PURPOSE: Hypertrophic scarring and depression are the principal problems of burn rehabilitation. This study was done to verify the effects of skin rehabilitation massage therapy (SRMT) on pruritus, skin status, and depression for Korean burn survivors. METHODS: A pretest-posttest design using a nonequivalent control group was applied to examine the effects of SRMT for 3 months in a group of 18 burn survivors. The major dependent variables-including pruritus, objective and subjective scar status, and depression-were measured at the beginning and at the end of the therapy to examine the effects of SRMT. RESULTS: Burn survivors receiving SRMT showed reduced pruritus, improved skin status, and depression. The remaining scar also showed improvement in skin pigmentation, pliability, vascularity, and height (compared to the surrounding skin) as measured on the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrate that SRMT for burn survivors may improve their scars both objectively and subjectively, and also reduce pruritus and depression.
Adult ; Burns/complications/*rehabilitation ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic/etiology/*prevention & control ; Depressive Disorder/etiology/*prevention & control ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; *Massage ; Pruritus/etiology/*prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effects of lattice ultra pulse carbon dioxide laser combined with traditional Chinese medicine ( Fuchunsan ) on the treatment of postburn hyperplastic scar.

METHODSSixty-three patients with hyperplastic scar after burn injury hospitalized from February 2012 to June 2014 in our department were treated with lattice ultra pulse carbon dioxide laser combined with traditional Chinese medicine (Fuchunsan). Patients were divided into early stage group (E, n = 35), middle stage group (M, n = 25), and late stage group ( L, n = 3) according to the formation time of scar, which was respectively 3 weeks to 3 months, longer than 3 months and less than or equal to 6 months, and 3 to 15 years in groups E, M, and L. The number of times of laser treatment of patients in each group was recorded. The degree of scar pain in patients of the three groups was assessed by the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) before treatment and after treatment for 1, 2, and 3 times. The scar condition of patients in groups E and M was assessed by the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) before treatment and after treatment for 1, 3, and 5 times. Patients in group L did not receive VSS assessment but were evaluated by clinical observation only. Photos of scar in treating area were taken before treatment and after treatment for 3 and 5 times to evaluate the clinical effect. Data were processed with t test.

RESULTSPatients in groups E and M were treated with laser for (4.8 ± 1.1) and (7.7 ± 2.1) times respectively. In group L, the treatment was stopped in 2 patients after laser treatment for 5 times, and 1 patient received laser treatment for 12 times. The degree of pain in patients of groups E and M was alleviated significantly after treatment for one time, and the number of patients scoring 1-4 point(s) in NRS increased from 5 cases to 38 cases. After treatment for 2 and 3 times, the increase in the number of patients scoring 1-4 point (s) in NRS was on a small scale. Before treatment and after treatment for 1 time, VSS scores of patients in groups E and M were similar (with values respectively 0.641 and 0. 082, P values above 0. 05). After treatment for 3 and 5 times, VSS scores of patients in group E were respectively (9.2 ± 0.8) and (7.0 ± 1.1) points, which were significantly lower than those in group M [ (9.7 ± 1.0) and (8.2 ± 1.0) points, with values respectively -1.993 and -4.433 , P < 0.05 or P < 0.01]. After treatment for 3 times, the rate of improvement in appearance was respectively 88.6% (31/35) and 72.0% (18/25) in groups E and M, and it was respectively 100.0% (35/35) and 96.0% (24/25) after treatment for 5 times. No significant effect in appearance was found in the 3 patients in group L.

CONCLUSIONSEarly application of lattice ultra pulse carbon dioxide laser combined with traditional Chinese medicine (Fuchunsan) for the treatment of postburn hyperplastic scar is effective.

Burns ; Cicatrix ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Lasers, Gas ; therapeutic use ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Postoperative Care ; methods ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To explore the importance and preventive measure of vocal scar after fiber laryngoscope surgery. METHOD: The preventive measures such as treatment of the pathogeny, voice exercise, adjustment of operative skill, vocal rest after operation and drug treatment for vocal scars in 350 patients with polyps of vocal cord, vocal nodules and vocal cyst after fiber laryngoscope surgery were adopted in order to reduce the rate of vocal scar. The rate of vocal scar was calculated and analysed to evaluate the effect of preventive measures two month later. RESULT: The incidence rate of vocal scar after fiber laryngoscope surgery was 12.3%. And vocal scar was the main difficulty in vocalizing after operation. There is yet no specific treatment for vocal scar. Prevention is more important. Preventive measures should be carried out through the perioperative period, i. e., before, in and after the surgery. CONCLUSION The prevention of vocal scar complication is very important in the perioperative period of fiber laryngoscope surgery. And as the preventive measures are adopted, the incidence rate of vocal scar will be significantly reduced.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cicatrix ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngoscopy ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Vocal Cords ; pathology ; Voice Quality ; Young Adult

In repeat lumbar surgery for failed back syndrome, well organized fibrous scar tissue is often noted, binding together the dura, nerve roots, and paraspinal muscles. An animal experimental study was done to investigate the prevention of scar formation after lumbar laminectomy by using dacron and sodium hyaluronate. The experimental animals consisted of three groups: 1) control group, 2) D group (covering the laminectomy defect with dacron sheet), and 3) H group (covering the laminectomy defect with sodium hyaluronate gel). Animals were sacrificed at varying intervals (3-12 weeks) and the lumbar spines were evaluated with histologic preparations. Scar adhesion to the dura was most significantly suppressed in the D group, followed by the H group and the control group.
Animal ; Cicatrix/etiology/*prevention & control ; Connective Tissue/pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dura Mater/pathology ; Hyaluronic Acid ; *Laminectomy ; Polyethylene Terephthalates ; Postoperative Complications ; Rabbits ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Surgical Mesh

Three patients of pseudomyxoma peritonei who were diagnozed by transumbilical endoscopic surgery (TUES) were reviewed retrospectively from September 2014 to November 2014. Three cases of ascites patients underwent TUES were diagnozed as pseudomyxoma peritonei. All operations were successful. No open surgery or laparoscopic surgery was required. The mean operative time was (45±16) min; the mean intraoperative blood loss was 510 mL; the mean hospital stay time was 3 days. During the follow up of 911 months, no obvious scar was observed. Cosmetic results appear to be excellent. All patients were treated with intraperitoneal hyperthermia and chemotherapy. The survival rate was 100%. As a novel scarless endoscopic invasive abdominal surgery, TUES has high clinical value with the advantages such as small trauma, no scars, small risk and low cost in the diagnosis of unexplained ascites.
Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Ascites ; etiology ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Cicatrix ; prevention & control ; Costs and Cost Analysis ; Humans ; Hyperthermia, Induced ; Laparoscopy ; adverse effects ; economics ; methods ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Peritoneal Neoplasms ; Pseudomyxoma Peritonei ; diagnosis ; mortality ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo probe into the clinical manifestation, diagnosis, as well as treatment of pregnancy on the cicatrix of a previous cesarean section at the uterine isthmus in the first trimester.

METHODSAnalysis of 14 patients with pregnancy on the cicatrix of a previous cesarean section at the uterine isthmus in the first trimester was made after conservative treatment by drugs from January 1996 to December 1999.

RESULTSThe 14 patients with a pregnancy on the cicatrix of a previous cesarean section at the uterine isthmus in the first trimester were painless, had slight vaginal bleeding, and concurrently had increased serum beta-subunit human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG). Doppler ultrasonic examination revealed an obvious enlargement of the previous cesarean section cicatrix in the uterine isthmus, and found a gestational sac or mixed mass attached to the cicatrice, with a very thin myometrium between the gestational sac and bladder walls. Among the 14 patients, 12 patients had crystalline trichosanthes injected into the cervix, mifepristone taken orally, or methotrexate in the form of intramuscular injection. Following this procedure, their serum beta-HCG dropped to normal. The other 2 patients had a total hysterectomy.

CONCLUSIONSPregnancy on the cicatrix of a previous cesarean section at the uterine isthmus in the first trimester is a complication of cesarean section. Early diagnosis and effective conservative treatment by drugs are instrumental in decreasing the potential occurrence of uterine rupture, which is also conducive to preserving the patient's future fertility.

Adult ; Cesarean Section ; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human ; blood ; drug effects ; Cicatrix ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Mifepristone ; therapeutic use ; Myometrium ; diagnostic imaging ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Preparations ; therapeutic use ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Pregnancy ; Trichosanthes ; Ultrasonography ; Uterine Rupture ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Uterus ; diagnostic imaging

OBJECTIVETo analyze the relationship between the prognosis and clinical factors of primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) patients under the condition of non-surgical treatment.

METHODThe medical records of the patients who were diagnosed as VUR by micturating cystourethrography (MCU) from January 2000 to December 2009 in Children's Hospital of Fudan University underwent non-surgical treatment, and followed up for more than one year then had repeated MCU, were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTA total of 73 children (30 boys, 43 girls) were included in this study. The percentage of mild reflux (grade I-II) was 19.2% (14/73), that of moderate reflux (grade III) was 53.4% (39/73), and that of severe reflux (grade IV-V) was 27.4% (20/73). Among 73 patients, 27 (37.0%) patients were found to have renal damage. The average interval of repeated MCU was (1.29 ± 0.40) years (1 - 2 years). After follow-up, it was found that the reflux grade was relieved in 41 (56.2%) patients, of whom 27 (37.0%) patients achieved complete resolution, 32 (43.8%) patients did not have remission in reflux grade, of whom 13 (17.8%) patients had worsened reflux grade. Logistic regression analysis showed that VUR patients with renal damage at initial diagnosis was an important clinical factor to affect reflux remission (P = 0.000), complete resolving (P = 0.008) and result in worsening (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONA certain proportion of primary VUR patients could get reflux grade self-resolution, it was also quite common in severe VUR patients. VUR patients with renal damage at initial diagnosis was an important clinical factor affecting the reflux grade prognosis. Mild and moderate VUR patients with renal damage were at risk of worsening. VUR patients with high reflux grade had normal renal status could still get remission or even disappearance of VUR. But severe VUR patients with renal damage were still recommended to receive surgical therapy.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cicatrix ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Kidney Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; pathology ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; Survival Rate ; Urinary Tract Infections ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Urography ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux ; complications ; drug therapy ; pathology