Reconstruction of the Weightbearing Area of the Foot with Vascularized Chimeric Osteocutaneous Fibular Flap: A Case Report.

Damage to the weightbearing surface of the foot is a challenge for the reconstructive surgeon. The aim is to reconstruct the skeletal tripod and soft tissue, allowing the patient to walk normally. We report the case of a patient admitted with an acute right foot open fracture of the second, third, fourth, and fifth metatarsal bones. After debridement of all nonvital tissues, the patient required reconstruction of the metatarsal heads (third, fourth, and fifth) plus soft tissue coverage. We then performed a reconstruction with a free osteocutaneous fibular flap, insetting the bone perpendicular to the long axis of the metatarsal bones. This configuration allowed the reconstruction of the foot skeletal tripod. A second free flap, a thin radial forearm flap, was added during the revision surgery to improve the venous drainage of the skin paddle of the fibular flap and avoid tension after skin closure. At 1-year follow-up, the patient was able to walk entirely weightbearing on the forefoot, returning to her previous employment with no limitation in physical and recreational activities. To our knowledge, this is the first description of the use of a chimeric osteocutaneous fibular flap, oriented transversely, to reconstruct a complex bone/soft tissue defect after a traumatic loss of multiple metatarsal heads.

Is the LICOX® PtO2 system reliable for monitoring of free flaps? Comparison between two cohorts of patients.

BACKGROUND: Licox® PtO2 is a minimally invasive monitoring system for continuous measurement of tissue oxygen tension in all types of free tissue transfers. Our study compares two consecutive series of patients undergoing microsurgical reconstruction monitored with standard clinical bedside surveillance and with the Licox® PtO2 system regarding flap loss and flap salvage, the sensitivity, specificity, and cost-effectiveness. METHODS: We performed a longitudinal observational prospective study of all patients undergoing microsurgical reconstructions between 2016 and 2017. Group 1 included 43 patients that underwent standard clinical bedside postoperative flap monitoring whereas group 2 included 44 consecutive patients also monitored with Licox® PtO2 system. Flap complications such as return to theater for vascular compromise, partial and total flap loss and flap salvage rate were analyzed. RESULTS: We recorded no significant difference between the two groups regarding the rate of vascular complications (P = .31), return to the theater (P = .31), flap salvage (P = .9), partial and total flap loss (P = .36 and P = .49, respectively). When analyzing the Licox® PtO2 system monitoring group, we documented six false-positive results (13.6%) and 0 false negatives with an accuracy of 0.86, a sensibility of 1.00, and a specificity of 0.85. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study that provides statistical data about the comparison of postoperative free flap monitoring by standard clinical bedside method and Licox® PtO2 system. For the monitoring of buried flaps, the Licox® PtO2 monitoring can be used only as a supplement to other systems. Its use, compared to near-infrared spectroscopy or clinical bedside monitoring, was not found cost-efficient.

Lymphatic-venous anastomosis in a rat model: A novel exercise for microsurgical training.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Lymphedema is a condition of localized fluid retention and tissue swelling caused by a compromised lymphatic system. Lymphaticovenular anastomoses (LVA) and multiple lymphatic-venous anastomoses (MLVAs) have been recognized as efficient methods to treat chronic lymphedema. Because few models for lymphatics microsurgical training have been described, the aim of this study is to present a new training model for MLVA in a rat. METHODS: Ten norvegicus rats were used for this study. After a longitudinal xifo-pubic incision, lumbar nodes were injected with blue patent violet (BPV) to identify from two to four lymphatic vessels (LVs). MLVAs were carried out inserting lymphatics into the right lumbar vein. RESULTS: The mean weight of the rats was 511.4 g. The average diameter of the abdominal LVs used for MLVA was 0.26 mm, and the mean size of the right lumbar vein was 0.84 mm. The average time to perform MLVA was 49.8 minutes. Anastomosis patency rate was 70% based on the passage of BPV from the lymphatics into the vein. CONCLUSIONS: The rat is still a feasible resource to train microsurgeons, and the MLVA model proposed is simple and reliable and could be very useful for microsurgeon training.

Efficacy of ultrasound, mammography and magnetic resonance imaging in detecting breast implant rupture: A retrospective study of 175 reconstructive and aesthetic sub-pectoral breast augmentation cases.

To date, the effectiveness of radiological imaging in detecting silicone breast implant rupture is uncertain. The purpose of this study is to retrospectively evaluate the effectiveness of radiological imaging when diagnosing a rupture. In this study, 175 patients with 242 breast implants were included, of which 168 and 74 implants were used for breast reconstruction and aesthetic augmentation, respectively. All patients who underwent revision surgery, between January 2015 and June 2016, following breast augmentation or reconstruction were included, regardless of any pre-operative diagnosis of rupture that had been made. The diagnosis of intracapsular rupture was verified intraoperatively and compared to the pre-operative findings. With regard to pre-operative diagnostic imaging methods, we compared magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), mammography, and ultrasonography (US) findings. Among the 242 implants that were explanted, 35 clinical ruptures were confirmed and compared with the related radiological findings. We reported 22 false positives and 15 false negatives. US was the least specific and least accurate method because of its lowest positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV). Mammography was the most specific and most accurate method, with the highest PPV (96%). Surprisingly, MRI was the most sensitive; however, it was neither the most specific nor the most accurate method despite having the highest NPV (98%). After comparing these three radiological techniques, we conclude that US along with MRI can be useful for young patients. Mammography, which was characterised by high specificity and accuracy, could be useful along with MRI in investigating patients over the age of 40.

Autologous bone grafting with platelet-rich plasma for alveolar cleft repair in patient with cleft and palate.

PURPOSE: Bone grafting of the alveolus has become an essential part of the contemporary surgical management of the oral cleft. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the results of bone grafting in association with PRP (plateletrich plasma) to enhance osteogenesis and osteointegration. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 16 patients, aged between 9 and 11, affected with unilateral residual alveolar clefts, who underwent bone grafting using secondary alveoplasty. The eight patients belonging to the control group were administered autologous bone graft alone while the study group, consisting of 8 patients, underwent autologous bone grafting in association with PRP. All patients had pre and post surgery orthodontic treatment. The statistical analyses included Student's t test, 2 test and Kaplan-Meir time to event analysis. The p-value was considered significant if p<0.05. All statistical analyses were performed using SAS Software release 9.3 (SAS Institute, Cary, Nc). RESULTS: The control group (M 50%, mean age 10.2±2.3) underwent simple autologous bone graft while the study group (M 62.5%, mean age 9.9±2.2) was treated with a combination of autologous bone and PRP. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups as regards age, gender and labial-palatal cleft clinical characteristics. 6, 12, 24 month follow-ups were performed by means of clinical and radiographic investigations. None of the study group developed oronasal fistulas or experienced bone height, bone bridging and bone quality loss; only two patients developed mild periodontal problems. The study group was able to undergo a significantly (p<0.001) earlier and shorter orthodontic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, the use of PRP enhances the quality of osteoplasty, accelerates "creeping substitution" and bone healing and favours earlier orthodontic treatment. KEY WORDS: Alveolar cleft, Bone grafting, Palate, Platelet-rich plasma.