The value of medical leeches in the treatment of class IIC ring avulsion injuries: Report of 2 cases

Tuncali, Dogan; Terzioglu, Ahmen; Cigsar, Bulent; Aslan, Gürcan

doi:10.1016/j.jhsa.2004.05.011

Cited by 18 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Range of motion was normal at the level of MCP and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint. The second report stated two Class IIC injuries which were successfully treated with leech therapy [9]. The first patient underwent leech therapy initiated 3 days after trauma with a duration of 10 days showing a mild total drop of hemoglobin of 2 g/dl without need for further treatment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Treating a subtotal degloving ring avulsion with leeches: an unusual case report with review of the literature

2019

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Subtotal deglovement injuries with delayed presentation give rise to the question: how to treat the mangled soft tissue to best keep the digit alive and functioning. We hereby present a case of a 59-year-old woman who was referred to our clinic 7 h after initial trauma from a peripheral hospital where an instant repositioning of a subtotal degloved skin envelop of her left middle finger had taken place with only minimal adhesion and circulation at the top of the finger left intact. On X-ray, a small avulsion fracture of her distal interphalangeal joint was visible but flexion and extension was intact at proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint level on examination. On arrival, we saw a finger with minimal reconstituted blood circulation and livid skin. Further treatment consisted of onsite debridement and primary suturing of the involved skin, followed by leech therapy the next week, and consecutive splitskin grafting 6 weeks later to cover minor residual defects. Further clinical course was uneventful and showed good clinical and esthetic results. We hereby present the patient's clinical outcome and review of the literature for further evidence of our treatment regime. Level of evidence: Level V, therapeutic study.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Treating a subtotal degloving ring avulsion with leeches: an unusual case report with review of the literature

2019

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“…Tuncali et al reported the excellent results of leech application on two cases with ring avulsion injuries where both had normal artery and lacerated vein (9). In another study, Shenfeld also reported promising results of this method in the treatment of venous insufficiency in a replanted digit (4).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leech Therapy in Nearly Total Amputation of Fingers Without Vascular Repair; A Case Report

TarazJamshidi

Bagheri

Mirkazemi

et al. 2014

Iran Red Crescent Med J

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Introduction:In the absence of microvascular replantation or in crash injury cases in which obtaining an acceptable function is not possible, amputation of the injured finger seems to be the best treatment modality. Some studies recommended leech therapy for this kind of injury after vascular repair to decrease venous congestion.Case Presentation:In this case report, the authors presented a case of leech therapy after near total amputation of the fingers. A 25-year-old patient was admitted following a sawing injury with crashed bundles of the third, fourth and fifth fingers. Microvascular surgery was not performed because of crush injury.Discussion:After a simple repair and pin fixation, the patient was treated using leech therapy. The result was satisfactory. The third and fourth fingers were salvaged. It seems that in cases where a small part of the skin is still attached to the amputated part, even with complete crash of both bundles, leech therapy can help salvage the amputated fingers.

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“…Currently, leech is extensively used in surgery, such as plastic surgery to aid wound healing (Whitaker et al 2004), in the treatment of ring avulsion injuries in plastic surgery (Tuncali et al 2004), after breast surgery to relieve the possible complication of venous congestion (Gross and Apesos 1992), treat venous congestion and hematoma after plastic reconstructive surgery (Riede et al 2010), alleviate post-phlebitis syndrome, in which venous valves are obliterated by a deep vein thrombosis (Eldor et al 1996), reduce symptoms caused by osteoarthritis (Michalsen et al 2003;Andereya et al 2008), symptomatic relief of refractory cancer pain (Kalender et al 2010), with replanted digits (Foucher et al 1981), ears (Cho and Ahn 1999), lips (Walton et al 1998), and nasal tips (Mortenson et al 1998), and for treatment coronary ischemia (van de Loo and Bode 2002).…”

Section: Leechmentioning

confidence: 99%

Helminthes and insects: maladies or therapies

El-Tantawy

2014

Parasitol Res

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By definition, parasites cause harm to their hosts. But, considerable evidence from ancient traditional medicine has supported the theory of using parasites and their products in treating many diseases. Maggots have been used successfully to treat chronic, long-standing, infected wounds which failed to respond to conventional treatment by many beneficial effects on the wound including debridement, disinfection, and healing enhancement. Maggots are also applied in forensic medicine to estimate time between the death and discovery of a corpse and in entomotoxicology involving the potential use of insects as alternative samples for detecting drugs and toxins in death investigations. Leeches are segmented invertebrates, famous by their blood-feeding habits and used in phlebotomy to treat various ailments since ancient times. Leech therapy is experiencing resurgence nowadays in health care principally in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Earthworms provide a source of medicinally useful products with potential antimicrobial, antiviral, and anticancer properties. Lumbrokinases are a group of fibrinolytic enzymes isolated and purified from earthworms capable of degrading plasminogen-rich and plasminogen-free fibrin and so can be used to treat various conditions associated with thrombotic diseases. Helminth infection has been proved to have therapeutic effects in both animal and human clinical trials with promising evidence in treating many allergic diseases and can block the induction of or reduce the severity of some autoimmune disorders as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. What is more, venomous arthropods such as scorpions, bees, wasps, spiders, ants, centipedes, snail, beetles, and caterpillars. The venoms and toxins from these arthropods provide a promising source of natural bioactive compounds which can be employed in the development of new drugs to treat diseases as cancer. The possibility of using these active molecules in biotechnological processes can make these venoms and toxins a valuable and promising source of natural bioactive compounds. The therapeutic use of helminthes and insects will be of great value in biomedicine and further studies on insect toxins will contribute extensively to the development of Biomedical Sciences.

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The value of medical leeches in the treatment of class IIC ring avulsion injuries: Report of 2 cases

Cited by 18 publications

References 13 publications

Treating a subtotal degloving ring avulsion with leeches: an unusual case report with review of the literature

Treating a subtotal degloving ring avulsion with leeches: an unusual case report with review of the literature

Leech Therapy in Nearly Total Amputation of Fingers Without Vascular Repair; A Case Report

Helminthes and insects: maladies or therapies

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