Single versus Double Drainage for Immediate Two-Stage Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Reports evaluating plastic surgeons' practices indicate there are conflicting trends regarding the use of one or two drains for implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR). Our study aimed to perform a matched cohort analysis to examine the postoperative outcomes and complications of immediate IBBR with tissue expander (TE) using two drains versus a single drain. METHODS: A propensity score-matched analysis (nearest neighbor, 1:1 matching) of immediate reconstructions using two versus one drain was conducted. Female patients undergoing immediate two-stage IBBR with TEs between January 2011 and May 2021 were included. The covariables were as follows: BMI, mastectomy weight, lymph node surgery, TE surface, plane of reconstruction, use of acellular dermal matrix products, fluorescence imaging use, and intraoperative TE volume. RESULTS: After matching using propensity scores, 192 reconstructions were included in the final analysis: 96 in each group. The rate of 30-day complications and overall complications during the first phase of IBBR were comparable between groups. The time for drain removal, time to initiate and finalize expansions, and time for TE-to-implant exchange were comparable between groups. Diabetes (OR 3.74, p = 0.025) and an increased estimated blood loss (OR 1.004, p = 0.01) were the only independent predictors for seroma formation. CONCLUSION: In this matched cohort analysis evaluating the role of one versus two drains for two-stage IBBR, we found a comparable rate of complications and surgical outcomes between the two cohorts. Using two drains for immediate IBBR needs to be tailored depending on intraoperative findings. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Efficacy of Combined Spinal-Epidural Anesthesia for Lower Extremity Microvascular Reconstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Some surgeons have raised concerns regarding the sympathectomy-like effect of epidural anesthesia during lower limb microvascular reconstruction. The combined spinal-epidural (CSE) anesthetic technique incorporates several benefits of spinal and epidural techniques in a single approach. The aim of this study was to analyze the postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing soft-tissue reconstruction of the lower limb by implementing the CSE anesthesia approach. METHODS: We reviewed medical records from patients who underwent lower limb reconstructive procedures under CSE anesthesia with free tissue transfer from January 2017 to December 2020. We evaluated the postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients underwent microvascular reconstructive procedures of the lower extremity over the study period. The average age and BMI were 38.4-year and 28 kg/m2. All patients only had one postoperative rescue dose with epidural anesthesia. The most common type of flap used was the anterolateral thigh flap (53%). The average splinting time and length of stay (LoS) were 8.4 days and 18.4 days, respectively. Donor-site complications included wound dehiscence (3%) and surgical site infection (3%). Recipient-site complications included partial flap loss (8%) and total flap loss (10%). No pro re nata morphine analgesia was used. Tramadol and/or ketoprofen were administered for postoperative analgesia. The average time to start physiotherapy and to resume daily activities were 10 days and 29 days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The CSE anesthesia for microvascular reconstruction of the lower limb demonstrated a similar success rate compared to historical records. CSE provided adequate pain management and none of the patients required postoperative monitoring in the ICU.

Free flap transfer with supermicrosurgical technique for soft tissue reconstruction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Supermicrosurgery is a technique that allows microsurgeons to accomplish dissections and anastomoses of vessels and nerve fascicles with diameters of ≤0.8 mm. Considering the potential benefits of this technique and limited literature synthesizing the outcomes of supermicrosurgery, the aim of this study was to summarize the available evidence of reconstructive supermicrosurgery and to estimate the success rate. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search across PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science. We included patient-based studies reporting on procedures for soft-tissue reconstruction with free flaps specifying the use of supermicrosurgery. We excluded studies reporting on lymphatic surgery, solely peripheral nerve surgery, and tissue replantation. Our primary endpoint was to calculate the flap success rate. Pooled estimates were calculated using a random-effects meta-analytic model. RESULTS: Forty-seven studies reporting outcomes of 698 flaps were included for qualitative synthesis. Overall, 15.75% of flaps were used for head and neck, 4.4% for breast and trunk, 9.3% for upper limb, and 69.2% for lower limb reconstruction. The most used flap was the superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flap (41.5%). The overall flap success rate was 96.6% (95%CI 95.2%-98.1%). The cumulative rate of partial flap loss was 3.84% (95%CI 1.8%-5.9%). The overall vascular complication rate resulting in complete or partial flap loss was 5.93% (95%CI 3.5%-8.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Supermicrosurgery displays a high success rate. Further studies are necessary to explore the true potential of supermicrosurgery. This technique reformulates the boundaries of reconstructive surgery due to its extensive application.

The breast cancer-related lymphedema multidisciplinary approach: Algorithm for conservative and multimodal surgical treatment.

BACKGROUND: Multiple surgical alternatives are available to treat breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) providing a variable spectrum of outcomes. This study aimed to present the breast cancer-related lymphedema multidisciplinary approach (B-LYMA) to systematically treat BCRL. METHODS: Seventy-eight patients presenting with BCRL between 2017 and 2021 were included. The average age and BMI were 49.4 ± 7.8 years and 28.1 ± 3.5 kg/m2 , respectively. Forty patients had lymphedema ISL stage II (51.3%) and 38 had stage III (48.7%). The mean follow-up was 26.4 months. Treatment was selected according to the B-LYMA algorithm, which aims to combine physiologic and excisional procedures according to the preoperative evaluation of patients. All patients had pre- and postoperative complex decongestive therapy (CDT). RESULTS: Stage II patients were treated with lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) (n = 18), vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) (n = 12), and combined DIEP flap and VLNT (n = 10). Stage III patients underwent combined suction-assisted lipectomy (SAL) and LVA (n = 36) or combined SAL and VLNT (n = 2). Circumferential reduction rates (CRR) were comparable between patients treated with LVA (56.5 ± 8.4%), VLNT (54.4 ± 10.2%), and combined VLNT-DIEP flap (56.5 ± 3.9%) (p > .05). In comparison to LVA, VLNT, and combined VLNT-DIEP flap, combined SAL-LVA exhibited higher CRRs (85 ± 10.5%, p < .001). The CRR for combined SAL-VLNT was 75 ± 8.5%. One VLNT failed and minor complications occurred in the combined DIEP-VLNT group. CONCLUSION: The B-LYMA protocol directs the treatment of BCRL according to the lymphatic system's condition. In advanced stages where a single physiologic procedure is not sufficient, additional excisional surgery is implemented. Preoperative and postoperative CDT is mandatory to improve the outcomes.

The medial sural artery perforator flap for retromolar trigone reconstruction: A multicenter case series.

BACKGROUND: Retromolar trigone (RMT) cancer is a rare malignancy, which develops in a narrow area of the oral cavity. Surgical intervention requires wide excision and appropriate reconstruction usually with a free tissue transfer. Little has been published regarding the ideal microvascular reconstruction, mainly focusing on radial forearm and anterolateral thigh free flap. The medial sural artery perforator flap (MSAP) is not new for head and neck reconstruction but its use for RMT reconstruction has not been previously explored. The purpose of the study is to present a multicentric case series investigating the reliability of MSAP flap for RMT reconstruction. METHODS: The study is designed as a retrospective case series. All patients diagnosed with RMT cancer and undergone surgical resection and immediate reconstruction with a MSAP flap between February 2016 and March 2020 were identified. Patients' demographics and surgical details were collected. Functional results were evaluated using the Head and Neck Module of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer at 12 months of follow-up. A total of 34 patients with a mean age of 58 years were included in the study. An average defect size of 31.5 cm2 was observed after RMT tumor resection. RESULTS: The MSAP flaps' average dimensions were 11 ± 3.1 cm in length and 4.7 ± 1.6 cm in width with a mean thickness of 1.4 ± 0.8 cm. No flap complications were observed in 28 cases; four patients developed an orocutaneous fistula. One patient needed surgical revision for venous congestion while only one case of flap failure was observed. At 12 months of follow-up, 87% of the patient cohort had normal, understandable speech. No patient experienced complete loss of swallowing. Results of the H&N35 module showed a significative postoperative improvement in mouth soreness, mouth opening and social (p < .05*). No patient complained difficulty in motility at the donor site. CONCLUSIONS: The MSAP flap appears to be appropriate for RMT reconstruction and could be considered the workhorse for small to medium size defect of RTM region. It has a long pedicle of matching caliber and provides adequate tissue volume with minimal donor site morbidity.

Management of Facial Second-Degree Burns with Nanocellulose-Based Dressing: A Case Series and Systematic Review.

Previous studies have evaluated the effectiveness of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) for the treatment of thermal injuries, but the synergic effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with BNC-based dressing for burns still requires further investigation. Herein, we evaluated the effectiveness of BNC dressings in the management of facial burns using PRP. Patients with second-degree facial burns were treated with BNC-based wound dressings after debridement. The burn's depth and epithelialization were evaluated by clinical assessment. Besides using the dressings, we injected PRP subcutaneously into the left-hemifacial burns. The right hemiface was only treated with the dressings. Scar quality was assessed using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS). Eight patients were included with superficial second-degree burns in 75% of the cases and deep second-degree burns in 25%. Overall, dressings were placed 3.25 days after the initial insult. None of the patients presented with complications after dressing placement. Dressing changes were not required, and no further surgical management was necessary. The mean time for epithelialization was 11.4 days. During subgroup analysis, we did not find a significant difference in the epithelialization time when comparing BNC-based dressings (11.8 days) to BNC-based dressings + PRP (11 days, p = 0.429). The mean POSAS scores from a patient (17 vs. 12.3, p = 0.242) and surgeon (13.5 vs. 11.3, p = 0.26) standpoint were not significantly different using BNC-based dressings versus BNC-based dressings + PRP. Nanocellulose-based dressings are effective to treat second-degree facial burns. It enhances reepithelialization with optimal esthetic outcomes with or without PRP.

Predictors for Prolonged TE-to-Implant Exchange During Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction: A Single Institution Experience.

BACKGROUND: There is limited evidence regarding the factors causing a prolonged time for tissue expander (TE) exchange into a definitive implant using two-stage implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR). This study aimed to review our experience with IBBR, focusing on the time for TE-to-implant exchange and determining which factors cause a prolonged time for exchange. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed to include women undergoing immediate two-stage IBBR with TEs after total mastectomy between January 2011 and May 2021. Reconstructions with irradiated TEs were excluded. Cases that had a prolonged time for TE-to-implant exchange were defined as those undergoing exchange longer than 232 days, which corresponds to the 75th percentile of the overall study group. RESULTS: We included 442 reconstructions in our analysis. The median age for our series was 51 years and the median body mass index was 26.43-kg/m2. The median time for TE-to-implant exchange was 155 days [IQR, 107-232]. Cases that had a prolonged time for TE-to-implant exchange were defined as those undergoing exchange on postoperative day 232 or afterward. Diabetes (OR 4.05, p = 0.006), neoadjuvant chemotherapy (OR 2.76, p = 0.006), an increased length of stay (OR 1.54, p = 0.013), and a lengthier time to complete outpatient expansions (OR 1.018, p < 0.001) were independently associated with a prolonged time for exchange. CONCLUSION: As evident from our analysis, the time for exchange is highly heterogeneous among patients. Although several factors affect the timing for TE-to-implant exchange, efforts must be directed to finalize outpatient expansions as soon as possible to expedite the transition into a definitive implant. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Simultaneous Fat Grafting During Tissue Expander-to-Implant Exchange: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR) is the most common technique for breast reconstruction. The primary resource for correcting deformities, once patients have achieved an adequate volume with two-stage IBBR, is autologous fat grafting. We compared the surgical outcomes of simultaneous fat grafting during TE-to-implant exchange (SFG + TtIE) versus no fat grafting during TE-to-implant exchange (No-FGX). METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of all consecutive patients undergoing two-stage implant-based breast reconstruction with TE from January 2011 to December 2020. Propensity score matching was implemented to optimize comparability. The control group did not receive fat grafting at the time of TE-to-implant exchange. RESULTS: After propensity score matching, 196 reconstructions were evaluated, 98 in each group. Reconstructions in the SFG + TtIE received larger implants during exchange in comparison with the No-FGX group (539 ± 135.1-cc versus 495.97 ± 148-cc, p=0.035). The mean volume of fat lipoinjected during TE-to-implant exchange in the SFG + TtIE group was 88.79 ± 41-ml. A higher proportion of reconstructions in the SFG + TtIE group underwent additional fat grafting after exchange versus the No-FGX group (19% versus 9%, p = 0.041). After propensity score matching, only the rate of fat necrosis after exchange was significantly higher in the SFG + TtIE group (10% versus 2%, p = 0.017). The rate of breast cancer recurrence (3% versus 5%, p = 1.00) was comparable between the groups. CONCLUSION: SFG + TtIE is a safe procedure to improve the envelope of reconstructed breasts during two-stage IBBR. SFG + TtIE does not increase the rate of periprosthetic infection or wound-related complication versus no fat grafting during TE-to-implant exchange, but increases the rate of fat necrosis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: Therapeutic study. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

The Use of Ultrasound Imaging for Upper Extremity Lymphedema after Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyze the different applications of ultrasound (US) in upper extremity lymphedema (UEL) after breast cancer. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed in line with the PRISMA statement using MEDLINE/PubMed databases from January 1970 to December 2021. Articles describing the application of US in patients with UEL after breast cancer were included. The quality of the study, the level of reproducibility, and the different applications and type of US technique were analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 30 articles with 1,193 patients were included in the final review. Five different applications were found: (1) diagnosis of UEL (14 studies found a direct correlation between lymphedema and morphological and/or functional parameters); (2) staging/severity of UEL (9 studies found a direct correlation between the clinical stage and the soft-tissue stiffness/texture/thickness); (3) therapeutic assessment (3 studies found an improvement in the circulatory status or in the muscle/subcutaneous thickness after conservative treatments); (4) prognosis assessment of UEL (1 study found a correlation between the venous flow and the risk of UEL); and (5) surgical planning (3 studies determined the location of the lymphatic vessel for lymphovenous anastomosis [LVA] surgery). CONCLUSION: Morphological and functional parameters have been correlated with the diagnosis, stage, therapeutic effect, prognosis of UEL, and surgical planning of LVA.

Lymphedema prevention and immediate breast reconstruction with simultaneous gastroepiploic vascularized lymph node transfer and deep inferior epigastric perforator flap: A case report.

Breast cancer-related lymphedema following axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) has been documented in 6%-55% of patients, mostly occurring within the next 3 years after radiation or surgery. We present a case of a 53-year-old patient with hormone positive, stage IB, left breast invasive ductal carcinoma treated with immediate lymphatic and microvascular breast reconstruction (MBR) using vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) for lymphedema prevention. A deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap (18.3 × 11.2-cm) and simultaneous prophylactic gastroepiploic-VLNT (7 × 3-cm), orthotopically inset in the axilla, were used for reconstruction following mastectomy and radical ALND. The procedure was uneventful. The patient did not display increased postoperative arm circumferences. ICG lymphography did not show any changes at 2- and 3-years after surgery. Preventive lymphatic reconstruction with GE-VLNT and immediate MBR using the DIEP flap offers a new possibility for the primary prevention of lymphedema and simultaneous immediate autologous breast reconstruction without the risk of iatrogenic lymphedema. Further studies will be directed to unveil the external validity of these findings and the risk reduction rate of this approach.

Evolution and Transformation of Uterine Transplantation: A Systematic Review of Surgical Techniques and Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Uterine transplantation (UTx) is acknowledged to be on the second (2A) of five steps of development in accordance with the staging system for the evaluation of surgical innovations. Accordingly, we aimed to systematically review the available evidence of the surgical techniques and outcomes of UTx in terms of graft survival. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed Medline, Cochrane-EBMR, Scopus, Web of Science, and CENTRAL through November 2020. RESULTS: Forty studies, reporting 64 recipients and 64 donors, satisfied inclusion criteria. The surgical time and the estimated blood loss were 515 minutes and 679 mL for graft procurement via laparotomy, 210 minutes and 100 mL for laparoscopic-assisted graft harvest, and 660 minutes and 173 mL for robotic-assisted procedures, respectively. Urinary tract infections (n = 8) and injury to the urinary system (n = 6) were the most common donor complications. Using the donor's internal iliac system, two arterial anastomoses were performed in all cases. Venous outflow was accomplished through the uterine veins (UVs) in 13 cases, a combination of the UVs and the ovarian/uteroovarian veins (OVs/UOVs) in 36 cases, and solely through the OVs/UOVs in 13 cases. Ischemia time was 161 and 258 minutes when using living donors (LD) and deceased donors (DD), respectively. Forty-eight uteri were successfully transplanted or fulfilled the purpose of transplantation, 41 from LDs and 7 from DDs. Twenty-five and four live childbirths from LDs and DDs have been reported, respectively. CONCLUSION: UTx is still experimental. Further series are required to recommend specific surgical techniques that best yield a successful transplant and reduce complications for donors and recipients.

The Versatility of the DCIA Free Flap: A Forgotten Flap? Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Studies reporting on the deep circumflex iliac artery (DCIA) free flap are restricted to a limited number of patients and areas of application. The aim of this review was to assess the reliability and versatility of the DCIA free flap during reconstruction. METHODS: A comprehensive review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines using PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, and SCOPUS. A critical analysis of pooled data was performed to assess outcomes employing the DCIA free flap. RESULTS: A total of 445 DCIA free flaps were included. The main recipient sites were head and neck (72.35%), lower extremity (20.67%), and upper extremity (6.74%). The main indications for reconstruction were tumor resection (73.8%) and trauma (17.43%). Fifty non-DCIA flaps were required to finalize the reconstruction of several defects. The pooled flap failure rate using the DCIA free flap was 4% (95% confidence interval: 1-8%). No significant heterogeneity was present across studies (Q statistic 22.12, p = 0.14; I 2 = 27.68%, p = 0.139). Complication rates for head and neck and limb reconstruction were 57.37 and 40.16%, respectively. The average length and surface area of bone flaps were 7.79 cm and 22.8 cm2, respectively. The area of the skin paddles was 117 cm2. CONCLUSION: The DCIA free flap has shown to be a versatile reconstructive alternative for head and neck and short-medium size limb defects. However, the complexity of functions, the recipient site location, and a potential large defect can detract from the use of the DCIA free flap as an initial reconstructive option for head and neck and extensive limb defects.

Abdominal Wall Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation: A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal wall vascularized composite allotransplantation (AW-VCA) is a novel reconstructive technique used for large abdominal wall defects in combination with intestinal transplantation (ITx) or multivisceral abdominal transplantation (MVTx). Since the introduction of this procedure, several studies have been published reporting their experience. This study aims to present a scoping review looking at all available evidence-based medicine information to understand the most current surgical techniques and clinical outcomes. METHODS: This scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) extension for scoping reviews checklist. A comprehensive research strategy of several databases was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 31 studies were included in this review, which comprised animal, cadaveric, and human studies. In human studies, four surgical techniques with high flap survival rates and low complication rates were found. In cadaveric studies, it was shown that the use of iliofemoral cuff-based flaps provided adequate tissue perfusion to the abdominal wall graft. Also, the use of thoracolumbar nerves have been described to provide functionality to the AW-VCA and prevent long-term muscle atrophy. CONCLUSION: AW-VCA is a safe and efficient alternative for patients with large and complex abdominal wall defects. The future holds a promising evolution of a functional AW-VCA, though surgeons must face and overcome the challenge of distorted anatomy frequently present in this population. Forthcoming studies with a better level of evidence are required to evaluate functionality and differences between surgical techniques.

High-Definition Lipoplasty in Male Patients: A Systematic Review of Surgical Techniques and Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Lipoplasty has undergone a series of refinements since its inception. It is now possible to apply superficial suction to enhance the outline of a muscle in order to improve the results of aesthetic lipoplasty. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to summarize the available evidence on the techniques and surgical outcomes of high-definition lipoplasty (HDL) in male patients. METHODS: A systematic search across PubMed MEDLINE, Web of Science, Ovid MEDLINE In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, and SCOPUS was performed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Data regarding the surgical techniques, outcomes, and complications were extracted. RESULTS: Thirteen studies comprising 1280 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The age of patients ranged from 18 to 71 years. The average BMI was 26.5 kg/m2. The follow-up ranged from 2 weeks to 10 years. The liposculpting concepts reported were abdominal etching, high-definition, muscular sculpture, and dynamic definition. Four studies used conventional liposuction, 3 used VASER-assisted HDL, and 6 studies used power-assisted liposculpting. Eight studies reported the use of fat grafting. All studies reported the use of postoperative garments and a well-established wound treatment protocol. Overall satisfaction ranged from 84% to 100%. The most common complications reported were fluid collection, hyperpigmentation, contour irregularities, anemia, and port dehiscence. CONCLUSIONS: A wide variety of techniques are available to perform HDL with a variable degree of definition. Careful patient selection is critical for successful results because HDL is not suitable for every patient. Finally, proper training and adequate knowledge of abdominal anatomy is necessary to avoid complications.

Primary Prevention of Cancer-Related Lymphedema Using Preventive Lymphatic Surgery: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background Several studies have proven prophylactic lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) performed after lymphadenectomy can potentially reduce the risk of cancer-related lymphedema (CRL) without compromising the oncological treatment. We present a systematic review of the current evidence on the primary prevention of CRL using preventive lymphatic surgery (PLS). Patients and Methods A comprehensive search across PubMed, Cochrane-EBMR, Web of Science, Ovid Medline (R) and in-process, SCOPUS, and ScienceDirect was performed through December 2020. A meta-analysis with a random-effect method was accomplished. Results Twenty-four studies including 1547 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Overall, 830 prophylactic LVA procedures were performed after oncological treatment, of which 61 developed lymphedema. The pooled cumulative rate of upper extremity lymphedema after axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and PLS was 5.15% (95% CI, 2.9%-7.5%; p < 0.01). The pooled cumulative rate of lower extremity lymphedema after oncological surgical treatment and PLS was 6.66% (95% CI < 1-13.4%, p-value = 0.5). Pooled analysis showed that PLS reduced the incidence of upper and lower limb lymphedema after lymph node dissection by 18.7 per 100 patients treated (risk difference [RD] - 18.7%, 95% CI - 29.5% to - 7.9%; p < 0.001) and by 30.3 per 100 patients treated (RD - 30.3%, 95% CI - 46.5% to - 14%; p < 0.001), respectively, versus no prophylactic lymphatic reconstruction. Conclusions Low-quality studies and a high risk of bias halt the formulating of strong recommendations in favor of PLS, despite preliminary reports theoretically indicating that the inclusion of PLS may significantly decrease the incidence of CRL.

Vascularized Lymph Node Transfer for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Lower Extremity Lymphedema: A Preliminary Report.

Background Posttraumatic lymphedema develops more frequently than expected and reports on its management are scarce in the literature. We aimed to report the clinical outcomes of a case series of posttraumatic lymphedema patients treated with different vascularized lymph node transfers (VLNTs). Patients and Methods Five patients with secondary posttraumatic lower limb lymphedema treated with VLNT were included in this report. The groin-VLNT ( n = 1), supraclavicular-VLNT ( n = 2), and gastroepiploic-VLNT ( n = 2) were implemented. The average flap area was 69.8 cm 2 . Patients underwent postoperative complex decompressive therapy for an average of 10.0 months. Results The average mean circumference reduction rate was 24.4% (range, 10.2-37.6%). Postsurgical reduction in the number of infection episodes per year was observed in all patients. The mean follow-up was 34.2 months. Conclusions VLNT is a promising surgical treatment for posttraumatic lymphedema patients. In our report, VLNT has demonstrated to reduce the volume and number of infections per year in posttraumatic lymphedema.

Head and Neck Reconstruction of the Vessel-Depleted Neck: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Damage of the vascular system secondary to radical neck dissection and/or radiotherapy or other treatments has a negative impact on microsurgical reconstruction. The search for adequate recipient vessels is hindered by the complexity of previous procedures. METHODS: A systematic review of microsurgical head and neck reconstruction in the vessel-depleted neck was performed. The issues analyzed were indications for surgery, more frequently performed flaps, vascular systems used as recipient vessels, outcomes, and complications. RESULTS: The eligibility criteria were fulfilled by 57 studies published between September 1993 and January 2020. In 8235 patients, 8694 flaps were performed, 925 of which were for a vessel-depleted neck. The most commonly used flap was the anterolateral thigh flap, used in 195 cases (30%), followed by the radial forearm free flap, used in 157 cases (24%). The potential recipient vessels were numerous for arteries (26 options) and veins (31 options). For the 712 flaps with an identifiable recipient artery, the superficial temporal artery was the most commonly used vessel (n = 142, 20%). The superficial temporal vein was the most commonly used vessel for 639 flaps with an identifiable recipient vein (n = 118, 18.5%). Complications amounted to 11%; 80 out of 716 flaps in papers that reported them. Flap losses were reported in 2% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Major microsurgical head and neck reconstruction for postoncologic defects depends on appropriate recipient vessels. Vein availability is paramount. Understanding the complexity of this problem is useful for preoperative planning, precise decision-making, and an accurate surgical approach.

A4 Pulley Reconstruction Using the Superficialis Oblique Flap and the Transverse Double Loop Techniques: A Biomechanical Evaluation Using a Chicken Model.

BACKGROUND: The pulley system plays an important role in flexion mechanism. Reconstruction after trauma can be challenging. Numerous techniques have been described with several drawbacks. Herein, we describe the superficialis flap oblique technique for A4 pulley reconstruction using an animal model. METHODS: Forty-two fresh legs of 21 eight-week-old chickens were used to evaluate the maximum flexion angle (MFA) and force at maximum flexion (FMF) in intact and sectioned A4 pulley equivalents of the third digit after reconstruction with the transverse double loop (TDL) technique and the superficialis oblique flap (SOF) technique. Biomechanical measurements were obtained in an exclusively designed instrument. Descriptive statistics were reported, and mean differences between the reconstructive techniques were analyzed. RESULTS: Intact and severed A4 pulley equivalent average MFA were 96.50° ± 1.70° and 115.60° ± 1.50°, respectively. Average FMF were 8.16 ± 0.23 psi with the intact pulley and 6.92 ± 0.20 psi with the sectioned pulley (P < 0.001). After reconstruction with TDL and SOF techniques, the legs reached an average MFA at the distal interphalangeal joint of 98.13° ± 1.20° and 96.90° ± 1.30°, respectively. Mean MFA difference was 1.23° (P = 0.03). Force at maximum flexion was 8.12 psi and 8.10 psi for the TDL and SOF techniques (P = 0.6), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The authors believe that SOF technique for A4 pulley reconstruction can be used as first option when available, taking into account its theoretical advantages and its proven biomechanical characteristics. Long-term functional results should be assessed to translate these results into the clinical setting.

Pediatric ulnar artery pseudoaneurysm of the wrist after glass laceration: A case report and systematic review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Our purpose was to explore a case of a complicated ulnar artery pseudoaneurysm and propose an algorithm to guide physicians in this scenario. We present a case of a 5-year-old boy with a pediatric ulnar artery pseudoaneurysm that developed after a wrist laceration from broken glass 6 weeks after the initial injury. The diagnosis of pseudoaneurysm was missed, and the patient was transferred to our facility in urgent need of resection and repair due to profuse bleeding. An ultrasound confirmed the suspected diagnosis of ulnar artery aneurysm with thrombosis within the vessel. An area of skin necrosis was also present. Upon exploration of the wound, the ulnar artery pseudoaneurysm was identified and resected. The defect measured six millimeters and it was repaired primarily, under the microscope, after the proximal and distal portions were freed by dissection. The patient's incision was well healed at six-week follow-up. METHOD: A systematic literature review of the English literature on ulnar artery aneurysm was conducted on PubMed/Medline, Embase, Cochrane Clinical Answers, and Cochrane Clinical Trials, without timeframe limitations. Finally, we provide an algorithm to assist the decision-making process in similar scenarios. CONCLUSION: Although ulnar artery aneurysm is rare on a pediatric patient, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis each time a patient presents with a wrist mass. In such cases, a high index of suspicion warrants examination by a hand specialist.

The deep inferior epigastric lymphatic cable flap connected to gastroepiploic lymph node flap for treatment of refractory chylous ascites: Report of two cases.

Chylous ascites is the leakage of lipid-rich lymph into the peritoneal cavity usually due to disruption of lymphatics or increased peritoneal lymphatic pressure. Various surgical options have been proposed to treat chylous ascites but most have shown suboptimal outcomes. The gastroepiploic vascularized lymph node (GE-VLN) flap has been described previously for the treatment of lymphedema. In chylous ascites, this flap could provide an alternate drainage pathway for the intraperitoneal chylous fluid. The purpose of this report is to present another option for the microsurgical treatment of refractory chylous ascites. Herein, we report two patients with refractory chylous ascites secondary to cancer who have undergone deep inferior epigastric-based lymphatic "cable" flap (DIE-LCF) connected to a pedicle GE-VLN flap. Patients were followed-up for a minimum of 2 years. Within the first 3 months following surgery, the patient's nutritional parameters improved along with drastic reduction of ascites. At 2 years follow-up postoperative abdominal circumference decreased significantly. None required further peritoneal paracentesis and all patients were free of chylous ascites symptoms. In conclusion, the DIE-LCF connected to a pedicle GE-VLN flap could be a feasible option for the microsurgical treatment of refractory chylous ascites.