Improvement of prosthetics technology and inpatient rehabilitation of patients with amputation hip stumps

Timely and comprehensive assessment of indications and contraindications for prosthetics of patients with a faulty amputation stump has proven to increase the prosthetics efficiency based on adequate approaches to treatment by selecting the correct timing of prosthetics and taking into account the general condition of the patient. Timely elimination of existing defects in the amputation stump with the help of surgical and complex physiotherapeutic procedures, as well as early prosthetics, enables patients with amputation stumps to quickly adapt to the prosthesis. The proposed Prosthetics Efficiency Evaluation Program (PEEP), developed by the authors, allows assessing the degree of prosthetics efficiency and complex rehabilitation of a patient objectively and reliably.

Amniotic Constriction Bands: Secondary Deformities and Their Treatments

Background: The purpose of this study was to report the surgical treatment experience of patients with amniotic constriction bands (ACB) over a 35-year interval and detail consequential limb deformities with emphasis on hands and upper extremities, along with the nature and frequency of their surgical treatment methods. Methods: Fifty-one patients were identified; 26 were males and 25 females. The total number of deformities was listed. The total number of operations, individual procedures, and operations plus procedures that were done for each patient and their frequency were recorded. Results: The total number of operations was 117, and total number of procedures was 341. More procedures were performed on the upper extremity (85%) than the lower extremity (15%). Including the primary deformity ACB, 16 different hand deformities secondary to ACB were encountered. Sixteen different surgical methods for the upper extremity were utilized; a primary procedure for ACB and secondary reconstructions for all secondary deformities. Average age at the time of the first procedure was 9.3 months. The most common procedures performed, in order of frequency, were excision of ACB plus Z-plasty, release of partial syndactyly, release of fenestrated syndactyly, full-thickness skin grafts, resection of digital bony overgrowth from amputation stumps, and deepening of first and other digital web spaces. Conclusions: Many hand and upper extremity deformities secondary to ACB are encountered. Children with ACB may require more than one operation including multiple procedures. Numerous surgical methods of reconstruction for these children’s secondary deformities are necessary in addition to the customary primary procedure of excision of ACB and Z-plasty.

The Versatile Use of the Latissimus Dorsi Muscle Flap in Electrical Burn Injuries

Electricity is an indispensable part of civilization. It is often taken for granted, and can sometimes take away limbs, and at times, life. When a human being comes in contact with electricity, burns can ensue. These electrical burns are the most devastating of all thermal injuries on a size for size basis⁵ and involve skin and deeper tissues. 90% of electrical injuries are accidental and nearly two-thirds occur at the work spot. Young, working males are commonly affected with frequent amputation of dominant limbs. This paper analyses the different uses of the latissimus dorsi muscle flap in the reconstruction of electrical burn raw areas and in the salvage of the amputation stumps.