Effects of Preoperative Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy on Scar Formation-A Pilot Study on 24 Subjects Undergoing Abdominoplasty Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) has been demonstrated as a feasible noninvasive method to improve wound healing. This effect was demonstrated to result from increased perfusion and angiogenesis due to systemic growth factor expression. We, therefore, hypothesized that preoperative ESWT reduces scar formation after surgery. METHODS: A prospective, controlled pilot study on 24 patients undergoing abdominoplasty was conducted and the efficacy of preoperative unfocused, low energy EWST was evaluated. The right and left half of the operative area were randomly allocated to ESWT or placebo treatment in intrapatient control design. At 6 and 12 weeks after surgery, scar formation was evaluated by 19 different scar parameters included in the patient, observer scar assessment, and the Vancouver scar scale. RESULTS: The overall rating of the Vancouver and POSAS scale with Mann-Whitney (MW) analysis revealed a clear trend favoring ESWT. At week 6, 7 of 19 parameters clearly favored ESWT (MW > 0.53). At week 12, 8 of 19 parameters clearly favored ESWT. The largest differences were observed in thickness and overall impression (Vancouver scar scale). CONCLUSIONS: ESWT presumably reduces scar formation and postoperative symptoms after abdominoplasty surgery. Further studies are required to confirm ESWT efficacy with statistical significance. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Autologous fat grafting for enhancement of breast reconstruction with a transverse myocutaneous gracilis flap: A cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The transverse myocutaneous gracilis (TMG) flap is a viable option for the reconstruction of small- to moderate-sized breasts. The purpose of this series was to examine the outcomes of fat grafting to breast and donor site secondary to breast reconstruction with a TMG flap. METHODS: A cohort study was conducted to identify all patients who underwent autologous fat grafting after breast reconstruction with a TMG flap at two institutions between January 2009 and October 2013. Data were collected regarding patient demographics, body mass index, and medical history as well as surgical details regarding TMG flap surgery and fat grafting. RESULTS: A total of 145 fat graftings were performed in 83 patients following TMG flap breast reconstruction to improve the contour, shape, and volume of breasts (98%, n = 142), donor site (9%, n = 13) or both (7%, n = 10), mainly after breast cancer surgery (83%). On average, 1.8 fat grafting sessions were performed with an average of 30cc fat per breast and 56.4cc fat per thigh. In 72% of patients, fat injection was performed by other pending reconstructive procedures. Fat was harvested by the tumescent technique, by using a filter syringe system, and injected without any further processing in multiple layers. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous fat grafting as a secondary procedure represents a powerful adjunct to enhance the aesthetic outcome of the reconstructed breast and donor site. It can be easily combined with other pending reconstructive procedures. With additional fat grafting, it may be possible to expand indications and offer autologous reconstruction with a TMG flap even in very lean patients.

Clinical Applications of the Transverse Musculocutaneous Gracilis Flap for Secondary Breast Reconstruction after Simple Mastectomy.

BACKGROUND: In secondary autologous breast reconstruction, the current standard is a flap derived from the lower abdomen or the back. If these donor sites are not available because of lack of tissue, prior operations, or simply the patient's desire to avoid these donor sites, the authors use the transverse musculocutaneous gracilis flap if feasible. METHODS: The authors retrospectively evaluated only patients where secondary autologous breast reconstruction was performed with a transverse musculocutaneous gracilis flap because of the prior mentioned reasons. Indications, limitations, advantages, and technique are discussed by sharing the authors' experience in 23 patients using 26 transverse musculocutaneous gracilis flaps. RESULTS: No flap loss could be observed in this series. In four patients, minimal lateral skin necrosis could easily be managed by débridement and primary wound closure. In 12 cases, subsequent lipofilling was performed for a better breast shape. On average, patient satisfaction was high. CONCLUSIONS: Secondary reconstruction after simple mastectomy using the transverse musculocutaneous gracilis flap requires a little more experience than after skin-sparing mastectomy but, especially combined with later lipofilling, can lead to an optimally shaped breast in selected patients with substantial skin laxity and fat distribution at the inner thigh. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.