Accidental radiation exposure leading to non-healing ulcers

Abstract

Two patients with accidental radiation injury presented at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. The first patient, a 41-year-old male, presented with a large necrotic patch on his right gluteal region, which was debrided. Due to the progressive nature of the injury, he developed further necrosis and a non-healing ulcer over the right gluteal region, which was further debrided and covered with a tensor fascia lata flap. Further necrosis over the ischial region was debrided and covered with a pedicled gracilis muscle flap, following which he again required debridement and flap cover for the residual area, which then finally healed. The second patient had a history of radiation exposure followed by a non-healing ulcer on right arm. He was managed by debridement and flap coverage in a single sitting. These two cases suggest that wide excision, thorough debridement and coverage with vascularised tissue are effective in treating radiation ulcers and emphasise that all radiation sources and their management should be strictly controlled.

Reconstruction of a Forearm Radiation Ulcer Using an Anterolateral Thigh Flap: A Case Report

“…Most cases of radiation skin disorders are due to percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, which frequently occurs in the right back, right chest, and left back 7) . To the best of our knowledge, there are only three reported cases of radiation ulcers on the forearm or elbow, including a skin ulcer due to radiation therapy for abnormal bones after fracture 5) and two skin ulcers due to accidental radiation exposure 6) . However, there are no reports of forearm radiation ulcers due to stent-graft insertion for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm.…”

“…However, the present case involved the development of a radiation ulcer on the forearm after abdominal stent-graft insertion. To the best of our knowledge, there are only two reports of radiation ulcers on the forearm to date 5,6) . In these works, radiation exposure referred to therapeutic exposure for abnormal ossification and accidental exposure.…”