The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery
& Volume 25, Number 2, March 2014
2. Pinkus H, Mehregan A. Epidermotropic eccrine carcinoma: a case combining features of eccrine porome and Paget’s dermatosis. Arch Dermatol 1963;88:597Y607 3. Robson A, Greene J, Ansari N, et al. Eccrine porocarcinoma (malignant eccrine poroma): a clinicopathologic study of 69 cases. Am J Surg Pathol 2001;25:710Y720 4. Zeidan YH, Zauls AJ, Bilic M, et al. Treatment of eccrine porocarcinoma with metastasis to the parotid gland using intensity-modulated radiation therapy : a case report. J Med Case Rep 2010;4:147
Avoiding Perpetuating Fraudulent Publications in Addendum to Sagit M et al: Efficacy of a Single Preoperative Dose of Pregabalin for Postoperative Pain After Septoplasty To the Editor: With great interest, we read the article of Sagit et al1 investigating the effect of preoperative pregabalin administration on postoperative pain after septoplasty. Their findings are in accordance with recent publications, showing that pregabalin reduces postoperative pain and analgesic requirement, presumably by reducing central sensitization.2,3 Appreciating the effort the authors made in planing and conducting the study, we still have to address one important issue. The authors cited an article by Dr Scott S. Reuben, who was convicted for data fraud. Twenty-one of his articles, including the one cited, were retracted from various well-regarded journals.4,5 When citing a retracted article, authors should always emphasize this fact to their readers. In addition, they should include a note of retraction in the references. However, recognizing retractions is not always easy. Wright and McDaid6 reported that only Medline labels ‘‘retracted publications,’’ whereas, in Embase, the original record remains unchanged. Some journals, for example, Anesthesia & Analgesia, label page description format files of retracted articles with watermarks. However, this still does not prevent unrecognized spreading of fraudulent publications, for example, when using a version of the original file. Because retraction of publications is increasing, scientists have to pay attention to their sources. This is the only way we can ensure that perpetuating fraudulent data will be avoided. Helmar Bornemann-Cimenti, MD, DMedSci Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine Medical University of Graz Graz, Austria Andreas Sandner-Kiesling, MD Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine Medical University of Graz Graz, Austria [email protected]
REFERENCES 1. Sagit M, Yalcin S, Polat H, et al. Efficacy of a single preoperative dose of pregabalin for postoperative pain after septoplasty. J Craniofac Surg 2013;24:373Y375 2. Bornemann-Cimenti H, Lederer AJ, Wejbora M, et al. Preoperative pregabalin administration significantly reduces postoperative opioid
3. 4.
5. 6.
Correspondence
consumption and mechanical hyperalgesia after transperitoneal nephrectomy. Br J Anaesth 2012;108:845Y849 Lederer AJ, Bornemann-Cimenti H, Wejbora M, et al. Pregabalin and postoperative hyperalgesia. a review. Schmerz 2011;25:12Y18 Reuben SS, Buvanendran A, Kroin JS, et al. The analgesic efficacy of celecoxib, pregabalin, and their combination for spinal fusion surgery. Anesth Analg 2006;103:1271Y1277 Shafer SL. Notice of retraction. Anesth Analg 2009;108:1350 Wright K, McDaid C. Reporting of article retractions in bibliographic databases and online journals. J Med Libr Assoc 2011;99:164Y167
Endoscopic Endonasal Dacryocystorhinostomy To the Editor: Yu¨ce et al1 reported a high success rate in patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction treated with endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) and silicone tube stenting. However, we would like to raise concerns on the lack of information regarding the intraoperative and postoperative management. We read that some patients were treated with nasal administration of steroids and that important details including indications and timing, frequency of treatment, and type of steroids used were not described. Likewise, the missing detailed description of the follow-up schedule and explanation of the ‘‘frequent cleaning of granulation tissue’’ would ensure a better understanding of the study. We highlight that the postoperative management is likely to modify the final success rate, being therefore an important point of discussion. In this respect, the adjunctive treatment with antiproliferative agents has also been suggested,2 with a view to inhibiting extensive fibrotic proliferation and occlusion of the surgical stoma. About the study population, reporting data results with the 95% confidence interval would have been more accurate for describing the study population in light of the small sample size. Also, the authors did not characterize the study population: were the cases primary DCR or redo DCR? We argue that this is an important point given the higher rates of failure in redo DCR compared with primary DCR3 and the possible beneficial effect of tube stenting in redo cases.4 We challenge the authors to justify the use of silicone tubes in primary DCR and to explain the rationale for a 6-month interval to tube removal, which seems to be longer than what is suggested and used in routine clinical practice.5 Marco Carifi, MD Department of Otolaryngology A.O.R.N. ‘‘A. Cardarelli’’ Hospital Naples, Italy [email protected] Gianluca Carifi, MD Moorfields Eye Hospital London, United Kingdom
REFERENCES 1. Yu¨ce S, Akal A, Do?an M, et al. Results of endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy. J Craniofac Surg2013;24:11Y12 2. Tirakunwichcha S, Aeumjaturapat S, Sinprajakphon S. Efficacy of mitomycin C in endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy. Laryngoscope 2011;121:433Y436 3. Zuercher B, Tritten JJ, Friedrich JP, et al. Analysis of functional and anatomic success following endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2011;120:231Y238
* 2014 Mutaz B. Habal, MD
Copyright © 2014 Mutaz B. Habal, MD. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
717
Correspondence
The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery
4. Kominek P, Cervenka S, Pniak T, et al. Revision endonasal dacryocystorhinostomies: analysis of 44 procedures. Rhinology 2011;49:375Y380 5. Al-Qahtani AS. Primary endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy with or without silicone tubing: a prospective randomized study. Am J Rhinol Allergy 2012;26:332Y334
PostYElectrical Burn Calvarial Reconstruction Using Extracorporeal Radial Forearm Flap and Polymethylmethacrylate ImplantV24-Year Follow-Up To the Editor: We are hereby presenting a case of a female patient who sustained high-tension electrical injury to her scalp (vertex) at the age of 11 years. She sustained fourth-degree burns with fullthickness necrosis of the left parietal bone in the region of the vertex, which was reconstructed with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and extracorporeal radial artery forearm flap at our institute in 1989.1 Polymethylmethacrylate was a widely used alloplastic material for cranial bone reconstruction. The immobility and relative low stresses intrinsic to calvarium are responsible for low morbidity with this implant.2 However, this patient went on to become a laborer and was carrying bricks and load on her head. She presented to us again in 2013 with patchy necrosis of extracorporeal flap with exposed implant and pus pouring out (Fig. 1, right top). She was initially managed with dressings and later was operated on, where the whole of PMMA implant was removed (Fig. 1, left top). There was granu-
& Volume 25, Number 2, March 2014
lation tissue over the dura 5 4 cm, and the surrounding calvarium was intact. The wound was irrigated with povidone-iodine (Betadine) and saline. Circular defect was covered with local transposition flap raised within the extracorporeal radial artery forearm flap to leave a D-shaped defect (Fig. 1, right bottom). Sickle-shaped transposition flap based on left parietal branch of superficial temporal artery was used to cover the D-shaped defect, resulting in no dog ear formation. At 1-week postoperative period, flaps had survived completely, and there was complete take of split skin graft (Fig. 1, left bottom). This is a unique case with longest ever follow-up on alloplastic implants for calvarial reconstruction reemphasizing the fact that implants such as acrylic (PMMA) never get incorporated into the calvarium, and impact resistance to traumatic insults is uncertain3; like in this case, the patient was carrying load/bricks on her head. We have initially tided over the crisis by removing the exposed infected implant and covering the defect with local flaps. The patient will require a later staged reconstruction with autologous bone. Chandan Jadhav N, MBBS, MS Ramesh K. Sharma, MBBS, MS Department of Plastic Surgery PostgGraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research Chandigarh, India [email protected]
REFERENCES 1. Govila A. Extracorporeal tissue transfer for extensive facial defects. Br J Plast Surg 1989;42:521Y525 2. Manson PN, Crawley WA, Hoopes JE. Frontal cranioplasty: risk factors and choice of cranial vault reconstruction material. Plast Reconstr Surg 1986;77:888 3. Eppley BL, Kilgo M, Coleman JJ. Cranial reconstruction with computer-generated hard-tissue replacement patient-matched implants: indications, surgical techniques, and long-term follow-up. Plast Reconstr Surg 2002;109:864
Nasal Fungal Infection in Chronic Myelodysplastic SyndromeYAssociated Acute Leukemia Occurring in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia
FIGURE 1. Right top: Exposed PMMA implant with extracorporeal radial artery forearm flap. Left top: PMMA implant 11 10 cm removed. Right bottom: Local transposition flaps from extracorporeal forearm flap and anterior scalp. Left bottom: One week postoperative well-settled flap and graft.
718
To the Editor: We have read with great interest the recent reports of nasal mucormycosis in patients with diabetes by Gen et al1 and Kim et al.2 Immunocompromised patients may also show nasal mucormycosis, although more rarely. To our knowledge, in hematologic disorders, one case has been reported in a pediatric patient with leukemia.3 Here, we report the case of an adult-aged patient with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia/Rendu-Osler-Weber disease (HHT) showing a chronic myelodysplastic syndrome (CMDS)Y associated acute myeloid leukemia (AML4) in which nasal mucormycosis occurred in the context of recurrent epistaxis and antileukemic and prophylactic anti-infectious treatments. The patient (woman, 82 y) presented by the end of November 2010 (1 mo after the 4 cures of azacitidine and 1 of romiplostim) with epistaxis, fluctuant fever, respiratory decompensation, and neutropenia. The history of the patient revealed discarthrosis, chronic glaucoma, * 2014 Mutaz B. Habal, MD
Copyright © 2014 Mutaz B. Habal, MD. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
& Volume 25, Number 2, March 2014
2. Pinkus H, Mehregan A. Epidermotropic eccrine carcinoma: a case combining features of eccrine porome and Paget’s dermatosis. Arch Dermatol 1963;88:597Y607 3. Robson A, Greene J, Ansari N, et al. Eccrine porocarcinoma (malignant eccrine poroma): a clinicopathologic study of 69 cases. Am J Surg Pathol 2001;25:710Y720 4. Zeidan YH, Zauls AJ, Bilic M, et al. Treatment of eccrine porocarcinoma with metastasis to the parotid gland using intensity-modulated radiation therapy : a case report. J Med Case Rep 2010;4:147
Avoiding Perpetuating Fraudulent Publications in Addendum to Sagit M et al: Efficacy of a Single Preoperative Dose of Pregabalin for Postoperative Pain After Septoplasty To the Editor: With great interest, we read the article of Sagit et al1 investigating the effect of preoperative pregabalin administration on postoperative pain after septoplasty. Their findings are in accordance with recent publications, showing that pregabalin reduces postoperative pain and analgesic requirement, presumably by reducing central sensitization.2,3 Appreciating the effort the authors made in planing and conducting the study, we still have to address one important issue. The authors cited an article by Dr Scott S. Reuben, who was convicted for data fraud. Twenty-one of his articles, including the one cited, were retracted from various well-regarded journals.4,5 When citing a retracted article, authors should always emphasize this fact to their readers. In addition, they should include a note of retraction in the references. However, recognizing retractions is not always easy. Wright and McDaid6 reported that only Medline labels ‘‘retracted publications,’’ whereas, in Embase, the original record remains unchanged. Some journals, for example, Anesthesia & Analgesia, label page description format files of retracted articles with watermarks. However, this still does not prevent unrecognized spreading of fraudulent publications, for example, when using a version of the original file. Because retraction of publications is increasing, scientists have to pay attention to their sources. This is the only way we can ensure that perpetuating fraudulent data will be avoided. Helmar Bornemann-Cimenti, MD, DMedSci Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine Medical University of Graz Graz, Austria Andreas Sandner-Kiesling, MD Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine Medical University of Graz Graz, Austria [email protected]
REFERENCES 1. Sagit M, Yalcin S, Polat H, et al. Efficacy of a single preoperative dose of pregabalin for postoperative pain after septoplasty. J Craniofac Surg 2013;24:373Y375 2. Bornemann-Cimenti H, Lederer AJ, Wejbora M, et al. Preoperative pregabalin administration significantly reduces postoperative opioid
3. 4.
5. 6.
Correspondence
consumption and mechanical hyperalgesia after transperitoneal nephrectomy. Br J Anaesth 2012;108:845Y849 Lederer AJ, Bornemann-Cimenti H, Wejbora M, et al. Pregabalin and postoperative hyperalgesia. a review. Schmerz 2011;25:12Y18 Reuben SS, Buvanendran A, Kroin JS, et al. The analgesic efficacy of celecoxib, pregabalin, and their combination for spinal fusion surgery. Anesth Analg 2006;103:1271Y1277 Shafer SL. Notice of retraction. Anesth Analg 2009;108:1350 Wright K, McDaid C. Reporting of article retractions in bibliographic databases and online journals. J Med Libr Assoc 2011;99:164Y167
Endoscopic Endonasal Dacryocystorhinostomy To the Editor: Yu¨ce et al1 reported a high success rate in patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction treated with endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) and silicone tube stenting. However, we would like to raise concerns on the lack of information regarding the intraoperative and postoperative management. We read that some patients were treated with nasal administration of steroids and that important details including indications and timing, frequency of treatment, and type of steroids used were not described. Likewise, the missing detailed description of the follow-up schedule and explanation of the ‘‘frequent cleaning of granulation tissue’’ would ensure a better understanding of the study. We highlight that the postoperative management is likely to modify the final success rate, being therefore an important point of discussion. In this respect, the adjunctive treatment with antiproliferative agents has also been suggested,2 with a view to inhibiting extensive fibrotic proliferation and occlusion of the surgical stoma. About the study population, reporting data results with the 95% confidence interval would have been more accurate for describing the study population in light of the small sample size. Also, the authors did not characterize the study population: were the cases primary DCR or redo DCR? We argue that this is an important point given the higher rates of failure in redo DCR compared with primary DCR3 and the possible beneficial effect of tube stenting in redo cases.4 We challenge the authors to justify the use of silicone tubes in primary DCR and to explain the rationale for a 6-month interval to tube removal, which seems to be longer than what is suggested and used in routine clinical practice.5 Marco Carifi, MD Department of Otolaryngology A.O.R.N. ‘‘A. Cardarelli’’ Hospital Naples, Italy [email protected] Gianluca Carifi, MD Moorfields Eye Hospital London, United Kingdom
REFERENCES 1. Yu¨ce S, Akal A, Do?an M, et al. Results of endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy. J Craniofac Surg2013;24:11Y12 2. Tirakunwichcha S, Aeumjaturapat S, Sinprajakphon S. Efficacy of mitomycin C in endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy. Laryngoscope 2011;121:433Y436 3. Zuercher B, Tritten JJ, Friedrich JP, et al. Analysis of functional and anatomic success following endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2011;120:231Y238
* 2014 Mutaz B. Habal, MD
Copyright © 2014 Mutaz B. Habal, MD. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
717
Correspondence
The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery
4. Kominek P, Cervenka S, Pniak T, et al. Revision endonasal dacryocystorhinostomies: analysis of 44 procedures. Rhinology 2011;49:375Y380 5. Al-Qahtani AS. Primary endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy with or without silicone tubing: a prospective randomized study. Am J Rhinol Allergy 2012;26:332Y334
PostYElectrical Burn Calvarial Reconstruction Using Extracorporeal Radial Forearm Flap and Polymethylmethacrylate ImplantV24-Year Follow-Up To the Editor: We are hereby presenting a case of a female patient who sustained high-tension electrical injury to her scalp (vertex) at the age of 11 years. She sustained fourth-degree burns with fullthickness necrosis of the left parietal bone in the region of the vertex, which was reconstructed with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and extracorporeal radial artery forearm flap at our institute in 1989.1 Polymethylmethacrylate was a widely used alloplastic material for cranial bone reconstruction. The immobility and relative low stresses intrinsic to calvarium are responsible for low morbidity with this implant.2 However, this patient went on to become a laborer and was carrying bricks and load on her head. She presented to us again in 2013 with patchy necrosis of extracorporeal flap with exposed implant and pus pouring out (Fig. 1, right top). She was initially managed with dressings and later was operated on, where the whole of PMMA implant was removed (Fig. 1, left top). There was granu-
& Volume 25, Number 2, March 2014
lation tissue over the dura 5 4 cm, and the surrounding calvarium was intact. The wound was irrigated with povidone-iodine (Betadine) and saline. Circular defect was covered with local transposition flap raised within the extracorporeal radial artery forearm flap to leave a D-shaped defect (Fig. 1, right bottom). Sickle-shaped transposition flap based on left parietal branch of superficial temporal artery was used to cover the D-shaped defect, resulting in no dog ear formation. At 1-week postoperative period, flaps had survived completely, and there was complete take of split skin graft (Fig. 1, left bottom). This is a unique case with longest ever follow-up on alloplastic implants for calvarial reconstruction reemphasizing the fact that implants such as acrylic (PMMA) never get incorporated into the calvarium, and impact resistance to traumatic insults is uncertain3; like in this case, the patient was carrying load/bricks on her head. We have initially tided over the crisis by removing the exposed infected implant and covering the defect with local flaps. The patient will require a later staged reconstruction with autologous bone. Chandan Jadhav N, MBBS, MS Ramesh K. Sharma, MBBS, MS Department of Plastic Surgery PostgGraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research Chandigarh, India [email protected]
REFERENCES 1. Govila A. Extracorporeal tissue transfer for extensive facial defects. Br J Plast Surg 1989;42:521Y525 2. Manson PN, Crawley WA, Hoopes JE. Frontal cranioplasty: risk factors and choice of cranial vault reconstruction material. Plast Reconstr Surg 1986;77:888 3. Eppley BL, Kilgo M, Coleman JJ. Cranial reconstruction with computer-generated hard-tissue replacement patient-matched implants: indications, surgical techniques, and long-term follow-up. Plast Reconstr Surg 2002;109:864
Nasal Fungal Infection in Chronic Myelodysplastic SyndromeYAssociated Acute Leukemia Occurring in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia
FIGURE 1. Right top: Exposed PMMA implant with extracorporeal radial artery forearm flap. Left top: PMMA implant 11 10 cm removed. Right bottom: Local transposition flaps from extracorporeal forearm flap and anterior scalp. Left bottom: One week postoperative well-settled flap and graft.
718
To the Editor: We have read with great interest the recent reports of nasal mucormycosis in patients with diabetes by Gen et al1 and Kim et al.2 Immunocompromised patients may also show nasal mucormycosis, although more rarely. To our knowledge, in hematologic disorders, one case has been reported in a pediatric patient with leukemia.3 Here, we report the case of an adult-aged patient with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia/Rendu-Osler-Weber disease (HHT) showing a chronic myelodysplastic syndrome (CMDS)Y associated acute myeloid leukemia (AML4) in which nasal mucormycosis occurred in the context of recurrent epistaxis and antileukemic and prophylactic anti-infectious treatments. The patient (woman, 82 y) presented by the end of November 2010 (1 mo after the 4 cures of azacitidine and 1 of romiplostim) with epistaxis, fluctuant fever, respiratory decompensation, and neutropenia. The history of the patient revealed discarthrosis, chronic glaucoma, * 2014 Mutaz B. Habal, MD
Copyright © 2014 Mutaz B. Habal, MD. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
