Background: Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare ulcerative skin disease that can present as an ulcerative skin disease with the prominence of pain. The pathogenesis may be related to disruptions in the immune pathways. Targeted therapy is lacking and current treatment is largely empirical and consists of corticosteroids and cyclosporine first line. Early recognition can improve clinical outcomes. Case: This case is a 67-year-old male diabetic who was admitted for a progressive ulcerative lesion on the right leg. Arterial Doppler studies and CT angiogram of the right lower extremity were normal. Blood and deep wound cultures of the lesion showed Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Multiple antibiotic regimens were given with no improvement of the ulcerating lesions of the leg. Pain on the lesion remained persistent. The tissue biopsy of the lesion taken during debridement revealed that it was a pyoderma gangrenosum with dystrophic sclerosis. Oral prednisone at 1 mg/kg was added to the regimen which improved pain but the lesion did not improve. The persistence of the pain and progression to sepsis during the hospital course prompted the decision to do an above-knee amputation of the right leg. He was discharged improved. Conclusion Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare non-infectious cause of an ulcerative lesion in the lower extremity. Diabetes is a strong risk factor for this disease. The course is prolonged with the possibility of secondary infections. Upon histopathologic confirmation, an anti-inflammatory regimen could help improve outcomes.
Pyoderma Gangrenosum ; Diabetic Foot ; Leg Ulcer ; Inflammation ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Amputation, Surgical

Behcet's disease is a multisystem inflammatory disorder with a chronic relapsing course. It is considered a nonspecific systemic vasculitis involving both, venous and arterial circulation. Although lower extremity vein thrombosis (LEVT) is one of the most common manifestations of vascular involvement, a few cases are reported in the literature and to our knowledge, and only 2 cases were reported in Korea. We report a case of a 40-year-old Korean man with localized erythematous macules and patches on both lower extremities with a marked painful swelling on the right leg. The patient reported a history of similar lesions 10 years prior to presentation and also a history of recurrent aphthous oral ulcerations. Based on phlebographic findings of old LEVT in the right femoral vein, the patient was diagnosed with Behcet's disease associated with LEVT.
Adult ; Femoral Vein ; Humans ; Korea ; Leg ; Lower Extremity ; Oral Ulcer ; Systemic Vasculitis ; Thrombosis ; Veins ; Venous Thrombosis*

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is primarily, a sterile, inflammatory, neutrophilic dermatosis, characterized by recurrent cutaneous ulceration with mucopurulent or hemorrhagic exudate. The incidence of PG is uncertain, but it is estimated to be about 3-10 patients per million per year. It occurs most commonly on the lower legs, but has been reported at other sites of the body as well. The causes of PG are unknown, but about 50-70% of cases are associated with other diseases, mainly inflammatory bowel disease. We hereby report a case of PG in a 21-year-old male, with a history of ulcerative colitis (UC). After appropriate diagnostic methods including biopsy for pathologic confirmation, sigmoidoscopy and computed tomography, we excluded other diseases and the lesion was diagnosed as PG. We then carried out regular dressing of the wound, while UC was treated with steroid and immunosuppressant medication, with inputs from the department of gastroenterology during the hospital stay. There occurred recurrence of the skin lesion, 7 months after discharge, after which they improved. UC has been in the remission state as per the follow-up, since 2 years.
Bandages ; Biopsy ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Exudates and Transudates ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastroenterology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Leg ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Neutrophils ; Pyoderma Gangrenosum ; Pyoderma ; Recurrence ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Ulcer ; Wounds and Injuries ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Fingers* ; Leg Ulcer* ; Leg* ; Scleroderma, Systemic* ; Ulcer*

A 72-year-old woman presented with recurrent painful erythematous nodules and ulcers on both legs. Latent tuberculosis was proven by a positive interferon-gamma release assay, and a histopathology examination revealed septolobular panniculitis with vasculitis. The initial diagnosis was erythema induratum associated with tuberculosis, but the leg ulcers became worse despite anti-tuberculosis medication and wound dressing. Computed tomography angiography showed occlusion of the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries bilaterally, supporting that the vascular event contributes to the ulcers according to the vascular territories. Under the diagnosis of peripheral arterial occlusive disease, she was treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and antiplatelet medication. The skin ulcers were resolved. Elderly patients with erythema induratum have a risk of coincidental peripheral arterial occlusive disease, therefore dermatologists should be aware of the possibility of underlying vascular disease, so even minor trauma like skin biopsy can evoke serious condition shown in this patient. Here, we report a case of drastically aggravated erythema induratum due to co-existing peripheral arterial occlusive disease, which resolved with vascular intervention after not responding to antituberculosis medication.
Aged ; Angiography ; Angioplasty ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases* ; Bandages ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Erythema Induratum* ; Erythema* ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma Release Tests ; Latent Tuberculosis ; Leg ; Leg Ulcer ; Panniculitis ; Popliteal Artery ; Skin ; Skin Ulcer ; Tuberculosis ; Ulcer ; Vascular Diseases ; Vasculitis ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND: After calcaneal fracture surgery, a short leg splint and cast are typically applied. However, these restrict joint exercises, which is inconvenient for patients. In addition, there is a risk of complications, such as pressure ulcers or nerve paralysis with a short leg cast. In this study, we evaluated clinical and radiological outcomes of the use of a specially designed calcaneal brace after calcaneal fracture surgery. METHODS: From among patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation for calcaneal fracture between July 9, 2013 and May 31, 2017, 102 patients who wore a calcaneal fracture brace (group A) and 82 patients who wore a postoperative short leg cast (group B) were randomly chosen for this study. Radiological changes and clinical factors were compared between the two groups. After swelling at the surgical site decreased, a special calcaneal brace was applied to patients in group A. They were allowed to perform early weight bearing and joint motion. Patients in group B were immobilized in a short leg cast and were told to avoid weight bearing for 6 weeks. In each group, the Böhler's angle and Gissane's angle were measured and compared using postoperative and final follow-up radiographs. Pain (measured using a visual analogue scale [VAS]) and ankle joint range of motion (dorsiflexion, plantar flexion, eversion, and inversion) were measured serially until the final follow-up visit. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the Böhler's angle or Gissane's angle between the two groups as measured postoperatively and at the final follow-up (paired t-test). Differences in the VAS pain score and eversion were also statistically nonsignificant between the two groups. However, group A had a significantly higher range of dorsiflexion (p = 0.021), plantar flexion (p = 0.012), and inversion (p = 0.045) of the ankle than group B (independent t-test). CONCLUSIONS: Application of the calcaneal fracture brace after open reduction and internal fixation of a calcaneal fracture not only maintained the fracture reduction but allowed for greater joint motion than the short leg cast. Thus, the calcaneal fracture brace can be considered an effective postoperative management option that enables early resumption of daily activities and facilitates postoperative joint motion.
Ankle ; Ankle Joint ; Braces* ; Calcaneus ; Exercise ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Leg ; Paralysis ; Pressure Ulcer ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Splints ; Treatment Outcome* ; Weight-Bearing

Aortic aneurysm-induced chronic consumptive coagulopathy is a very rare complication but can be a source of critical complications and mortality. A 72-year-old man presented with a rapidly expanding descending thoracic aortic aneurysm with a penetrating ulcer and an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm complicated by chronic coagulopathy. We were aware of the bleeding risk during surgical replacement based on the patient's chronic coagulopathy status and successfully performed endovascular repair of the thoracic aortic aneurysm with a penetrating ulcer. Platelet transfusion, antiplatelet agents, and proteinase inhibitors improved the coagulopathy. A delayed type Ib endoleak developed, and the coagulopathy recurred 2 months later when the patient presented with purpura of both lower legs. We successfully managed the condition by elective surgical replacement of the entire aorta after improving the coagulopathy with platelet replacement and administration of proteinase inhibitors.
Aged ; Aorta ; Aortic Aneurysm* ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; Blood Platelets ; Endoleak ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Leg ; Mortality ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; Platelet Transfusion ; Purpura ; Ulcer

Tumoral calcinosis (TC) is a condition resulting from extensive calcium phosphate precipitation, primarily in the periarticular tissues around major joints. Calciphylaxis is a fatal ischemic vasculopathy mainly affecting dermal blood vessels and subcutaneous fat. This syndrome is rare and predominantly occurs in patients with end-stage renal disease. Here, we report on a rare case involving a patient with TC complicated with calciphylaxis. Our patient was a 31-year-old man undergoing hemodialysis who presented with masses on both shoulders and necrotic cutaneous ulcers, which were associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism, on his lower legs. He underwent subtotal parathyroidectomy, and sodium thiosulfate (STS) was administered for 27 weeks. Twenty months after beginning the STS treatment course, he experienced dramatic relief of his TC and calciphylaxis.
Adult ; Blood Vessels ; Calcinosis* ; Calciphylaxis* ; Calcium ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary ; Joints ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Leg ; Parathyroidectomy* ; Renal Dialysis ; Shoulder ; Sodium* ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: To validate the Cardiff Wound Impact Schedule (CWIS) to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of Sri Lankan patients with diabetic leg and foot ulcers. METHODS: English version of CWIS was examined for cultural compatibility, translated into Sinhala and pretested. The Sinhala versionwas administered in parallel with the validated Sinhala version of SF-36 by an interviewer to all patients (n = 140) at baseline to determine the construct validity. Reliability of CWIS was measured by internal consistency and test-retest stability. The instrument was readministered in 2 weeks on 33 patients with nonhealing ulcers to determine the test-retest stability and in 3 months on 50 patients with healed ulcers to determine the ability of CWIS to discriminate HRQoL between patients with healed versus nonhealed ulcers. Acceptability of CWIS was assessed by the response rate, completion rate and the average time taken to complete a single interview. RESULTS: The construct validity demonstrated moderately significant correlations between related subscales of CWIS and SF-36 (Spearman's r = .32–.51, p = .021 to p < .001) for the whole study sample. Internal consistencies (Cronbach α = .68–.86) and test-retest stability (.56–.70) were acceptable. The tool was sensitive in discriminating the impact of the wound on HRQoL in healed versus nonhealed status (p ≤ .001). The tool showed good acceptability. CONCLUSIONS: The Sinhala version of CWIS is valid, reliable and acceptable for assessing the impact of wound on HRQoL. This instrument is sensitive in detecting the differences of the impact of healed and nonhealed ulcers on QoL in patients with diabetic leg and foot ulcer.
Adult ; Aged ; Cross-Cultural Comparison ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetic Angiopathies/*diagnosis/ethnology ; Diabetic Foot/diagnosis/ethnology ; Female ; Humans ; Leg Ulcer/*diagnosis/ethnology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Reproducibility of Results ; Severity of Illness Index ; Sri Lanka/ethnology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Reconstruction of the lower extremities is difficult due to a lack of skin laxity and muscular tissues. Here, we present a case of lower extremity reconstruction via the anterior tibial artery perforator based segmental muscle island flap. Our patient was a 75-year-old male with a chronic ulcerative wound on the right lower leg from an old car accident. A 5.0×0.5 cm size ulcerative wound with tibial bone exposure was noted. We planned to reconstruct the lower extremity defect with a free flap, but the vessel status was severely compromised intraoperatively. Thus, we found the anterior tibial artery perforator using Doppler ultrasound, elevated the tibialis anterior muscle segment flap, and transposed it to cover the defect successfully. The flap presented with a nice contour and the skin graft covering the flap survived completely. There were no complications of the surgical site at three months follow-up and no gait morbidity. This is a meaningful case applying the concept of segmental muscle flap based on a perforator that had advantages including proper bulkiness, vascularization, and preservation of function, which were well applied, leading to great success.
Aged ; Follow-Up Studies ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Gait ; Humans ; Leg ; Lower Extremity* ; Male ; Perforator Flap ; Skin ; Tibial Arteries ; Transplants ; Ulcer ; Ultrasonography ; Wounds and Injuries