Bilateral Free Flap Breast Reconstruction After Unilateral Radiation: Comparing Intraoperative Vascular Complications and Postoperative Outcomes in Radiated Versus Nonradiated Breasts.

BACKGROUND: Radiation induces vessel damage and impairs tissue healing. To date, only 1 study has examined radiation's impact in autologous breast reconstruction on intraoperative vascular complications and postoperative outcomes. In this follow-up paper, we examine a larger cohort with an improved study design to better control for patient characteristics. METHODS: A database of 1780 patients who underwent autologous breast free flap reconstruction at the University of Pennsylvania's Health System between 2003 and 2014 was searched for patients who underwent bilateral breast reconstruction after unilateral radiation, returning 199 patients for review. These were then analyzed for intraoperative vascular complications as well as postoperative complications. McNemar tests were performed on all variables, comparing between radiated and nonradiated fields. RESULTS: Fields with prior radiation were significantly more likely to have any type of intraoperative vascular complication and need for arterial anastomotic revision compared to fields without prior radiation (14% versus 7%, P = 0.03 and 8% versus 3%, P = 0.04, respectively). Although there was a trend for more frequent arterial thrombosis in radiated compared to nonradiated fields, this was nonsignificant (7% versus 3%, P = 0.08). There was no significant difference in venous thrombosis or need for venous anastomotic revision. Radiated fields were significantly more likely to have postoperative wound infections compared to nonradiated fields (4% versus 0.5%, P = 0.04). There was no difference in other postoperative complications, including postoperative thrombosis, flap loss, mastectomy flap necrosis, fat necrosis, hematoma, seroma, or delayed wound healing. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative vascular complications and postoperative wound infections are significantly more likely to occur in autologous breast free flap reconstruction with previous radiation therapy. It is important to plan for and counsel patients that fields with previous radiation are at higher risk for these complications.

A Spectrum of Disease: Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma, Atypicals, and Other Implant Associations.

Breast implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is an uncommon and emerging malignancy caused by textured breast implants. The most common patient presentation is delayed seromas, other presentations include breast asymmetry, overlying skin rashes, palpable masses, lymphadenopathy, and capsular contracture. Confirmed diagnoses should receive lymphoma oncology consultation, multidisciplinary evaluation, and PET-CT or CT scan evaluation prior to surgical treatment. Disease confined to the capsule is curable in the majority of patients with complete surgical resection. BIA-ALCL is now recognized as one disease among a spectrum of inflammatory mediated malignancies which include implant-associated squamous cell carcinoma and B cell lymphoma.

An In Vivo Comparison: Novel Mesh Suture Versus Traditional Suture-Based Repair in a Rabbit Tendon Model.

Purpose: Despite advancements in surgical techniques, suture pull-though and rupture continue to limit the early range of motion and functional rehabilitation after flexor tendon repairs. The aim of this study was to evaluate a suturable mesh compared with a commonly used braided suture in an in vivo rabbit intrasynovial tendon model. Methods: Twenty-four New Zealand female rabbits (3-4 kg) were injected with 2 units/kg botulinum toxin evenly distributed into 4 sites in the left calf. After 1 week, the animals underwent surgical tenotomy of the flexor digitorum tendon and were randomized to repair with either 2-0 Duramesh suturable mesh or to 2-0 Fiberwire using a 2-strand modified Kessler and 6-0 polypropylene running epitendinous suture. Rabbits were killed at 2, 4, and 9 weeks after surgery. Results: Grouping across time points, 58.3% (7 of 12) of Duramesh repairs were found to be intact for the explant compared with 16.7% (2 of 12) of Fiberwire repairs (P = .09). At 2 weeks, the mean Duramesh repairs were significantly stronger than the Fiberwire repairs with a mean failure load of 50.7 ± 12.7 N compared to 14.8 ± 18.3 N (P = .02). The load supported by the Duramesh repairs at 2 weeks (mean 50.7 ± 12.7 N) was similar to the load supported by both Fiberwire (52.2 ± 13.6 N) and Duramesh (57.6 ± 22.3 N) at 4 weeks. The strength of repair between Fiberwire and Duramesh at 4 weeks and 9 weeks was not significantly different. Conclusions: The 2-strand tendon repair with suturable mesh achieved significantly greater strength at 2 weeks than the conventional suture material. Future studies should evaluate the strength of repair prior to 2 weeks to determine the strength curve for this novel suture material. Clinical Relevance: This study evaluates the utility of a novel suturable mesh for flexor tendon repair in an in vivo rabbit model compared with conventional suture material.

Free Vascularized Fibular Flap with Bilateral Bipolar Latissimus Transfer for Upper Extremity Reconstruction: A Case Report.

CASE: A 19-year-old woman presented with bilateral mangled upper extremities after jumping in front of a moving train. After revascularization, osteocutaneous free vascularized fibula flap was performed to reconstruct the right humerus. The left forearm required transradial amputation with acute targeted muscle reinnervation. Finally, staged bilateral bipolar latissimus dorsi functional muscle flaps were performed to restore elbow flexion. CONCLUSION: Staged orthoplastic reconstruction of the upper extremities is an effective treatment approach for traumatic bone and soft-tissue defects. This patient's recovery demonstrates improved quality of life after severe upper extremity trauma.

Targeted Muscle Reinnervation for the Treatment of Neuroma.

Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) is the surgical rerouting of severed nerve endings to nearby expendable motor nerve branches. These nerve transfers provide a pathway for axonal growth, limiting the amputated nerve ends' disorganized attempt at regeneration that leads to neuroma formation. In the amputee population, TMR is successful in the treatment and prevention of chronic phantom limb pain and residual limb pain. In the nonamputee population, applications of TMR are ever expanding in the treatment of chronic neuroma pain owing to trauma, compression, or surgery. This article reviews the indications for TMR, preoperative evaluation, and various surgical techniques.

Management of Unreconstructable Saphenous Nerve Injury with Targeted Muscle Reinnervation.

Neuroma pain significantly impacts patient quality of life and is associated with unemployment, chronic opioid dependence, and depression. Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR), a surgical technique that coapts proximal stumps of cut nerves to distal motor nerves of adjacent muscles, has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment and prevention of neuroma pain. The objective of this study was to describe the surgical technique for TMR of the saphenous nerve, while providing a retrospective review. Between January 2015 and December 2018, 18 patients underwent TMR of the saphenous nerve: 1 nonamputee patient with chronic pain after ankle surgery and 17 amputee patients (10 for relief of chronic postamputation neuroma pain and phantom pain and 7 at the time of amputation for prevention of these symptoms). Six patients were lost to follow up; 2 patients had recurrent pain; and 10 patients had reduced or no pain after TMR surgery. TMR is a successful technique for the management of traumatic neuroma pain in both the amputee and nonamputee populations, and in this study, we describe the technique for saphenous nerve TMR.

Management of Sural Nerve Neuromas with Targeted Muscle Reinnervation.

Neuromas are a debilitating peripheral nerve problem due to aberrant axon sprouting and inflammation after nerve injury. The surgical management of neuromas has for a long time been up for debate, largely due to lack of consistent, reliable outcomes with any one technique. We have found success utilizing targeted muscle reinnervation, a technique originally described in amputees that re-routes the proximal ends of cut sensory nerve stumps into the distal ends of motor nerves to nearby muscles. In doing so, the sensory nerve ending can regenerate along the length of the motor nerve, giving it a place to go and something to do. In this report, we describe our technique specifically for targeted muscle reinnervation of sural nerve neuromas that is applicable to both amputees and to patients with intact limbs. Sural nerve neuromas can occur after sural nerve harvest for reconstructive procedures and particularly after lateral malleolar incisions for orthopedic access to the calcaneus. By re-routing the sural nerve into a motor nerve of the lateral gastrocnemius muscle, we are able to manage a variety of sural nerve neuromas presenting anywhere along the course of the sural nerve and in a variety of clinical settings.

Benchmarking Residual Limb Pain and Phantom Limb Pain in Amputees through a Patient-reported Outcomes Survey.

More than 75% of major limb amputees experience chronic pain; however, data on severity and experience of pain are inconsistent. Without a benchmark using quantitative patient-reported outcomes, it is difficult to critically assess the efficacy of novel treatment strategies. Our primary objective is to report quantitative pain parameters for a large sample of amputees using the validated Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement System (PROMIS). Secondarily, we hypothesize that certain patient factors will be associated with worse pain. METHODS: PROMIS and Numerical Rating Scales for residual limb pain (RLP) and phantom limb pain (PLP) were obtained from a cross-sectional survey of upper and lower extremity amputees recruited throughout North America via amputee clinics and websites. Demographics (gender, age, race, and education) and clinical information (cause, amputation level, and time since amputation) were collected. Regression modeling identified factors associated with worse pain scores (P < 0.05). RESULTS: Seven hundred twenty-seven surveys were analyzed, in which 73.4% reported RLP and 70.4% reported PLP. Median residual PROMIS scores were 46.6 [interquartile range (IQR), 41-52] for RLP Intensity, 56.7 (IQR, 51-61) for RLP Behavior, and 55.9 (IQR, 41-63) for RLP Interference. Similar scores were calculated for PLP parameters: 46.8 (IQR, 41-54) for PLP Intensity, 56.2 (IQR, 50-61) for PLP Behavior, and 54.6 (IQR, 41-62) for PLP Interference. Female sex, lower education, trauma-related amputation, more proximal amputation, and closer to time of amputation increased odds of PLP. Female sex, lower education, and infection/ischemia-related amputation increased odds of RLP. CONCLUSION: This survey-based analysis provides quantitative benchmark data regarding RLP and PLP in amputees with more granularity than has previously been reported.

Appreciation of Postpartum Changes of the Rectus Muscles in Primary and Repeated Abdominoplasty.

BACKGROUND: Abdominoplasty is one of the top five most commonly performed cosmetic procedures. Whereas widening of the linea alba is a well-accepted consequence of pregnancy, the changes to the rectus abdominis muscles are less well known and thus unappreciated and undertreated. METHODS: After institutional review board approval, the Northwestern Enterprise Data Warehouse identified nulliparous and multiparous women, aged 18 to 45 years, who underwent abdominal computed tomography between 2000 and the present. Measurements included the width and cross-sectional area of each rectus muscle, width of the linea alba, and circumference of the abdominal cavity at the level of the L3 vertebra. In addition, two case reports addressing these anatomical changes with muscle modification and mesh reinforcement are presented. RESULTS: Sixty women were identified that met our inclusion criteria: 15 nulliparous, 15 after one pregnancy (para 1), 15 after two pregnancies (para 2), and 15 after three or more pregnancies (para ≥ 3). The linea alba was significantly widened after one pregnancy from 1.14 cm to 2.29 cm, but did not significantly widen further with each subsequent pregnancy. The width of each rectus muscle was significantly widened from 6.00 ± 0.60 cm in nulliparous to 6.61 ± 0.58 cm in para 1, significantly widened again to 7.03 ± 0.46 cm in para 2, but not significantly widened after that (6.97 ± 1.00 cm in para 3). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to widening of the linea alba, pregnancy alters the shape of the rectus abdominis muscle. Correction of muscle width during abdominoplasty may be a necessary adjunct to achieve the proper tension in both primary and revision procedures. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, V.

Prophylactic Use of Buccal Fat Flaps to Improve Oral Mucosal Healing following Furlow Palatoplasty.

Furlow palatoplasty is increasingly used both for primary palatoplasty and for secondary correction of velopharyngeal insufficiency. Although Furlow palatoplasty offers the advantage of lengthening the palate, the most tenuous component of the oral mucosal repair is anterior transposition of the oral mucosal Z-plasty flap, with superficial separation of the oral mucosa observed in up to 53 percent of cases of secondary Furlow palatoplasty. To mitigate this problem, the authors prophylactically placed pedicled buccal fat pad flaps to provide an additional vascular layer to promote healing of the overlying oral mucosal Z-plasty flap. The authors report their experience comprising seven patients who underwent Furlow palatoplasty with buccal fat flap augmentation. Four of these patients had secondary Furlow palatoplasty procedures; one of them experienced oral mucosal separation that healed uneventfully. No patients developed an oronasal fistula. The authors' experience suggests that buccal fat flaps may minimize vascular compromise and dehiscence of the oral mucosal Z-plasty following Furlow palatoplasty. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:: Therapeutic, IV.

Targeted Muscle Reinnervation in the Lower Leg: An Anatomical Study.

BACKGROUND: Targeted muscle reinnervation reroutes the ends of cut nerves to reinnervate small motor nerves of nearby muscles, with the goal of reducing neuroma pain and/or improving prosthesis function. Anatomical roadmaps for targeted muscle reinnervation have been established in the upper extremity and thigh, but not for the lower leg. METHODS: The major branch points of motor nerves and the motor entry points to muscles of the leg were dissected in five cadaver specimens. Leg length was defined as distance from the lateral femoral condyle to the lateral malleolus. The distances from the lateral femoral condyle to major branch points and motor entry points were recorded as percentages of leg length to identify targets for targeted muscle reinnervation. RESULTS: The tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus were both acceptable targets in the anterior compartment, with an average 4.4 motor entry points within 10 to 80 percent and 3.0 motor entry points within 20 to 80 percent leg length, respectively. The peroneus longus was the best target in the lateral compartment, with an average 5.8 motor entry points within 20 to 70 percent leg length. The gastrocnemius and soleus were both acceptable targets in the superficial posterior compartment, with an average 4.4 motor entry points within 0 to 40 percent and 6.2 motor entry points within 20 to 80 percent leg length, respectively for each muscle. The flexor digitorum longus was the best target in the deep posterior compartment, with an average 6.0 motor entry points within 30 to 90 percent leg length. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted muscle reinnervation is technically feasible in the lower leg. This cadaveric study provides a roadmap for incision placement and identification of motor nerve targets.