Excision Technique Research Articles

Safety and Efficacy of Posterior Upper Rib Excision and Decompression Technique for Surgical Treatment of Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

There are several approaches used for surgical treatment of neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (n-TOS). The posterior upper rib excision and decompression technique is a novel technique that was developed and used by the author for the past 8 years. The purpose of this paper is to report clinical outcomes of patients treated with this approach. All patients with n-TOS operated by single surgeon from 2015 to 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic, clinical, radiologic, surgical, and postoperative data were collected and reported with emphasis on efficacy and complications. The surgical success was evaluated subjectively as excellent, good, fair, poor, and bad. Radiologic data were analyzed to assess the extent of accessory/first rib removal. Eighty procedures were performed in 61 patients with a mean follow-up of 1153 (87-3048) days. The majority (60.7%) of patients were women, with 39.3% being men. In 11 cases (18%) causative factor was bone abnormality. Two patients were previously operated at another centers (3.3%). Total mean subjective improvement rate was 91.5%. More than half (55) of the patients reported "excellent" (>75%) and 6 "good" improvements (50%-75%); no fair, poor, and worse outcomes were reported. Patients reporting "good" outcome had statistically significant shorter follow-ups than the "excellent" group (P < 0.001). Complications included pleural opening, Horner syndrome, and apical hematoma, none of which were permanent. The posterior upper rib excision and decompression approach provides excellent clinical outcomes in patients with n-TOS. It allows better intraoperative visualization and removal of the first rib and full decompression of the neurovascular bundle.

Parameniscal Cyst Arthroscopic Excision by the Modified Fat Pad Approach Can Shorten Recovery Time-A New Surgical Method with Retrospective Study.

Parameniscal cysts can be removed without meniscectomy, but for large or multiloculated meniscal cysts, traditional arthroscopic excision may leave the meniscus unstable. This study aimed to describe a modified fat pad approach for parameniscal cyst arthroscopic excision that retains a stable structure of the synovial margin of the meniscus and to compare the clinical outcomes between the traditional cyst excision and modified excision techniques. Fifty-six patients with parameniscal cysts between 2014 and 2018 were retrospectively included in this study with 28 patients in each group. All patients underwent arthroscopic parameniscal cyst excisions with traditional and modified excision techniques respectively in each group. The International Knee Documentation Committee subjective (IKDC) score, Lysholm score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Tegner score, active range of motion (ROM) and time to recover full ROM were used to evaluate the clinical outcomes by using the t-test. The patient population included 21 males and 35 females, with a mean follow-up of 29 months. Of these, 28 patients underwent traditional arthroscopic cyst excisions and meniscal sutures, and 28 patients underwent arthroscopic excisions by the modified fat pad approach. There were no significant differences in the IKDC score, Lysholm score, Tegner score or VAS score between the traditional and modified excision groups at the final follow-up time point. However, the postoperative time to recover full ROM in the modified excision group was significantly lower than those in the traditional excision group (p < 0.05). Arthroscopic excision with the modified fat pad approach yielded a shorter pain phase and less time to recover full ROM during recovery compared with the traditional arthroscopic excision. The new method seemed to be effective, as evidenced by the positive clinical outcomes of patients.

Parallelogram Excision: An Algorithmic Approach for Excision Designs in High-Tension Skin Areas.

The excision of lesions that are not oriented along the skin tension lines may cause the surgeon to design extremely broad elliptical preoperative markings, with the intent to follow the tension lines as recommended for the best postoperative course and the best quality scars. The aim of this study is to describe and clinically apply a new surgical technique called the parallelogram excision technique, in which the traditional ellipse with a major axis parallel to the tension lines is converted into a parallelogram whose lesser sides are coincident with the local skin tension lines. This technique was specifically conceived for lesions whose major axis is non-coincident with skin tension lines, and the primary advantage is that it reduces the amount of healthy tissue excised. Preliminarily to this clinical study, a comparative geometrical analysis was conducted between various excision shapes and angles using Geometry Pad version 2.7.10 (Bytes Arithmetic LLC) and verifying the data obtained through AutoCAD 2D 2016 (Autodesk, San Rafael, CA, USA), with the purpose of optimizing the technique from a geometrical point of view. A comparison was performed between the theoretical traditional elliptical excision and the hypothetical parallelogram excision. A pilot proof of concept clinical study was performed to verify the validity of the excisional design proposed. The patients considered for parallelogram excision suffered from skin lesions with a diameter no greater than 4 cm and oriented 45° to 60° with respect to tension lines. In order to limit variability, patients' ages were between 40 and 80, and the selected areas were limbs, sternum and dorsum. Scar quality was assessed with the validated POSAS method at 6 months post-operation. The geometrical analysis of the parallelogram's design showed that it allows a diminution of the excised healthy skin compared to the traditional ellipse. The clinical series included 16 patients, with a mean age of 63.5. Of these, nine patients were men and seven were women. Diagnoses included basal cell carcinoma in seven cases, dysplastic naevus in five patients, Bowen's disease in three individuals, and one case where a wider excision of a malignant melanoma was performed. Six-month follow up results showed: (1) an uneventful postoperative course; (2) good scar healing with an observer's POSAS median score of 16 and a patient's POSAS median score of 19; and (3) complete excision of lesions. When indicated, the parallelogram excision technique appears to be a good option for the excision and primary closure of skin lesions that are not parallel to skin tension lines, since it allows a reproducible and surgeon-friendly method of preoperative marking and implies a favorable use of the local tension, which determines good quality scars. The amount of healthy tissue removed is smaller compared to traditional elliptic excisions.

Cervical Chondrocutaneous Branchial Remnants: A Rare Congenital Anomaly of the Neck. A Case Series, Literature Review, and Associated Anomalies.

Cervical chondrocutaneous branchial remnants (CCBRs) are rare anomalies found in the neck. These remnants can be easily misdiagnosed due to their low incidence, and they are often associated with other anomalies. Previous studies have reported an association with other anomalies in up to 76% of cases. In this article, the authors present a case series of two patients with bilateral CCBRs and investigate the associated anomalies through a literature review. Patients diagnosed with CCBRs who presented with cervical masses were included. Records were reviewed to investigate factors such as sex, location of the CCBRs, associated anomalies, timing of operations, and cartilage pathology. A surgical excision technique was employed, and the study also included a literature review focusing on reports related to CCBRs and associated anomalies. Two patients, a 3-year-old boy and a 17-year-old adolescent girl, with bilateral CCBRs underwent surgical excision. Patient demographics, prevalence, and characteristics of associated anomalies in CCBR cases were documented in the literature review. This case series presented two successful surgical excisions of CCBRs without complications or recurrence at 1 year of follow-up. The study emphasized the importance of thorough evaluation and assessment for associated anomalies in various body systems due to the potential co-occurrence of CCBRs with other anomalies.

Colorectal polyp classification and management of complex polyps for surgeon endoscopists.

SummaryIncreasing familiarity with advanced endoscopic excision techniques allows for more colorectal lesions to be removed without major surgery. Endoscopic excision with negative margins is adequate for most polyps and low-risk T1 cancers. The use of modern polyp classification techniques based on size, morphology and pit pattern by an experienced endoscopist allow for an optical diagnosis of these lesions and can predict, with high accuracy, which lesions contain malignant disease and the level of invasion. A surgeon endoscopist must be able to recognize which complex polyps can be resected with advanced polypectomy techniques and which require upfront surgery. We aimed to provide an overview of polyp classification techniques to help surgeons select the correct treatment algorithm for advanced colorectal lesions based on their visual characteristics at index endoscopy.

Surgical protocol of buccal fat pad excision technique for functional and aesthetic purposes: a series of 58 clinical cases

There is a limited number of published studies regarding buccal fat pad removal for aesthetic contouring of the midface and lack of patient follow-up. To describe a protocol of bichectomy technique, with aesthetic and functional purposes and to show its predictability with a report of a cases series. The bichectomy described herein was systematically applied in 58 patients. All data was submitted to statistical analysis with a significance level of 0.05. From 58 patients, 89.5% were women. The median age was 35 (19-62) and 64% of the patients had round facial shape. No permanent or significant complications occurred, and all patients declared to be satisfied with aethetics and/or function. There was no difference in the amount of removed tissue from left and right side (p = 0.227), however, the total fat tissue removed is different according to the facial shape (p = 0.022). Round facial shape had a greater amount of tissue removed than the square facial shape (p = 0.03). If this protocol is followed correctly, bichectomy surgery can be performed accurately, safely, and predictably. The amount of tissue removed was equal on both sides with the total fat tissue removed is greater in round facial shapes.

Arthroscopic Lunate Excision for Stage 3 Kienbock's Disease

Abstract Background The ideal treatment of stage 3 Kienbock's disease is uncertain, with current open procedures conferring the risk of carpal instability, ulnar translocation, and stiffness. We present our technique of arthroscopic lunate excision, and discuss our short- to medium-term results. Description of Technique Via standard wrist arthroscopic portals, the lunate is excised using a combination of shavers, burrs, and rongeurs. Care is taken to preserve the extreme dorsal and volar cortices of the lunate to prevent carpal instability. A short arm backslab is applied for 2 weeks, after which the patient commences range of motion. Patients and Methods Consecutive patients undergoing arthroscopic lunate excision at a single center in Paris, France, underwent pre- and postoperative assessment. Parameters assessed include range of motion, as well as patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Results A cohort of 13 patients (7 females and 6 males with a mean age of 27.2 years) underwent arthroscopic lunate excision, and were followed up for a mean of 1.96 years. Significant improvements were noted in flexion, extension, pronation, grip strength, and PROMs. Conclusions Arthroscopic lunectomy provides significant improvements in clinical and PROMs at short- to medium-term follow-up, and conserves other salvage options in case of failure. Long-term clinical follow-up and further biomechanical studies would be beneficial.

Primary closure method after asymmetrical excision of a pilonidal sinus treatment: A retrospective cohort study

Background/Aim: There is no gold standard method in pilonidal sinus surgery, because each technique has a recurrence rate. This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of pilonidal sinus surgeries performed by a single surgeon using excision and primary closure technique in a state hospital. Methods: The study included 159 pilonidal sinus patients operated on by a single surgeon in the General Surgery Department between September 2014 and May 2022. The patients were investigated retrospectively, and age, gender, surgical technique, type of anesthesia administered, time needed to return to normal life, history of previous abscess drainage, long-term complaints in the incision area, number of intergluteal sinuses, postoperative complications and recurrence rates were recorded. Missing information was completed with polyclinic medical records and phone calls. Patients with incomplete data were excluded from the study. An excision and primary closure method was performed on all patients included in the study. Results: Sixty-seven (42.1%) of the patients were male and 92 (57.9%) were female. The mean age was 27.8 (8.97) years. Twenty-one (13.2%) patients were operated on under local anesthesia, whereas 138 (86.8%) received spinal anesthesia. The mean operative time was 28.87 (8.01) minutes (range: 14-47 minutes). The mean length of hospital stay was determined to be one day (range: 6-24 hours). Surgical-site infections developed in 4 (2.5%) patients and wound dehiscence developed in 14 (8.8%) patients during the postoperative period. Patients developing these conditions were followed up with dressing and antibiotic treatment. The mean postoperative follow-up period was 67 months (range: 1-105 months). Recurrence was detected in six patients during the follow-up period, representing a recurrence rate of 3.8%. Conclusion: Primary closure after asymmetrical excision of the pilonidal sinus is an easily performed technique with minimal postoperative pain and early wound healing. Additionally, this method has early return-to-work rates and low recurrence rates. We think that this method would be more applicable in pilonidal sinus surgery due to these advantages.

Preoperative Wire Localization: A Simple Guidance Technique for Excision of Deep, Painful, Small, Soft Tissue Neurofibromas.

A novel use of preoperative wire localization to aid in the removal of small deep-seated soft tissue nerve sheath tumors is described. Wire localization is commonly used in breast surgery, and applying this technique in neurosurgery will enable the surgeon to directly reach the lesion with smaller incisions and prevent unnecessary soft tissue dissection.

Surgical treatment of benign subungual tumours—a systematic review and case series

**Background**: Proper surgical technique is critical in the excision of benign subungual tumours to ensure complete tumour removal and prevent nail deformities. A systematic literature review was performed to identify approaches to excision and their clinical outcome. We present a series of rare benign subungual tumours to highlight different approaches and their outcomes.**Methods**: A systematic review of English language literature was conducted using the PubMed database between 1 January 1962 and 31 December 2021 for studies describing surgical approaches to benign subungual tumours. Search terms include ‘glomus tumour’, ‘subungual exostosis’, ‘osteoid osteoma’, ‘fibro-osseous pseudotumour of the digit’, ‘enchondroma’ and ‘implantation dermoid tumour’. We performed a retrospective review of patient records from our institute from 2021–2022. Six patients with subungual tumours were selected.**Results**: Twenty-one studies (with a total of 228 participants) described various techniques for excision of benign subungual tumours. The majority of the studies (n = 18) described the transungual approach, which allows maximum tumour exposure but with risk of nail deformity postoperatively. Other approaches described include lateral subperiosteal (n = 3), periungual (n = 2), nail bed margin (n = 1) and fish mouth (n = 2). Outcomes were measured using the rate of postoperative nail deformity and rate of tumour recurrence. Our series of patients were treated with excision using the transungual (5 of 6) and periungual approach (1 of 6), with good results. **Conclusion**: The available literature demonstrates that the transungual approach is the most widely used technique for removal of subungual tumours. This technique provides excellent tumour exposure; however, it is associated with damage to the nail bed. Our case series suggests that risk of nail dystrophy can be minimised by meticulous nail bed repair.

Dorsum preservation rhinoplasty: a matched cohort comparison of upper and lower septal excision techniques

Dorsum preservation rhinoplasty: a matched cohort comparison of upper and lower septal excision techniques

SP10.11 Does Specialised training reduce the recurrence rate of pilonidal sinus disease surgery?

Abstract Background Pilonidal sinus surgery is challenging, and its recurrence rates have been reported to be high as 30% in a number of series. Long-term morbidity, recurrent infection, non-healing, and chronic wound discharge affect patients’ quality of life. This study aimed to compare the recurrence rate of the different surgical techniques of pilonidal sinus disease in our institution. Methods A retrospective study was done of adults who had elective pilonidal surgery from 2016-2021. Recurrence was defined as an active disease that required surgical intervention &amp;gt;30 days after surgery. Results were analysed for the different operative techniques used. Results 208 patients were included,167 (80.3%) were male with a mean age of 31.2 years. The mean follow-up was 47 months. The recurrence was reported in 19 cases (9%). Out of 17 cases done by excision and lay-open technique, 11.8% had a recurrence, while 9.8% of 143 recured after simple excision and closure. Only 3 of 48 cases with the flap technique had a recurrence. When the surgeon specialty was analysed as a factor of recurrence, colorectal surgeons did 38% (19/208) of the cases including flap technique, and their recurrence rate was 6.3% (5/79). In comparison, non-colorectal general surgeons operated on 50.5% (105/208) of the cases with no flap technique, and their recurrence rate was 11.4% (12/105). Only 2 out of 24 cases were operated by plastic surgeons had a recurrence. Conclusions Flap reconstruction yields a low recurrence rate in pilonidal sinus disease surgery. Specialised training for this procedure should be encouraged for the colorectal trainees, that may improve the outcome.

Comprehensive aesthetic corrections of gynecomastia using the reproducible safe and minimally invasive surgical strategy

BackgroundMinimally invasive access and fast recovery are trends of gynecomastia surgery. We placed great importance on liposuction and modified original pull-through technique. The purpose of this study was to present a refined surgical strategy for gynecomastia in grade I and II. MethodsThe refined strategy embraced enhanced liposuction to remove the intraglandular fat sufficiently, followed by open resection of gland using the pull-through and bottom-up technique with adjuvant liposuction in the end. Surgical data were recorded and satisfactory questionnaires with 5-point scales were administered during follow-up. ResultsBetween January 2017 and May 2022, 165 patients underwent enhanced liposuction combined with the pull-through and bottom-up technique for gland excision. Age ranged from 12 to 56 years. The median length of surgery was 100 min. A median of 300 ml of fat was aspirated and a median of 20.8 g of gland was excised. Seventy-seven patients (46.7%) responded the questionnaires at least 6 months postoperatively, and the average overall satisfaction was 4.68 ± 0.52 points. Thirteen sides of breasts developed complications with a rate of 4.0%. ConclusionEnhanced liposuction combined with pull-through and bottom-up technique proved effective to treat grade I and II gynecomastia with minimal scarring and high satisfaction. The refined strategy was simple and safe, and would obtain optimal outcomes even for inexperienced surgeons.

A New Technique for Use Instead of Lateral Crural Overlay for Reduction of Nasal Tip Projection in Revision Rhinoplasty.

Correction of nasal tip projection (NTP) deformities involve techniques for the lower lateral cartilage of the nose. Previously, it would have been surgically difficult to perform the lateral crural overlay (LCO) technique for the second time in revision rhinoplasty in patients who already had undergone rhinoplasty with the LCO technique because of the length of the NTP. In this study, we evaluated the lateral crural segmental excision (LCSE) technique in patients with overprojected nasal tip in revision rhinoplasty. We retrospectively studied the cases of 19 patients who had initially undergone rhinoplasty with the LCO technique for overprojected nasal tip, and later underwent revision rhinoplasty with the LCSE technique after insufficient NTP was observed on facial analysis between 2018 and 2022. Of the patients, 12 (63%) were male, with an average age of 29.6 years, and 7 (17%) patients were female, with an average age of 25.3 years. Using Goode's formula, NTP indexes of patients measured 79.4±1.8 preoperatively and 56.0±1.3 postoperatively. Stastically significant difference was observed between preoperative and postoperative values. None of the patients had malnutrition at the incision margins, and all patients recovered on time and without any problems. Granulation tissue was detected in the mucosa in only one patient. The LCSE technique, with a short surgical time, recovery period without complications, and satisfactory nasal respiratory function, is preferred over a second LCO application in cases of NTP.

Near-infrared and hysteroscopy-guided robotic excision of uterine isthmocele with laser fiber: a novel high-precision technique

To describe a novel high-precision technique for robotic excision of uterine isthmocele, employing a carbon dioxide laser fiber, under hysteroscopic guidance, and near-infrared guidance. Video article. A 36-year-old multipara with three prior cesarean sections presented to our infertility clinic with secondary infertility. The patient had been trying to conceive for 6 months without success. The patient underwent a hystero-salpingo contrast sonography which identified a large cesarean scar defect with a 1.4 mm residual myometrial thickness (RMT). The patient was counseled on surgical management with robotic approach due to RMT < 3 mm precluding her from hysteroscopic resection and the potential risk for a cesarean scar ectopic or abnormal placentation if she were to become pregnant in the future. She elected to undergo excision and repair and informed consent was obtained from the patient. The robot was docked for traditional gynecologic robotic surgery. The uterus was injected with 5 units of vasopressin. We used a carbon dioxide laser fiber (Lumenis® FIberLase) at a power of 5 watts as the sole energy source for dissection. The bladder was dissected off the uterus to identify the general area of the isthmocele. At that point, diagnostic hysteroscopy was performed using a 30-degree 5 mm hysteroscope (Karl Storz®) to identify and enter the isthmocele. Near-infrared vision (da Vinci Firefly®, Intuitive USA) was activated to precisely outline the extent of the isthmocele, which was not visible with simple transillumination from the hysteroscope. We proceeded with laser excision in infrared/grey scale using the laser at a power of 20 watts removing the entire area that was highlighted by the Firefly®. After full excision of the isthmocele, the hysteroscope was removed and was eventually replaced by a uterine manipulator (ConMed VCare DX®). The hysterotomy was closed with a two layer closure: 4 mattress sutures of 2-0 Vicryl (Ethicon®) followed by a running 2-0 PDS Stratafix (Ethicon®). The peritoneal layer was closed over these two layers with 2-0 PDS Stratafix (Ethicon®) in a running fashion. The uterine manipulator was removed and a 14 French Malecot catheter (Bard®) was placed in the uterine cavity to allow the healing to proceed with minimal risk of cervical stenosis. The bladder was backfilled to ensure integrity of the bladder wall. Interceed adhesion barrier (Gynecare®) was then placed over the area of the repair and the procedure was concluded. The patient included in this video gave consent for publication of the video and posting of the video online including social media, the journal website, scientific literature websites (such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, etc.) and other applicable sites. Completion of excision and repair of cesarean scar defect without surgical complications. Robotic excision and repair of a sizable uterine isthmocele with carbon dioxide laser fiber and da Vinci Firefly® was completed successfully without any surgical complications. Diagnostic hysteroscopy was used to positively identify the isthmocele and provide transillumination. However, the thickness of the cervical myometrium only allows the hysteroscopic light to shine through the thinnest portion of myometrium at the apex of the isthmocele, while the near-infrared vision allowed by the da Vinci Firefly® technology was used to precisely identify the borders of the defect. The carbon dioxide laser was used to completely remove the defect while avoiding damage to delicate reproductive tissue and over-excision. No complications were identified during the postoperative visit. MRI three months after the surgery revealed a RMT of 10 mm at the location of excision compared to the initial RMT of 1.4 mm. Currently, there is no gold-standard technique for surgical management of isthmocele. This is the first description of the combined use of hysteroscopy, near-infrared vision and laser fiber for the robotic excision of isthmocele. This specific setup proves to be a useful technical improvement. The use of near-infrared vision combined with precise hysteroscopic targeting allows much clearer definition of the isthmocele borders, and the flexible laser fiber allows millimetric excision in the absence of appreciable lateral thermal spread. Further investigation is warranted to identify a gold standard surgical technique for patients with CSD.

Robot-assisted Laparoscopic Excision of Abdominal Wall Endometrioma Utilizing Intraoperative Ultrasound and Transabdominal Needle Placement

In patients with endometriosis, extra pelvic endometriosis is estimated to have an incidence of 11% and a rare subset of extra pelvic lesions include abdominal wall endometriosis with an incidence of 0.03-3.5%1,3. Evaluation for and surgical management of abdominal wall endometriosis is an essential skillset for the advanced gynecologic surgeon. In this video, we demonstrate a surgical technique for robot-assisted laparoscopic excision of abdominal wall endometriosis with intraoperative ultrasound-guided needle placement. Description and demonstration of surgical technique. Patient with previous history of 2 cesarean sections and right lower quadrant cyclic abdominal wall pain. Tertiary care, academic center INTERVENTIONS: Intraoperative ultrasound-guided needle placement to map location and boundaries of the lesion followed by minimally invasive resection of the lesion with the intermittent advancement and withdrawal of needles to confirm clear margins. Minimally invasive resection of abdominal wall endometriosis using intraoperative ultrasound guided needle placement is an effective technique to guide surgical dissection and allow for clear surgical margins and successful treatment of this rare condition.

Diagnostic considerations and surgical techniques for a large prolapsing submucosal myoma

We demonstrate a uterine-sparing technique for excision of a prolapsing submucosal myoma, including adequate exposure, myoma stalk clamping, morcellation technique, use of vasopressin, hysteroscopic evaluation, and insertion of intrauterine balloon.

Effectiveness of Carbon Localization for Invasive Breast Cancer: An Institutional Experience.

The final oncological and aesthetic results of breast-conserving surgery (BCS) are influenced by the precise localization of breast cancer (BC) tumors and by the quality of the intraoperative margin assessment technique. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the carbon localization (CL) technique by determining the success rate of BC identification and the proportion of adequate complete resection of BC lesions. We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective study of patients treated with primary BCS for invasive BC who underwent CL of their BC lesion at the Jules Bordet Institute between January 2015 and December 2017. Descriptive statistics with categorical and continuous variables were used. The success rate of tumor identification and the rate of adequate excision were calculated using the test of percentages for independent dichotomous data. This study included 542 patients with 564 nonpalpable BC lesions. The median pathological tumor size was 12 mm. Of these, 460 were invasive ductal carcinomas. Most of the tumors were of the luminal subtype. CL was performed using ultrasound guidance in 98.5% of cases. The median delay between CL and surgery was 5 days, with 46% of the patients having CL one day before surgery. The lumpectomy weighed 38 g on average, with a median diameter of the surgical sample at 6 cm and a median volume of 44 cm3 (6-369). One-stage complete resection was successfully performed in 93.4% of cases. In 36% of cases, an intraoperative re-excision was performed, based on intraoperative macroscopic pathological margin evaluation. The tumor was identified in 98.9% of cases in the breast surgical specimen. This study demonstrated high success rates for BC tumor identification (99%) and one-stage complete resection (93.4%) after BCS and CL. These results show that CL is an effective, simple, and inexpensive localization technique for successful excision of BC lesions during BCS.

Modified Limbal-Conjunctival Autograft Surgical Technique: Long-Term Results of Recurrence and Complications.

The aim of this study was to report the recurrence and complication rates of a modified limbal-conjunctival autograft surgical technique for pterygium excision. This was a retrospective, single-surgeon, single-operating environment, consecutive case series of 176 eyes in 163 patients with a biopsy-proven diagnosis of pterygium. All patients underwent excision using a 23-gauge needle to "behead" the pterygium head, followed by a limbal-conjunctival autograft including ∼50% of the palisades of Vogt. Outcomes measured included recurrence, defined as any conjunctival fibrovascular growth, and complication rates. Correlations between preoperative patient characteristics, pterygium morphology, and intraoperative factors (width of corneal extension, conjunctival defect, and graft) with postoperative recurrence were examined using logistic regression models. The median age was 59.5 years and 122 eyes (69.3%) had primary pterygium (type I: 17%, II: 37.5%, and III: 45.5%). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated the median pterygium-free follow-up period to be 723 days (range 46-7230 days). Recurrence was observed in 3 eyes of 2 patients (1.7%). No postoperative graft-related complications were observed. Postoperative symptomatology was transient. Age demonstrated a negative correlation with recurrence (odds ratio 0.888, 95% CI, 0.789-0.998, P = 0.046). However, no other correlations with preoperative or intraoperative factors, including whether pterygium was primary or recurrent, were identified (all P > 0.05). This modified limbal-conjunctival autograft technique represents an effective alternative that offers a very low recurrence rate and avoids extensive dissection or antimetabolites, with minimal complications and transient postoperative symptomatology, over a long-term follow-up period. This technique is relatively simple and successful for both primary and recurrent pterygia. Future comparative studies with other surgical techniques may determine which are superior.

Efficacy of Fenestration Technique for Lumbar Disc Excision in Pain Relief

Objective: To determine the outcomes of lumbar disc excision by fenestration technique for pain relief in lumbar radiculopathy due to prolapsed intervertebral disc. Methodology: This is a descriptive study conducted in a joint venture of orthopedic and neurosurgeons in a private hospital of Lahore. Study was completed in six months duration from July to December 2022. All patients presenting with lower back pain, straight leg raise test positive on &lt;60 degrees and prolapsed disc at the level of L4/L5 or L5/S1 L discs on MRI. Those with multilevel disc prolapse, previous history of spinal surgery, cauda equine syndrome and patients with lumbar stenosis were excluded from the study. All study patients were operated under general anesthesia in knee chest position. Efficacy of the procedure was determined using Dennis Pain Scale. Important findings were documented when patient was discharged. SPSS version 20 was used for statistical analysis. Results: 125 patients were studied including 73(58.4%) males and 52(41.6%) females. Patients with the age of 20-60 years were included in this study with the mean age of 47.3 ± 5.2 years. Most commonly involved disc level was L4-L5 in 77(61.6%) and L5-S1 in 48(38.4%) cases. Unilateral radicular pain was present in 94(75.2%) cases and bilateral pain was present in 31(24.8%) cases. According to Dennis Pain Scale out of 125 cases 78(62.4%) patients presented in Dennis pain scale P4 and among them complete recovery achieved in 70(89.7%) cases. Conclusion: Surgical intervention is necessary in selected patients with prolapsed intervertebral disc with chronic unilateral or bilateral radicular pain. Fenestration technique for disc excision is a very good procedure for prolapsed disc. Keywords: Sciatica, Disc Excision, Prolapsed Disc, Radiculopathy