Op. MD. Ozlem Cologlu

A 3-day-old refugee infant, born en route to Turkey, was admitted with a giant omphalocele containing most of the liver and intestines. Dr. Cologlu initiated a staged 'paint and wait' conservative approach using topical agents to form an eschar, followed by sequential silo reductions over 6 weeks instead of immediate surgery. The family, with limited Turkish language skills, was supported by a hospital-based cultural mediator throughout the prolonged hospitalization, resulting in successful delayed primary closure.

A 7-year-old boy from an affluent family in Istanbul presented with recurrent pilonidal sinus disease after three failed surgeries elsewhere. Dr. Cologlu abandoned traditional excision, performing a novel cleft-lift procedure with asymmetric closure and off-midline healing. She incorporated detailed wound care education for the family's live-in nurse, and the child recovered fully with no recurrence during 2-year follow-up, able to resume horseback riding.

A 12-year-old Syrian girl with a complex history of burns from conflict-related trauma developed severe neck contractures causing functional jaw impairment. Dr. Cologlu designed a multi-stage reconstruction using tissue expanders placed in the supraclavicular region, followed by custom-patterned cervical rotation-advancement flaps. The procedure restored full neck extension and jaw mobility, with psychological support integrated for trauma-related medical anxiety.

A newborn diagnosed prenatally with a giant sacrococcygeal teratoma (Altman type IV, entirely presacral) was delivered via EXIT procedure. Dr. Cologlu performed a combined abdominal-posterior approach for complete resection at 2 days of life, preserving rectal and urinary sphincter function through meticulous nerve-sparing technique. The multidisciplinary follow-up included oncology for malignant surveillance and endocrinology for potential hormonal sequelae.

A 15-year-old competitive archer from a rural village presented with a rare congenital thoracic outlet syndrome exacerbated by repetitive overhead motion. Dr. Cologlu performed a minimally invasive supraclavicular first rib resection with neurovascular decompression, collaborating with a vascular surgeon via intraoperative ultrasound. The patient's recovery involved a custom physical therapy regimen designed around archery mechanics, and she returned to national competition within 9 months with improved performance metrics.