This paper reports the treatment of oral lymphangiomas with carbon dioxide CO? Laser. Lymphangiomas are rare congenital lymphatic malformations. These lesions are most frequently diagnosed during childhood, are most commonly located in the head and neck region, and are extremely rare in the oral cavity. Oral lymphangiomas are of complex treatment due to the difficulty in performing a complete excision. CO? laser is the most often used laser in the oral cavity due to its affinity with water and high absorption by the oral mucosa. Several benefits of the use of CO? laser have been reported for surgical oral procedures. The cases reported herein were biopsy-proven lymphangiomas of the oral cavity. The surgical procedures were carried out under local anesthesia and a focused CO? laser beam (?10.600 nm, ? ~2 mm, CW/RSP) was used. At the end of the surgery, the laser beam was used on a defocused mode to promote better hemostasis. Neither sutures nor dressings were used after surgery. No medication and only mouthwashes were prescribed to all patients on the postoperative period. There were no postsurgical complaints from the patients and no relapses of the conditions were observed after follow-up periods of 12 and 18 months. The use of CO? laser was practical, easy to carry out and effective on the treatment of oral lymphangiomas, with no lesion recurrence.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Surgical treatment of oral lymphangiomas with CO2 laser: report of two uncommon cases.
The emergent evaluation and treatment of hand and wrist injuries.
The anatomy of the hand is complex, which allows for the dexterity, strength, and adaptability of the most functional aspect of the musculoskeletal system. The evaluation and management of injuries to this area can be time consuming and pose a significant medicolegal risk to the emergency physician. Improperly diagnosed and managed injuries can lead to chronic pain, inability to perform activities of daily living, and even seemingly minor injuries can lead to missed work causing a significant cost to the individual and society. The purpose of this article is to review injuries to the hand and wrist and discuss diagnostic studies and treatment plans that the emergency physician can use to treat patients effectively and minimize their exposure to risk.
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