The effect of ovariectomy on the skin flap viability and myeloperoxidase levels.

OBJECTIVES: Estrogen could affect the rate and quality of wound healing in skin. We aimed to investigate the effects of ovariectomy on skin flap viability and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels in a rat model. BACKGROUND: Estrogens have many important beneficial and protective roles in skin that they improve collagen content and quality, maintain skin thickness and enhance vascularization. It has been shown that estrogen supplementation accelerates cutaneous wound healing in elderly patients. METHODS: Forty-eight cycling female Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 16); ovariectomy (Group 1), sham (Group 2), and control (Group 3). Rats were subjected to bilateral ovariectomy in the Group 1, and only laparotomy in the Group 2. Twenty-one days later in the Group 1 and 2, a dorsal caudally based skin flap elevation was done. In the Group 3, the rats had a dorsal skin flap without any surgical intervention. Ten days later, the flaps were harvested for histopathologic examination and biochemical analyses. RESULTS: The rats in the Group 1 had significantly larger necrotic area and lower flap viability than in the Group 2 and 3 (p<0.05). Histopathologic examination showed that necrotic flap regions contained muscle necrosis with an abundant neutrophil infiltration, and severe edema in the Group 1. The MPO activity in the distal of skin flaps was significantly higher in the Group 1 compared to the Group 2 and 3 (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study shows that ovariectomy has deleterious effects on skin flap viability in a rat model (Tab. 1, Fig. 6, Ref. 44).

Prevalence of the palmaris longus muscle and its relationship with grip and pinch strength: a study in a Turkish pediatric population.

Clinical studies generally reveal a trend of variation in the reported prevalence of the palmaris longus (PL) muscle absence. The aim of this study was to find an answer to the question of whether the congenital absence of tendon would affect hand functions or not. A total of 585 subjects, comprised of 305 males and 280 females, were included in our study. Mean age was 8.9 ± 1.4 standard deviation within a range of 6-11. For both sexes, the groups were divided further into three subgroups including 6-7, 8-9, and 10-11 years of age ranges. The grip strength of each hand and pinch strength of all fingers of each subject were measured separately. The absence of PL tendon in the right hand was 35.4 % in females, 25.9 % in males, and 30.4 % in overall average. The distribution of absence of the palmaris longus muscle between both genders was statistically significant. The p value for the right hand was 0.013. The absence of PL tendon in the left hand was 37.5 % in females, 27.9 % in males, and an overall average of 32.5 %. The p value for the left hand was 0.017. In terms of grip strength, a comparison between females and males did not reveal a significant difference. The pinch strength of the second fingers of both hands did not show any difference in both sexes. Pinch strength of the third finger of the right hand was different only in girls of subgroup 6-7 ages (p = 0.024). In girls, the pinch strength of the fourth finger of the right hand of subgroups 6-7 and 10-11 ages showed difference (p = 0.009 and p = 0.026, respectively). In boys, the fourth finger in subgroup of 8-9 ages showed significant difference in both hands (p = 0.011). The fifth fingers of both hands were found different in males for only subgroup of 8-9 ages (p = 0.001). Pinch strength of the fifth finger of the right hand was different in females for only subgroups of 6-7 and 10-11 ages (p = 0.023 and p = 0.047, respectively). While grip strength of the hand was not affected in the case of absence of the palmaris longus, in both sexes, pinch strength of the fourth and fifth fingers of both hands decreased.

The use of vascularized phalanx for the first metacarpal bone defect in a mutilating hand injury. Case report.

In this case report, the use of middle phalanx of index finger for reconstruction bone defect of the first metacarpal is described. The reasons for this kind of usage and 1-year follow-up of the patient are discussed. During the follow-up, a pseudoarthrosis was observed in the repaired first ray. And this may be considered as a useful complication, when there is stiffness in the carpometacarpal joint. It may be a result of a stiff joint or vice versa.