A population-based study of breast implant illness.

BACKGROUND: Despite evidence supporting the safety of breast implants, some women associate their implants with adverse health effects and have called this syndrome "breast implant illness." We sought to characterize breast implant illness symptoms and to report how implant removal affects their symptoms. METHODS: An anonymous 20 question survey was administered to the Facebook group: "UTAH Breast Implant Illness" to characterize the symptoms these women attributed to their breast implants. Several questions allowed us to evaluate how implant removal affected women's symptoms. RESULTS: Of the 182 respondents, 97% report that implants negatively affect their health and 95% identify these symptoms with breast implant illness. Ninety-six percent of respondents had implants placed for cosmetic reasons and 51% had silicone implants. The most common symptoms associated with breast implant illness are brain fog (95%), fatigue (92%), joint pain (80%), and hair loss (74%). Sixty percent of respondents learned about breast implant illness from family/friends and/or social media platforms (56%), 40% of respondents had their implants removed, and 97% report relief of their symptoms post-removal (23% complete, 74% partial). Following explantation, there was a significant improvement in all but one reported symptom. An association was found between the number of symptoms reported prior to explantation and the number of symptoms resolving following explantation. CONCLUSIONS: Breast implant illness is a syndrome characterized by fatigue, decreased focus, hair loss, and joint pain after the placement of breast implants. Nearly all patients report improvement of symptoms after implant removal. Significant efforts should be made to better understand breast implant illness and its etiology.

Abdominal Contouring and Male Gender: Analysis of Complications Using the National Quality Improvement Program Database.

BACKGROUND: Males represent a significant portion of patients undergoing abdominal contouring. Despite this, there are few studies examining the implication of gender on complications. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the association between gender and early postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing abdominal contouring procedures. METHODS: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2006-2016) was queried to identify subjects undergoing panniculectomy or abdominoplasty. Minor and major complications were identified. Operative time and length of hospital stay were evaluated. A logistic regression model was used to examine associations between patient gender and adverse outcomes. RESULTS: Ten thousand four hundred seventy-three patients were identified. Of these, 4369 underwent abdominoplasties, and 6104 underwent panniculectomies. Males represented a higher percentage of the panniculectomy cohort (15.3% vs 9.2%). Males were older and generally had more comorbidities including diabetes, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and elevated body mass index. Males also had a higher American Society of Anesthesiologists classification (P < 0.001). In the abdominoplasty cohort, male gender is an independent risk factor for any complication (odds ratio [OR], 1.3; confidence interval [CI], 1.16-1.45; P < 0.001) and major complications (OR, 1.52; CI, 1.01-2.29; P = 0.043). In the panniculectomy cohort, male gender is also an independent risk factor for any complication (OR, 1.47; CI, 1.24-1.75; P < 0.001) and major complications (OR, 1.43; CI, 1.12-1.83; P < 0.001). Males also had a significantly longer operative times in this cohort (171.3 vs 157.5 minutes; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Male gender is independently associated with minor and major complications in these patient populations. With this knowledge, plastic surgeons may be better able to identify higher-risk individuals and educate patients on their risk profile.

Congenital Amniotic Constriction Band of the Pelvis: First Reported Case and Proposed Classification Criterion.

Congenital amniotic band syndrome (ABS) is a complex disorder characterized by a spectrum of rare congenital anomalies, with constriction bands as their hallmark manifestation. Constriction bands about the thorax, abdomen, or pelvis are rare. There is no consensus in the classification criterion for constriction bands of the thorax, abdomen, or pelvis in the literature. We present the first true pelvic constriction band in a newborn female with ABS. This case adds valuable information to the literature on ABS. The authors propose a classification criterion to further classify constriction bands of the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis using accepted and reliable anatomical landmarks.

Secretory breast carcinoma in an 8-year-old girl: A case report and literature review.

Secretory breast carcinoma (SBC) is a rare form of breast cancer found in both children and adults, and is the most common breast cancer in the pediatric population. Although SBC usually carries a favorable prognosis, there have been reported cases of axillary and distant metastases. Surgery is the primary mode of treatment, however, there exists variability within the literature surrounding the management of SBC. We report a case of an 8-year-old girl who presented with a firm, mobile, palpable breast mass. Ultrasonography was performed, followed by local excision, with surgical pathology concerning for SBC. The patient was definitively treated with mastectomy and sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy. She received no adjuvant therapies and 2 years later, remains disease free. Herein, we review the literature, curate data from 89 reported cases of pediatric and adult SBC, and address some of the controversy surrounding its treatment. From this review we conclude that patients with SBC should be reviewed at multidisciplinary treatment planning conference, undergo surgery with mastectomy or lumpectomy with SLN biopsy, and have long-term postoperative follow-up.

Arterialized venous flow-through flaps in the reconstruction of digital defects: case series and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Arterialized venous flow-through (AVFT) flaps are useful in reconstructing small soft tissue defects. Currently, no guidelines exist for the use of AVFT flaps for reconstructing soft tissue defects in the digits of the hand. We retrospectively reviewed our experience with AVFT flaps and developed a selection process for vascular anastomoses. METHODS: We reviewed the use of AVFT flaps in a series of ten consecutive patients requiring reconstruction of small soft tissue defects of the fingers. RESULTS: Between 2006 and 2012, ten consecutive digital reconstructions were performed using AVFT flaps. Flap sizes ranged from 5 to 13.5 cm(2). Initial congestion was seen in all flaps and resolved within 3-7 days. Leeches were utilized in two cases. All cases achieved good functional results. Three illustrative cases from our series of ten are presented, each demonstrating key decision-making factors in selecting recipient and flap vessels for anastomosis. CONCLUSIONS: AVFT flaps appear congested post-operatively, resolving in days to weeks, and resulting in healthy coverage of digital soft tissue defects with good functionality. We suggest a selection process for the use of AVFT flaps in digital soft tissue reconstruction, based on dorsal vs. volar and proximal vs. distal defect location, and the flap's inherent venous architecture.

Side-to-side nerve bridges reduce muscle atrophy after peripheral nerve injury in a rodent model.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral nerve injury can result in muscle atrophy and long-term disability. We hypothesize that creating a side-to-side bridge to link an injured nerve with a healthy nerve will reduce muscle atrophy and improve muscle function. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups (n = 7 per group). Group 1: transection only--a 10-mm gap was created in the proximal tibial nerve; group 2: transected plus repaired--the transected tibial nerve was repaired; group 3: transected plus repaired plus nerve bridge--transected nerve repaired with a distal nerve bridge between the tibial and peroneal nerves via epineurial windows; and group 4: transected plus nerve bridge--transected tibial nerve left unrepaired and distal bridge added. Gait was assessed every 2 wk. At 90 d the following measures were determined: gastrocnemius mass, muscle and nerve nuclear density, and axonal infiltration into the nerve bridge. RESULTS: Groups 3 and 4 had greater improvements in walking track recovery than groups 1 and 2. Group 3's gastrocnemius muscles exhibited the least amount of atrophy. Groups 1, 2, and 4 exhibited greater histologic appearance of muscle breakdown compared with group 3 and control muscle. Finally, most bridges in groups 3 and 4 had neuronal sprouting via the epineurial windows. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated reduced muscle atrophy with a side-to-side nerve bridge in the setting of peripheral nerve injury. These results support the application of novel side-to-side bridges in combination with traditional end-to-end neurorrhaphy to preserve muscle viability after peripheral nerve injuries.