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A case of disproportionate macrodactyly or a mild form of Proteus syndrome? An interesting case

Abdullah S, Haflah NH, Sapuan J, Das S

Acta Medica (Hradec Kralove), 2010;53(4):243-6.
PMID: 21400985

We present a 20-year-old Malay male whom we believe has Proteus syndrome, a rare congenital disorder of asymmetrical overgrowth of body tissues. There are fewer than 100 confirmed cases reported worldwide thus the clinical presentation and histopathological findings are of significance. Our patient presented with an overgrown right small finger and subcutaneous purplish pigmentation over his left upper arm and chest since birth. His small finger gradually increased in size. He had no abnormalities in sensation or power. Radiographs revealed a delta shaped middle phalanx of the small finger. His activities of daily living were uninterrupted but he requested debulking surgery for cosmetic reasons. Histopathological examination reported hypertrophic fatty tissue composed of well formed lobules of mature adipocytes interspersed with fibrous elements.
Collagen-coated polylactic-glycolic acid (PLGA) seeded with neural-differentiated human mesenchymal stem cells as a potential nerve conduit

Sulong AF, Hassan NH, Hwei NM, Lokanathan Y, Naicker AS, Abdullah S, et al.

Adv Clin Exp Med, 2014 May-Jun;23(3):353-62.
PMID: 24979505

Autologous nerve grafts to bridge nerve gaps pose various drawbacks. Nerve tissue engineering to promote nerve regeneration using artificial neural conduits has emerged as a promising alternative.
Skeletal-related events among breast and prostate cancer patients: towards new treatment initiation in Malaysia's hospital setting

Ezat SW, Syed Junid SM, Noraziani K, Zafar A, Saperi S, Nur AM, et al.

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2013;14(5):3357-62.
PMID: 23803129

The human skeleton is the most common organ to be affected by metastatic cancer and bone metastases are a major cause of cancer morbidity. The five most frequent cancers in Malaysia among males includes prostate whereas breast cancer is among those in females, both being associated with skeletal lesions. Bone metastases weaken bone structure, causing a range of symptoms and complications thus developing skeletal-related events (SRE). Patients with SRE may require palliative radiotherapy or surgery to bone for pain, having hypercalcaemia, pathologic fractures, and spinal cord compression. These complications contribute to a decline in patient health- related quality of life. The multidimensional assessment of health-related quality of life for those patients is important other than considering a beneficial treatment impact on patient survival, since the side effects of treatment and disease symptoms can significantly impact health-related quality of life. Cancer treatment could contribute to significant financial implications for the healthcare system. Therefore, it is essential to assess the health-related quality of life and treatment cost, among prostate and breast cancer patients in countries like Malaysia to rationalized cost-effective way for budget allocation or utilization of health care resources, hence helping in providing more personalized treatment for cancer patients.
Fulltext Osseous haemophilic pseudotumour and concurrent primary hyperparathyroidism: a diagnostic conundrum

Low SF, Sridharan R, Ngiu CS, Haflah NH

BMJ Case Rep, 2014;2014.
PMID: 24729114 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2013-203282

Pseudotumours are rare, occurring in 1-2% of severe haemophiliacs. Osseous locations are far less frequent than soft tissue location. We report a case of a 43-year-old man with haemophilia A, who presented with a gradually enlarging left thigh mass for 8 months. There were no constitutional symptoms. Plain radiograph showed an expansile lytic lesion with 'soap-bubble' appearance arising from the left femur diaphysis. On MRI, it appeared as a non-enhancing, multilobulated lesion expanding the medullary and subperiosteal spaces. The mass exhibited concentric ring sign with heterogeneous intermediate signal intensity in the core lesion, reflective of chronic haematoma with blood degradation products of different stages. A diagnosis of haemophilic pseudotumour was made. Hypercalcaemia, however, raised a diagnostic dilemma as bone malignancy needed to be considered. An open excisional biopsy and subsequent amputation confirmed the diagnosis of osseous haemophilic pseudotumour. Nuclear medicine study later revealed a concurrent parathyroid adenoma.
Human bone marrow-derived MSCs spontaneously express specific Schwann cell markers

Ramli K, Aminath Gasim I, Ahmad AA, Hassan S, Law ZK, Tan GC, et al.

Cell Biol Int, 2019 Mar;43(3):233-252.
PMID: 30362196 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11067

In peripheral nerve injuries, Schwann cells (SC) play pivotal roles in regenerating damaged nerve. However, the use of SC in clinical cell-based therapy is hampered due to its limited availability. In this study, we aim to evaluate the effectiveness of using an established induction protocol for human bone marrow derived-MSC (hBM-MSCs) transdifferentiation into a SC lineage. A relatively homogenous culture of hBM-MSCs was first established after serial passaging (P3), with profiles conforming to the minimal criteria set by International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT). The cultures (n = 3) were then subjected to a series of induction media containing β-mercaptoethanol, retinoic acid, and growth factors. Quantitative RT-PCR, flow cytometry, and immunocytochemistry analyses were performed to quantify the expression of specific SC markers, that is, S100, GFAP, MPZ and p75 NGFR, in both undifferentiated and transdifferentiated hBM-MSCs. Based on these analyses, all markers were expressed in undifferentiated hBM-MSCs and MPZ expression (mRNA transcripts) was consistently detected before and after transdifferentiation across all samples. There was upregulation at the transcript level of more than twofolds for NGF, MPB, GDNF, p75 NGFR post-transdifferentiation. This study highlights the existence of spontaneous expression of specific SC markers in cultured hBM-MSCs, inter-donor variability and that MSC transdifferentiation is a heterogenous process. These findings strongly oppose the use of a single marker to indicate SC fate. The heterogenous nature of MSC may influence the efficiency of SC transdifferentiation protocols. Therefore, there is an urgent need to re-define the MSC subpopulations and revise the minimal criteria for MSC identification.
Fulltext Metastatic Vascular Pleomorphic Leiomyosarcoma in a Previously Treated Cervical Carcinoma Patient: A Diagnostic Dilemma

Ghani UHM, Leong JF, Sani MH, Rosli N, Mohd-Haflah NH

Cureus, 2021 Jul;13(7):e16182.
PMID: 34367789 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.16182

Vascular leiomyosarcoma is a rare malignant tumour of the smooth muscle connective tissue. Patients are usually asymptomatic in the early stages and only present when the lesion causes compressive or obstructive effects or has metastasized. We report a case of vascular pleomorphic leiomyosarcoma in a 70-year-old lady with a background history of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. She presented with a three-month history of low back pain, which radiated to the anterior bilateral thigh. Initial radiological findings revealed metastatic lesions involving the spine and lungs. Two spinal biopsies done were inconclusive. Increasing severity of pain over the right thigh prompted further imaging, which revealed bilateral femoral lesions. The patient underwent surgery which involved excision of the tumour in the right proximal femur with skeletal reconstruction using megaprosthesis. Proximal femoral nail was performed for the left femur. Intra-operatively, tumour was noted at the anteromedial aspect of the proximal right thigh surrounding the superficial femoral vein. Histopathological report of the right thigh mass finally confirmed a diagnosis of vascular pleomorphic leiomyosarcoma. The patient presented four months later with bilateral pulmonary embolism with deep vein thrombosis in addition to progression of the disease.
Fulltext Unusual Presentation of Giant Upper Limb Malignant Melanoma

Khim OG, Leong JF, Sani MH, Mohamed Haflah NH

Cureus, 2021 Aug;13(8):e16996.
PMID: 34540398 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.16996

Melanoma is rare among the Asian population. In Malaysia, there is little public awareness of melanoma compared to other types of cancer. Giant melanomas measuring more than 10 cm are rarely encountered and there are limited data available regarding this disease. We would like to report an unusual presentation of giant malignant melanoma of upper limb in a 62-year-old patient who presented with a five-month history of a progressively enlarging, painless mass on his left arm. This mass which measures 10 x 15 cm turned out to be a giant malignant melanoma of the left arm. To our knowledge, this is the largest melanoma of arm reported in Malaysia. Radiological findings were suggestive of soft tissue sarcoma with lung metastasis. Patient underwent wide local excision of left-arm mass and upper limb reconstruction. The diagnosis of malignant melanoma was made based on the final histopathology report. Despite aggressive treatment involving multidisciplinary units, it did not prevent the disease progression and patient succumbed five months after his presentation. Here, we present our experience in the management of this large malignant melanoma of the arm and to stress the sinister nature of melanoma.
Fulltext Distal Tibiofibular Joint Reconstruction Using Autograft in a Rare Case of Lower Limb Sclerosing/Spindle Cell Rhabdomyosarcoma: A Two-Year Follow-Up

Othman H, Mohamed Haflah NH, Sani MH, Wan Ismail WF, Kesu Belani L

Cureus, 2023 Aug;15(8):e42869.
PMID: 37664329 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.42869

Sclerosing/spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma (s-scRMS) is a rare variant of striated muscle tumours. It has been recognised as an individual entity, the fourth subtype of rhabdomyosarcoma in the latest WHO classification. In the paediatric population, it occurs more commonly in the paratesticular area, whereas in adults, it occurs more commonly in the head and neck region. It has distinctive characteristics in terms of its histopathological and immunochemistry findings, which help in accurate diagnosis. The mainstay of treatment is a multimodal approach, i.e., surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. However, no standard care is still being established internationally for adult cases. In adults, this tumour has a poorer prognosis as compared to children. We describe a patient with s-scRMS of the lower limb who has undergone wide local resection of the tumour with surgical reconstruction of the distal tibiofibular joint with autograft and its two-year outcome.
Retropatellar fat pad-derived stem cells from older osteoarthritic patients have lesser differentiation capacity and expression of stemness genes

Chua KH, Zaman Wan Safwani WK, Hamid AA, Shuhup SK, Mohd Haflah NH, Mohd Yahaya NH

Cytotherapy, 2014 May;16(5):599-611.
PMID: 24290076 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2013.08.013

The use of retropatellar fat pad-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (RFMSCs) for cell-based therapy, particularly for cartilage repair, has been reported by several investigators in recent years. However, the effects of the donor's age and medical condition on the characteristics of RFMSCs have not been well established. The aim of this study was to determine whether age and medical condition can reduce the multipotential of stem cells isolated from the retropatellar fat pad.
Partial anterior interosseous nerve palsy: isolated neuropraxia of the branch to flexor pollicis longus

Haflah NH, Rashid AH, Sapuan J

Hand Surg, 2010;15(3):221-3.
PMID: 21089198

Anterior interosseous nerve palsy is rare. Isolated neuropraxia of its branch to the flexor pollicis longus is even rarer. We present a case of a 24-year-old man who presented with weakness of his left thumb flexion after sustaining closed fracture of the proximal third of his left radius. On exploration, the anterior interosseous nerve and its branches was found to be intact as was the flexor pollicis longus. Electrophysiological studies demonstrated acute left anterior interosseous nerve neuropathy. Electromyography showed discrete motor unit at the flexor pollicis longus. Two months later the patient had full recovery of the flexor pollicis longus. We would like to highlight this rare occurrence and present a detailed history of this case to increase awareness amongst clinicians regarding this condition.
Fulltext Functional Disability and Symptomatic Slow-Acting Drugs for Osteoarthritis in Adults with Periodontitis

Nik-Azis NM, Mohd N, Baharin B, Mohd Fadzilah F, Mohamed Haflah NH, Mohamed Said MS

Healthcare (Basel), 2023 Mar 06;11(5).
PMID: 36900775 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11050770

Osteoarthritis (OA) patients have decreased functional ability and restricted access to healthcare facilities and are on a spectrum of medications. These can impact their oral health. This study aims to investigate the association between periodontal disease and OA disease parameters, specifically the functional disability and the medications taken. This was a cross-sectional study on OA participants recruited from the Hospital Canselor Tuanku Mukhriz. Periodontal health parameters were obtained from an oral examination of the participants. A Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) was administered to ascertain the functional status of the participants. Out of the 130 participants recruited, 71 (54.6%) had periodontitis. There was a correlation between the teeth count with OA severity, where participants with a greater Kellgren-Lawrence score had less teeth (rs = 0.204, p = 0.025). Participants with a greater degree of functional limitation also had less teeth (rs = -0.181, p = 0.039) and a higher clinical attachment loss (rs = 0.239, p = 0.006). There were no associations found between the symptomatic slow-acting drugs in OA and periodontal health parameters. In conclusion, there was a high proportion of periodontitis in patients with OA. Functional disability was associated with measures of periodontal health. It is suggested that clinicians treating OA patients consider the need for a referral for dental care when managing this group of patients.
Advancement of Electrospun Nerve Conduit for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration: A Systematic Review (2016-2021)

Lee SY, Thow SY, Abdullah S, Ng MH, Mohamed Haflah NH

Int J Nanomedicine, 2022;17:6723-6758.
PMID: 36600878 DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S362144

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is a worldwide problem which hugely affects the quality of patients' life. Nerve conduits are now the alternative for treatment of PNI to mimic the gold standard, autologous nerve graft. In that case, with the advantages of electrospun micro- or nano-fibers nerve conduit, the peripheral nerve growth can be escalated, in a better way. In this systematic review, we focused on 39 preclinical studies of electrospun nerve conduit, which include the in vitro and in vivo evaluation from animal peripheral nerve defect models, to provide an update on the progress of the development of electrospun nerve conduit over the last 5 years (2016-2021). The physical characteristics, biocompatibility, functional and morphological outcomes of nerve conduits from different studies would be compared, to give a better strategy for treatment of PNI.
Massive Traumatic Skin Defect Successfully Treated with Autologous, Bilayered, Tissue-Engineered MyDerm Skin Substitute: A Case Report

Mohamed Haflah NH, Ng MH, Mohd Yunus MH, Naicker AS, Htwe O, Abdul Razak KA, et al.

JBJS Case Connect, 2018 6 15;8(2):e38.
PMID: 29901479 DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.17.00250

CASE: A 22-year-old man sustained a laceration that measured 180 cm, after debridement, over the anterolateral aspect of the right leg following a road traffic accident. The wound was treated with MyDerm (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia), a cell-based, bilayered, bioengineered dermal substitute that contains no animal-derived components and is fully autologous. For its construction, only a small area of skin was harvested from the left groin, which was closed primarily with absorbable sutures.
CONCLUSION: MyDerm is an alternative option for the treatment of a massive skin defect in patients who desire removal of only a negligible amount of skin from the donor site and when use of an autograft is insufficient.
An elbow dislocation in a child with missed medial epicondyle fracture and late ulnar nerve palsy

Haflah NH, Ibrahim S, Sapuan J, Abdullah S

J Pediatr Orthop B, 2010 Sep;19(5):459-61.
PMID: 20555271 DOI: 10.1097/BPB.0b013e32833b6032

Elbow dislocations associated with a medial epicondyle fracture and ulnar nerve palsy are uncommon injuries. We present the case of an 11-year-old girl with an elbow dislocation treated by closed manual reduction. The medial epicondyle fracture was missed initially until she developed an ulnar nerve palsy 2 months later. Intraoperatively we discovered the bony epicondyle piercing the joint capsule and compressing the ulnar nerve. Removal of the bony fragment relieved her symptoms and she returned to normal activities at 1 year follow-up. We would like to highlight this rare occurrence and present the detailed history and management of this case.
Giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath in the knee of an 11-year-old girl

Abdullah A, Abdullah S, Haflah NH, Ibrahim S

J Chin Med Assoc, 2010 Jan;73(1):47-51.
PMID: 20103492

Giant cell tumors are commonly found over the flexor tendon sheath of the hand and wrist. However, giant cell tumors in the knee joint are rare, especially in children. We report an interesting case of an 11-year-old girl who presented with a painful lump on her right knee that enlarged over time. Clinically, she had fullness over the anterolateral part of her knee. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an encapsulated mass inferior to the patella. The tumor measured 3 x 3.5 x 1.5 cm. Histopathological findings confirmed that it was a tenosynovial giant cell tumor. Because of initial mild symptoms, there was a delay of 2 years from the initial symptoms until tumor excision. Her follow-up period was 35 months, and her health to date is excellent with no recurrence. We believe that reporting this rare case will help clinicians update their knowledge on possible causes of lumps in the knee, and avoid diagnostic delay. It could also prove to be beneficial in arriving at a diagnosis in future cases.
Fulltext Melorheostosis of the ulna

Abdullah S, Pang GM, Mohamed-Haflah NH, Sapuan J

J Chin Med Assoc, 2011 Oct;74(10):469-72.
PMID: 22036140 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcma.2011.08.019

Melorheostosis is a rare osteosclerotic bone dysplasia. It is usually characterized by dull and aching pain, reduced joint motion and contractures. Classic radiograph findings are of undulating cortical hyperostosis along the length of the bone, simulating a "dripping candlewax appearance". We report two cases of melorheostosis of the ulna bone, diagnosed 6 years apart in two different females in their early 20s. Both the patients presented with the characteristic features of dull and aching pain in the forearm and were treated conservatively. However, we misdiagnosed the first case as bone malignancy and subjected the patient to a biopsy. For the second case, with hindsight we made the correct diagnosis based only on the classic clinical history and radiographs. We believe that the discussion of a misdiagnosed case of melorheostosis with salient findings may be important for clinicians and orthopedicians in day-to-day clinical practice.
Fulltext Giant epidermoid cyst of the thigh

Mohamed Haflah N, Mohd Kassim A, Hassan Shukur M

Malays Orthop J, 2011 Nov;5(3):17-9.
PMID: 25279030 MyJurnal DOI: 10.5704/MOJ.1111.001

Epidermoid cyst is a common benign cutaneous swelling frequently encountered in surgical practice. It usually presents as a painless lump frequently occurring in hairbearing areas of the body particularly the scalp, scrotum, neck, shoulder and back. Giant epidermoid cysts commonly occur in hairy areas such as the scalp. We present here the case of a rare occurrence of a giant epidermoid cyst in the less hairy area of the right upper thigh mimicking a soft tissue sarcoma. Steps are highlighted for the management of this unusual cyst.
Fulltext Coordinating a Postgraduate Orthopaedic Exam During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Mohamed-Haflah NH, Abdullah S, Abdul-Rani R

Malays Orthop J, 2021 Mar;15(1):16-20.
PMID: 33880143 DOI: 10.5704/MOJ.2103.003

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and institution of the Movement Control Order (MCO) had resulted in the cancellation of a major orthopaedic exam in April 2020. The exam is known as the Malaysian Orthopaedic Specialist Committee (OSC) Part I Examinations. It is similar to the British Royal Colleges of Surgeons Membership (MRCS) exams and held twice annually in April and October. There are up to 200 candidates involved. With implementation of new guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOP), the OSC Part I exam was successfully held by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) from 5th-9th October 2020. Here we highlight the challenges we faced whilst coordinating a major exam at a national level during the COVID-19 pandemic with recommendations for future exams.
Fulltext Outcome of Skeletal Reconstructive Surgery for Metastatic Bone Tumours in the Femur

Mohamed-Haflah NH, Kassim Y, Zuchri I, Zulmi W

Malays Orthop J, 2017 Mar;11(1):28-34.
PMID: 28435571 MyJurnal DOI: 10.5704/MOJ.1703.013

INTRODUCTION: The role of surgery in skeletal metastasis is to reduce morbidity and improve the quality of life in terminally ill patients. We report our experience with patients who underwent skeletal reconstructive surgery for metastatic bone tumour of the femur.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty nine operations for skeletal metastasis of the femur performed in our centre between 2009 and 2015 were included in this study. We evaluated the choice of implant, complications, survival rate and functional outcome. Fourteen patients were still alive at the time of this report for assessment of functional outcome using Musculoskeletal Tumour Society (MSTS) form.
RESULTS: Plating osteosynthesis with augmented-bone cement was the most common surgical procedure (17 patients) performed followed by arthroplasty (10 patients) and intramedullary nailing (2 patients) There were a total of five complications which were implant failures (2 patients), surgical site infection (2 patients), and site infection mortality (1 patient). The median survival rate was eight months. For the functional outcome, the mean MSTS score was 66%.
CONCLUSION: Patients with skeletal metastasis may have prolonged survival and should undergo skeletal reconstruction to reduce morbidity and improve quality of life. The surgical construct should be stable and outlast the patient to avoid further surgery.
Fulltext Multiple Scattered and Small Lesions of Lower Limbs: Idiopathic Calcinosis Cutis: A Case Report

Ferdaus-Kamudin NA, Mohamed-Haflah NH

Malays Orthop J, 2018 Mar;12(1):66-68.
PMID: 29725520 MyJurnal DOI: 10.5704/MOJ.1803.008

Calcinosis cutis is a rare presentation and not many cases have been reported especially of idiopathic type. We are reporting a case of idiopathic calcinosis cutis of lower limbs in a 33-year old female who presented to our clinic for multiple painless swellings over her lower limbs for the past six months, without any history of trauma or infection. We have decided to observe her condition on regular follow-up and conservative management.

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