ARTICLE IN PRESS YBJOM-3989; No. of Pages 3 Available online at www.sciencedirect.com British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery xxx (2013) xxx.e1–xxx.e3 Short communication Management of rhinophyma with VersajetTM and ReCell® J.A. Dunne ∗ , D.B. Saleh, J.M. Rawlins Department of Plastic Surgery, Pinderfields Hospital, Aberford Road, Wakefield WF1 4EE, United Kingdom Accepted 19 February 2013 Abstract Operation is the mainstay of treatment for rhinophyma. Numerous techniques for dermaplaning and dermabrasion have been described with typical healing times of roughly 3 weeks. We present a case that combined use of the VersajetTM (Smith & Nephew, UK) system with ReCell® non-cultured autologous skin cells (Avita Medical, UK) to expedite re-epithelialisation. After sculpting with VersajetTM , a 1 cm2 split-thickness skin biopsy specimen was harvested for application of autologous skin. Postoperative pictures at 6 days show well-formed epithelial buds, and at 9 days the nose was fully healed. The application of ReCell® hastened healing. This could potentially avoid hypertrophic scars and lessen the number of visits to outpatients for dressing to be changed, rendering it more advantageous than other techniques. © 2013 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Rhinophyma; VersajetTM ; ReCell® Introduction Case report Rhinophyma describes an erythematous, hypertrophied, and tuberous enlargement of the lower half of the nose. As it is thought to be a final manifestation of rosacea,1 medical treatments for this condition are now employed in the management of rhinophyma.1 Regression of existing rhinophyma has not been proved and operation is the mainstay of treatment. Electrosurgery and laser treatment2 have been reported with good results, and numerous techniques for dermaplaning have been described.3 Although surgical approaches can differ, the base of the wound is dressed and typical time to healing is roughly 3 weeks or more.4 We describe use of the VersajetTM system (Smith & Nephew, UK) with ReCell® Spray-On SkinTM (Avita Medical, UK) to hasten healing in cases of rhinophyma. A 68-year-old warehouse worker with a history of rosacea presented with rhinophyma of 3 years duration, which had gradually worsened. Medical treatment with oxytetracycline had controlled the inflammation but had had no effect on the pre-existing rhinophyma. He did not smoke and occasionally drank alcohol. On examination, he had telangiectatic alar rims. The nasal airway was patent and the rhinophyma was asymmetrical, involving both the alar and nasal dorsum (Fig. 1). He underwent sculpting with VersajetTM and haemostasis with topical adrenaline. A 1 cm2 split-thickness skin biopsy specimen was harvested with a blade from the postauricular surface of the right ear. It was processed using ReCell® and a 3 ml autologous cell suspension was produced and applied, followed by a TelfaTM dressing (Covidien, USA) and gauze. Postoperative pictures at 6 days show well-formed epithelial buds, and at 9 days the nose was fully healed (Fig. 2). He required 2 visits to the plastic surgery dressing clinic before the wound healed completely. We advocate this method of treatment to optimise re-epithelialisation, minimise scarring in operations for ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +44 7870987503. E-mail address: Jonathan.a.dunne@gmail.com (J.A. Dunne). 0266-4356/$ – see front matter © 2013 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bjoms.2013.02.009 Please cite this article in press as: Dunne JA, et al. Management of rhinophyma with VersajetTM and ReCell® . Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg (2013), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bjoms.2013.02.009 YBJOM-3989; No. of Pages 3 xxx.e2 ARTICLE IN PRESS J.A. Dunne et al. / British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery xxx (2013) xxx.e1–xxx.e3 Fig. 1. Preoperative picture of rhinophyma (published with the patient’s consent). Fig. 3. Appearance of nose 4 months after operation (published with the patient’s consent). rhinophyma (Fig. 3), and reduce the requirement for followup visits. Discussion Fig. 2. Nose fully healed 9 days after operation (published with the patient’s consent). Traditionally, sharp debridement of rhinophyma may result in over-resection of tissue and may damage the delicate cartilaginous supporting structures of the nose. VersajetTM is an additional tool that can be used to optimise sculpting of the nasal subunits and to allow the smooth removal of tissue over contours such as the alar and nasal dorsum.3 In the hands of an experienced operator it is highly sensitive for the selective removal of scarred and sebaceous tissue. After excision of rhinophyma, patients are left with a de-epithelialised wound that requires healing by secondary intention and in-growth from epithelial remnants. It has the risk of continuous bleeding, serous leaks, infection, and delays in healing, which can result in variations in pigmentation and hypertrophic scarring.4 Healing can take up to a month with repeated visits to the plastic surgery dressing clinic and time off work. In our patient, ReCell® autologous cell suspension helped rapidly to re-epithelialise the wound, which had healed 9 days after the procedure. Non-cultured autologous skin cells (ReCell® ) have been shown to be effective in re-epithelialising burns and other Please cite this article in press as: Dunne JA, et al. Management of rhinophyma with VersajetTM and ReCell® . Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg (2013), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bjoms.2013.02.009 YBJOM-3989; No. of Pages 3 ARTICLE IN PRESS J.A. Dunne et al. / British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery xxx (2013) xxx.e1–xxx.e3 trauma wounds, and it is likely that they interact with a surgical wound in a similar manner to a burn (Rawlins J. Non-cultured autologous skin cells (ReCell® ) in difficult to heal chronic wounds. DeepesTissues. Official newsletter of the Australian Wound Management Association Inc. and the Australian and New Zealand Burns Association; June 2011:7–8).5 ReCell® has also been shown to be effective in the elective management of patients who have revision of scars, and in disorders of pigmentation such as vitiligo.6,7 To our knowledge this is the first report of the use of ReCell® in the management of rhinophyma, where a good aesthetic result after prompt healing is paramount. Methods of treatment should be compared in a single centre where costing and time to healing with a validated aesthetic outcome can be measured accurately. Early wound closure (with the practical advantages of fewer changes of dressings and an earlier return to work and social activities) and a normally pigmented nose without hypertrophic scarring is a definite advantage in the treatment of these patients. xxx.e3 Conflict of interest None. References 1. Rosacea RA. J Invest Dermatol 1987;88:56s–60s. 2. Greenbaum SS, Krull EA, Watnick K. Comparison of CO2 laser and electrosurgery in the treatment of rhinophyma. J Am Acad Dermatol 1988;18:363–8. 3. Taghizadeh R, Mackay SP, Gilbert PM. Treatment of rhinophyma with the Versajet hydrosurgery system. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2008;61:330–3. 4. Redett RJ, Manson PN, Goldberg N, et al. Methods and results of rhinophyma treatment. Plast Reconstr Surg 2001;107:1115–23. 5. Gravante G, Di Fede MC, Araco A, et al. A randomized trial comparing ReCell system of epidermal cells delivery versus classic skin grafts for the treatment of deep partial thickness burns. Burns 2007;33:966–72. 6. O’Neill TB, Rawlins J, Rea S, et al. Treatment of a large congenital melanocytic nevus with dermabrasion and autologous cell suspension (ReCell® ): a case report. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2011;64:1672–6. 7. Cervelli V, Spallone D, Lucarini L, et al. Treatment of stable vitiligo hands by ReCell® system: a preliminary report. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2010;14:691–4. Please cite this article in press as: Dunne JA, et al. Management of rhinophyma with VersajetTM and ReCell® . Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg (2013), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bjoms.2013.02.009
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