BACKGROUND: Keloids are benign fibro-proliferative lesion, related to excessive inflammatory reactions in certain anatomical areas, including the auricles. Their specific etiology remains unclear; nonetheless they exhibit tumor-like characteristics of significant recurrence and cause emotional distress, even with various treatment strategies. We applied intermittent magnetic pressure therapy on ear keloids in combination with surgical excision, and present its effectiveness herein.METHODS: Ear keloid patients were treated with surgical excision followed by magnetic pressure therapy. The keloid tissues underwent excision and keloid marginal flaps were utilized for wound closure. Intermittent magnetic pressure therapy was applied 2 weeks after the surgical procedure. The pressure therapy consisted of a 3-hour application and 2-hour resting protocol (9 hr/day), and lasted for 6 months. The results were analyzed 6 months after the therapeutic procedures, using the scar assessment scale.RESULTS: Twenty-two ear keloids from 20 patients were finally reviewed. Among the keloids that completed the therapeutic course, 20 ear keloids out of 22 in total (90.9%) were successfully eradicated. Two patients (2 keloids) exhibited slight under-correction. Postoperative complications such as wound dehiscence or surgical site infection were not noted. The scar assessment scale demonstrated a significant improvement in each index. The intermittent pressure therapy led to patient compliance, and avoided pressure-related pain and discomfort.CONCLUSION: Excision followed by intermittent pressure application using a magnet successfully reduced the burden of fibro-proliferative keloids, and had good patient compliance. The role of intermittent pressure application and resting should be studied with regard to keloid tissue remodeling.
Cicatrix ; Ear ; Humans ; Keloid ; Patient Compliance ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Surgical Wound Infection ; Treatment Outcome ; Wounds and Injuries

Forehead flaps are widely used to reconstruct nasal defects. The authors report a case wherein a folded forehead flap was used to reconstruct a large nasal defect after wide excision of squamous cell carcinoma. A 65-year-old man was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma by a punch biopsy conducted at the dermatology department, and the mass was located in the left nasal vestibule. A forehead flap was planned to cover the full-thickness defect that occurred after wide excision. A flap with an extended transverse skin paddle was designed; thereafter, the distant part of the flap was folded up to the nasal lining inside the nose. The interpolation flap was properly maintained for 3 weeks, and flap division was performed. The reconstructed nose exhibited symmetry during a 5-month observation period. A folded forehead flap is a surgical option when considerable nasal restoration, including soft tissue and the internal lining, is necessary.

Background: Hand fractures can be treated using various operative or nonoperative methods. When an operative technique utilizing fixation is performed, early postoperative mobilization has been advocated. We implemented a protocol involving controlled active exercise in the early postoperative period and analyzed the outcomes. Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with proximal phalangeal or metacarpal fractures of the second to fifth digits were included (n=37). Minimally invasive open reduction and internal fixation procedures were performed. At 3 weeks postoperatively, controlled active exercise was initiated, with stress applied against the direction of axial loading. The exercise involved pain-free active traction in three positions (supination, neutral, and pronation) between 3 and 5 weeks postoperatively. Postoperative radiographs and range of motion (ROM) in the interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints were analyzed. Results: Significant improvements in ROM were found between 6 and 12 weeks for both proximal phalangeal and metacarpal fractures (P<0.05). At 12 weeks, 26 patients achieved a total ROM of more than 230° in the affected finger. Postoperative radiographic images demonstrated union of the affected proximal phalangeal and metacarpal bones at a 20-week postoperative follow-up. Conclusions Minimally invasive open reduction and internal fixation minimized periosteal and peritendinous dissection in hand fractures. Controlled active exercise utilizing pain-free active traction in three different positions resulted in early functional exercise with an acceptable ROM.

Primary cutaneous CD4+ small/medium T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder is a rare disease characterized by a single mass on the face or upper part of the trunk. It usually presents an asymptomatic and favorable progression, and its histopathologic findings include small and medium-sized lymphoid cells. The authors report a case of primary cutaneous CD4+ small/medium T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder on the forehead. A 51-year-old man presented with a protruding mass on his forehead that the patient had noted 1 month previously. Surgical excision and a permanent biopsy were performed under local anesthesia. Based on the biopsy results, the mass was diagnosed as a primary cutaneous CD4+ small/medium T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. There was no evidence of recurrence at a 15-month follow-up visit.

Xeroderma pigmentosum is a rare autosomal recessive disease, related to defects in DNA repair mechanism. It presents skin lesions on sun-exposed areas, leading to various skin cancer. Skin lesions can be treated with cryotherapy, skin resurfacing, 5-FU, Imiquimod, topical T4 endonuclease V, radiotherapy and genetic therapy, but invasive skin cancer should be treated by a surgery. We report a 12-year-old female xeroderma pigmentosum patient with recurrent basal cell carcinoma successfully treated by skin grafting. In that there is no cure for this disease, prevention and patient education is most important.

Cutaneous horn is the clinical entity, which is circumscribed, conical, markedly hyperkeratotic lesion in which the height of the keratotic mass amounts to at least half of its largest diameter. It may be associated with many different pathological lesions. It is a relatively rare and a kind of epidermal tumor that generally appears as a conical projection. Here, we report rare case of congenital cutaneous horn. A 39-month-old female Korean patient presented at our clinic with a mass at the tip of her nose present since birth. Under general anesthesia, cutaneous horn of nasal tip was completely excised without any complications. The operation site was small enough to perform a primary closure, without any nasal deformity. Histopathologically, it was reported as a fibroepithelial polyps. After operation, there is no evidence of recurrence at 16 months of follow-up.

Intraosseous hemangioma is a rare, benign vascular tumor of endothelial origin. It accounts for fewer than 1% of all hemangiomas, and very rarely occurs in the face. Intraosseous hemangioma usually presents as an asymptomatic lesion, but symptoms can occur due to the mass effect. The authors describe a case of intraosseous hemangioma of the zygoma with a review of the relevant literature. A 44-year-old man presented with a chief complaint of painless swelling on the left zygomatic region that had been slowly growing for the past year. On physical examination, a hard, non-movable mass in a deep layer was palpated. On computed tomography performed to evaluate its layers and extent, trabeculation was found inside the mass, but the lack of destruction of the surrounding bone suggested that the mass was benign. Complete surgical excision was performed under local anesthesia. After complete excision of the mass, slight erosions remained on the cortical bone of the zygoma, but because it was small enough not to cause a facial deformity such as depression or asymmetry, no additional reconstructive procedure was performed. There were no symptoms or recurrence during a 8-month follow-up period.

Primary cutaneous CD4+ small/medium T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder is a rare disease characterized by a single mass on the face or upper part of the trunk. It usually presents an asymptomatic and favorable progression, and its histopathologic findings include small and medium-sized lymphoid cells. The authors report a case of primary cutaneous CD4+ small/medium T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder on the forehead. A 51-year-old man presented with a protruding mass on his forehead that the patient had noted 1 month previously. Surgical excision and a permanent biopsy were performed under local anesthesia. Based on the biopsy results, the mass was diagnosed as a primary cutaneous CD4+ small/medium T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. There was no evidence of recurrence at a 15-month follow-up visit.

Xeroderma pigmentosum is a rare autosomal recessive disease, related to defects in DNA repair mechanism. It presents skin lesions on sun-exposed areas, leading to various skin cancer. Skin lesions can be treated with cryotherapy, skin resurfacing, 5-FU, Imiquimod, topical T4 endonuclease V, radiotherapy and genetic therapy, but invasive skin cancer should be treated by a surgery. We report a 12-year-old female xeroderma pigmentosum patient with recurrent basal cell carcinoma successfully treated by skin grafting. In that there is no cure for this disease, prevention and patient education is most important.

Cutaneous horn is the clinical entity, which is circumscribed, conical, markedly hyperkeratotic lesion in which the height of the keratotic mass amounts to at least half of its largest diameter. It may be associated with many different pathological lesions. It is a relatively rare and a kind of epidermal tumor that generally appears as a conical projection. Here, we report rare case of congenital cutaneous horn. A 39-month-old female Korean patient presented at our clinic with a mass at the tip of her nose present since birth. Under general anesthesia, cutaneous horn of nasal tip was completely excised without any complications. The operation site was small enough to perform a primary closure, without any nasal deformity. Histopathologically, it was reported as a fibroepithelial polyps. After operation, there is no evidence of recurrence at 16 months of follow-up.