Burn and Scar Repair: Treatment Process of Scars and Tissue Loss
Burns resulting from accidents or incorrect applications can cause permanent scars, especially on the face, hands, and other visible areas. Similarly, sequelae, which manifest as functional or tissue disorders following a disease, can lead to deformations in the body. Through burn and scar repair, these marks, deformations, and losses of function can be significantly reduced or, in some cases, completely eliminated depending on the specific case.
Burn cases are generally classified under three degrees. First-degree burns affect only the top layer of the skin and can cause severe ache and pain. Second-degree burns reach the lower layers of the skin, where swelling, slight blisters, and moderate pain are observed. Third-degree burns pass through all layers of the skin and can damage underlying tissues such as the fat layer, muscle, tendon, and even bone tissue. In such burns, the sensation of pain usually does not occur because the nerve endings are also damaged. As the area covered by the burn increases, the risk of life-threatening conditions also increases. Additionally, electrical burns can cause serious damage to internal tissues and life-threatening situations regardless of the surface area.
Burn and scar repair require different treatment approaches depending on the degree of damage and its location on the body. When necessary, surgical methods such as tissue transplantation or tissue shifting, also known as flap surgery, can be used. In particular, burns caused by chemicals and radiation can prolong the healing process and increase the likelihood of scarring. In this process, the guidance of specialist doctors plays a critical role in achieving successful results both aesthetically and functionally.
Diabetic Foot: Symptoms, Causes, and Modern Treatment Methods
Problems such as non-healing wounds, infections, or ulcers that occur in diabetic patients are defined as diabetic foot. Diabetic foot disease can be seen in approximately 20 percent of diabetic patients. it generally develops in patients who have had diabetes for many years or whose blood sugar cannot be kept under control. If early diagnosis and effective treatment are not applied, serious consequences such as loss of foot or leg can occur.
Even simple problems such as shoe pressure or ingrown toenails can turn into foot ulcers in a short time in diabetic patients. When symptoms such as numbness, burning, or loss of sensation in the foot are noticed, it is necessary to consult a specialist physician without losing time. Thanks to early intervention, the disease can be controlled before it progresses.
Diabetic foot is a slow-progressing disease that often develops without symptoms. In the first stage, dryness occurs in the foot; over time, a decrease in the sense of touch and nerve damage begins. With the nerves being affected, foot deformities may develop. At the same time, vascular occlusions also reduce blood flow in this area, making healing difficult. Even a small wound in diabetic patients can turn into a serious diabetic foot problem over time. For this reason, patients should pay attention to blood sugar control and follow the advice of their physicians regarding foot care.
If diabetic foot is not treated, the foot or leg may need to be amputated due to progressing infection. Therefore, a preventive approach is of great importance. In advanced cases, surgical cleaning of dead tissues may be required. In recent years, gene therapy and stem cell treatments offer promising results in diabetic foot treatment and increase recovery rates.
Pressure Sores: Causes, Stages, and Treatment Methods
Pressure sores, also known as bedsores or pressure ulcers, are usually seen in areas with bony prominences such as the hips, back, heels, and elbows. These types of sores can occur in people who remain immobile in the same position for a long time, especially in individuals who are hospitalized or bedridden. If not treated, they can reach a level that can create a life-threatening risk.
Among the most common causes of pressure sores are constant pressure, friction, moisture, and tissue tearing. These factors lead to skin and subcutaneous tissues not receiving enough oxygen and eventually result in tissue death.
Pressure sores are graded from stage 1 to stage 4. While only redness is observed in stage 1, serious tissue damage and necrosis, meaning tissue death, can occur in stage 3 and stage 4. Stage 1 and stage 2 pressure sores can be healed with regular dressing and skin care. However, in the treatment of advanced-stage sores, surgical follow-up and intervention by a plastic surgery specialist may be required.
The most important step in the treatment of pressure sores is reducing the pressure in the relevant area. In addition, hygiene conditions should be provided to prevent the risk of infection, and antibiotic treatment should be applied when necessary. Professional dressings performed by expert healthcare personnel in their field are of vital importance in wound care.
Additionally, the diet is an important factor in wound healing. A balanced nutrition plan rich in protein accelerates the patient's recovery process. The treatment process is teamwork; it requires a multidisciplinary approach consisting of plastic surgery, infectious diseases, nutritionists, and nurses.
Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Hidradenitis Suppurativa, also known among the public as the Dog Nipple disease, is a chronic skin disease whose cause has not been fully explained. One of the accepted mechanisms is that it occurs as a result of the blockage of hair follicles located in areas where sweat glands are concentrated, such as the armpit, groin, under the breast, and around the hips. These blockages turn into painful nodules and inflamed lesions over time, seriously affecting the quality of life.
The disease is most commonly seen in areas where skin touches skin, such as the armpit and groin area. It can also be observed more rarely in areas such as under the breast, around the hips, and on the inner thigh. It may rarely occur in different areas of the body as well.
It usually starts in the 20s, but can be seen at any age. After the age of 50, a significant decrease in the frequency of occurrence is observed. Its diagnosis can mostly be made by clinical examination, and the first area of expertise to be consulted is the dermatology physician. This condition should be managed with the cooperation of dermatology, plastic surgery, and general surgery specialists. Surgical decisions should be evaluated with a multidisciplinary approach. Surgical options come to the fore, especially in cases that do not respond to medical treatment.