Simple, easy, and still effective treatment option in severe rhinophyma: shave and paste

A 74-year-old man suffering from severe rhinophyma with breathing difficulty and depression seeking for help presented to our clinic. The cauliflower-like mass was full thickness excised and a full thickness skin graft from right inguinal region was applied. An exceptionally treatment and satisfactory cosmetic result was obtained in single stage.

Dressing spray enhances the adhesive strength of surgical dressing tapes

BACKGROUND

The use of surgical adhesive tapes after minor surgical and dermatologic operations is widespread. Their use reduces the wound tension and separation and they ultimately improve the postoperative scar. The most commonly used wound adhesives to enhance the adhesiveness of the surgical tapes, are tincture of benzoin and mastisol.

AIM

The purpose of the present study is to demonstrate the role of adhesive power of dressing spray with the adhesive tape application on the skin, which is widely used in clinics after the skin closure.

METHODS

Fifteen volunteers who were chosen among the medical personnel of the hospital comprised the study group. The skin of the flexor aspect of the 1/3 middle forearm of the subjects was used as the procedure region. The data is collected in the first, second and eighth days of the study. At the first stage of the study, an adhesive wound closure tape was applied to the skin without any compound of adhesives (group A). In the second and third stages, a thin coat of transparent film dressing spray (group B) and an adhesive compound of tincture of benzoin (group C) were applied to the skin before the adhesive tape placement, respectively. Different values of weights ranging between 50-900 gm were hanged by hooking into the center of the adhesive tape. The weights that caused complete separations of the tape from the skin after exactly 20 seconds were recorded in all groups. The data was analyzed by using Friedman test in order to calculate statistical significance between groups A, B and C.

RESULTS

The difference in adhesive power between control and groups B and C was found to be highly significant ( p

CONCLUSION

The results indicated that dressing spray tested has an additional adhesive power besides its well known features and that it can be used as an efficient alternative material among other adhesive compounds.

The fate of transplanted fibrous capsule as an autogenous graft

BACKGROUND

In reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, several autogenous graft materials and biomaterials are available for soft-tissue augmentation, but none has all the properties of the ideal filler material. The common problem is that heterogeneous material is reactive, and the problem for the autogenous grafts is resorption.

METHODS

In this experimental study, the authors examined the transformation that the autogenous graft undergoes in a different location when it is used as a capsule tissue in place of silicone. Whole/diced capsule and fat grafts were evaluated at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months for their volume, weight, and histopathologic and statistical bases.

RESULTS

The capsule graft was observed at month 12 as a dense collagen bulk. When it had decreased by 25.6 percent in volume at the end of the 12-month period, the decrease in weight was found to be 20 percent. The resorption rates in diced capsule grafts were 14 percent of volume and 8.6 percent of weight. The volume-based rate of resorption was even lower (63 percent) for the capsule than for the fat, and the weight-based rate of resorption was even lower (70 percent) for the capsule.

CONCLUSIONS

The low rate of resorption in capsule grafts was attributed to the environmental conditions that triggered the potential cause of resorption, such as inflammation in the localization conditions when it is was carried from the region where it was formed. The results indicate that in the new localization of the capsule tissue that is developed against silicone, it behaves as an autogenous graft that it is resorbed at a lower rate.

Evaluating effects of preservative-containing saline solution on pain perception during botulinum toxin type-a injections at different locations: a prospective, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial

Pain is a side effect of botulinum toxin type-A (BTX-A) injections. The efficiency of the preservative-containing saline solution used as the "dilution solution" for controlling the pain felt during multiple injections in different areas has been investigated by a prospective, randomized, single-blinded, controlled study. A total of 93 patients were divided into three groups for the study. All the patients were given BTX-A. Of these 93 patients, 60 received injections in the upper face, 15 in the neck, and 18 in the axillary regions. The visual analog scale (VAS), a single-dimension pain intensity rating scale, was used to evaluate pain perception. The average VAS values for pain sensation experienced by the groups were 1.2 of 10 points for the upper face area in the experimental group (n = 60) and 4.5 point for the control group. In the neck region (n = 15), the respective scores were 0.6 in the experimental group and 3.9 in the control group. Finally, in the axillary region (n = 18), the respective values were 0.9 and 5.1. The authors conclude that the preservative-containing saline solution significantly decreased pain perception during BTX-A injections (p = 0.000).

Evaluating the Effects of Ice Application on the Pain Felt During Botulinum Toxin Type-A Injections

The pain felt during botulinum toxin type-A injections and the troubled and distressed treatment it induces is common and well known for the patient and the doctor applying the treatment. This problem is further intensified on the patients who have needle phobia. The effect of ice application on the treatment zone before botulinum toxin type-A treatment on the pain felt during injections is investigated. Totally, 24 patients who underwent botulinum toxin type-A treatment in upper face region for esthetic purposes are included in the study. Ice was applied 5 minutes before the injections on the right lateral orbital zones (crow's feet area) of the patients, whereas on their left sides, toxin was injected without applying any ice. All the drugs were diluted by normal saline; 5 U of active botulinum toxin type-A was used in each diziem (0.1 mL). Total injection number was determined both in right and left areas as 8. Visual analog scale (VAS) was used for pain intensity and evaluation. On the side where ice was applied, the treatment was completed in 1 session and lasted shorter when compared with that of the control side. However, the average VAS values defining the pain that the patients felt in their right and left sides were found as 1.1 and 5.9, respectively. The clinical findings obtained indicated that pain is significantly reduced on the side where ice is applied. The statistical significance of the test results were evaluated by Student's t test, and the difference between VAS values was found statistically significant (P = 0.000).

The influence of sildenafil on random skin flap survival in rats: an experimental study

Sildenafil (Viagra), a selective and specific inhibitor of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) phosphodiesterases (PDEs), is currently marketed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Sildenafil is a potent and highly selective PDE-V inhibitor and enhances smooth muscle relaxation in human. Systemic arterial and venous smooth muscle cells contain PDE-V and nitric oxide (NO) which is a major mediator of relaxation of the smooth muscle cell. The aim of the present study is to investigate, in a rat model, the potential effect of sildenafil on survival of random pattern skin flaps. For this purpose, 32 Sprague-Dawley rats were used and a McFarlane-type caudally based skin flap was designed on the dorsum of the rat (2.5 x 8 cm). Rats were divided into four groups: One control (Group D), and three treatment groups (Groups A, B, C). Sildenafil was administered orally to the experiment groups; Group A: 3 mg/kg/single dose a day, Group B: 10 mg/kg/single dose a day and Group C: 10 mg/kg/twice dose a day. The areas of flap necrosis were measured in each group. The extent of viable flap areas were expressed as a percentage of total flap area, and differences were studied by Completely Randomised Experimental design. The areas of necrosis of skin flaps decreased depending on sildenafil dose, but viability of the flaps treated with 3 mg/kg/day was not different than the control group. The flaps receiving 2 x 10 mg/kg/day sildenafil gave the highest (P < 0.01) survival rate. As a conclusion, sildenafil may have a dose dependent effect to increase flap survival in random skin flaps.

The medical use of a nonmedical product: melted tar

The use of hot tar in industry is widespread, and burns caused by this agent remain a problem. Instead of being classified as chemical injuries, these burns compose a unique class of thermal injury because of the difference of mechanisms of injury and the difficulties in removing the agent from the skin. Tar burns usually are occupational in nature and are observed mostly in male patients. This report presents a female burn case that had occurred after she applied hot tar to her skin for the treatment purposes of pain relief.

The prepuce and circumcision: dual application as a graft

Circumcision is probably one of the first plastic surgery operations that has been used for centuries. The aim of this study was to apply the bilamellar tissue (skin and mucosa) obtained from circumcision to various defects and to evaluate the clinical results. During the last 2 years, 19 patients have been operated, and the skin and mucosal grafts were applied individually or simultaneously. The etiology was trauma for the whole series of patients (12 burns and 7 strap injuries). In 15 patients the defect was localized to the hand whereas in 4 patients it was located on the dorsum of the foot. In 10 patients, mucosa and skin graft were applied to the same defect as a single, compact layer. In 9 patients, skin and mucosa were applied separately to multiple defects. Using these methods, comparative evaluation of the consequences of prepuce mucosal and skin graft applications could be made. Four obvious differences were observed: (1) in mucosal grafts, early graft edema that resolves spontaneously after 48 hours; (2) better adaptation of the mucosal grafts to the recipient bed; (3) hyperpigmentation in both graft types, but the skin part was slightly darker than the mucosa; and (4) less secondary contraction was seen in mucosal grafts. The results were evaluated in light of the authors' knowledge of the prepuce as an alternative full-thickness donor site. The relative differences in the dual anatomic structure of mucosa and skin, and the role of circumcision as a medical, cultural, and religious application in some societies are discussed.

EMLA and Ear Surgery: Is It Possible to Achieve Full-Thickness Anesthesia With EMLA?

BACKGROUND

Topical local anesthetic applications offer painless, effective analgesia with slow onset but prolonged duration and minimal side effects. EMLA (Eczacibasi Pharmaceuticals, Istanbul, Turkey) is the most universally used topical local anesthetic.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this prospective, randomized, double-blind study is to evaluate the efficacy of EMLA on total anesthesia of the external ear.

METHODS

Twenty-two patients with helical lesions were divided into two groups. Group A received EMLA on both the anterior and posterior surfaces of the ear, and group B received EMLA on only one side of the ear. After 120 minutes of occlusive dressing, the surgery was performed. The short form of the McGill Pain Questionnaire and a numerical visual analog scale were used to measure overall pain quality and intensity during and at the end of surgery.

RESULTS

Visual analog scale scores (four for group A and six for group B6) between two groups using Student's t-test (p=0210) and concerning McGill Pain Questionnaire scores with Wilcoxon signed ranks test (p=0.058) between two groups showed no statistical significant difference.

CONCLUSION

It seems that EMLA cream is not a good and first option for achieving full anesthesia on the ear because of its poor anesthetic effect. We do not consider EMLA cream to be clinically useful for major surgical attempt on the ear.

A hidden donor site for resurfacing finger tip defects: the 'ring graft'

Skin defects on the finger tip, are commonly treated with skin grafts or flaps. Hidden areas are usually preferred as donor sites. In this study, skin over the dorsal aspect of the base of the injured finger or another finger in the same area is used as a donor site. Since the donor area can be hidden beneath a ring, it was named as the 'ring graft'. The skin elasticity over this area, allows a fairly large graft. This method was performed in defects of 27 patients involving 32 fingers. Donor sites were closed primarily without any tension. Results on follow-ups of the patients were satisfactory concerning colour and texture match of the graft. We recommend the 'ring graft' as a hidden alternative donor site for resurfacing of a finger in selected cases.

Bilateral split latissimus dorsi V-Y flaps for closure of large thoracolumbar meningomyelocele defects

Closure of large meningomyelocele wounds and defects always requires durable and safe coverage of the dural repair. A new technical method for the reconstruction of large thoracolumbar meningomyelocele defects is described in which bilateral musculocutaneous flaps are advanced and transposed medially in a V-Y sliding manner, based on the thoracolumbar perforatiors of the latissimus dorsi. This procedure provides a reliable, well-vascularized soft tissue coverage over the neural repair with minimum donor-site morbidity. Additionally, this method is particularly appropriate to the thoracolumbar area, as it preserves the lateral adjacent regions of the defect, for later alternative and/or reconstructive options.