Lipoatrophia semicircularis
| Lipoatrophia semicircularis | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Semicircular lipoatrophy[1] |
 | |
| Lipoatrophia semicircularis caused by armrest edge | |
| Specialty | Dermatology  |
Lipoatrophia semicircularis, also known as semicircular lipoatrophy,[1] is a medical condition in humans, commonly known as ribbed thighs.
It consists of a semicircular zone of atrophy of the subcutaneous fatty tissue located mostly on the front of the thighs. Skin and underlying muscles remains intact.
Semicircular lipoatrophy affects women more commonly than men, but the exact prevalence is unknown. Those working in an office environment are more susceptible[2]. The ribs in the thighs are typically between 2 and 4 cm high and are typically located at about 72 cm above the ground, which is the standard height of office furniture.[3]
Cause
[edit]It is not yet clear what causes semicircular lipoatrophy. Proposed contributing factors include localized pressure,[4][5] blood circulation problems,[3][2] or electrical phenomena[6][7], which may act in combination.
Management
[edit]Treatment is focused on removing the environmental triggers. As multiple factors may be causal, numerous measures have been implemented to manage this condition, including:[8]
- Adjusting chair height, to reduce physical contact between the thighs and the desk
- Applying antistatic products to surfaces which may harbour electrostatic charges
- Avoiding wearing tight clothing where possible
Prognosis
[edit]The condition has a favourable prognosis, with most cases resolving within a few months of workplace adjustments.[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 Rapini, Ronald P.; Bolognia, Jean L.; Jorizzo, Joseph L. (2007). Dermatology: 2-Volume Set. St. Louis: Mosby. ISBN 978-1-4160-2999-1.
- 1 2 "Lipoatrophia semicircularis". Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 64 (2): AB41. February 2011. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2010.09.192. ISSN 0190-9622.
- 1 2 Verschaeve, Luc; Maes, A. (2009). "Support for the hypothesis that electro-stimulation is responsible for Lipoatrophia semicircularis". Medical Hypotheses. 73 (5): 802–806. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2009.01.058. ISSN 1532-2777. PMID 19577378.
- ↑ Hodak E, David M, Sandbank M (1990). "Semicircular lipoatrophy--a pressure-induced lipoatrophy?". Clin. Exp. Dermatol. 15 (6): 464–5. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2230.1990.tb02147.x. PMID 2279347. S2CID 39905400.
- ↑ Gómez-Espejo C, Pérez-Bernal A, Camacho-Martínez F (2005). "A new case of semicircular lipoatrophy associated with repeated external microtraumas and review of the literature". Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 19 (4): 459–61. doi:10.1111/j.1468-3083.2005.01092.x. PMID 15987293. S2CID 46065748.
- ↑ Linares-García Valdecasas, Rafael; Cuerda-Galindo, Esther; Ramiro Bargueño, Julio; Naranjo Garcia, Pablo; Vogelfrang-Garncarz, Daniel; Palomar-Gallego, M. Angustias (2015). "Semicircular Lipoatrophy: An Electrostatic Hypothesis". Dermatology. 230 (3): 222–227. doi:10.1159/000370045. ISSN 1018-8665.
- ↑ Flagothier C, Quatresooz P, Pierard GE (2006). "Electromagnetic lipolysis and semicircular lipoatrophy of the thighs". Annales de Dermatologie et de Vénéréologie (in French). 133 (6–7): 577–80. doi:10.1016/S0151-9638(06)70967-X. PMID 16885849.
- 1 2 Bru-Gorraiz, F. J.; Comunión-Artieda, A.; Bordel-Nieto, I.; Martin-Gorgojo, A. (2021-01-01). "[Translated article] Lipoatrophia semicircularis: Clinical study and follow-up of 76 cases in Madrid, Spain. Classification proposal". Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas (in Spanish). 113 (1): T15–T21. doi:10.1016/j.ad.2021.05.022. ISSN 0001-7310.