title: Buried umbilicus: an iatrogenic cause of a discharging umbilical wound.
abstract: We report on a patient who had a previous abdominoplasty with umbilical reconstruction. The patient presented one-year postoperatively with periumbilical cellulitis. This was felt to be due to a retained stitch, which when removed improved the patient's symptoms. However, a further recurrence prompted a surgical exploration, which demonstrated that the original umbilicus had been left in place and buried. This was corrected and the patient has had no further problems at subsequent follow-up. This case presents an iatrogenic cause of a discharging umbilicus; it is reported in context with the differential diagnoses, which should be considered for an infected umbilicus.
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT Surgery, University Hospital Coventry, Coventry, Great Britain. dulanimendis@yahoo.com
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mendis
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pohl
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014472:Umbilicus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*