Concealed cosmetic closure in total knee replacement surgery – A prospective audit assessing appearance and patient satisfaction

ObjectiveWith the trend towards accelerated rehabilitation, the method of skin closure has become increasingly important in orthopedic surgery. It is imperative to evaluate a technique that provides superior clinical and cosmetic results specifically for TKA, due to relatively thin skin anterior to the knee making poor wound healing an issue of concern. We conducted a prospective, single-arm audit evaluating the patient assessments of incision cosmesis for a novel technique in TKA wound closure called Concealed Cosmetic Closure (CCC).Methods570 knees were included in the study whose wound was closed with concealed cosmetic subcuticular interrupted sutures (CCCIS) between January 2014 and May 2016. A validated, ordinal questionnaire, Stony Brooks Scar Evaluation Scale (SBSES) designed to elicit a score evaluating scar satisfaction was interviewed by the investigators to patients 6 months to 3 years postoperatively.ResultsCCC is a simple and relatively rapid single-operator technique that takes about 7–10 min to close 11–17 cm knee incision. In our study, the mean score for Stony Brook Scar Evaluation Scale (SBSES) was 4.4 (SD of 0.73) (range 3–5). The scar was rated highly in terms of cosmesis, patient satisfaction and appearance of the wound.ConclusionCCC is an effective modality for skin closure in total knee arthroplasty providing superior cosmetic healing with minimal complications leading to improved long term patient satisfaction.     

Ocular complications of severe corneal abrasions after cosmetic blepharopigmentation

A 53-year-old woman with hemiparesis and poor dexterity, underwent cosmetic blepharopigmentation on the both upper eyelids in the dermatology clinic of a private hospital. She was not asked for any information on her medical history and no informed consent was obtained and the procedure was performed without any protective ocular shields. The patient experienced severe lacrimation, discomfort, and increased sensitivity to light during and after the procedure. She also noticed blurred vision after the procedure. Ophthalmologic examination revealed tender and oedematous eyelids and corneal abrasions in both of her eyes. Topical antibiotics and preservative-free lubricants were able to recover her from her signs and symptoms at 1-week follow-up. It is recommended that cosmetic blepharopigmentation should be applied cautiously with patient’s informed consent after obtaining a thorough medical history and with protective ocular shields to avoid potential complications.     

Dentistry between pathology and cosmetics

In ancient and medieval times, the prevalence of caries and periodontal disease varied. There were no treatments for dental hard tissue, but dental cosmetics played an important role. In the late 19th century, caries levels reached a maximum in Europe and North America after refined sugar became a cheap staple food. Toothlessness became frequent even in young adults. Caries prevention, effective on a public health scale, began with the introduction of water fluoridation in the 1940s. By 1985, dental academia had acknowledged that substantial declines could also be obtained in entire populations through topical fluorides, mainly in toothpastes. While decreasing caries prevalence is irrefutable in affluent countries, the specific reasons of the decline are still a matter of debate. In countries where caries has declined substantially, activities of dentists are shifting towards cosmetic dentistry. However, caries continues to be a problem for the lower socioeconomic strata, even in affluent countries, and is a serious problem in developing countries. Thus, water fluoridation is still important, and salt fluoridation should be considered where water fluoridation is not feasible. Both measures are extremely cheap to implement. Controlled fluoridation has a great potential for developing countries and low social strata of affluent countries. Its reduced effectiveness in high socioeconomic strata of affluent countries, due to the widespread usage of fluoride in toothpastes and other oral care products, should not detract from the public health value of fluoridation.     

Foreign body reaction to calcium hydroxylapatite after lip augmentation

BACKGROUND: Dentists need to be aware of soft-tissue lesions resulting from cosmetic facial/lip procedures that involve the use of injectable materials. Common side effects detected on clinical examination may include edema, bruising and noninflammatory lip nodules. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 51-year-old woman visited a dental clinic with the chief complaint of a lump on the mucosal aspect of her lower lip. She reported having noted the lesion a few weeks before seeking care at the clinic. Several weeks later, the lesion persisted and new lesions were detected. The clinician excised the initial lesion only. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The lip nodules were associated with a cosmetic procedure and were inflammatory in nature. This is the first granulomatous response reported as a result of injections with calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse, BioForm Medical, San Mateo, Calif.). Poor patient recollection of his or her medical history may result in confusion with pathological processes such as infection, neoplasia or malignancy.     

Ocular injuries resulting from commercial cosmetic procedures

The prevalence of potentially precarious cosmetic facial procedures appears to be on the rise. A significant amount of these cosmetic procedures are offered and performed by operators without formal medical training and anatomical knowledge, and with variable degrees of skill. Some of these procedures can result in devastating sight-threatening complications, and many of the individuals undergoing such treatments are relatively young and healthy. Patients need to be aware of the potential risks, including permanent visual loss, before embarking on any cosmetic facial procedure. Optometrists may be the first point of contact for patients with ocular complaints following these treatments. Hence, the authors present here a review on the various ocular injuries that may result from commercial cosmetic procedures.     

[Online First] Research progress on the morphology of the Schlemm’s canal

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world. Intraocular pressure (IOP) plays a key role in glaucoma development and progression. Schlemm’s canal (SC), an important structure of the anterior chamber angle, regulates the flow of aqueous humor and maintains IOP. Because of its special function of aqueous outflow, the SC has become a potential therapeutic target for glaucoma. With advanced inspection techniques, high-quality images of the SC can be obtained, which facilitates SC quantitative measurements and allows us to investigate a new therapy paradigm for glaucoma. In this review, we summarize the current research of morphological changes in the SC in physiological, pathological, and post-treatment states.