Scleroderma and the Role of Plastic Surgery Intervention

Scleroderma is a rare autoimmune condition of uncertain etiology that affects approximately 1 in 40,000 people in the United States and is characterized by excessive collagen deposition in all organ systems including the skin [1]. Common symptoms of scleroderma include Calcinosis, Raynaud phenomenon, Esophageal dysmotility, Sclerodactyly, and Telangiectasia (CREST syndrome) as well as vascular, pulmonary and cardiac pathology [2]. Symptoms are often debilitating and lead to functional and aesthetic compromise. Plastic surgical intervention may be a viable option for a subset of patients to ameliorate functional and / or aesthetic symptomatology depending on the subtype of scleroderma, the magnitude of disease extension and the operative setting.