Malignant melanomas sometimes present with nail or periungual pigmentation, as a subungual melanoma. This pigmentation also occurs in nonmelanoma skin disorders. Therefore, biopsy is mandatory for the absolute diagnosis. We present an atypical presentation of subungual melanoma in an 81-year-old female patient with no specific periungual pigmentation. She suffered from a crushing injury in her right thumb 2 years ago and had undergone repetitive stump plasty at a local clinic. Recently, she felt intermittent pain at the thumb tip. During the revisional stump plasty, we unexpectedly noted a spread out of dark colored soft tissues the distal phalanx. Pathological examination revealed subungual malignant melanoma. This unusual form of melanoma has a predilection for an acral location, particularly the paronychial region. Even when small pigments are found on the periungual area, careful examination and identification of a component of melanoma is necessary in order to not miss any malignant finger lesion.
Aged, 80 and over ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fingers ; Humans ; Melanoma* ; Pigmentation ; Skin ; Thumb

No abstract available.
Tendons* ; Wrist*

No abstract available.
Tendons* ; Wrist*

PURPOSE: Pollicization typically involves surgical migration of the index finger to the position of the thumb. This procedure facilitates the conversion of a useless hand into a well-functioning one in patients who are not amenable to the toe-to-hand transfer. However, middle finger pollicization has been rarely reported. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reconstructed a thumb by immediate pollicization of the remnants of the middle finger in two patients who sustained a tumor and a trauma, respectively. The former, after cancer ablation was performed, has not been reported literally, and the latter involved free devitalized pollicization of the middle finger using a microsurgical anastomosis. The distal third extensor communis tendon was sutured to the proximal extensor pollicis longus tendon and the distal flexor digitorum superficialis and profundus were sutured to the proximal flexor pollicis longus. The abductor pollicis brevis tendon was sutured to the distal end of the first palmar interosseous muscle. Coaptation of the third digital nerve and the superficial radial nerve branch was performed. RESULTS: Patients showed uneventful postoperative courses without complication such as infection or finger necrosis. Based on the principles of pollicization, a wide range of pinch and grasp movements was successfully restored. They were pleased with the functional and cosmetic results. CONCLUSIONS: Although the index finger has been the digit of choice for pollicization, we could also use the middle finger on specific occasions. This procedure provides an excellent option for the reconstruction of a mutilated thumb and could be performed advantageously in a single step.
Fingers* ; Hand ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Radial Nerve ; Tendons ; Thumb

The reconstruction of recurrent pressure sores is challenging due to a limited set of treatment options and a high risk of flap loss. Successful treatment requires scrupulous surgical planning and a multidisciplinary approach. Although the tensor fascia lata flap is regarded as the standard treatment of choice-it provides sufficient tissue bulk for a deep trochanteric sore defect-plastic surgeons must always consider the potential of recurrence and accordingly save the second-best tissues. With the various applications of anterolateral thigh (ALT) flaps in the reconstructive field, we report two cases wherein an alternative technique was applied, whereby pedicled ALT fasciocutaneous island flaps were used to cover recurrent trochanteric pressure sores. The postoperative course was uneventful without any complications. The flap provided a sound aesthetic result without causing a dog-ear formation or damaging the lower-leg contour. This flap was used as an alternative to myocutaneous flaps, as it can cover a large trochanteric defect, recurrence is minimized, and the local musculature and lower-leg contour are preserved.
Fascia Lata ; Femur* ; Myocutaneous Flap ; Perforator Flap ; Pressure Ulcer* ; Recurrence ; Surgical Flaps ; Thigh*

PURPOSE: Soft tissue coverage of the distal leg and ankle region represents a surgical challenge. Beside various local and free flaps, the perforator flap has recently been replaced as a reconstructive choice because of its functional and aesthetic superiority. Although posterior tibial artery perforator flap (PTAPF) has been reported less often than peroneal artery perforator flap, it also provides a reliable surgical option in small to moderate sized defects especially around the medial malleolar region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven consecutive patients with soft tissue defect in the ankle and foot region were enrolled. After Doppler tracing along the posterior tibial artery, the PTAPF was elevated from the adjacent tissue. The average size of the flap was 28.08±9.31 cm² (range, 14.25 to 37.84 cm²). The elevated flap was acutely rotated or advanced. RESULTS: Six flaps survived completely but one flap showed partial necrosis because of overprediction of the perforasome. No donor site complications were observed during the follow-up period and all seven patients were satisfied with the final results. CONCLUSION: For a small to medium-sized defect in the lower leg, we conducted the close-by islanded PTAPF using a single proper adjacent perforator. Considering the weak point of the conventional propeller flap, this technique yields much better aesthetic results as a simple and reliable technique especially for defects of the medial malleolar region.
Ankle* ; Arteries ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Humans ; Leg ; Necrosis ; Perforator Flap* ; Surgical Flaps ; Tibial Arteries* ; Tissue Donors

We present a patient who showed a sterile abscess after facial bone fixation with bioabsorbable plates and screws. He had zygomaticomaxillary complex and periorbital fracture due to falling down. The displaced bones were treated by open reduction and internal fixation successfully using bioabsorbable plate system. However, at postoperative 11 months, abrupt painless swelling was noted on the previous operation sites, left lateral eyebrow and lower eyelid. By surgical exploration, pus-like discharge and degraded materials were observed and debrided. The pathologic analysis revealed foreign body reaction with sterile abscess. This complication followed by bioabsorbable device implantation on maxillofacial bone surgery has been rarely reported in which we call attention to the maxillofacial plastic surgeons.
Abscess* ; Absorbable Implants ; Accidental Falls ; Eyebrows ; Eyelids ; Facial Bones ; Foreign-Body Reaction ; Humans ; Plastics ; Surgeons

Burn injury is one of the most common complications associated with laser procedure. A 38-year-old woman underwent laser procedure for skin rejuvenation on her neck at a local aesthetic clinic. At that time, the cooling system installed in the laser machine was out of order without known origin. The patient complained of pain during the procedure, but it was neglected. It resulted in 3(rd)-degree burn involving the subcutaneous fatty layer on her neck. On the fifth day after injury, early debridement and advancement flap was done under local anesthesia. After 7 days postoperatively, total stitch out was done and a 6cm-length linear and transverse scar remained. When deep dermal injury occurs, it will take a long time to heal on its own. Early debridement and advancement flap will be helpful to prevent wide burn scar.
Adult ; Anesthesia, Local ; Burns ; Cicatrix ; Debridement ; Female ; Humans ; Neck* ; Rejuvenation ; Skin

Periprosthetic capsular contracture, implant rupture, and deflation are well-known delayed complications of augmentation mammaplasty. However, infection remains the most common cause of reoperation after breast implant surgery. We report the case of a nontuberculous mycobacterial infection with huge abscess formation after augmentation mammaplasty. A 29-year-old woman visited our clinic with enlarged breasts after undergoing breast augmentation at a local clinic 4 years ago. She had no pain and tenderness, except some hardness around the breast margin. Nine months after surgery, her breasts began to grow larger, but showed no other typical symptoms, which led the patient to neglect the enlargement. After exploring through an inframammary approach, a large amount of serous fluid leaked out on both sides and we identified a huge abscess in a pocket localized in the submuscular plane. During exploration, the infected implants, which contained a pus-like fluid with a foul odor, were completely drained. The specimen culture revealed growth of Mycobacterium abscessus, which is a rare cause of infections after breast augmentation. While the overall incidence of mycobacterial infections after breast augmentation is low, our case demonstrates that huge abscess and granuloma formation should be considered as a potential complication of breast surgery.
Abscess* ; Adult ; Breast Implantation ; Breast Implants ; Breast* ; Female ; Granuloma ; Hardness ; Humans ; Implant Capsular Contracture ; Incidence ; Mammaplasty ; Mycobacterium* ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria ; Odors ; Reoperation ; Rupture