Art, craft and science of limb amputation Part 2. Сraft of amputation: from Ambroise Pare to Pierre Dionis (late XVI century – early XVIII century)

Since the XVI century until the beginning of the XVII century an operation of limb amputation has undergone changes and improvements that have affected all its aspects: preparation for carrying out, the technique of performing and postoperative treatment of patients. The invention of the ligature (1552) and the tourniquet (1674) became revolutionary. Wet and dry gangrene, extensive trauma to soft tissues and bones, traumatic limb amputation and osteomyelitis were considered of indications for amputation. The deontological and legal framework for amputation was developed, including the patient’s consent to the operation and the awareness of relatives about its outcomes. The article presents an instrumental and dressing apparatus of the XVII century for the operation; medicines used for general and local treatment of the patient before and after truncation of the stump; sedation and pain relief issues; technique of circular and one soft tissue flap (1679) amputation; the choice of tissue dissection level; methods of stopping bleeding (astringents, pressure bandage, cauterization, ligation and stitching of blood vessels); a method of stitching a stump wound, applying a bandage on it and strengthening it; postoperative management (regimen and diet, dressing change, staged wound treatment, complications); the phenomenon and causes of “phantom limbs”.

Congenital Curved Nail of the Fourth Toe with Subungual Hyperkeratosis

Congenital curved nail of the fourth toe (CNFT) is a rare nail deformity. We report a case of CNFT with thickening and hyperkeratosis at the hyponychium and peripheral nail bed that was successfully treated using a novel surgical technique. A 7-year-old Japanese boy had a clawed nail with thickening and hyperkeratosis at the hyponychium and peripheral nail bed on his bilateral fourth toes. His chief complaint was pain. The nails of the bilateral fourth toes curved plantarly and exhibited thickening and hyperkeratosis of the hyponychium and peripheral nail bed. A surgical approach was planned to improve the condition. The distal phalanges that deviated and formed a point toward the nail bed were partially shaved, and a soft tissue flap was created in the finger pad and shifted to cover the distal phalanges. The dorsal side of the distal phalanges was covered by the nail bed flap. Recurrence has not been observed for 3 years after surgery. There is limited evidence supporting surgical approaches for CNFT. This approach may be an effective treatment option for CNFT with thickening of the nail bed.

Efficacy of L-Ascorbic acid in the healing of extraction site after trans alveolar extraction of third molar teeth

Wound healing monitoring after every surgery is the most vital concern to deal with. The surgical removal of the teeth involves guttering of overlying bone, splitting the tooth (odontectomy), delivery of the tooth, irrigation of the socket, achieving haemostasis and closure of the soft tissue flap. This leads to big surgical insults resulting in post-operative inflammatory response like pain and swelling, difficulty in mouth opening, fever, etc. In some cases, other rare complications, including infection, nerve damage, have also been reported. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of submucosal injection of vitamin c (L-Ascorbic Acid) in wound healing after trans alveolar extraction of teeth. Thirty patients requiring trans alveolar extraction of teeth were included in this study. Patients were divided into two groups, Group S (Vit c) and Group B (Control). Healing of extraction socket was observed on 3rd and 7th post-operative days. The study group (Vitamin C) had better healing indices than the controls at 7th post-op day. There was no significant difference in 3rd post-op day. There was no significant reduction in pain on 3rd and 7th post-operative days. L-Ascorbic acid injection provides satisfactory post-operative healing following trans alveolar extraction of teeth. But it does not decrease the post-operative pain following surgery.

Riedel’s Procedure: A Modification to Obliterate Step Defect

Sinus surgery was first introduced by the ancient Egyptians. In 1750 was the first modern description of frontal sinus surgery. In 1898, Riedel advocated complete removal of the anterior table and floor of the frontal sinus while simultaneously stripping the mucosa. The major postoperative issue involved gross forehead deformity. We aim to provide a modification to reduce the postoperative “step” defect. Riedel’s procedure is an effective way of managing frontal sinus disease when endoscopic surgery has repetitively failed. Use of a pedicled pericranial/galeal soft tissue flap can effectively reduce cosmetic deformity postoperatively.

Posterior “Open Book” approach for type 1 internal hemipelvectomy

Introduction: Internal limb-sparing hemipelvectomy is currently the preferred surgical option for resection of pelvic tumours. Obtaining an acceptable functional outcome through the standard ilioinguinal or iliofemoral incisions, only compounds the already challenging dissection, resection and reconstruction of these extensive en-bloc extirpative oncologic operations. Surgical technique: We describe a novel surgical approach to the lateral pelvis that minimises injury to the gluteal muscles, spares the gluteal vessels and provides a broad yet shallow operative field conducive to microsurgery with sizeable vasculature in close proximity to facilitate any microsurgical reconstruction. Access to the ilium and sacrum for Enneking Type 1 and Type 4 resections respectively is obtained by reflecting a skin and soft tissue flap anteriorly while the gluteal muscles are reflected posteriorly and inferiorly. This technique minimises the amount of tissue reflected in any particular direction, therefore, providing a broad and shallow operative field which benefits the orthopaedic oncologic surgeon and the plastic reconstructive surgeon. Conclusion: The “posterior open-book” approach offers a promising alternative to the standard ilioinguinal or iliofemoral incisions for internal limb-sparing Type 1 hemipelvectomies while also optimising the exposure for subsequent reconstructive procedures.

Bioengineered surgical repair of a chronic oronasal fistula in a cat using autologous platelet-rich fibrin and bone marrow with a tailored 3D printed implant

Clinical summary: A tissue engineering approach was used to aid the surgical repair of a chronic oronasal fistula (ONF) in a 13-year-old cat. A three-dimensional (3D) printed mesh, tailored to the size and shape of the ONF, was created to support a soft tissue flap used to close the defect; and also to provide a matrix for mesenchymal stromal cells present in bone marrow aspirate and bioactive cytokines and growth factors present in platelet-rich fibrin harvested from the patient. A CT scan at day 75 after surgery revealed the formation of new tissue in the defect and the healing process was complete at follow-up 6 months after surgery. Relevance and novel information: Complications are frequently reported following surgical repair of ONFs and include dehiscence of the palatal suture line, flap necrosis due to damage to the greater palatine artery and maxillary osteomyelitis, mainly due to chronic infection and bone lysis. The case described here demonstrates how input from a multidisciplinary team and the use of a biomaterial, processed by sophisticated technologies, can create a precision regenerative medicine strategy adapted to the patient’s clinical needs; this provided a novel therapeutic solution for an otherwise hard to treat clinical problem.

Multi-disciplinary management of complex pressure sore reconstruction: 5-year review of experience in a spinal injuries centre

INTRODUCTION In our regional spinal injuries unit, complex pressure ulcer reconstruction is facilitated by a monthly multidisciplinary team clinic. This study reviews a series of the more complex of these patients who underwent surgery as a joint case between plastics and other surgical specialties, aiming to provide descriptive data as well as share the experience of treating these complex wounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients operated on as a joint case from 2010 to 2014 were identified through a locally held database and hospital records were then retrospectively reviewed for perioperative variables. Descriptive statistics were collected. RESULTS 12 patients underwent 15 procedures as a joint collaboration between plastic surgery and other surgical specialties: one with spinal surgery, 12 with orthopaedic and two with both orthopaedic and urology involvement. Ischial and trochanteric wounds accounted for 88% of cases with five Girdlestone procedures being performed and 12 requiring soft-tissue flap reconstruction. Mean operative time was 3.8hours. Four patients required high-dependency care and 13 patients received long-term antibiotics. Only three minor complications (20%) were seen with postoperative wound dehiscence. DISCUSSION The multidisciplinary team clinic allows careful assessment and selection of patients appropriate for surgical reconstruction and to help match expectations and limitations imposed by surgery, which are likely to influence their current lifestyle in this largely independent patient group. Collaboration with other specialties gives the best surgical outcome both for the present episode as well as leaving avenues open for potential future reconstruction.

Salvage of mangled upper extremity using the Masquelet technique in a child: A case report

Aim: To report our experience with the Masquelet concept in a pediatric upper extremity following an open injury to the elbow. Methods: A case report and literature review. Results: An 11-year-old boy was transferred to our institution after a motor vehicle collision. There was a primary loss of the ulnohumeral articulation and the surrounding soft tissues as well as the ulnar nerve. Reconstruction used the Masquelet-induced membrane technique and a soft tissue flap. At the 30-month follow-up, the extremity was pain free and functional. Conclusion: This case highlights the value of the Masquelet technique in pediatric extremity injuries, where there is a loss of a major articular segment, as well as significant soft tissue compromise.