, 2010 using administrative claims data. RESULTS: The primary analysis revealed a fairly stable procedure rate of approximately 10 patients per 10,000 population per year receiving CTRs without any significant, consistent temporal trend (p = 0.94). Secondary analyses revealed different trends in procedure rates according to age. The annual procedure rate among those age >75 years increased from 22 per 10,000 population at the beginning of the study period to over 26 patients per 10,000 population (p<0.01) by the end of the study period. CTR surgical procedures were approximately two-fold more common among females relative to males (64.9% vs. 35.1 respectively; p<0.01). Lastly, CTR procedures are increasingly being conducted in the outpatient setting while procedures in the inpatient setting have been declining steadily - the proportion of procedures performed in the outpatient setting increased from 13% to over 30% by 2010 (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Overall, CTR surgical-procedures are conducted at a rate of approximately 10 patients per 10,000 population annually with significant variation with respect to age and gender. CTR surgical procedures in ambulatory-care facilities may soon outpace procedure rates in the in-hospital setting.