title: Management of a soft tissue tumor in a child with Worster Drought syndrome using 810 nm diode laser - A case report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An out-patient surgical procedure in the paediatric age group is a tough task for a surgeon, more so when compounded with mentally challenging conditions like cerebral palsy. Every step involved, either administration of local anaesthesia or handling sharp surgical instruments around the face or achieving haemostasis, can be a challenge, with compromise on patient safety. Neither undue restraint nor general anaesthesia is advisable, considering the magnitude of the procedure. In such cases, a safe, rapid and effective technique that can be comfortably performed under topical anaesthesia without use of sharp instruments or needles would be an ideal option. The purpose of this paper is to highlight one such situation, where an intra-oral soft tissue tumor was safely and effectively ablated using diode laser, under topical anaesthesia in a child with cerebral palsy concurrent with Worster Drought syndrome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Topical anaesthesia provided adequate conditions to ablate the tumor. A bloodless field was achieved, with no need for sutures. The procedure was completed in less than half the time required for a conventional approach. Postoperative follow-up of 3 months showed complete healing with no recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Portable diode lasers are an effective tool for minor oral surgical procedures in paediatric population especially, children who are mentally challenged.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Jayakumar's Sulochana dental centre & educational academy, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Praveen Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Jayakumar
authors.affiliation: Dr. Jayakumar's Sulochana dental centre & educational academy, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Jayakumar
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paramasivam
authors.affiliation: Department of oral and maxillofacial surgery, Faculty of dental sciences, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Naveen Kumar
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Jayakumar
authors.affiliation: Dr. Jayakumar's Sulochana dental centre & educational academy, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Gayathri Praveen
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics and Implantology, P.M.S College of Dental Science and Research, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Alex Mathews
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Muruppel
keywords: 810nm diode laser; Paediatric oral surgery; Worster Drought syndrome