A case of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa: surgical treatment for hand contracture using abdominal skin flap.
The patient was a 15-year-old male. Since birth, he has suffered from recurrent blistering, especially on the extremities. Histology and electron microscopic finding of the cutaneous lesions were compatible with those of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. Contracture and mobility limitation of the hands had gradually deteriorated. Prior to the admission to our clinic, both hands' contracture had been surgically treated 4 times in another hospital; however, after treatment with skin grafting, hand contracture recurred each time within one year. This time, surgical treatment was carried out for his left hand contracture using an abdominal skin flap under local anesthesia. In comparison with the free skin graft the abdominal skin flap improved hand contracture for a longer time. Abdominal skin flap is recommended as a method for the treatment of hand contracture of patients with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.
Department of Dermatology, Nara Medical University, Japan.
T
T
Muramatsu
M
M
Hatoko
T
T
Shirai
P
P
Vanittanakom
D000005:Abdomen; D000293:Adolescent; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000601:surgery; D003286:Contracture / Q000601:surgery*; D016108:Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006225:Hand / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*