Local Infiltration of Tranexamic Acid in Breast Reduction for Symptomatic Macromastia.

BACKGROUND: With a surge of tranexamic acid (TXA) use in the plastic surgery community and a constant demand for breast reduction for symptomatic macromastia, questions about the benefits and risks emerge. The aims of this study are to evaluate and compare outcomes of patients undergoing breast reduction while receiving local TXA as opposed to standard procedure without TXA and to assess intraoperative bleeding and operative time. METHODS: A retrospective review of breast reductions at a single institution from June 2020 to December 2021 was performed. The breast was infiltrated with tumescent solution at the time of surgery, with or without TXA. The population was divided into 2 groups: the TXA receiving group and tumescent only group. Demographics, intraoperative bleeding, operative time, complications, and drain duration were compared between groups. T test and χ 2 test analyses were performed on IBM SPSS.TM. RESULTS: A total of 81 patients and 162 breasts were included. Mean age among patients was 30 ± 13.44 years. Mean SN-N distance was 32.80 ± 3.62 cm. Average resected breast specimen weight was 903.21 ± 336.50 g. Mean operating room time was 159 minutes. Intraoperative blood loss and operative time were not statistically different between groups ( P = 0.583 and P = 0.549, respectively). T-junction dehiscence was lower in the TXA group ( P = 0.016). Incidence of suture granulomas was lower in the TXA group ( P = 0.05). Drain duration was statistically significantly higher in the TXA group ( P = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: No decreases in intraoperative blood loss, operative time, or hematoma were seen after local administration of TXA during breast reduction. The rate of overall complications was not increased by using TXA, and incidence of T-junction dehiscence was lower in the TXA group lending to TXA's relatively safe profile. More research is necessary to further elucidate the TXA-related benefits in standard breast reductions.

High-Pressure Injection Injuries of the Hand: A 10-Year Retrospective Analysis at a Single Academic Center.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of high-pressure injection injuries of the hand is low. Although the occurrence is rare, the precarious progression of the injury exacts prompt surgical evaluation in order to avoid complications and amputation. The current study was devised in order to make comparisons to the current data, in addition to supplementing the literature with observations regarding clinical course and management. METHODS: A multisurgeon, retrospective chart review from a single institution was performed. Inclusion criteria included cases involving a high-pressure injection injury to the hand that underwent surgical management. Patient demographics, injury details, and hospital course were all reviewed and recorded. RESULTS: This retrospective review identified 20 cases meeting criteria, all of which involved males. The average age at time of injury was 39.7 years (range, 21-71 years). The incidence of injection injuries over a 10-year time period was 2.1 cases per year. The nondominant hand was injured in 11 cases (63%). The most common site of injury was the index finger with 11 recorded incidents (55%). Other reported locations included the metacarpal (40%) and small finger (5%). Occupational data included 10 construction workers, 5 painters, and 2 cleaning crew members, and 3 had nonmanual occupations. Paint was the most commonly injected substance with 17 reported cases (85%). On average, the delay until surgery was observed to be 21.9 hours (n = 16). Only 1 patient underwent surgery at 6 hours after surgery. The average number of procedures performed was 1.8 (range, 1-4). Hospitalization duration was on average 3.9 days (range, 1-9 days), and the average follow-up length was 69 days (range, 7-112 days). There were no identified cases that necessitated amputation. CONCLUSIONS: This form of injury most commonly affects male, middle-aged laborers. Our study found very low amputation rates when compared with the current literature, despite observing longer delays to surgery according to current recommendations. Limited comparisons can be made from data regarding clinical course and management because of the small sample size of the current study and the limited published data. This indicates a need for further exploration and collection of data involving parameters such as clinical course and management.

Ketorolac and Hematoma Incidence in Postmastectomy Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Ketorolac tromethamine (Toradol) is an effective a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and a powerful analgesic for patients undergoing breast surgery. However, the potential for postoperative bleeding has not yet been explored specifically in women undergoing implant-based breast reconstruction. There is concern that an increased risk of bleeding exists in this population due to the lack of tissue apposition as a result of implant placement. We therefore seek to assess the associated risk of bleeding complication in implant-based breast reconstruction at our academic institution. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first case series addressing safety profile of Toradol specifically in patients undergoing nonautologous, implant-based breast reconstruction. METHODS/RESULTS: A single-center, retrospective review was performed analyzing our institutional experience with Toradol in nonautologous, implant-based breast reconstruction following mastectomy. A prospective database of 522 patients collected between 2008 and 2013 was analyzed. Within the database, 57 patients who received intraoperative ketorolac were identified among a total of 180 patients undergoing prosthetic reconstruction. No statistically significant difference was found in the incidence of clinically relevant hematoma formation between the control and Toradol groups. The frequency of hematoma formation in the control was 0.09 (11/123 patients, 95% confidence interval = 0.05-0.15) and 0.04 in the Toradol group (2/57 patients, 95% confidence interval = 0.01-0.12), resulting in a P value of 0.32. Regarding the secondary outcomes, we did not detect a statistically significant difference in the total number of complications or length of hospital stay in the Toradol and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: Review of our breast reconstruction database did not find a trend toward an elevated incidence of hematoma associated with intraoperative Toradol use in implant-based postmastectomy reconstruction.

Increasing Recognition of Community-Acquired, Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterial Infections of the Hand and Wrist.

Background In this study, we present our experience with community-acquired, culture-positive, non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections of the hand and wrist and compare the clinical features, risk factors, diagnostic delays, and treatment outcomes among patients referred for surgical consultation at our institution over a five-year period. Methodology We retrospectively identified patients on chart review who were diagnosed with culture-positive, extrapulmonary, cutaneous NTM infections between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2018. Only patients with community-acquired NTM infections of the hand and wrist were included. Patient demographics, risk factors, location, diagnostic delays, NTM species isolated, treatment modalities, and treatment outcomes were collected and analyzed. These variables were further compared between patients who participated in fishing-related activities and those who did not. Results A total of 10 patients were identified with community-acquired NTM infections of the hand or wrist. Of these patients, eight (80%) were male, and six (60%) had participated in fishing-related activities prior to the initial presentation. The majority of patients had Mycobacterium marinum isolates (n = 6, 60%) and involved the hand (n = 8, 80%). M. marinum isolates were associated with a significantly shorter time to diagnosis (p = 0.02). All patients underwent surgical management with a prolonged course of postoperative antibiotics and were cured of their infection at the end of their treatment course. Conclusions Proper risk factor documentation and heightened clinical awareness are essential to reduce delays in the diagnosis of NTM skin and soft tissue infections and provide the best chance for curative therapy.

Low Baseline Expression of Fibrotic Genes in an Ex Vivo Human Skin Model is a Potential Indicator of Excessive Skin Scarring.

One of the challenges plastic surgeons face is the unpredictability of postoperative scarring. The variability of wound healing and subsequent scar formation across patients makes it virtually impossible to predict if a patient's surgery will result in excessive fibrosis and scarring, possibly amounting to keloids or hypertrophic scars. There is a need to find predictive molecular indicators of patients or skin location with high risk of excessive scarring. We hypothesized that baseline expression levels of fibrotic genes in the skin can serve as a potential indicator of excessive scarring. Methods: An ex vivo model of skin fibrosis was used with abdominal and breast skin tissue from 45 patients undergoing breast reduction and/or abdominoplasty. Fibrosis was induced in skin explants in organ culture with transforming growth factor-ß (TFGß). Fibrotic gene response was assessed via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and correlated with skin location, age, and baseline levels of fibrotic genes. Results: The increase in TFGß-induced fibronectin1 (FN1) gene expression in skin explants was significantly higher than for Collagen 1A1, alpha smooth muscle actin, and connective tissue growth factor. Also, FN1 expression positively correlated with donor age. Moreover, lower expression of the fibrotic genes FN1, Collagen 1A1, and alpha smooth muscle actin correlated with a more pronounced fibrotic response, represented by higher induction levels of these genes. Conclusions: Skin sites exhibit different baseline levels of profibrotic genes. Further, low baseline expression levels of fibrotic genes FN1, Collagen 1A1, and alpha smooth muscle actin, in donor skin may indicate a potential for excessive scarring of the skin.

Elucidating the cellular mechanism for E2-induced dermal fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Both TGFß and estradiol (E2), a form of estrogen, are pro-fibrotic in the skin. In the connective tissue disease, systemic sclerosis (SSc), both TGFß and E2 are likely pathogenic. Yet the regulation of TGFß in E2-induced dermal fibrosis remains ill-defined. Elucidating those regulatory mechanisms will improve the understanding of fibrotic disease pathogenesis and set the stage for developing potential therapeutics. Using E2-stimulated primary human dermal fibroblasts in vitro and human skin tissue ex vivo, we identified the important regulatory proteins for TGFß and investigated the extracellular matrix (ECM) components that are directly stimulated by E2-induced TGFß signaling. METHODS: We used primary human dermal fibroblasts in vitro and human skin tissue ex vivo stimulated with E2 or vehicle (ethanol) to measure TGFß1 and TGFß2 levels using quantitative PCR (qPCR). To identify the necessary cell signaling proteins in E2-induced TGFß1 and TGFß2 transcription, human dermal fibroblasts were pre-treated with an inhibitor of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK/MAPK) pathway, U0126. Finally, human skin tissue ex vivo was pre-treated with SB-431542, a TGFß receptor inhibitor, and ICI 182,780, an estrogen receptor α (ERα) inhibitor, to establish the effects of TGFß and ERα signaling on E2-induced collagen 22A1 (Col22A1) transcription. RESULTS: We found that expression of TGFß1, TGFß2, and Col22A1, a TGFß-responsive gene, is induced in response to E2 stimulation. Mechanistically, Col22A1 induction was blocked by SB-431542 and ICI 182,780 despite E2 stimulation. Additionally, inhibiting E2-induced ERK/MAPK activation and early growth response 1 (EGR1) transcription prevents the E2-induced increase in TGFß1 and TGFß2 transcription and translation. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that E2-induced dermal fibrosis occurs in part through induction of TGFß1, 2, and Col22A1, which is regulated through EGR1 and the MAPK pathway. Thus, blocking estrogen signaling and/or production may be a novel therapeutic option in pro-fibrotic diseases.

The treatment of gustilo grade IIIB tibia fractures with application of antibiotic spacer, flap, and sequential distraction osteogenesis.

Gustilo grade III (GIII) B-C open tibia shaft fractures have a wide spectrum of injury to the bone and soft tissues. At the severe end of the spectrum are GIII B tibia fractures that combine segmental bone loss with soft tissue injuries which require flap reconstruction. These complex injuries can be treated combining circular tensioned wire fixation and distraction histiogenesis with flap reconstruction. GIII B tibia shaft fractures were retrospectively reviewed at an urban Level One Trauma Center from 1992 to 2008 which were treated with the Ilizarov method. Seventy-six patients with 78 fractures were treated. Thirty-eight fractures were treated with flaps. Out of this cohort, a subset of 19 fractures were treated using the protocol of initial multiple debridements, half pin resuscitation external fixation, soft tissue reconstruction over antibiotic spacers and delayed Ilizarov reconstruction after stabilization of the soft tissue envelope. The fractures had multiple aggressive debridements removing nonviable bone. Thirteen free flaps and 6 rotation flaps were applied. Flaps were applied a mean time of 34 days (12-77) after initial injury. Two free flaps failed and had a second successful application. Flap survival was 17 of 19 (89%). There was one partial necrosis and one flap hematoma. There was no flap complication from delayed elevation and spacer removal. Mean tibial bone defect was 9.4 cm (5-17). Reconstruction time was 26.5 months (12-73). Eighteen of 19 fractures were reconstructed with union and no deep infection or osteomyelitis. One fracture had a hypertrophic nonunion in a noncompliant patient. The use of antibiotic spacers and flaps to construct a soft tissue tunnel combined with distraction histiogenesis is an effective technique to salvage complex GIII B tibia fractures with segmental bone loss.

Tendon injuries in the pediatric hand.

Injuries to the flexor and extensor tendons in the hand are common and require cautious evaluation and treatment or repair. Flexor tendon injuries are often associated with neurovascular injury and thus must be considered in the differential workup. Extensor injuries may involve intra-articular damage, which must also be identified. The diagnosis and management of common flexor and extensor tendon injuries of the hand are described.

Replantation in the pediatric hand.

Replantation in the pediatric hand is not an uncommon procedure, and it is 1 of the most common microsurgical operations in children. Microsurgeons should be aware of the indications and technical issues involving pediatric patients because there are differences compared to adult patients. In general, pediatric patients can be approached in a liberal and aggressive manner, but they tend to be more technically challenging. This review attempts to describe the various considerations in dealing with these patients to provide a framework for surgical management. Based on a survey of the literature, replantation has been a successful procedure in the pediatric population and has become a mainstay of treatment because it provides a better functional and aesthetic outcome.

Pediatric hand burns: thermal, electrical, chemical.

Young children often use their hands for exploration of their surroundings, and this often leads to the hand being the primary site of injury. Because of this and many associated factors, burns of the pediatric hands are relatively common, with thermal injuries being the most frequent. Electrical and chemical etiologies contribute a minor portion of the burn injuries in the pediatric population. Some key differences should be considered in the management of hand burns in a pediatric patient versus an adult. In general, minor superficial burns will heal satisfactorily only with topical care. Deeper partial-thickness and full-thickness burns, however, require surgical interventions. Special care should always be taken in the management of electrical and chemical burns because the pathophysiology of these injuries are unique. Treatment of pediatric hand burns should also involve close and thorough follow-up to assess not only for healing and restoration of function of the injury but also for psychologic and emotional trauma.

Controversies in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric brachial plexus injuries.

Brachial plexus injuries have a steady occurrence in the pediatric population from a variety of sources. The various approaches taken to diagnosing and treating this injury have long been fraught with controversy. This has been compounded with advances in medical technology and surgical techniques. Our paper attempts to give a short discussion of the epidemiology of brachial plexus injuries and delineate the specific controversies that exist in diagnosis and treatment.

Vascular anomalies of the upper extremity in children.

Vascular malformations in the pediatric upper extremity remain a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Recent knowledge about diagnosis and treatment is provided including specific markers, imaging techniques, and management.

Lower extremity fascial reconstruction using an acellular dermal matrix graft .

UNLABELLED: Background. AlloDerm® acellular dermal matrix ([ADM], Lifecell Corp, Branchburg, NJ) is gaining increasing popularity in virtually every surgical subspecialty for use in the closure of soft tissue defects, structural support, or tissue augmentation. There is limited experience in lower extremity fascial reconstruction secondary to trauma, as this can be a challenging problem for the plastic surgeon. The purpose of this case report is to demonstrate the reliability of acellular dermal matrix grafts in lower extremity fascial reconstructions. METHODS: We present a patient who underwent tensor fascia lata reconstruction with ADM following a large fascial defect. The patient previously underwent a lateral thigh fasciotomy for compartment syndrome and developed a large fascial hernia of the thigh. RESULTS: The defect was repaired using an ADM graft, which resulted in excellent aesthetic and functional outcomes. CONCLUSION: In selected patients, the use of acellular dermal matrix grafts for lower extremity fascial reconstructions produces adequate soft tissue coverage and optimal aesthetic and functional results. .

Remote Injuries and Outcomes After Distal Radius Fracture Management.

BACKGROUND: Distal radius fracture (DRF) is a common fracture of the upper extremity. The role of concurrent injuries in patients treated for DRFs is poorly elucidated. The authors sought to determine whether remote injuries were associated with worse outcomes after management of DRFs. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study including all consecutively seen patients by a university hospital hand service between 2010 and 2015. Preoperative radiographs were analyzed, and patients were managed by surgeon preference and evaluated postoperatively using pain scores. Remote injury was defined as any other injury sustained at the time of fracture not localized to affected extremity. Univariate analysis was performed to identify factors associated with risk of complication. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed, controlling for confounding factors. RESULTS: A total of 181 DRFs in 176 patients were treated over the 5-year period of the study. Forty-eight (26.5%) of the fractures were managed nonoperatively with casting, 12 (6.6%) with closed reduction and pinning, and 119 (65.7%) with open reduction and plating. The mean follow-up was 5.2 months. The complication rate was 18.2%. The most common complication was persistent pain in 5 patients, followed by median neuropathy, loss of reduction, arthritis, and distal radioulnar joint instability. After controlling for age, body mass index, hand surgeon, and other confounders, remote injury was associated with a significantly increased risk of complications ( P = .04, odds ratio: 6.03, 95% confidence interval: 1.05-34.70). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with remote injuries have a 6-fold increased risk of complications after DRF treatment. The additional risk in these patients should be considered during patient/family counseling and clinical decision-making in DRF management.

Complex wound management with an artificial dermal regeneration template.

The following case reports on the successful use of Integra® (Integra LifeSciences, Plainsboro, NJ) as an alternative for coverage of exposed tibia in a patient with necrotizing fasciitis and significant comorbidities. Necrotizing fasciitis is a generalized term that is used to describe soft tissue infections in which necrosis of the fascia and subcutaneous tissue occurs. Necrotizing fasciitis will often begin with disproportionate pain, localized erythema, and skin discoloration with vesicle formation. As the disease progresses along fascial planes, an area of deep necrosis develops with eventual signs of systemic toxicity and sepsis. Diagnosis of this condition can be quite challenging, and the diagnostic value of laboratory tests is limited. Aggressive treatment of necrotizing fasciitis is extremely important; the infection develops rapidly and can quickly lead to systemic toxicity and death. Traditionally, management of necrotizing fasciitis consists of resuscitation and stabilization of the patient, aggressive surgical debridement of all nonviable tissue, and the administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Reconstructive surgery is indicated for many patients who have recovered from necrotizing fasciitis. Integra, an artificial dermal regeneration template (DRT), has emerged as an adjunct to split-thickness grafts or tissue transfers. This case exemplifies the potential for DRT to provide another, more direct alternative for coverage of a complex, exposed wound. .

Pedicled Rotational Medial and Lateral Gastrocnemius Flaps: Surgical Technique.

Gastrocnemius flaps have been used for decades to reconstruct defects of the proximal tibia and knee. They have proven to be useful in the soft-tissue reconstruction of defects caused by trauma, tumors, and infections about the knee, and the reconstruction of extensor mechanism discontinuity with and without total joint arthroplasty. The flaps have low failure rates and a distinct proximally based blood supply that allows them to be elevated and rotated up to 15 cm above the level of the knee joint. The vascular anatomy is reproducible because rotational flaps do not require microvascular anastomosis. An understanding of the applied surgical anatomy, approaches, and utility of the gastrocnemius flap makes the technique a useful tool for the orthopaedic surgeon when plastic surgery assistance is not readily available.

Osteomyelitis of the craniofacial skeleton.

Skull-based osteomyelitis, which is a true bony infection, originates from a chronic, inadequately treated infection. Because of the complex craniofacial skeletal anatomy and associated aesthetic concerns, osteomyelitis of the craniofacial skeleton must be uniquely managed and is more difficult to treat than osteomyelitis of other bones of the body. It is thought that osteomyelitis is decreasing in prevalence due to broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment; however, it still remains a challenging clinical entity in developing countries and lower socioeconomic areas.