4th Week in Plastics

I started off the past week with a Monday morning lecture on lower extremity wounds. Dr. Spector gave the lecture which was followed by case reviews for the residents. This was very interesting to watch because the reviews allowed insight into the entire diagnosis and treatment process; describing from when a patient presents with a particular case, noting what knowledge is important to gain about the patient in order to make a proper decision, and finally how to treat the patient and what should be done when obstacles are confronted.

During office hours I saw a burn patient that Dr. Spector has been treating. The patient has scaring all over his face and upper torso which is disfiguring, painful, and prevents proper function. Around his mouth and neck the scarring has hardened so that he is not able to fully open is mouth or rotate his head. In addition, his nose is no longer symmetric which Dr. Spector plans to alter by removing cartilage and skin from his nose to reform the nostril. In addition, I saw quite a few cosmetic consults during office hours where Dr. Spector discusses the desired alterations a patient may want to his or her body including breast augmentations, rhinoplastys, or liposuction. I also met a patient that Dr. Spector performed a breast augmentation for a few years ago and recently one breast has enlarged and become painful as the fibrous tissue scarring has begun to contract. This is a known complication to breast augmentation. In order to fix the problem, the patient will have to undergo surgery to remove the fibrous tissue.

I have also seen some interesting cases in the OR. Prior to my arrival, a patient was admitted after being struck by a vehicle. The resultant injuries required that her femur be externally fixed as seen in the images below to allow for proper repair. Once the internal injuries were stabilized, a V.A.C. system was used to allow the wound to begin to close and create the proper surface on which a skin graft could be placed. Once the leg had healed additionally, Integra ® Dermal Regeneration Template was placed over the wound as seen
in the next image. This is a product made from glucosaminoglycan and collagen which allows for the in growth of blood vessels and provides a better layer on which a skin graft can be added. Once the under lying dermal layers were present, a skin graft was taken from the right leg to cover the wounds on the left leg as seen in the images. The donor sites are left without the outermost skin layers which are usually able to regenerate and heal although a pigment difference may make the donor location visible.