Scleroderma and the Role of Plastic Surgery Intervention

Abstract

1. Abstract Scleroderma is a rare autoimmune condition of uncertain etiology that affects approximately 1 in 40,000 people in the United States and is characterized by excessive collagen deposition in all organ systems including the skin [ <span style=font-size:10.0pt;font-family: times= new= roman,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:times= roman;color:red=>1] . Common symptoms of scleroderma include Calcinosis, Raynaud phenomenon, Esophageal dysmotility, Sclerodactyly, and Telangiectasia (CREST syndrome) as well as vascular, pulmonary and cardiac pathology [ 2] . Symptoms are often debilitating and lead to functional and aesthetic compromise.Plastic surgical intervention may be a viable option for a subset of patients to ameliorate functional and / or aesthetic symptomatology depending on the subtype of scleroderma, the magnitude of disease extension and the operative setting.