Reconstruction of a long defect of the ulnar artery and nerve with an arterialized neurovenous free flap in a teenager: A case report and literature review.

There is evidence that nerve flaps are superior to nerve grafts for bridging long nerve defects. Moreover, arterialized neurovenous flaps (ANVFs) have multiple potential advantages over traditional nerve flaps in this context. This paper describes a case of reconstruction of a long defect of the ulnar artery and nerve with an arterialized neurovenous free flap and presents a literature review on this subject. A 16-year-old boy sustained a stab wound injury to the medial aspect of the distal third of his right forearm. The patient was initially observed and treated at another institution where the patient was diagnosed with a flexor carpis ulnaris muscle and an ulnar artery section. The artery was ligated and the muscle was sutured. Four months later, the patient was referred to our institution with complaints of ulnar nerve damage, as well as hand pain and cold intolerance. Physical examination and ancillary tests supported the diagnosis of ulnar artery and nerve complete section. Surgery revealed an 8 cm hiatus of the ulnar artery and a 5 cm defect of the ulnar nerve. These gaps were bridged with a flow through ANVF containing the sural nerve and the lesser saphenous vein. The postoperative course was uneventful. Two years postoperatively, the patient had regained normal trophism and M5 strength in all previously paralyzed muscles according to the Medical Research Council Scale. Thermography revealed good perfusion in the right ulnar angiosome. The ANVF may be an expedite, safe and efficient option to reconstruct a long ulnar nerve and artery defect.

Glomus tumor of digital nerve: case report.

Glomus tumors consist of modified perivascular, smooth muscle involved in thermoregulatory activity of digital blood flow. Digits, especially in the subungual region, are often affected. These tumors only rarely arise in peripheral nerves; digital nerve involvement is exceptional. We describe a glomus tumor occurring in the digital nerve at the level of the distal phalanx.

Ulcerating stasis dermatitis of the forearm associated with arteriovenous graft and central vein stenosis.

INTRODUCTION: Stasis dermatitis is a pathologic condition of the skin that most commonly occurs in the lower limb, where it is caused by chronic venous insufficiency. Stasis dermatitis of the upper limb is rare. CASE REPORT: A 45-year-old male, resident in Angola, presented to the emergency department with an ulcer encompassing the entire left forearm. Past medical history comprised arterial hypertension and end stage renal disease treated with hemodialysis. Dialysis access consisted of a left brachial-basilic AV graft obtained 4 years before. The patient also reported that a right internal jugular vein catheter was used previously during the maturation of the left brachial-basilic AV graft. Stenosis of the left brachiocephalic vein was documented at angiography. Angioplasty was performed, with complete resolution of the wound 2 months after admission. CONCLUSION: The differential diagnosis of extensive ulcer of the forearm must include neoplasms, cellulitis, and/or deep tissue infection with secondary ulceration, but it is also important to maintain suspicion for venous stasis syndrome as a rare but possible cause of these lesions.

Stroke-Associated Cortical Deafness: A Systematic Review of Clinical and Radiological Characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is the leading cause of cortical deafness (CD), the most severe form of central hearing impairment. CD remains poorly characterized and perhaps underdiagnosed. We perform a systematic review to describe the clinical and radiological features of stroke-associated CD. METHODS: PubMed and the Web of Science databases were used to identify relevant publications up to 30 June 2021 using the MeSH terms: "deafness" and "stroke", or "hearing loss" and "stroke" or "auditory agnosia" and "stroke". RESULTS: We found 46 cases, caused by bilateral lesions within the central auditory pathway, mostly located within or surrounding the superior temporal lobe gyri and/or the Heschl's gyri (30/81%). In five (13.51%) patients, CD was caused by the subcortical hemispheric and in two (0.05%) in brainstem lesions. Sensorineural hearing loss was universal. Occasionally, a misdiagnosis by peripheral or psychiatric disorders occurred. A few (20%) had clinical improvement, with a regained oral conversation or evolution to pure word deafness (36.6%). A persistent inability of oral communication occurred in 43.3%. A full recovery of conversation was restricted to patients with subcortical lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke-associated CD is rare, severe and results from combinations of cortical and subcortical lesions within the central auditory pathway. The recovery of functional hearing occurs, essentially, when caused by subcortical lesions.

Gender differences in long-term mortality after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in southern Portugal.

INTRODUCTION: the prognosis of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) remains poor. Understanding gender differences can clarify the clinico-epidemiological and process of care related factors that influence SICH prognosis. We analyzed the long-term gender differences of mortality after SICH in Algarve, southern Portugal. PATIENTS AND METHODS: analysis of consecutive community representative of SICH survivors (2009-2015). Logistic regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier method was used to assess gender differences on 1-year mortality and survival. We further analyzed if differences exist between 4 age and gender based subgroups (women <75 years, women ≥75 years, men <75 years, men ≥75 years). RESULTS: a total of 285 survivors were analyzed; majority men (66.3%). Women were 2 years older on average. Overall case fatality was 11.6% [CI: 8.3-15.8]. A non-statistically significant (P = .094) higher case-fatality rate was observed in women; men were more frequently admitted to stroke unit; women had more often poor functional outcome or modified Rankin scale (mRS) ≥3. Predictors of death were: being women with ≥ 75 years, in-hospital pneumonia and hospital discharge mRS ≥3. The likelihood of death was higher in women ≥75 years (OR = 2.91 [1.23-8.1], P = .035) in comparison to women <75 years and men ≥75 years. Women <75 years had the longest survivor time, whereas women ≥75 years the shortest survivor time (P < .001). CONCLUSION: gender and age interact to influence long-term mortality after SICH. Women ≥75 years are at increased risk of death and have reduced survival after SICH in southern Portugal. Further studies are needed to clarify the biological or social factors contributing for the poor prognosis in the very old women in the region.

Poor intensive stroke care is associated with short-term death after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES: The case fatality from spontaneous ICH (SICH) remains high. The quality and intensity of early treatment is one of the determinants of the outcome. We aimed to study the association of early intensive care, using the Intracerebral Hemorrhage-Specific Intensity of Care Quality Metrics (IHSICQM) with the 30-day in-hospital mortality in Algarve, Portugal. PATIENTS AND METHODS: analysis of prospective collected data of 157 consecutive SICH patients (2014-2016). Logistic regression was performed to assess the role of IHSICQM on the 30-day in-hospital mortality controlling for the most common clinical and radiological predictors of death. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was developed to evaluate the prediction accuracy of the IHSICQM score (C-statistics). RESULTS: forty-five (29 %) patients died. The group of deceased patients had lower intensity of care (lower IHSICQM score) and higher proportion of poor prognosis associated factors (pre-ICH functional dependency, intraventricular dissection/glycaemia). On the multivariate analysis, higher IHSICQM was associated with reduction of the odds of death, 0.27 (0.14-0.50) per each increasing point. The ROC curve showed a high discriminating ability of isolated IHSICQM in predicting the 30-day mortality (AUC = 0,95; 95 % CI = [0,86; 0,95]). CONCLUSION: the early intensity of quality of care independently predicts the 30-day in-hospital mortality. Quantification of the intensity of SICH is a valid tool to persuade improvement of SICH care, as well to help comparison of performances within and between hospitals.

Melanoma Marjolin's ulcer in the hand: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Burn scars have the potential to malignant transformation, creating an identity named Marjolin's ulcer. This term refers to any scar in a traumatized skin that degenerates into a skin cancer. The majority of them are derived from burns that were not grafted, appearing several years later. The most frequent type is squamous cell carcinoma with few cases of melanoma described in the literature. This last one accounts for a poor prognosis. CASE PRESENTATION: Female, 74 years old, presents to our department with a malignant melanoma arising from a thermal burn scar in the right thenar eminence 14 years after the initial injury. The lesion was excised and the defect covered by a full thickness skin graft. At 6 months post-operatively there are no signs of locoregional recurrence or systemic dissemination. DISCUSSION: Malignant melanoma arising from a burn scar is extremely rare and the pathogenesis is unknown. Many theories try to explain this low incidence and the factors that contribute to degenerative changes of melanocytes in the affected skin. CONCLUSION: Health professionals must consider this pathology when evaluating a burn scar or a chronic wound, performing a biopsy when suspicion is high. An early diagnosis, a prompt surgical intervention and a greater vigilance are the keys to success and survival.

Fine particulate air pollution and occurrence of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in an area of low air pollution.

OBJECTIVES: The association between short-term ambient particulate matter ≤ 2.5 µm diameter (PM2.5) and spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) occurrence is unclear. We aimed to study the association of ambient PM2.5 with occurrence of SICH in an area of low air pollution in southern Portugal. PATIENTS AND METHODS: PM2.5 levels from the 3 days before the SICH event (Lag 1, 2, 3) was compared with one control period (Lag 15-17) using a case-crossover analysis. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Analysis was stratified by gender, age, functional neurological status, type of SICH, environmental factors (temperature, humidity, time of day and season). RESULTS: Three-hundred and eight patients were included (2010-2015); mean age 70.8 years, 62.8% were males. The mean values (µg/l) of PM2.5 were higher on the case days (Lag1 = 7.76, Lag2 = 7.64, Lag3 = 7.74) compared to control period (Lag14-17 = 6.77). For each 10 µg/l increase, the likelihood of SICH increased 5.7% (95% CI = 1.020-1.095. P = .002). The strength of the association was higher in patients younger than 70 years (OR = 1.064, 95% CI = 1.009-1.122); without prior to SICH neurological disability (OR = 1.061, 95% CI 1.022-1.101); with non-lobar type (OR = 1.054, 95% CI = 1.012-1.099). A circadian and circannual pattern was present with increased strength of the association when SICH occurred in the morning time (OR = 1,067, 95% CI = 1.012-1.125), in the fall (OR = 1.118, 95% CI = 1.031-1.213) and the in the winter (OR = 1.064, 95% CI = 1.002-1.129). The association was also potentiated at lower temperature values. CONCLUSION: Short-term increases of PM2.5 are associated with occurrence of SICH in Algarve, a region of low ambient pollution. Patient and ambient level factors can influence the strength of this association.

A 63-year-old woman presenting with a synovial sarcoma of the hand: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Synovial sarcoma is a high-grade, soft-tissue sarcoma that most frequently is located in the vicinity of joints, tendons or bursae, although it can also be found in extra-articular locations. Most patients with synovial sarcoma of the hand are young and have a poor prognosis, as these tumors are locally aggressive and are associated with a relatively high metastasis rate. According to the literature, local recurrence and/or metastatic disease is found in nearly 80% of patients. Current therapy comprises surgery, systemic and limb perfusion chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. However, the 5-year survival rate is estimated to be only around 27% to 55%. Moreover, most authors agree that synovial sarcoma is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed malignancies of soft tissues because of their slow growing pattern, benign radiographic appearance, ability to change size, and the fact that they may elicit pain similar to that caused by common trauma. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe an unusual case of a large synovial sarcoma of the hand in a 63-year-old Caucasian woman followed for 12 years by a multidisciplinary team. In addition, a literature review of the most pertinent aspects of the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of these patients is presented. CONCLUSION: Awareness of this rare tumor by anyone dealing with hand pathology can hasten diagnosis, and this, in turn, can potentially increase survival. Therefore, a high index of suspicion for this disease should be kept in mind, particularly when evaluating young people, as they are the most commonly affected group.

Hand involvement in Ollier Disease and Maffucci Syndrome: a case series.

Ollier Disease and Maffucci Syndrome are two rare diseases that can cause tumors in several organs, having a special predilection for the hand. However, there have been very few reports in the literature focusing on hand manifestations of these diseases. We report the cases of three female patients: one with Ollier Disease, and two other with Maffucci Syndrome. All patients had hand involvement as their initial primary complaint. The Ollier Disease patient developed chondrosarcomas of two digits and had to have these fingers amputated. One of the Maffucci patients died one year after presentation from a brain glioblastoma. These cases emphasize the importance of early diagnosis of Ollier Disease and Maffucci Syndrome, as these two conditions are associated not only to crippling hand deformity, but also to a significant risk of chondrosarcoma, and other malignant tumors.

Avaliaçäo de qualidade de serviços de saúde mental no unicípio de Niterói - RJ: a satisfaçäo dos usuários como critério avaliador / Quality assurance of outcome mental health services at Niterói, Brazil: The patient satisfaction as a methodological criteria

O presente artigo apresenta os primeiros resultados de uma pesquisa de satisfaçäo dos usuários de serviços de saude mental da rede ambulatorial de Niterói (RJ). Foram entrevistados 209 pacientes em seis serviços ambultoriais públicos de Niterói, utilizando-se um questionário estruturado. O índice de satisfaçäo encontrado foi muito alto (acima de 80 por cento), o que condiz com a literatura internacional. Procuramos discutir alguns elementos metodológicos e de exceuçäo que parecem contribuir para o alto grau de satisfaçäo encontrado