Ravi Kumar Chittoria

Telemedicine for wound management.

The escalating physiological, psychological, social and financial burdens of wounds and wound care on patients, families and society demand the immediate attention of the health care sector. Many forces are affecting the changes in health care provision for patients with chronic wounds, including managed care, the limited number of wound care therapists, an increasingly ageing and disabled population, regulatory and malpractice issues, and compromised care. The physician is also faced with a number of difficult issues when caring for chronic wound patients because their conditions are time consuming and high risk, represent an unprofitable part of care practice and raise issues of liability. Telemedicine enhances communication with the surgical wound care specialist. Digital image for skin lesions is a safe, accurate and cost-effective referral pathway. The two basic modes of telemedicine applications, store and forward (asynchronous transfer) and real-time transmission (synchronous transfer, e.g. video conference), are utilized in the wound care setting. Telemedicine technology in the hands of an experienced physician can streamline management of a problem wound. Although there is always an element of anxiety related to technical change, the evolution of wound care telemedicine technology has demonstrated a predictable maturation process.

Current concepts in the physiology of adult wound healing

Wound healing requires a complex interaction and coordination of different cells and molecules. Any alteration in these highly coordinated events can lead to either delayed or excessive healing. This review provides an overview of adult wound healing physiology. A review of the literature focused on wound healing physiology and current advances in wound healing was conducted using the online MEDLINE/PubMed database. The aim of this review was to inspire further investigation into wound healing physiology that will ultimately translate into improved patient care.

Proposal of a new classification scheme for periocular injuries

Background: Eyelids are important structures and play a role in protecting the globe from trauma, brightness, in maintaining the integrity of tear films and moving the tears towards the lacrimal drainage system and contribute to aesthetic appearance of the face. Ophthalmic trauma is an important cause of morbidity among individuals and has also been responsible for additional cost of healthcare. Periocular trauma involving eyelids and adjacent structures has been found to have increased recently probably due to increased pace of life and increased dependence on machinery. A comprehensive classification of periocular trauma would help in stratifying these injuries as well as study outcomes. Material and Methods: This study was carried out at our institute from June 2015 to Dec 2015. We searched multiple English language databases for existing classification systems for periocular trauma. We designed a system of classification of periocular soft tissue injuries based on clinico-anatomical presentations. This classification was applied prospectively to patients presenting with periocular soft tissue injuries to our department. Results: A comprehensive classification scheme was designed consisting of five types of periocular injuries. A total of 38 eyelid injuries in 34 patients were evaluated in this study. According to the System for Peri-Ocular Trauma (SPOT) classification, Type V injuries were most common. SPOT Type II injuries were more common isolated injuries among all zones. Discussion: Classification systems are necessary in order to provide a framework in which to scientifically study the etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of diseases in an orderly fashion. The SPOT classification has taken into account the periocular soft tissue injuries i.e., upper eyelid, lower eyelid, medial and lateral canthus injuries., based on observed clinico-anatomical patterns of eyelid injuries. Conclusion: The SPOT classification seems to be a reliable system to address eyelid injuries. This classification scheme would guide the ophthalmic and facial reconstructive surgeons to provide optimal outcomes in eyelid injuries. Based on the classification scheme and review of existing literature, an algorithm is presented to facilitate repair and reconstruction.

A Prospective, Randomized, Placebo Controlled, Double Blind Study of Silicone Gel in Prevention of Hypertrophic Scar at Donor Site of Skin Grafting

Background: Hypertrophic scarring at donor site of skin grafting is prevalent among Asians. The effectiveness of silicone gel in scar prevention may influence the surgeons and patients regarding its routine use during the postoperative period. Aims and Objectives: To study the efficacy of silicone gel in prevention of hypertrophic scars at donor site of skin grafting. Design: Prospective randomized placebo controlled double blind study. Setting: The study was conducted in the department of Plastic Surgery, Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India from June 2007 to June 2009. Patients were recruited during follow-up in the OPD. Materials and Methods: The susceptibility to scar development varied among patients; therefore, donor site scars were divided into upper half and lower half. Two types of coded gel prepared by an independent pharmacist were used on either half. Thus, selection and assessment biases and confounders were eliminated. Results: 100 scars in 50 patients were randomized into two arms, 50 control and 50 silicone gel. The median age was 25.5 years and there were 30 men (60%) and 20 women (40%). Thirty-seven patients (74%) had good compliance. The overall incidence of donor site hypertrophic scar was 94% (47 out of 50). At the second month postoperatively, the silicone gel scars were scored lower when compared with the control scars. The differences were statistically significant in all parameters, including pigmentation (P = 0.001), Vascularity (P = 0.010), pliability (P = 0.001), and height (P = 0.010). Conclusion: The effect of silicone gel in prevention of hypertrophic scar development in donor site scars is promising. Success of silicone gel in its prophylactic role will create its routine use in all types of surgery to minimize the formation of hypertrophic scars in the early postoperative period.

An Alternative Method of Breast Implant Insertion

We read the article by Flugstad et al titled “Does Implant Insertion with a Funnel Decrease Capsular Contracture? A Preliminary Report”1 with great interest and would like to congratulate the authors for conducting such an elaborate study on the Keller Funnel (Keller Medical, Inc., Stuart, FL). It is evident from their results that the use of a funnel will help in reducing the capsular contracture rates. However, as the Keller Funnel is not available in our region, we have developed an alternative method of wound retraction for implant insertion. The …

External tissue expansion for difficult wounds using a simple cost effective technique.

Objective: To study and discuss role of external tissue expansion and wound closure (ETEWC) technique using hooks and rubber bands. Materials and Methods: The present study is a retrospective analysis of nine cases of wounds of different aetiology where ETEWC technique was applied using hooks and rubber bands. Results: All the wounds in the study healed completely without split thickness skin graft (SSG) or flap. Conclusion: ETEWC technique using hooks and rubber bands is a cost-effective technique which can be used for wound closure without SSG or flap.

Camphor burns of the palm and non-suicidal self-injury: an uncommonly reported, but socially relevant issue

Camphor is a waxy white sublimating chemical derived from natural as well as synthetic sources and widely used in various communities worldwide for a number of medicinal, culinary, and religious reasons. Camphor is burnt as an offering to God in many religious communities. We report three incidences of self inflicted injury from burning camphor on the palm resulting in full thickness burns. Non-suicidal self-injury is socially unacceptable destruction or alteration of body tissue when there is no suicidal intent or pervasive developmental disorder and we have explored an association between this and burn injury. This report also highlights the unique social and cultural pattern of this burn injury and the importance of psycho-therapeautic help for these victims.

Low level laser as an adjunct therapy for second degree superficial burns

Aim: Second degree superficial burns are painful and heal over a period of two to three weeks time. Multimodality treatment approach is effective in reducing time of healing, pain, rate of complications and overall cost of treatment. Aim of this study is to observe effect of low level laser therapy (LLLT) as an adjunct to conventional therapy for second degree superficial burn. Methods: This article presents a case series of twenty patients in which LLLT was used as an adjunct therapy for target burn areas. Results: Average time taken for complete healing of areas with second degree superficial burns was 11.75 (SD 2.86) days. One patient was healed on day 6; ten patients were healed on day 10, six patients on day 13, and three on day 17. Conclusion: We could not found significant evidence of positive effect of LLLT over rate of wound healing. However its effects are promising and further large multicentric trials are needed to establish its role and standardize its dose parameters.

Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) in Wound Healing

Wound bed preparation plays a major part in wound healing. Low-level lasers were first introduced by Endre Mester in 1983. They are low-power, nonthermal, non-invasive lasers involving red and near-infrared light. It acts by photobiomodulation at the cellular level affecting various biological processes that stimulate and accelerate wound healing, tissue repair and regeneration. LLLT also has an anti-inflammatory, anti-oedema and analgesic effect on tissues. It has a biphasic dose-response relationship, promoting wound healing when given at lower dosimetric parameters while can be harmful or have no effect at higher levels. LLLT is an effective tool as an adjuvant for acute/chronic wounds, non-healing ulcers, musculoskeletal disorders, skin rejuvenation, hair growth and pain management.

Intense pulsed light vs silicone gel sheet in the management of hypertrophic scars: an interventional comparative trial in the Indian population

ABSTRACT Introduction: Hypertrophic scars are abnormal scars that are a source of great functional, psychological and financial burden to the patient. Currently available treatment modalities are either very cumbersome to use or have not provided very satisfactory results. Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy for the management of hypertrophic scars has been recently introduced. However, most of the studies available are from the Western population. In this trial, we aim to study the effect of IPL on the South Indian population with darker skin and compare it with an existing treatment modality (silicone gel sheet). Materials and Methods: This trial was an interventional clinical trial conducted from September 2015 to March 2017 on 28 patients with 65 hypertrophic scars. Each scar was divided into 2 equal parts (4.6 x 1 cm2). One half of the scar was treated to 4 sessions of 29J/cm2 of IPL at 3 weekly intervals. A silicone gel sheet (SGS) was applied over the other half and changed at 3 weekly intervals. The Vancouver scar scale was used to grade both halves of the scar before treatment, at each visit and 3 weeks after treatment completion. Results: Scars treated with IPL showed a significant reduction in the pliability (p=0.002) and hyperpigmentation (p=0.000) as compared to scars treated with SGS. Though the percentage reduction in the height of the scar was more in the IPL group (15.4% as compared to 4.6%in the SGS group), the result was not statistically significant (p<0.065). As most scars in our study showed normal vascularity at the beginning, the percentage reduction in vascularity between both groups was the same (p<0.597). The reduction in the median VSS score was more in the IPL group compared to SGS group (p=0.00). Conclusion: IPL therapy offers a safe and effective means of hypertrophic scar treatment, especially on large scars where other treatment modalities may not be feasible. Minimal side effects that occur can be prevented with proper pre, intra and post procedure cooling.