Summary
It is estimated that worldwide, 16 million people, aged 15–64 years inject illicit
drugs regularly. When peripheral venous access becomes obliterated, drug users start
injecting into the subdermal area of the skin – “skin popping”. When this area ulcerates,
the well vascularised granulation tissue called a “shooter’s patch" is maintained
as a portal for continuing injection. These “shooter’s patches” are usually on the
limbs, but have been reported on the breast and the penis. We present a case of a
reconstructive muscle flap being used in an unforeseen manner as a shooters patch.
Surgeons rely on muscle flaps to provide a robust reconstructive option, but we have
learnt that drug users value them for their rich vascularity and high absorption.
Keywords
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References
- Global epidemiology of injecting drug use and HIV among people who inject drugs: a systematic review.Lancet. 2008; 372: 1733-1745
- An unusual case of breast ulceration.Breast. 2006; 15: 115-116
- Penile ulcer in heroin abuse: a case report.Cutis. 1982; 29 (69): 62-63
- An unusual, nonhealing ulcer on the forearm.N Engl J Med. 2002; 347: 1725-1726
- Conflicts in the treatment of chronic ulcers in drug addicts–case series and discussion.Br J Plast Surg. 2005; 58: 997-999
Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 29, 2011
Accepted:
August 7,
2011
Received:
August 3,
2011
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
