Safe perioperative tamoxifen use in autologous breast free flap reconstruction: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative tamoxifen remains a valuable therapeutic modality for breast cancer patients. Studies in the existing literature have suggested a potential increased risk of thrombotic complications in autologous breast free flap reconstruction patients exposed to tamoxifen perioperatively. However, several recent publications have questioned the validity of these associations. Therefore, we aim to perform a systematic appraisal of the existing literature to determine if perioperative tamoxifen exposure increases the risk of flap complications in autologous breast-free flap reconstruction patients. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed using: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, Web of Science, EBSCOHost, ClinicalTrials.gov, and TRIP databases from their inception up to April 2021. Articles analyzing the impact of perioperative tamoxifen in autologous breast free flap patients were included. The outcomes assessed were total flap loss, overall flap complications, thrombotic flap complications, which was defined as the sum of arterial and venous flap thrombi, and systemic venous thromboembolism (VTE). Pooled estimates and relative risk were calculated using a random effects model. RESULTS: 9294 Articles were screened and 7 were selected for analysis, which included 3669 flaps in 2759 patients. Compared to patients who did not receive tamoxifen perioperatively, those who received tamoxifen did not have an increased risk of thrombotic flap complications (pooled RR 1.06; 95% CI 0.61-1.84), total flap loss (pooled RR 2.17; 95% CI 0.79-5.95), overall flap complications (pooled RR 1.04; 95% CI 0.76-1.41), or systemic VTE (pooled RR 1.93; 95% CI 0.72-5.13). The heterogeneity of the studies was not significant for any of the outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The purpose of this study was to update the current understanding of the impact of perioperative tamoxifen on autologous breast free flap reconstruction outcomes. The existing literature supports that the perioperative continuation of tamoxifen in breast free flap patients is not associated with an increased risk of thrombotic flap complications, total flap loss, overall flap complications, or systemic VTE.

Critical Importance of the First Postoperative Days After Head and Neck Free Flap Reconstruction: An Analysis of Timing of Reoperation Using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck free flaps remain associated with considerable rates of take-back and prolonged hospital length of stay. However, there have been no studies on a national level benchmarking the timeline and predictors of head and neck free flap take-back. METHODS: Patients undergoing head and neck free flap reconstruction from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program 2012-2019 database were analyzed to determine the rates of take-back. Timing and rates of unplanned head and neck free flap take-backs were stratified by tissue type and postoperative day (POD) over the first month. Weibull survival models were used to compare rates of take-backs among time intervals. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the independent predictors of take-back. RESULTS: Three thousand nine hundred six head and neck free flaps were analyzed. The mean daily proportion of patients experiencing take-back during PODs 0 to 1 was 0.95%; this dropped significantly to a mean daily proportion of 0.54% during POD 2 (P < 0.01). In addition, there were significant drops in take-back when comparing POD 2 (0.54%) to POD 3 (0.26%) and also when comparing POD 4 (0.20%) with PODs 5 to 30 (0.032% per day) (P < 0.05). The soft tissue and osseous flap populations demonstrated a similar trend in unplanned take-back. CONCLUSION: This is the first national study to specifically analyze the timing of take-back in the head and neck reconstruction population. These data highlight the importance of flap monitoring during the first 5 PODs, with ERAS pathway optimization aiming for discharge by the end of the first postoperative week.

Optimizing Abdominoplasty Surgical Site Morbidity Profiling Through an Effective and Nationally Validated Risk Scoring System.

BACKGROUND: Abdominoplasty complication rates are among the highest for cosmetic surgery. We sought to create a validated scoring system to predict the likelihood of wound complications after abdominoplasty using a national multi-institutional database. METHODS: Patients who underwent abdominoplasty in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program 2007-2019 database were analyzed for surgical site complications, a composite outcome of wound disruption, and surgical site infections. The cohort was randomly divided into a 60% testing and a 40% validation sample. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of complications using the testing sample (n = 11,294). The predictors were weighted according to ß coefficients to develop an integer-based clinical risk score. This system was validated using receiver operating characteristic analysis of the validation sample (n = 7528). RESULTS: A total of 18,822 abdominoplasty procedures were identified. The proportion of patients who developed a composite surgical site complication was 6.8%. Independent risk factors for composite surgical site complication included inpatient procedure (P < 0.01), smoking (P < 0.01), American Society of Anesthesiologists class ≥3 (P < 0.01), and body mass index ≥25.0 and ≤18.0 kg/m2 (P < 0.01). African American race was a protective factor against surgical site complications (P < 0.01). The factors were integrated into a scoring system, ranging from -5 to 42, and the receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed an area under the curve of 0.71. CONCLUSIONS: We present a validated scoring system for postoperative 30-day surgical site morbidity after abdominoplasty. This system will enable surgeons to optimize patient selection to decrease morbidity and unnecessary healthcare expenditure.

Nationally Validated Scoring System to Predict Unplanned Reoperation and Readmission after Breast Reduction.

BACKGROUND: Reduction mammoplasty continues to be a commonly sought procedure with complication rates ranging from 4.3 to 8.2%. In the current study, we sought to identify the clinical and preoperative risk factors for unplanned reoperation and readmission within the first postoperative month on a national scale. METHODS: Patients who underwent reduction mammoplasty from the ACS-NSQIP 2012-2019 database were analyzed to determine rates of reoperation and readmission within 30 days of the initial breast surgery. The cohort was divided into 60 and 40% random testing and validation samples. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was then performed to isolate independent factors of unplanned readmission and reoperation using the testing sample (n = 22,743). The predictors were weighted according to beta coefficients to develop an integer-based clinical risk score predictive of complications. This system was then validated using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis of the validation sample (n = 15,162). RESULTS: A total of 37,905 reduction mammoplasties were analyzed. 1.3% of patients had an unplanned readmission. Independent risk factors for unplanned readmission included age older than the median of 44 years (p < 0.01), inpatient procedure (p < 0.01), smoking (p < 0.01), hypertension (p = 0.01), COPD (p < 0.05), BMI ≥ 35 (p < 0.01), and operation time greater than the median of 142 minutes ( p < 0.01). The factors were integrated into a scoring system, ranging from 0 to 36, and an ROC analysis revealed an area under the curve of 0.66. 1.9% of patients underwent unplanned reoperation. Independent risk factors for unplanned reoperation in this population included age older than the median of 44 years (p < 0.01), inpatient status (p < 0.01), and a history of bleeding disorders (p < 0.05). The factors were integrated into a scoring system, ranging from 0 to 25, and the ROC analysis revealed an area under the curve of 0.61. CONCLUSIONS: We present a validated scoring system to better inform patients about their risk for unplanned reoperation and readmission following reduction mammoplasty. This system will enable surgeons to optimize patient selection and interventions in order to decrease morbidity and unnecessary health-care expenditure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: 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.

Postoperative Complications Associated with the Choice of Reconstruction in Head and Neck Cancer: An Outcome Analysis of 4,712 Patients from the ACS-NSQIP Database.

BACKGROUND: Microsurgical free flaps have largely supplanted pedicled flaps as the gold standard for head and neck cancer reconstruction. However, incidence of postoperative complications after accounting for patient comorbidities based on choice of reconstruction has not been well-defined in the literature in recent years. METHODS: Patients undergoing head and neck reconstruction were identified in the 2011-2016 ACS-NSQIP (American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program) database and stratified into groups by free flap, myocutaneous pedicled flap, and other reconstruction. Demographics were analyzed and covariates balanced using overlap propensity score-based weighting. Logistic regression was used for binary outcomes and Gamma generalized linear model was used for length of stay. RESULTS: A total of 4,712 patients met inclusion criteria out of which 1,297 patients (28%) underwent free flap, 208 patients (4%) pedicled flap, and 3,207 patients (68%) had other, or no reconstruction performed. After adjusting for patient and disease-specific factors, pedicled flap reconstruction was associated with a higher risk of deep vein thrombosis (odds ratio [OR] = 2.64, confidence interval [CI] 1.02-6.85, p = 0.045), sepsis (OR = 2.95, CI 1.52-5.71, p = 0.001), and infection (OR = 2.03, CI 1.39-2.96, p <0.001) compared with free flap reconstruction. Free flaps had the longest mean operative time compared with the other two groups (unadjusted 578 vs. 440 vs. 326, p <0.001). Pedicled flaps had a lower incidence of bleeding requiring transfusion (adjusted OR = 0.65, CI 0.50-0.85, p = 0.002), and lower incidence of prolonged mechanical ventilation (adjusted OR = 0.33, CI 0.12-0.92, p = 0.034) compared with free flaps. There was no difference in rates of reoperation, hospital readmission, or hospital length-of-stay between pedicled and free flaps. CONCLUSION: Myocutaneous pedicled flaps are associated with higher overall short-term postoperative complications compared with free flaps in head and neck reconstruction, which demonstrate a more favorable morbidity profile without significantly impacting hospital readmission, reoperation, or length-of-stay.

Long-term outcomes of sandwich ventral hernia repair paired with hybrid vacuum-assisted closure.

BACKGROUND: Sandwich ventral hernia repair (SVHR) may reduce ventral hernia recurrence rates, although with an increased risk of surgical site occurrences (SSOs) and surgical site infections (SSIs). Previously, we found that a modified negative pressure wound therapy (hybrid vacuum-assisted closure [HVAC]) system reduced SSOs and SSIs after ventral hernia repair. We aimed to describe our outcomes after SVHR paired with HVAC closure. METHODS: We conducted a 4-y retrospective review of all complex SVHRs (biologic mesh underlay and synthetic mesh overlay) with HVAC closure performed at our institution by a single surgeon. All patients had fascial defects that could not be reapproximated primarily using anterior component separation. Descriptive statistics were used to report the incidence of postoperative complications and hernia recurrence. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients (59.3 ± 11.4 y, 58.3% male, 75% American Society of Anesthesiologists class ≥3) with complex ventral hernias being underwent sandwich repair with HVAC closure. Major postoperative morbidity (Dindo-Clavien class ≥3) occurred in 14 (23.3%) patients, but incidence of SSO (n = 13, 21.7%) and SSI (n = 4, 6.7%) was low compared with historical reports. Median follow-up time for all patients was 12 mo (interquartile range 5.8-26.5 mo). Hernia recurrence occurred in eight patients (13.3%) after a median time of 20.6 months (interquartile range 16.4- 25.4 months). CONCLUSIONS: Use of a dual layer sandwich repair for complex abdominal wall reconstruction is associated with low rates of hernia recurrence at 1 year postoperatively. The addition of the HVAC closure system may reduce the risk of SSOs and SSIs previously reported with this technique and deserves consideration in future prospective studies assessing optimization of ventral hernia repair approaches.

Global public health impact of recovered supplies from operating rooms: a critical analysis with national implications.

BACKGROUND: In modern operating rooms, clean and unused medical supplies are routinely discarded and can be effectively recovered and redistributed abroad to alleviate the environmental burden of donor hospitals and to generate substantial health benefits at resource-poor recipient institutions. METHODS: We established a recovery and donation program to collect clean and unused supplies for healthcare institutions in developing nations. We analyzed items donated over a 3-year period (September 2010-November 2013) by quantity and weight, and estimated the projected value of the program under potential nationwide participation. To capture the health benefits attributable to the donated supplies at recipient institutions, we partnered with two tertiary-care centers in Guayaquil, Ecuador and conducted a pilot study on the utility of the donated supplies at the recipient institutions (October 2013). We determined the disability-adjusted life years (DALY) averted for all patients undergoing procedures involving donated items and estimated the annual attributable DALY as well as the cost per DALY averted both by supply and by procedure. RESULTS: Approximately, 2 million lbs (907,185 kg) per year of medical supplies are recoverable from large non-rural US academic medical centers. Of these supplies, 19 common categories represent a potential for donation worth US $15 million per year, at a cost-utility of US $2.14 per DALY averted. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital operating rooms continue to represent a large source of recoverable surgical supplies that have demonstrable health benefits in the recipient communities. Cost-effective recovery and need-based donation programs can significantly alleviate the global burden of surgical diseases.

Selecting a Test for Leprous Neuropathy Screening.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, leprosy represents a significant cause of disability due to progressive neurological impairment. Screening for leprous neuropathy is performed with Semmes-Weinstein monofilament (SWM) or ballpoint pen testing (BPT), which results in underreporting of its prevalence. The Pressure-specified sensory device (PSSD; Sensory Management Services, LLC, Baltimore, MD) is a sensitive, noninvasive, portable, neurosensory instrument, which has not been field-tested for leprosy screening. Early identification of leprous neuropathy would permit early antibiotic treatment to prevent contagion and early microsurgical neurolysis. METHODS: A prospective, clinical diagnostic, cross-sectional study screened a consecutive sample of patients for leprous neuropathy in the leprosy-endemic province of Los Ríos, Ecuador. Patients meeting the World Health Organization criteria for leprosy and complaining of neuropathy symptoms were classified as leprous neuropathy patients. Patients without any signs of leprosy were used as normal controls. Bilateral ulnar nerve screening with the PSSD, SWM (0.07, 0.4, 2, 4, 10, and 300 g), and BPT was performed in all patients. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated and compared across tests. A total of 71 patients (142 nerves) were evaluated. RESULTS: Compared with the 10 g SWM and the BPT, the PSSD was found to have significantly higher sensitivity (78.3 vs. 0% with p < 0.001, for both) with comparable specificity (97.8 vs. 100% with p > 0.999, for both). Compared with the 0.07 g SWM (lightest filament in our series), the PSSD showed better sensitivity (78.3 vs. 65.2%, p = 0.514) and significantly higher specificity (97.8 vs. 51.1%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The PSSD provides superior diagnostic accuracy for detecting leprous neuropathy as compared with SWM and BPT.

Long-term follow-up of changing practice patterns in breast reconstruction due to increased use of tissue expanders and perforator flaps.

BACKGROUND: As the science of breast reconstruction evolves, significant changes in reconstruction strategies and outcomes are expected. The purpose of this study is to determine the changes in breast reconstruction trends and outcomes that occurred at a multidisciplinary academic institution during the last decade. METHODS: We compared 265 patients over two distinct 6-month intervals separated by 5 years (2002 vs. 2007) and performed long-term follow-up (4.75 ± 3.38 years 2002, 2.99 ± 2.25 years 2007). We studied patients seeking prophylactic mastectomy, patients with early breast cancer, and patients with locally advanced disease. We analyzed demographic data, breast cancer history and treatment, type and timing of reconstruction, and complications. RESULTS: Implant to flap reconstruction ratio was 48:49 in 2002 and 76:102 in 2007. Use of transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap declined from 57 to 4%; conversely, deep inferior epigastric perforator flap increased from 27 to 91% (P < 0.001). Correspondingly, donor site chronic pain (4 vs. 0, P = 0.012) and postoperative abdominal wall bulge (9 vs. 3, P = 0.004) rates decreased. Timing of reconstruction showed increased staged cases in 2007 compared to 2002 (P = 0.045). Post-final reconstruction radiation therapy was reduced in 2007 (P = 0.016), with subsequent lower rates of implant rupture (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: At our institution and over the last decade, increasing staged reconstructions have successfully reduced the rates of post-final reconstruction radiotherapy with optimized outcomes. Contrary to national trends, the rates of autologous flap reconstructions have increased with reduced donor site morbidity. This suggests that academic breast reconstruction trends are independent from national trends.

The Critical Blood-Sparing Effect of Tranexamic Acid (TXA) in Liposuction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been used to improve bleeding outcomes in many surgical procedures. However, its blood-sparing effect in liposuction is not well established. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Central, ClinicalTrials.gov, and WorldWideScience.org databases from their inception to October 8, 2021, according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The authors focused on 3 main topics: 1) TXA, 2) liposuction, and 3) complications. We included articles evaluating the potential blood-sparing effects of TXA in liposuction. Studies were excluded if they were systematic review articles or protocol papers, animal studies, conference abstracts, survey studies, or non-English publications. Results: A total of 711 articles were identified, with 1 retrospective and 4 prospective (3 randomized) studies meeting our inclusion criteria. TXA was used in various forms: administered intravenously either on induction or after the procedure, mixed into the tumescent solution, or infiltrated into the liposuction sites after lipoaspiration. A significantly smaller reduction in hematocrit was noted in the TXA group compared with that in the non-TXA group (p<0.001) despite a significantly greater amount of lipoaspirate removed in the TXA group (p<0.001). Patients in non-TXA cohorts experienced adverse effects (such as seroma and need for transfusion) that were not seen in TXA cohorts. Conclusion: TXA use in patients undergoing liposuction seems to be associated with a beneficial blood-sparing effect, which may enhance safety in this population. Future studies should aim to determine the optimal route and dosing for TXA in liposuction. Evidence Based Medicine: Level IV.

A national multi-institutional analysis of predictors of surgical site complications and unplanned reoperation after paramedian forehead flap reconstruction.

Background: Although postoperative complications of paramedian forehead flap (PMFF) are generally low, surgical site complications and unplanned reoperation can still occur. Recent literature suggests infection to be the most common complication following PMFF reconstruction. This study sought to determine the patient and preoperative factors associated with surgical site complications and unplanned reoperations at a national level. Methods: Patients who underwent PMFF reconstruction from the ACS-NSQIP 2007 - 2019 database were analyzed to determine composite surgical site morbidity and unplanned return to the operating room. Patient and operative factors were also analyzed to assess independent risk factors for surgical site morbidity and unplanned reoperation in the first 30 postoperative days. Results: A total of 1,592 PMFF were analyzed between 2007 and 2019. Of these, 2.7% (43/1592) developed a composite surgical site complication in the first 30 postoperative days. Risk factors for composite surgical site complication included >10% weight loss in the previous 6 months (p<0.05), disseminated cancer (p<0.01), class 4 wounds (dirty/infected) (p<0.01), and operative time greater than 123 min (p<0.01). Based on the univariate analysis, low preoperative albumin and hematocrit were also associated with increased odds of composite surgical site complication. 2.5% (40/1592) of patients underwent unplanned reoperation. Higher ASA class (p<0.05) and class 4 wounds (p<0.05) were associated with unplanned return to the operating room. Conclusion: Significant weight loss, disseminated cancer, prolonged operation time, low preoperative albumin, and hematocrit are associated with higher PMFF composite surgical site complications. Higher ASA and class 4 wound status are associated with an increased risk of unplanned reoperation.

Early Discontinuation of Breast Free Flap Monitoring: A Strategy Driven by National Data.

BACKGROUND: Multiple single-institution studies have revealed that breast free flap compromise usually occurs within the first 48 postoperative hours. However, national studies analyzing the rates and timing of breast free flap compromise are lacking. This study aimed to fill this gap in knowledge to better guide postoperative monitoring. METHODS: All women undergoing breast free flap reconstruction from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program 2012 to 2016 database were analyzed to determine the rates and timing of free flap take-back. Take-backs were stratified by postoperative day through the first month. Multivariable modified Poisson regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictors of free flap take-back. RESULTS: A total of 6792 breast free flap patients were analyzed. Multivariable analysis revealed that body mass index of 40 kg/m or higher, hypertension, American Society of Anesthesiologists class of 3 or higher, steroid use, and smoking were independent predictors of take-back (p < 0.05). Take-back occurred at the highest rate during postoperative day 1, dropped significantly by postoperative day 2 (p < 0.001), and remained consistently low after postoperative day 2 (<0.6 percent daily). The identified risk factors significantly increased the likelihood of take-back on postoperative day 1 (p < 0.05), with a trend noted on postoperative day 2 (p = 0.06). Fewer than 0.4 percent of patients (n = 27) underwent take-back on postoperative day 2 without having risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first national study specifically analyzing rates, timing, and independent predictors of breast free flap take-back. The data support discontinuing breast free flap monitoring by the end of postoperative day 1 for patients without risk factors, given the very low rate of take-back for such patients during postoperative day 2 (≤0.4 percent). CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.

Postoperative Prophylactic Antibiotics Reduce Surgical Site Infection Rates after Ventral Hernia Repair: A Systematic Review.

SSIs after ventral hernia repair (VHR) represent a significant complication. The impact of postoperative prophylactic antibiotics on the SSI rates after VHRs is unclear. A systematic review of PubMed and Web of Science databases from inception through March 2016 investigating the effect of postoperative prophylactic antibiotics after VHRs was performed. Strict inclusion and exclusion criteria were implemented, and the methodological quality of the included studies was assessed. After systematic independent assessment of 216 citations, four studies, involving 344 patients, met the inclusion criteria. Among the included studies, 164 patients received >24 hours of postoperative prophylactic antibiotics, whereas 180 patients were controls. The overall incidence of SSI among patients receiving postoperative antibiotics was 14.6 per cent (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.9 to 20.9) which compares favorably with the control group: 35.5 per cent (95% CI, 28.9 to 42.7) (odds ratio: 0.3, 95% CI: 0.2 to 0.5, P < 0.01). Among patient's receiving postoperative antibiotics, the pooled average duration of postoperative antibiotic treatment was 6.2 ± 0.4 days. Based on the available evidence, the use of postoperative prophylactic antibiotics seems to be associated with lower SSI rates after VHRs. Future prospective randomized controlled trials should be conducted to further confirm the efficacy of this prophylactic intervention.

The Baltodano Breast Reduction Score: A Nationwide, Multi-Institutional, Validated Approach to Reducing Surgical-Site Morbidity.

BACKGROUND: Breast reduction remains associated with significantly higher rates of overall morbidity, superficial surgical-site infections, and wound disruptions. The authors developed a validated risk model to identify patients at higher risk for postoperative surgical-site morbidity after breast reduction. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of all women undergoing breast reduction from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program 2005 to 2012 data. Surgical-site morbidity included surgical-site infection and wound disruption events. Stepwise multivariable logistic regression identified risk factors associated with surgical-site morbidity. The model was validated using bootstrap replications (n = 100) and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test, and converted into the Baltodano breast reduction score, a clinical risk tool predictive of surgical-site morbidity. RESULTS: The authors identified 7068 breast reductions. Rate of 30-day surgical-site morbidity was 3.98 percent. Independent risk factors included resident participation (OR, 1.5; 95 percent CI, 1.1 to 2.0; p = 0.004), body mass index (for every 5-unit increase: OR, 1.3; 95 percent CI, 1.1 to 1.4; p < 0.001), smoking (OR, 1.6; 95 percent CI, 1.1 to 2.4; p = 0.014), steroid use (OR, 3.5; 95 percent CI, 1.4 to 8.4; p = 0.006), and operation in the third quarter of the year (OR, 1.5; 95 percent CI, 1.1 to 1.9; p = 0.014). The factors were integrated into the Baltodano score, ranging from 0 to 16. The predicted probability of surgical-site morbidity associated with each risk score was estimated. Predicted and observed risks of surgical-site morbidity were highly comparable. CONCLUSIONS: The authors present the Baltodano breast reduction score, a validated risk-stratification tool for predicting 30-day surgical-site morbidity following breast reduction using data that are readily available to the clinician. This may allow targeted screening and intervention in high-risk patients, better counseling, selective resident participation, and ultimately a decrease in overall health care costs. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.

The Fine Wire Technique for Flexor Tenolysis.

BACKGROUND: Flexor tenolysis surgery for flexor digitorum profundus and superficialis adhesions is a common procedure performed by hand surgeons. Releasing these adhered tendons can greatly improve hand function and improve quality of life. Recent evidence, however, has shown that the outcomes of tenolysis surgeries are often suboptimal and can result in relapsing adhesions or even tendon ruptures. METHODS: This article describes a new technique with potential for reduced complication rates: The Fine Wire Technique for Flexor Tenolysis (FWT). RESULTS: Following FWT, the patient detailed in this article had an excellent recovery of function and no complications: including tendon rupture, infection, hematomas, or any other complications. She reported a major improvement from her preoperative functionality and continues to have this level of success. The wire's thinness allows for a swift tenolysis. CONCLUSIONS: The FWT is a new option available to the hand surgeon associated with good functional results. The wire is readily available to the clinician and is also inexpensive.

Preoperative Radiotherapy Is Not Associated with Increased Post-mastectomy Short-term Morbidity: Analysis of 77,902 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant radiotherapy (NRT) enhances breast-conserving surgery outcomes, reducing local recurrence of breast cancer and increasing median survival. However, its effect on postoperative morbidity remains under-studied. We sought to assess the impact of NRT on 30-day postoperative morbidity after mastectomy. METHODS: We analyzed data from women undergoing mastectomy (with or without immediate reconstruction) using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) 2005-2011 datasets. ACS-NSQIP is a prospective, risk-adjusted, outcomes-based registry. Data included demographic and perioperative factors. Outcomes studied included surgical site (wound and prosthesis/flap complications), systemic (cardiac, respiratory, neurological, urinary, and venous thromboembolism events), and overall morbidity. Logistic regression was used to estimate the unadjusted odds ratio (uOR) and adjusted odds ratio (aOR) between NRT and postoperative 30-day morbidity. RESULTS: The study population included 77,902 women, of which 61,039 (78.4%) underwent mastectomy only and 16,863 (21.6%) underwent mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction. NRT was administered to 266 (0.4%) mastectomy-only and 75 (0.4%) immediate breast reconstruction patients. In the mastectomy-only group, there were no significant differences in the rates of postoperative surgical site morbidity (aOR = 1.41; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.76-2.63; P = 0.276), systemic morbidity (aOR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.40-1.26; P = 0.252), and overall morbidity (aOR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.54-1.33; P = 0.477) between NRT and control groups. Similarly, no significant differences were found for these three outcomes in the immediate breast reconstruction population. Statistical power for every comparison was >80%. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that NRT is not associated with significantly higher 30-day postoperative complications among breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy with or without immediate breast reconstruction.

Quality-of-Life Outcomes Improve with Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Loss of the nipple-areola complex can be psychologically and sexually devastating. Nipple-sparing mastectomy provides robust cosmetic results, but few studies have investigated the quality-of-life outcomes associated with it. METHODS: The authors performed an institutional review board-approved retrospective study of 32 patients who underwent nipple-sparing mastectomy with implant-based or autologous reconstruction and 32 control patients who underwent non-nipple-sparing mastectomy with reconstruction matched by reconstruction type and operative period. They then compared premastectomy and postreconstruction responses to the BREAST-Q, a validated and breast reconstruction-specific quality-of-life questionnaire, within and between their study and control populations. RESULTS: The nipple-sparing and non-nipple-sparing mastectomy groups were statistically similar in terms of mean age [49.9 ± 8.5 years (range, 36 to 69 years) and 47.7 ± 10.3 years (range, 26 to 68 years) (p = 0.29), respectively] and mean body mass index [24.3 ± 3.5 kg/m (range, 17.9 to 33.7 kg/m) and 25.5 ± 5.4 kg/m (range, 19.2 to 39.2 kg/m) (p = 0.29), respectively]. There were no significant between-group differences in occurrence of postreconstruction complications. The authors found significantly higher mean postreconstruction scores in the nipple-sparing mastectomy group within the Satisfaction with Breasts (p = 0.039) and the Satisfaction with Outcome (p = 0.017) domains. Finally, they noted higher median postreconstruction scores in the nipple-sparing mastectomy group within the Psychosocial Well-being (p = 0.043) and Satisfaction with Breasts (p = 0.004) domains. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological concerns regarding malignancy may negatively impact premastectomy patient quality of life. Reconstructive surgery improves patients' postmastectomy quality of life. Nipple-sparing mastectomy appears to provide significantly better improvement in postreconstruction quality of life, specifically in the Satisfaction with Breasts and Satisfaction with Outcome domains of the BREAST-Q, compared with non-nipple-sparing mastectomies. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Prevalence of leprous neuropathy determined by neurosensory testing in an endemic zone in Ecuador: Development of an algorithm to identify patients benefiting from early neurolysis.

The success of a microneurosurgical intervention in leprous neuropathy (LN) depends on the diagnosis of chronic compression before irreversible paralysis and digital loss occurs. In order to determine the effectiveness of a different approach for early identification of LN, neurosensory testing with the Pressure-Specified Sensory Device™ (PSSD), a validated and sensitive test, was performed in an endemic zone for leprosy. A cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze a patient sample meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for Hansen's disease. The prevalence of LN was based on the presence of ≥1 abnormal PSSD pressure threshold for a two-point static touch. A total of 312 upper and lower extremity nerves were evaluated in 39 patients. The PSSD found a 97.4% prevalence of LN. Tinel's sign was identified in 60% of these patients. An algorithm for early identification of patients with LN was proposed using PSSD testing based on the unilateral screening of the ulnar and deep peroneal nerves.