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Case Report: M. Toybenshlak, O. Elishoov, E. London, I. Akopnick, and E. D. Leibner Major complications of minor surgery: A REPORT OF TWO CASES OF CRITICAL ISCHAEMIA UNMASKED BY TREATMENT FOR INGROWN NAILS J Bone Joint Surg Br 2005; 87-B: 1681-1683 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

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Major complications of minor surgery

Avadhoot Prakash Kantak   (30 January 2006)

Major complications of minor surgery 30 January 2006
Avadhoot Prakash Kantak, S.H.O (Orthopaedics) East Surrey Hospital Send letter to journal: Re: Major complications of minor surgery dravadhoot{at}rediffmail.com Avadhoot Prakash Kantak	Sir, I read this case report with great interest. I am in complete agreement with the authors that the complications described are serious, but I beg to differ from the view that these are related to the procedure of toenail excision. Rather, I would blame the smoking in this case, which is very well known to cause problems with wound healing,1,2,3 so it would be appropriate to report it as complications of vascular disease or smoking, which would make it far less uncommon. A.P.Kantak MBBS,MS(Orth) S.H.O Orthopaedics, East Surrey Hospital, Surrey, UK. 1. Freiman A, Bird G, Metelitsa AI, et al. Cutaneous Effects of Smoking. J Cutan Med Surg. 2004;8:415-23. 2. Krueger JK, Rohrich RJ. Clearing the Smoke:The Scientific Rationale for Tobacco Abstention with Plastic Surgery. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2001;108:1063-73. 3. Whiteford L. Nicotine, CO and HCN: the detrimental effects of smoking on wound healing. Br J Community Nurs. 2003;8;S22-6.