Multiple Flaps for Trochanteric Pressure Sore Reconstruction: A Case Series

Trochanteric pressure sores can be quite difficult to treat, especially in cases of large bone involvement requiring a wide debridement. The residual wound is large and deep, and the reconstruction must ensure a complete fill of all dead spaces, then must be covered with adequate tissue to allow for healing, and reduce the risk of recurrence.

We report a case series of spinal cord-injured patients affected by a trochanteric pressure sore. The reconstruction was achieved using a combination of muscle and a cutaneous muscle flap from the thigh. The result was complete healing of the wound with no recurrence at 18 months.

In these cases, muscle or musculocutaneous flaps are the better choices because they permit the use of a good volume of viable tissue. In some cases, the flap can be combined to obtain a better result.

"Imola-Montecatone" subtotal colectomy to improve bowel management in spinal cord injury patients. Retrospective analysis in 19 cases

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective single-center study.

OBJECTIVES

Persons with spinal cord injury live with neurogenic bowel dysfunction. Difficulties with management of neurogenic bowel can increase over time with age and time post injury, with a negative impact on autonomy and quality of life. Many conservative treatments are available to improve bowel management; however, in case of failure, a colostomy may be considered.

SETTING

Specialized Care Unit, Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute and General Surgery Division, Imola Hospital, Imola, Italy.

METHODS

From 2016 to 2019, selected patients affected by SCI and bowel dysfunction failing conservative care were treated with subtotal colectomy associated with placement of a bioabsorbable prosthesis, to prevent parastomal hernia. The surgical procedure is presented along with results.

RESULTS

Overall, 19 individuals underwent the described procedure; after 1 year of follow-up, we observed four minor complications: two cases of dehiscence of the abdominal incision, easily treated during hospital stay, and two cases of leakage of mucorrhoea.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate the efficacy of the procedure to improve bowel management in persons with spinal cord injury.

Photodynamic therapy with topical aminolevulinic acid

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a relatively new therapy in dermatology that uses the topical application of a porphyrin derivative to selectively destroy a cutaneous target. The action is implemented by the application of a specific light frequency. The ability of porphyrin to selectively target tumor tissue has been known since the 1960s. In the late 1970s, the underlying mechanism was defined, and Dougherty’s discovery of the first chromophore led to the production and commercialization of Photofrin^®. Many other chromophores that can act as photosensitizers have been studied since then, with aminolevulinic acid currently the most commonly used chromophore in clinical practice. PDT is simple, minimally invasive and can be administered on an outpatient basis. The efficacy of PDT has been proven for actinic keratosis, Bowen’s disease and basal cell carcinoma; another of its well-known applications is the treatment of photoaging. Indications for its use are continuously increasing, and promising results are reported for various skin diseases. In this paper we report the mechanism of action of PDT with aminolevulinic acid, the literature concerning the most common diseases treated with PDT and the subsequent level of evidence.

Aesthetical outcome after breast reconstruction using deep inferior epigastric perforator flap: Personal techniques

BACKGROUND

Now-a-days, deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction is widespread throughout the world. The aesthetical result is very important in breast reconstruction and its improvement is mandatory for plastic surgeons.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The most frequent problems, we have observed in breast reconstruction with DIEP flap are breast asymmetry in terms of volume and shape, the bulkiness of the inferior lateral quadrant of the new breast, the loss of volume of the upper pole and the lack of projection of the inferior pole. We proposed our personal techniques to improve the aesthetical result in DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Our experience consists of more than 220 DIEP flap breast reconstructions.

RESULTS

The methods mentioned for improving the aesthetics of the reconstructed breast reported good results in all cases.

CONCLUSION

The aim of our work is to describe our personal techniques in order to correct the mentioned problems and improve the final aesthetical outcome in DIEP flap breast reconstruction.

VAC therapy for wound management in patients with contraindications to surgical treatment

The treatment of complex wounds often requires multiple surgical debridement and eventually reconstruction with skin grafts or flaps, under local or general anesthesia. When the patient's general conditions contraindicate surgical procedures, topical negative pressure with vacuum assisted closure (VAC)) device can achieve wound healing with reduction of healing time and simpler management. We treated with VAC device four patients with complex wounds and important contraindications to surgery. In all the patients, we used VAC device with common protocol of topical negative pressure. The healing was obtained in a period variable between 18 and 40 days; the results were satisfactory in three cases, one patient developed an aesthetically unpleasant scar. We present our experience to propose VAC when surgical procedures are contraindicated.

VAC therapy for wound management in patients with contraindications to surgical treatment

The treatment of complex wounds often requires multiple surgical debridement and eventually reconstruction with skin grafts or flaps, under local or general anesthesia. When the patient's general conditions contraindicate surgical procedures, topical negative pressure with vacuum assisted closure (VAC)) device can achieve wound healing with reduction of healing time and simpler management. We treated with VAC device four patients with complex wounds and important contraindications to surgery. In all the patients, we used VAC device with common protocol of topical negative pressure. The healing was obtained in a period variable between 18 and 40 days; the results were satisfactory in three cases, one patient developed an aesthetically unpleasant scar. We present our experience to propose VAC when surgical procedures are contraindicated.

Clinical evidences, personal experiences, recent applications

Management of difficult wounds can be a complex, challenging and expensive task, especially for wounds showing a slow healing process. Topical negative pressure (TNP) therapy has greatly improved difficult wounds treatment. It allows to treat patient on an outpatient management, to reduce the complication rate with shorter hospital stay, to avoid frequent dressings with expensive advanced materials and allow a lower commitment of health professionals. Vacuum Assisted Closure^® (VAC^®) system is a therapeutic device based on the administration of a controlled TNP introduced by Morykwas and Argenta in 1997. It is indicated in different kinds of wound, but clinical evidences are present only for few of them. In this work we summarize indications and recommendations for VAC^® therapy and we analyze the actual better choice of treatment based on evidences and personal experience in order to stimulate further studies. Finally we introduce recent applications of VAC^® system such as Prevena^®, VAC Instill^® and VAC Via^®. Prevena^® is a system based on TNP indicated in the management of closed wounds that present risk factors for dehiscence. VAC Instill^® is a system that allows to associate TNP and topical administration of solutions, such as antibiotics or disinfectants, to treat specific type of wounds. VAC Via^® is a device based on TNP, characterized by little dimension and a preset system that allow the treatment of little wounds for 7 d, with no impairment for the patient. The aim of our paper is to describe a report of VAC^® therapy use in order to stimulate further studies and to define the level of evidence of VAC^® therapy.