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BACKGROUND: Fat is widely used in soft tissue augmentation. Nevertheless, it has an unpredictably high resorption rate. Clinically, external expansion with negative pressure is used to increase fat graft survival. In this study, fat graft recipient sites were preconditioned by external application of negative pressure in order to test for improvements in vascularity and fat graft survival. METHODS: Negative pressure was applied randomly to either the left or right dorsal ear of 20 New Zealand male white rabbits at a pressure of -125 mm Hg. The negative pressure was removed one week after the skin perfusion was measured. The skin flap at each ear was elevated, and 1 g of fat was grafted above the dorsal perichondrium. After one week, the fat weight, microvessel density, mature vessel density of the skin and fat, and amount of glycerol released were measured. Three months after the grafting, the same measurements were performed, with the exception of glycerol release. RESULTS: The fat survival rate of the experimental group (75.4%±3.9%) was higher than that of the control group (53.1%±4.3%) (P<0.001). Skin perfusion was higher in the experimental group. The glycerol release in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the control. The microvessel density of the skin and fat was significantly higher in the experimental group. Three months after the grafting, the skin and fat mature vessel density was significantly higher in the experimental groups. CONCLUSIONS: Negative pressure prior to fat grafting increased the vascularity of the recipient site, and, accordingly, enhanced fat graft survival.
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In perforator flap reconstruction, vascular mapping using preoperative computed tomography (CT) angiography is widely used to confirm the existence and location of an appropriate perforator. This study proposes a rapid, accurate, and convenient method for marking the perforator location on the skin surface. For 12 patients who underwent perforator flap reconstruction between November 2011 and November 2013, metal clips were fixed on the skin surface at the anticipated perforator locations, which were decided using a handheld Doppler. CT angiography was used to compare the location between the metal clip and the actual perforator. The metal clip was moved and repositioned, if needed, on the basis of the CT images. The locations of the appropriate perforator and the metal clip, which were observed during the surgery, were then compared. In CT angiography, the mean distance between the metal clip and the perforator was 3±3.9 mm, and the mean distance that was measured during surgery was 0.8±0.8 mm. In conclusion, we report a simple, rapid, and precise technique to indicate the accurate location of the appropriate perforator on the skin surface.
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BACKGROUND: Treatment of skull base tumors is challenging due to limited access and presence of important neurovascular structures nearby. The success of a complete tumor resection depends on the extent of tumor exposure and secure field of view. While these tumors are often removed by transcranial endoscopic access, transfacial approach is sometimes required depending on the location and size of the tumor. This study describes various transfacial approaches in patients undergoing skull base tumor resection. METHODS: From March to November 2013, 15 patients underwent skull base tumor resection via transfacial accesses at a tertiary institution. Data were reviewed for patient demographics, type of access used, completeness of tumor resection, surgical outcome, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Two clivus tumor patients underwent transmaxillary approach; three tuberculum- sellae and suprasellar-hypothalamus tumor patients underwent transbasal approach; three clinoid and retrobulbar intraconal orbital tumor patients underwent orbitozygomatic approach; and seven petroclival-area, pons, cavernous sinus, and lateral-sphenoid-wing tumor patients underwent zygomatic approach. In all cases, the upper and lower margins of the tumor were visible. Complete tumor removal consisted of 10 cases, and partial tumor removal in 5. There were no immediate major complications observed for the transfacial portion of the operations. The overall cosmetic results were satisfactory. CONCLUSION: Plastic surgeons can use various transfacial approaches according to the location and size of skull base tumors to secure a sufficient field of view for neurosurgeons.
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BACKGROUND: Administration of growth factors has been associated with increased viability of composite grafts greater than 1-cm in diameter. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) contains many of the growth factors studied. In this study, we evaluate the effect of PRP injection on composite graft viability and the proper time for injection. METHODS: A total of 24 New Zealand White rabbits were divided into four groups. Autologous PRP was injected into the recipient sites three days before grafting in group 1, on the day of grafting in group 2, and three days after grafting in group 3. Group 4 served as control without PRP administration. Auricular composite grafts of 3-cm diameter were harvested and grafted back into place after being rotated 180 degrees. Median graft viability and microvessel density were evaluated at day 21 of graft via macroscopic photographs and immunofluorescent staining, respectively. RESULTS: The median graft survival rate was 97.8% in group 1, 69.2% in group 2, 55.7% in group 3, and 40.8% in the control group. The median vessel counts were 34 (per ×200 HPF) in group 1, 24.5 in group 2, 19.5 in group 3, and 10.5 in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that PRP administration is associated with increased composite graft viability. All experimental groups showed a significantly higher survival rate and microvessel density, compared with the control group. Pre-administration of PRP was followed by the highest graft survival rate and revascularization. PRP treatments are minimally invasive, fast, easily applicable, and inexpensive, and offer a potential clinical pathway to larger composite grafts.
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BACKGROUND: Various shapes and designs of the gluteal artery perforator flap have been used for treating sacral pressure sores and reconstructing breasts. To establish the ideal fasciocutaneous flap design for use in the gluteal area, the soft tissue thickness distribution was measured. METHODS: Twenty-one buttocks of adult Korean cadavers were analyzed through rectangular subfascial dissection. Each buttock was divided horizontally into 10 sections and vertically into 10 sections, and then, the thickness at the corners of the sections was measured. For the sake of comparison and statistical verification with living bodies, computed tomography (CT) images of 120 buttocks of patients were randomly selected. Five horizontal sections and 4 vertical sections were made, and the thickness at each corner was recorded. RESULTS: According to the dissection and the CT images, the area with the thinnest soft tissues in the buttock was around the posterior superior iliac spine, close to the sacral area. The thickest area was the superolateral area of the buttock, which was 3.24 times and 2.15 times thicker than the thinnest area in the studies on cadaver anatomy and the CT images, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The thickness of the soft tissues in the buttocks differed by area. The superolateral area had the thickest soft tissues, and the superomedial area had the thinnest. This study includes information on the distribution of the thickness of the gluteal soft tissues of Koreans. The outcome of this study may contribute to the design of effective local flaps for pressure sore reconstruction and free flaps for breast reconstruction.
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The philtrum plays a key role in the appearance of the upper lip and nostril sill. Therefore, construction of the philtrum is crucial for attaining a natural appearance of the upper lip. We used a flipping myoplasty of the orbicularis oris muscle on a patient with a flat philtrum in order to effectively reconstruct the philtral dimple and column. A 35-year-old female presented to our department with the complaint of a flat upper lip. A superficial layer of the orbicularis oris muscle on the median aspect of the upper lip was vertically incised and elevated to a thickness of 2 mm. Both sides of the elevated muscle flap were then folded to the lateral sides so that the border could be sutured onto the outer portion of the orbicularis oris muscle. The patient was observed for one year postoperatively. Her philtrum deepened by 1.25 mm, with the central angle of her Cupid's bow improving from a preoperative measurement of 146° to 128° postoperatively. In a patient with an indistinct philtrum, a flipping orbicularis oris myoplasty was performed to attain a definite philtral column and a philtral dimple. Natural upper lip movement was maintained, and an aesthetically and functionally satisfactory reconstruction was achieved.
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BACKGROUND: Packing after closed reduction of a nasal bone fracture causes inconvenient nasal obstruction in patients. We packed the superior meatus with Vaseline gauze to support the nasal bone, and packed the middle nasal meatus with a Doyle Combo Splint consisting of an airway tube, a silastic sheet, and an expandable sponge to reduce the inconvenience. In addition, we aimed to objectively identify whether this method not only enables nasal respiration but also sufficiently supports the reduced nasal bone. METHODS: Nasal ventilation was measured via spirometry 1 day before surgery and compared to 1 day after surgery. To compare support of the reduced nasal bone by the 2 methods, 2 plastic surgeons assessed the displacementon X-rays taken after the surgery and after removing the packing. The extent of nasal obstruction, dry mouth, sleep disturbance, headache, and swallowing difficulty were compared with visual analog scales (VAS) on a pre-discharge survey. RESULTS: In the experimental group, the nasal respiration volume 1 day after surgery remained at 71.3%±6.84% on average compared to 1 day prior to surgery. Support of the reduced bone in the experimental group (2.80±0.4) was not significantly different from the control group (2.88±0.33). The VAS scores for all survey items were lower in the experimental group than in the control group, where a lower score indicated a lower level of inconvenience. CONCLUSIONS: The nasal cavity packing described here maintained objective measures of nasal respiration and supported the reduced bone similar to conventional methods. Maintaining nasal respiration reduced the inconvenience to patients, which demonstrates that this packing method is useful.
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UNLABELLED:  Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been reported to inhibit fibrogenesis, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, to reduce scarring by reducing the initial inflammation. The authors reasoned that the topical application of these 2 agents may have a complementary effect on scar reduction. METHODS: Captopril (ACE inhibitor), celecoxib (COX-2 inhibitor), or a combination of captopril and celecoxib were topically applied to a skin wound in a rabbit ear, and investigated for the effects on scar formation. RESULTS: The level of scar elevation decreased in the captopril group and the level of infiltration of inflammatory cells decreased in the celecoxib group. In the group where a combination of the 2 drugs was used, the level of scar elevation decreased the most, and collagen deposition and organization returned to normal most rapidly. Celecoxib was found to inhibit the initial inflammation in the ear wound of the rabbit, and captopril inhibited scar elevation. CONCLUSION: Clinical application of these drugs will require further studies with regard to adverse events and their absorptivity as topical agents. However, these findings suggest that the combined topical administration of an ACE inhibitor and COX-2 inhibitor to a skin wound could be an effective treatment for the prevention of hypertrophic scarring. .
