Trainee and trainer experiences and recommendations for plastic surgery training: A qualitative pilot study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded existing training issues for plastic surgeons. The issues that exist result from a complex interplay of system, generational and individual factors, and can be hard to tease out by quantitative means. This pilot study aimed to investigate the perceptions of trainees and trainers of plastic surgical training in the UK. METHODS: Ten semi-structured interviews were performed using purposive sampling in a central London plastic surgical unit. These were coded into and discussed in four themes: Medical directives and service demands; Sociocultural norms within plastic surgical training; Equity and access; and Plastic surgery training methods. RESULTS: This study showed that current plastic surgery training is not optimised for learning or well-being, and that inequities are fostered, to the detriment of the specialty. Investment and planning are required to support our trainers and protect the diversity of our trainee group, with efficient and monitored learning essential to maintain our breadth and competence of practice. CONCLUSION: Expanding this work through a broader study could provide valuable information to contribute to the development of future training schemes and curricula within British plastic surgery.

The use of the anterolateral thigh vascular free flap in complex open elbow fractures after major trauma - An illustrated report of an interesting case.

Major trauma may result in severe open elbow fractures with significant soft tissue injury and skin loss. Reconstruction of those defects can be complicated and inadequate cover can result in severely limited functional outcome. The free anterolateral thigh flap (ALT) is one of the ways to reconstruct those defects. Its utilisation in severe complex open elbow fractures is recently being increased due to its advantages. The purpose of this article is to present an interesting case where the ALT flap was used with success in a challenging situation of a severe elbow bony, ligamentous and soft tissue injury. Our case has demonstrated that the ALT flap presents an effective method in treating successfully severe open elbow fractures, and its advantages include 1)large amount of available skin and subcutaneous tissue for coverage of the elbow joint without creating strictures, 2)potential of using the vascularised vastus lateralis muscle to minimise the residual dead space in order to prevent infection and as a vascular bed for nerve grafting and 3) the ability to harvest fascia lata grafts and use them to reconstruct ligamentous and tendinous injuries. We recommend the use of the vascularised ALT flap when treating severe open elbow fractures.

Microvascular anastomotic arterial coupling: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: There are several reasons microsurgeons may not use a coupler device in arterial anastomosis: may be thick-walled, non-pliable due to atherosclerotic calcification or present vessel geometrical discrepancies. This review summarises the current applications, efficacy and troubleshooting of microvascular coupler devices in arterial end-to-end anastomosis. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed in November 2020 across 4 electronic databases and in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. All studies comprised the data synthesis that reported the use of a microvascular coupler device for arterial end-to-end anastomosis. Data were extracted and collected in three groups of standardised variables: study, anastomosis-related and technical characteristics. RESULTS: Out of the 7,690 articles identified, 20 were included in the final data synthesis. Included studies involved a total of 1639 patients, who underwent 670 arterial and 1,124 venous anastomoses. Out of all arterial anastomoses, 351 were performed in free tissue transfers in head and neck, 117 in breast, 4 in upper extremity and 5 in lower extremity reconstruction, whereas the remaining were not specified. The total arterial coupler anastomosis success rate reported was 92.1% (617/670). Fifty-three (8%) arterial anastomoses were reported to result in either troubleshooting events or intra- or post-operative failures, most being reported in extremity reconstructions. CONCLUSIONS: Arterial coupling is not widespread with predominant use in head and neck and chest reconstructions, and total reported efficacy of 92.1%. Microsurgeons are reluctant to routinely use current widespread coupler devices as a result of inherent arterial characteristics. This study delivered collective recommendations, 'do's and don'ts' of microvascular arterial coupling.

The "Crater" Arteriotomy: A Technique Aiding Precise Intimal Apposition in End-to-side Microvascular Anastomosis.

End-to-side arterial anastomoses require a high level of technical competency. The main challenge to a successfully patent anastomosis is intimal interposition during the standardized microvascular suturing. Technical errors during arteriotomy pose a significant challenge for the microsurgical technique, making the end-to-side anastomosis prone to failure. We describe a basic yet fundamental method of performing an arteriotomy, the "crater" technique, which facilitates good visualization of all vessel layers before placement of microsurgical sutures. Using curved microsurgical scissors, the adventitia layer is dissected off the outer surface of the side vessel, a V-shaped cut is then made obliquely at a 30-45 degrees angle to the longitudinal axis of the vessel, and a full thickness oblique cut is made along an elliptical circumference, as the curved scissors enable the creation of a slope-like crater. This concept ensures the intimal layer is adequately exposed through the complete circumference of the arteriotomy rim, while enabling a variable increase in the arterial wall hypotenuse-width circumference. When performed in a standardized manner, the crater arteriotomy can minimize the risk of endothelial misalignment and further technical errors during suturing, thus minimizing the risk of anastomotic failure.

The impact of major trauma network triage systems on patients with major burns.

INTRODUCTION: Trauma is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Patients presenting with severe trauma and burns benefit from specifically trained multidisciplinary teams. Regional trauma systems have shown improved outcomes for trauma patients. The aim of this study is to determine whether the development of major trauma systems have improved the management of patients with major burns. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed over a four-year period reviewing all major burns in adults and children received at a regional burns centre in the UK before and after the implementation of the regional trauma systems and major trauma centres (MTC). Comparisons were drawn between three areas: (1) Patients presenting before the introduction of MTC and after the introduction of MTC. (2) Patients referred from MTC and non-MTC within the region, following the introduction of MTC. (3) Patients referred using the urban trauma protocol and the rural trauma protocol. RESULTS: Following the introduction of regional trauma systems and major trauma centres (MTC), isolated burn patients seen at our regional burns centre did not show any significant improvement in transfer times, admission resuscitation parameters, organ dysfunction or survival when referred from a MTC compared to a non-MTC emergency department. There was also no significant difference in survival when comparing referrals from all hospitals pre and post establishment of the major trauma network. CONCLUSION: No significant outcome benefit was demonstrated for burns patients referred via MTCs compared to non-MTCs. We suggest further research is needed to ascertain whether burns patients benefit from prolonged transfer times to a MTC compared to those seen at their local hospitals prior to transfer to a regional burns unit for further specialist care.

Burning vasculitis.

We present the case of a 69-year-old man who was found collapsed close to a heat source and admitted to hospital for severe sepsis. He was also found to have widespread blistering and ulceration of his right leg; however, a history was unobtainable due to reduced consciousness levels. The leg lesions had the initial appearance of mixed depth burns and a management plan was made to transfer the patient to a burns unit for debridement. It was subsequently noted that the patient had a previous diagnosis of seropositive erosive rheumatoid arthritis. A biopsy of the leg lesion was performed and a diagnosis of rheumatoid vasculitis confirmed. Treatment with systemic steroids, intravenous antibiotics and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for severe hypogammaglobulinaemia was started, and the patient was not transferred for surgical debridement. Rheumatoid vasculitis is a rare and extremely serious complication of rheumatoid arthritis that can manifest in a number of ways, occasionally mimicking other conditions. This case is essential to raise awareness of rare, severe rheumatoid vasculitis and of the potential for its misdiagnosis as a mixed depth burn.

Scrotal reconstruction with modified pudendal thigh flaps.

Scrotal skin loss can occur following trauma, Fournier's gangrene, post tumour excision, burns, etc. There are many techniques described in the literature including residual scrotal skin mobilization, skin grafts, pedicled and free flaps. The management is complex and challenging shown by the multiplicity of flaps and techniques described in the literature. We used a modified pudendal thigh flap to reconstruct scrotal defects in five patients. This study describes the vascularity of the flap, technique of elevation and the inset of the flap. The elevation and particularly the insetting make it different from other flaps raised on this vascular network for scrotal reconstruction. This pedicled flap is robust, reliable, resilient and produces a neo-scrotum that looks natural in appearance, offers good-quality skin cover and cushion to the testes as well as protective sensation.