Gan Muneuchi

Long-term outcome of intralesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide for the treatment of keloid scars in Asian patients.

We studied the long-term outcome of injection of triamcinolone acetonide into keloid scars in Asian patients. Between 1985 and 2003, we treated 109 keloid scars in 94 patients by injecting 1 to 10 mg of triamcinolone acetonide depending on the size of the lesion at four week intervals. There was little morbidity. Thirty-one patients gave up treatment within 10 injections because of pain and lack of immediate improvement. Improvement in subjective symptoms was seen in 52 of the remaining 63 patients (82%). In objective symptoms, fair or better results were seen in 40 of 63 (63%), and good or better results in 25 of 63 (39%). The treatment method required 20–30 injections over three to five years. Although we did not achieve as good results as other authors, we think it was safer because we used a smaller dose of a steroid.

Keloids can be forced into remission with surgical excision and radiation, followed by adjuvant therapy.

We have treated keloids using a combination of surgical excision and postoperative irradiation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the results of our treatment over 12 years. From 1995 until 2006, we treated keloids using the aforementioned treatment. If we identified a sign of recurrence during the follow-up period, we started an intralesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide immediately. We selected 91 keloids for which we had more than 2 years of follow-up data for this study and assessed the results according to our original scale (Kyoto scar scale) based on objective and subjective symptoms. In all, 51 keloids (56.0%) were cured completely by a combination of surgical excision and postoperative irradiation without additional treatment, and finally 81 keloids (89.0%) showed good results with additional treatment. Keloids are a controllable condition when treated with combination therapy, involving surgical excision with postoperative irradiation and early conservative treatment after the detection of recurrence.

The Pnb Classification for Treatment of Fingertip Injuries: The Boundary Between Conservative Treatment and Surgical Treatment

The PNB classification, which was advocated by Evans and Bernadis, separates the injuries into their effects on 3 components of the fingertip: pulp, nail, and bone. Because each component is subdivided into 7 or 8 items, this can describe fingertip injuries more precisely. Between 1997 and 2003, we treated 381 fingertip injuries (279 males, 102 females; average age, 41.2 years) in our facilities. A 3-digit number was provided for each of the 381 cases in accordance with the PNB classification. We extracted patients in whom amputated tissues did not exist, and predicted the boundary between conservative treatment and surgical treatment by individually comparing the curative results of the same type of injuries. In conclusion, PNB 355–366 and PNB 455–466 were most suitable for surgical treatment, and the boundaries between surgical treatment and conservative treatment were PNB 386 and 666 and 700. The results, which are the criteria for surgical treatment, are summarized as follows; 1) More than two thirds of the distal phalanx remains. 2)The nail bed defect ranges from one third to half. If the defect is more or less than the criteria, the surgical treatment is less significant. Recognition of the boundary and prevention from unnecessary surgical treatment leads to minimum invasive surgery for fingertip injuries.

Dissociation of sexual function and sexual bother following autologous sural nerve grafting during radical prostatectomy

Aim:  We prospectively investigated health‐related quality of life (HR‐QOL), including sexual function and sexual bother, in patients who underwent nerve grafting during a radical prostatectomy in comparison with those who underwent a non‐nerve‐sparing radical prostatectomy.

Rhomboid perforator flap for a large skin defect due to lumbosacral meningocele: a simple and reliable modification.

To date, very few studies have reported the use of perforator flaps in newborn infants with an immature vascular system. Therefore, it is not clear whether perforator flaps can be used in newborns, as in adults. In this study, we applied the perforator flap procedure to a newborn infant, who had a large skin defect due to lumbosacral meningocele. We used the rhomboid perforator flap, which was a combination of using a rhomboid flap reported by Ohtsuka et al4 and preserving paraspinal perforator vessels according to Thomas.5 Although perforator vessels were so thin as to necessitate careful dissection and flap design, a good result was obtained by this procedure. We consider that the rhomboid perforator flap is a simple and reliable procedure for the treatment of lumbosacral meningocele.

Usefulness of palatal mucoperiosteal grafts for artificial eye socket contracture.

The authors performed palatal mucoperiosteal grafting for contracture of the artificial eye socket in 4 patients. Mucoperiosteal grafts were collected from the paramedian area of the hard palate. After release of contracture, the grafts were sutured with absorbable thread to the defective areas on the conjunctival side of the artificial eye socket after release of contracture. All patients showed mucoperiosteal graft survival without problems, no recurrence of contracture, and good courses of artificial eye wear. The mucoperiosteal donor areas showed closed healing after 3 to 4 weeks. Palatal mucoperiosteal grafts can be collected en bloc and are relatively rigid, which allows the simultaneous reconstruction of the conjunctival side and supportive tissue of the eyelid. Although the size of graft collection is limited, grafts with adequate size for partial reconstruction can be collected. Mucoperiosteal grafts are a good reconstruction material for contracture of the artificial eye socket.

Obliteration of Empyema Space by Vascularized Anterolateral Thigh Flaps

Closure of the fistula and an appropriate choice of obliterating agents are crucial for the treatment of empyema with bronchopleural fistula. The choice of the material to be used for obliteration of the pleural space is a difficult one in some patients, such as those with empyema, developing after omentectomy, laparotomy, posterolateral thoracotomy, and so forth. The use of free anterolateral thigh flaps for obliteration of the pleural space generally needs a satisfactory vascular network around the thorax. We report two successfully treated cases of empyema with bronchial fistula, which were otherwise difficult to manage, in which a free anterolateral thigh musculocutaneous flap anastomosed to the superior thyroid vessels used to obliterate the pleural space.

Ultrasound elastography to evaluate keloids.

Motoko Naitoh, MD, PhD Shigehiko Suzuki, MD, PhD Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Graduate School of Medicine Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan Sir: U elastographic methods have provided the means for the objective and noninvasive evaluation of the stiffness of organs, such as the liver, breast, and thyroid. For example, liver ultrasound elastography provides information regarding the stage of fibrosis and can help physicians manage patients.1 We herein report our experience using ultrasound elastography to evaluate keloids. The device used in this study was a HITACHI Hivision Avius ultrasound scanner with real-time strain elastography and the L74M linear (5–13 MHz) probe (Hitachi Medical Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). This device calculates the tissue deformation or strain induced by a stress that is applied with slight free hand compression. The extent of the strain of the tissue is related to its stiffness, that is, the value decreases as the tissue becomes harder. The strain elastography provides a qualitative measurement of stiffness that is expressed as the ratio to a control region, such as the normal dermis. A 53-year-old man sustained an immature, elevated keloid with pain and itching on his chest (Fig. 1). The strain ratio defined as the normal dermis/keloid value was 21.0 (Fig. 1B). A 31-year-old woman had a mature flattened keloid after intralesional injection of steroids on her left shoulder and the strain ratio (normal dermis/keloid) was 0.76 (Fig. 2). These results suggest that the strain of the immature elevated keloid had a small value, and the strain ratio defined as the value of the normal dermis/keloid was increased compared to that of the mature flattened keloid. Accurate scar assessment before and after interventional treatments demands a quantitative and noninvasive analysis of the scar properties, but at present, there is no reliable assessment tool for measuring the characteristics of cutaneous scars.2 Although ultrasonography is a technique that can be conveniently used in daily practice and had demonstrated a good basic accuracy and reliability in scar management,2–4 there are no reports that show the

Aluminum foil treatment combined with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) for gangrene of the fingertip caused by collagen disease

Although basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is used for the treatment of various intractable ulcers, there have been no reports of using it for gangrene of the fingertips caused by collagen diseases. We successfully treated gangrene as a result of malignant rheumatoid arthritis with aluminum foil combined with bFGF.

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS) with postaxial polydactyly of the foot: 4-year follow-up until improvement of dysbasia

ABSTRACT  Rubinstein‐Taybi syndrome (RTS), also known as ‘broad thumbs syndrome’ or ‘broad thumb‐hallux syndrome’, is a malformation syndrome characterized by the triad of broad thumbs or first toes, a peculiar facial expression called ‘comical face’ and mental retardation. Although various malformations are combined with the triad, polydactyly is rare. We treated a male patient with RTS complicated by postaxial polydactyly of the foot. His clinical course was different from typical patients with polydactyly, especially in the aspect of walking development. Osteoplasty‐combined surgery, which was ideal for anatomical reconstruction, was performed on the patient at 2 years and 11 months of age. A 4‐year follow‐up period was required until there was an improvement of dysbasia.