[Fibrin sealant significantly decrease postoperative drainage in breast reconstruction by deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap]. / Diminution significative des volumes de drainage postopératoires en reconstruction mammaire différée par lambeau libre DIEP par utilisation de colle de fibrine.

PURPOSE: Serosanguinous drainage after breast reconstruction by deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap constitute with the microsurgical monitoring, the main limiting factors for patient discharge. Fibrin sealant has already been studied to reduce post breast surgery drainage. The authors are presenting their experience in secondary breast reconstruction by DIEP flap with the use of sprayed fibrin sealant. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-one female patients aged 28 to 63 years old who underwent secondary breast reconstruction after mastectomy for cancer between October 2004 and June 2007 have been reviewed. These patients were separated into two groups. In group 1, patients (n=9) received two drains placed under the flap and in the axillary area. In group 2, (n=12) the DIEP flaps and thoracic areas were sprayed with fibrin sealant (Tissucol(®)) before the two drains inset. RESULTS: No adverse effect were reported, with a 36-month median follow-up. Drainages volumes or durations were not correlated to the patients' Body Mass Index (BMI). Lower drained volumes were collected from the thoracic region (372ml versus 629mL) and thoracic drains were removed earlier (5.5 days versus 6.9 days) in group 2. The length of stay was also significantly reduced after fibrin sealant use (5.5 days versus 7.22 days with P=0.0305 by log rank test). CONCLUSION: This study is a rare clinical one on fibrin sealant use to decrease postoperative drainage in breast reconstruction by DIEP flap. Fibrin sealant significantly decreased the postoperative drainage volume and duration.

[ Facial allograft transplantation and basal implantology(cortically anchored disk-design implants)]. / Allogreffe de face et implantologie basale (implant-disques à appuis corticaux).

INTRODUCTION: We report a case of total oral rehabilitation with basal implants (cortically anchored disk-design implants) on a patient who received a facial allograft 1 year earlier. OBSERVATION: A 31-year-old patient was suffering from a plexiforme neurofibroma spread into the soft tissues of the oral cavity with huge deformations of the jaws. The operation consisted in pulling out numerous supernumerary impacted teeth, removing unnecessary soft tissues, settling six basal implants in the maxilla and seven in the mandible. The following day, two resin bridges were adjusted and cemented onto the implant abutments. The permanent bridges were settled 2 months and half later. The outcome was still unremarkable 2 years after the implant procedure. DISCUSSION: This case report raises important issues, notably the relevance of an oral rehabilitation with implant-supported prostheses on an immunosuppressed patient. In this specific case, this was impossible to achieve using removable prostheses. A facial reconstruction with its plastic, functional, and social goals seemed inconsistent without an oral rehabilitation. Even if they have not been published, cases of grafted patients with dental implants are unexceptional. Lastly, this rehabilitation has been planned for a particularly monitored patient. The second important question regards the choice of the basal implantology. This option has been motivated by the possibility to complete the case in one sole operation with provisional prostheses cemented the day after that act like orthopaedic external fixators providing an exceptional primary stability. The cortical anchorage, which was the only reliable on this patient, allowed to avoid bone grafting. Finally, the particular thinness of the implant emergence limits to the minimum the communications between bone and oral cavity. We would like to stress that the only objective of this observation was to document a specific case and possibly to open the way to a scientific study in accordance with the regulations of clinical research.

[Treatment of HIV facial lipoatrophy with a submalar porous polyethylene implant (Medpor)]. / Traitement des lipoatrophies faciales utilisant des implants de Medpor en polyéthylène poreux.

Human immunodeficiency virus associated facial lipoatrophy is becoming epidemic and is a distressing sign for patients. Non permanent fillers provide only temporary results and cannot be the solution for severe cases. Lipodystrophy makes the lipofilling difficult to perform with a fibrous low quality fat difficult to harvest. We propose another solution using porous polyethylene implants (Medpor). Eight patients underwent submalar augmentation through an upper gingivobuccal sulcus incision that allows a subperiosteal dissection. The implants are carved to provide the desired augmentation. Overall, eight patients had good or very good aesthetic postoperative outcomes as determined by the patient and the surgeon. No complications occurred and results remain natural. Porous polyethylene implant (Medpor) is our treatment of choice for mild to severe facial lipoatrophy. Besides these implants could be removed easily later if needed.

The posterior-based buccinator myomucosal flap (Bozola's flap).

Based on a case of reconstruction after oncologic resection of the hard palate, the authors document the key technical points for harvesting a posterior-based buccinator myomucosal flap (Bozola's flap), and its limitations and indications after oncologic resection of tumors originating from the oral cavity and/oropharynx.

Improving the colour match of free tissue transfers to the face with non-cultured autologous cellular spray--a case report on a chin reconstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Animal bites can result in extensive avulsion injuries of the face justifying microsurgical replantation attempts. Reconstruction using local tissue harvesting increases the local morbidity while distant tissues can result in colour and skin texture mismatching. Skin grafting of the skin paddle by a split-thickness skin graft is a conventional approach to help overcome this problem. PATIENT AND METHODS: An 18-year-old patient was treated for a chin avulsion after a dog bite injury. The avulsed segment included the whole chin aesthetic unit and one-fifth of the lower lip. The segment was replanted on the inferior labial artery. The replantation failed and a reconstruction with a parascapular free flap was performed. Despite a debulking at 1 month, the aesthetic result had a poor colour match. The technique used to improve this was to de-epithelialise the skin and apply non-cultured autologous epidermal cells (NCAECs) 100 days after the reconstruction. RESULTS: The reconstruction was uneventful. At 3 months follow-up, the patient was able to purse her lips and had regained sensation. After 5 months, the free flap paddle was consistent in colour, pigmentation and texture with the surrounding skin. At 10 months, the patient's only complaint was residual firmness in her scar and flap. The long-term follow-up, over 23 months, confirmed the stability of the results. CONCLUSION: The use of an NCAEC spray to treat the dyschromia on a parascapular flap used for facial reconstruction is less invasive than split-thickness overgrafting and could extend the use of distant flaps that have been avoided due to poor colour match.

[Vacuum-Assisted Closure in the treatment of a large thoracic defect with Gore Tex prosthesis exposure: a case report]. / Utilisation du Vaccum-Assisted Closure pour la reconstruction d'une perte de substance thoracique transfixiante avec exposition d'une plaque en Gore Tex: à propos d'un cas.

Vacuum-Assisted Closure (VAC) technique has been used in the treatment of acute and chronic wounds. The authors report a case of large thoracic defect, where the VAC was used to cover an exposed Gore Tex prosthesis after the failure of a latissimus dorsi flap. The VAC managed to save the Gore Tex prosthesis before a delayed reconstruction.

[Effect of inadequate filling of deflation of inflatable breast prostheses. Statistical study of 535 inflatable prostheses]. / Influence de l'insuffisance de remplissage sur le dégonflement des prothèses mammaires gonflables. Etude statistique sur 535 prothèses gonflables.

This study was based on a series of 535 inflatable prostheses used for breast reconstruction or augmentation with a mean follow-up of 5.15 years. The authors specifically analysed the statistical correlation between underinflation and deflation due to late rupture. They demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the initial filling of the prostheses which subsequently deflated and the initial filling of all prostheses of the series. The mean filling of prostheses which subsequently deflated was 89% while the mean filling of all prosthesis in the series was 100%. The various pathologies are analysed according to the cosmetic or reconstructive indications. The two series, cosmetic and reconstructive, were homogeneous in terms of filling volume and deflation; the only difference concerned the age distribution. Patients undergoing breast reconstruction with a prosthesis were older than patients undergoing augmentation surgery for small breasts. The authors discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this type of prosthesis.