Objective: Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV t-PA) is commonly used as bridging therapy before mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in acute ischemic stroke. However, in practice, some patients undergo MT only after IV t-PA has been fully administered. This study aimed to compare clinical and radiological outcomes of MT only versus IV t-PA followed by MT within 4.5 hours of symptom onset. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 190 patients with acute large artery occlusion treated with MT between January 2018 and December 2020. After excluding 53 patients ineligible for IV t-PA. A total of 137 patients were enrolled and categorized into two groups: MT only (n=82, 59.8%) and post-IV t-PA MT (n=55, 40.2%). The primary outcome was successful recanalization; the secondary outcome was a good clinical outcome at 90 days (3-month modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0–2). Results: The successful recanalization rates did not significantly differ between the MT-only and post-IV t-PA MT groups (92.7% vs. 89.1%, p=0.466). Good outcomes at 90 days were not statistically different between both groups (58.5% vs. 61.8%, p=0.701). Multivariable analysis identified baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.873; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 0.806–0.946; p<0.001) and door-to-puncture time (adjusted OR 0.987; 95% CI, 0.978–0.997; p=0.009) as independent predictors of outcome. Conclusions In our study, MT alone yielded comparable outcomes to IV t-PA followed by MT in patients treated within 4.5 hours. Direct MT may be a reasonable treatment strategy.

Naso-orbito-ethmoidal (NOE) fractures are complicated fractures of the mid-face. The treatment of NOE fractures is challenging and a comprehensive treatment strategy is required. We introduce a case of NOE fracture treated with open reduction and suspension sutures. A 28-year-old woman presented with a unilateral NOE fracture. To reduce the frontal process of the maxilla, a suspension suture was made by pulling the fragment using a double arm suture via a transcaruncular incision. The suture thread was placed in the horizontal plane. Another suspension suture on the inferior orbital rim assisted reduction procedure, and they passed through the overlying skin. The reduction alignment could be finely adjusted by tightening the transcutaneous suture threads while checking the degree of bone alignment through the subciliary incision. The two suture threads were suspended using a thermoplastic nasal splint. An additional skin incision on the medial canthal area, which would have resulted in a scar, could be avoided. Four months postoperatively, computed tomography showed an accurate and stable reduction. The patient was satisfied with her aesthetic appearance, and functional deficits were not present.

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.

The scalp is the thickest skin in the body and protects the intracranial structures. The coverage of a large scalp defect is a difficult surgical procedure, the full details of which must be considered prior to the procedure, such as defect size and depth, and various factors related to the patient’s general condition. Although a free flap is the recommended surgical procedure to cover large scalp defects, it is a high-risk operation that is not appropriate for all patients. As such, other surgical options must be explored. We present the case of a patient with an ulcer on the scalp after wide excision and split-thickness skin graft for squamous cell cancer. We successfully performed a reverse temporalis muscle flap for this patient.

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.

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.

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.