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Background: Full thickness skin grafts (FTSGs), although ideal for resurfacing large defects of the distal extremities in veterinary patients, have a high failure rate due to issues of adherence, infection and inadequate revascularisation because of its thickness and high nutritional demand. This study investigated the effect of Nigeria bee honey on FTSG take at the distal extremities of dogs. The study was conducted on 6 adult male Nigerian indigenous dogs using 3 of the 4 limbs of each dog randomly divided into 3 treatment groups: Nigerian bee honey (HON group), platelet-rich plasma (PRP group) and normal saline (CON group). Full‐thickness skin wounds (3 cm × 1.5 cm) were created on the lateral aspect of the radioulnar or metatarsal areas and dressed till adequate granulation tissues formed. Donor skins harvested from the lateral thorax of each dog were sutured to the recipient bed following application of the assigned treatment, and evaluated grossly and histologically on days 0, 4, 7, 10, 14, 17, and 21. Results: A higher percentage (4/6 representing 66.7%) of complete graft take was observed in the HON and PRP groups as compared to 3/6 (50%) in the CON group. The HON group had a greater percentage (5/6 representing 83.3%) of adhered grafts as compared to the PRP (4/6 representing 66.7%) and CON (3/6 representing 50%) groups at day 4. There was a significant decrease (p = 0.022) in percentage necrosis between the CON and HON/PRP groups on day 10, 14 and 17. The percentage open mesh area for the HON group was significantly lesser at day 4, 7 and 10 when compared with CON (p < 0.001) and at day 4 when compared with PRP (p = 0.001). At histology, graft neovascularisation score was highest in the HON group on days 4, 14 and 21. Conclusion: Nigeria bee honey enhanced take of meshed full-thickness skin autografts by promoting adherence to the recipient bed, enhancing fibroblast proliferation and collagen laydown, and accelerating the rate of neovascularisation suggesting promising application as an alternative modality to enhance FTSG take. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Suprastomal granulation tissue is a complication of tracheostomy which may make decannulation difficult and presents a therapeutic challenge to the Otorhinolaryngologists. The aims of this study therefore were to evaluate tracheostomy in black African population, determine the prevalence of suprastomal granulation tissue and provide updated information on it that will enable the otorhinolaryngologists to better understand and manage the lesion. Methods: We reviewed case files of patients who had tracheostomy between 1993 and 2007 at University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria for essential clinical data. Results: Of the 256 patients who had tracheostomy, 133(51.95%) had prior orotracheal intubation for 10 - 21days. Suprastomal granulation tissue complicated 16 (6.25%) cases, this accounted for 88.89% of cases of failed decannulation. Indications for tracheostomy in these patients included severe head injury in 12 (75%), tetanus in 3 (18.75%)] and intubation granuloma in 1(6.25%) of these cases. Sixteen (4.3%) cases had stomal infection. Conclusion: This study showed that the prevalence of suprastomal granulation is high among our patients. There is a need for good surgical tracheostomy technique to prevent this complication and stomal infection should be promptly treated while cuffed orotracheal intubation for more than two weeks in unconscious and tetanus patients should be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study of scarification practice and scar complications among Nigerians. There were 44 males and 99 females participated in the study of which 117 knew about scarification. It shows that a nonsterile razor blades and knives were the most commonly used instrument for scarification.

Six clinical features of chronic skin ulceration are employed to described a new scoring system. When utilised in 50 evaluations of chronic leg ulcers, a significant correlation with independent observations of the same ulcers, based on the clinical judgement of an expert, was obtained. The new method of scoring can be applied with ease, requires no special training, and can be used consistently by health workers.