Riverview Psychiatric Center

Psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease, poses challenges not only due to its somatic symptoms but also because of its significant impact on patients’ quality of life, mental health, and social and occupational functioning. This review aimed to analyze the multidimensional influence of psoriasis on patients’ psychosocial condition, with particular attention to stigmatization, symptoms of depression and anxiety, suicide risk, and factors affecting quality of life. The analysis is based on up-to-date literature from systematic reviews, cross-sectional and qualitative studies published between 2010 and 2025. Findings indicate that patients with psoriasis are significantly more likely to experience depressive and anxiety disorders, often regardless of lesion severity. Subjective factors such as body image perception, social stigma, loss of control over one’s body, and limitations in professional life play a crucial role. Importantly, some patients exhibit suicidal ideation at early stages of the disease, even before treatment begins. Simultaneously, evidence points to the necessity of an integrated care model that includes dermatological, psychological, and social support. Incorporating mental health and quality of life assessments into routine clinical practice can significantly improve treatment outcomes and patient well-being. This review emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to psoriasis management that addresses not only physical but also psychological and social dimensions.

Complex soft tissue defects, which result from the surgical resection of sacral tumors, manifest as a combination of skin defects, dead space, infection, and prosthesis exposure. Because the traditional musculocutaneous flap lacks flexibility because of the close connection between the skin flap and the muscle component, the musculocutaneous flap is not suitable for reconstructing complex soft tissue defects where the dead space and skin defects are located at different sites. Furthermore, the perforator flap is also not appropriate for reconstructing complex defects because it lacks the muscular component. We considered the possibility of using the chimeric perforator propeller flap for reconstructing complex sacrococcygeal defects. This study included 7 patients who underwent, between July 2007 and July 2021, the reconstruction of complex soft tissue defects of the sacrococcygeal region using a chimeric perforator propeller flap. Among the included cases, the etiologies were chordoma (n = 3), sacral tumor (n = 3), and squamous cell carcinoma (n = 1). In all the cases, vacuum-assisted closure therapy was used to treat wound infections before surgery. The average sizes of the skin and muscle flaps were 195.8 cm 2 (range, 100-350 cm 2 ) and 83.6 cm 2 (range, 60-140 cm 2 ), respectively. The superior gluteal artery was the source artery for the chimeric perforator propeller flap. The donor sites were primarily closed in all cases. One patient had delayed wound healing, and the secondary wound healed using conservative dressing changes. The other 6 flaps had no complications. The average follow-up time was 5.3 months (range, 1-9 months). Muscle weakness and compromised ambulation in the affected lower extremities were not observed in any of the patients. Furthermore, all 7 patients had no tumor recurrence, prosthesis exposure, and infection events in the sacrococcygeal region. The chimeric perforator propeller flap may be an option for reconstructing complex soft tissue defects in the sacrococcygeal region.

To determine nurses' knowledge level about skin tears (STs). This cross-sectional study included 346 nurses working in acute care hospitals in Turkey who completed web- or paper-based surveys in September and October 2021. Researchers used the Skin Tear Knowledge Assessment Instrument, which consists of 20 questions across six domains, to assess nurses' level of ST knowledge. The mean age of the nurses was 33.67 (SD, 8.88) years, 80.6% were women, and 73.7% had an undergraduate degree. Nurses' mean number of correct answers on the Skin Tear Knowledge Assessment Instrument was 9.33 (SD, 2.83) of 20 (46.66% [SD, 14.14%]). The mean numbers of correct answers by domain were as follows: etiology, 1.34 (SD, 0.84) of 3; classification and observation, 2.21 (SD, 1.00) of 4; risk assessment, 1.01 (SD, 0.68) of 2; prevention, 2.68 (SD, 1.23) of 6; treatment, 1.66 (SD, 1.05) of 4; and specific patient groups, 0.74 (SD, 0.44) of 1. Significant associations were found among the nurses' ST knowledge scores and whether they had graduated from a nursing program (P = .005), their working years (P = .002), their working unit (P < .001), and whether they provided care to patients with STs (P = .027). Nurses' level of knowledge of the etiology, classification, risk assessment, prevention, and treatment of STs was low. The authors recommend including more information about STs in basic nursing education, in-service training, and certificate programs to increase nurses' ST knowledge.

Chest computed tomography (CT) scans are important for the management of rib fracture patients, especially when determining indications for surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRFs). Chest CTs describe the number, patterns, and severity of rib fracture displacement, driving patient management and SSRF indications. Literature is scarce comparing radiologist versus surgeon rib fracture description. We hypothesize there is significant discrepancy between how radiologists and surgeons describe rib fractures. This was an institutional review board-approved, retrospective study conducted at a Level I academic center from December 2016 to December 2017. Adult patients (≥18 years of age) suffering rib fractures with a CT chest where included. Basic demographics were obtained. Outcomes included the difference between radiologist versus surgeon description of rib fractures and differences in the number of fractures identified. Rib fracture description was based on current literature: 1, nondisplaced; 2, minimally displaced (<50% rib width); 3, severely displaced (≥50% rib width); 4, bicortically displaced; 5, other. Descriptive analysis was used for demographics and paired t test for statistical analysis. Significance was set at p = 0.05. Four hundred and ten patients and 2,337 rib fractures were analyzed. Average age was 55.6(±20.6); 70.5% were male; median Injury Severity Score was 16 (interquartile range, 9-22) and chest Abbreviated Injury Scale score was 3 (interquartile range, 3-3). For all descriptive categories, radiologists consistently underappreciated the severity of rib fracture displacement compared with surgeon assessment and severity of displacement was not mentioned for 35% of rib fractures. The mean score provided by the radiologist was 1.58 (±0.63) versus 1.78 (±0.51) by the surgeon (p < 0.001). Radiologists missed 138 (5.9%) rib fractures on initial CT. The sensitivity of the radiologist to identify a severely displaced rib fracture was 54.9% with specificity of 79.9%. Discrepancy exists between radiologist and surgeon regarding rib fracture description on chest CT as radiologists routinely underappreciate fracture severity. Surgeons need to evaluate CT scans themselves to appropriately decide management strategies and SSRF indications. Prognostic/Diagnostic Test, level III.

To investigate patient-level factors predictive for computed tomography of the brain (CTB) use and abnormality in head injured children in Australia and New Zealand. Retrospective data from tertiary, urban/suburban and regional/rural EDs including factors predictive for CTB use and abnormality. Of 3072 children at 31 EDs, 212 (6.9%) had a CTB scan, of which 66 (31%) were abnormal. Increasing age, serious mechanisms of injury and decreasing Glasgow Coma Score were predictive for ordering CTB. Decreasing age was predictive for CTB abnormalities. Other factors were not. Patient-level drivers of CTB use in children in Australia and New Zealand are consistent with international data.

A 21-year-old man with NF1 (neurofibromatosis type 1) mutation and in remission from acute myeloid leukemia presented with a painless mass in the left upper limb. MRI showed a soft-tissue mass involving the ulnar nerve presumed to be a nerve sheath tumor. F-FDG PET/CT was performed demonstrating high FDG avidity in the mass, prompting a biopsy. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry of the biopsy sample demonstrated myeloid sarcoma of the ulnar nerve. This case highlights the role of F-FDG PET/CT in raising the suspicion of malignancy in otherwise presumably benign lesions of the nerve.

From the Division of Trauma, Acute Care Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, Department of Surgery, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA. Submitted: August 25, 2020, Revised: August 25, 2020, Accepted: August 26, 2020, Published online: September 4, 2020. Address for reprints: David V. Shatz, MD, Division of Trauma, Acute Care Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, Department of Surgery, University of California, 2335 Stockton Blvd, NAOB 5th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95817; email: [email protected].

Our patient was a 72-year-old man with absent activity of the right femoral artery and mildly decreased Tc-DPD activity on the right leg as indicated on the blood pool and delayed images, respectively. Subsequent peripheral angiography revealed a total occlusion of the right external iliac artery with good collateral flow. Careful review of blood flow and blood pool images of 3-phase bone scintigraphy could provide additional information about peripheral vascular disease.