Functional Outcomes in Upper Limb Replantation-A Systematic Review.

Functionality after upper limb replantation is a decisive factor when considering the success of the intervention. Therefore, its evaluation is fundamental. The aim of this article was to conduct a systematic review of upper limb functions after replantation or reimplantation, seeking to identify reported functional outcomes as well as the level and mechanism of injury. To achieve this objective, a literature search was conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane and Web of Science. Studies from the last 10 years which included patients with upper limb replantation and reported their functional outcomes were included. Out of 523 articles, 12 studies (n = 607) were finally included. DASH and CISS were the most commonly used assessments to report functional outcomes. In conclusion, functional outcomes after replantation are assessed using widely varying scales; therefore, due to this methodological variability, it is difficult to compare functional success between studies and further studies on functionality are needed to provide new data.

Treatment and Improvement of Healing after Surgical Intervention.

The development of abnormal scars has a great impact on people's well-being, and improving scarring outcomes after surgery is a field that currently lacks consensus. This review aims to identify newly researched approaches to improving the quality of surgical scars. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect was conducted between 13 May 2023 and 17 May 2023, in accordance with the recommendations of the PRISMA Statement. Study selection and analysis of methodological quality were performed in parts, independently and blindly, based on eligibility criteria. The 21 prospective, comparative, and randomized studies reviewed included 1057 subjects and studied approaches such as topical applications of creams with herbal extracts and silicone gels, growth factors, negative pressure dressings, oligonucleotides, intralesional injection of compounds such as botulinum toxin, skin closure techniques such as suturing and tissue adhesive, and laser treatments. There are recent research techniques that generate good results and are really promising to improve the results of surgical scars; however, the available evidence is extremely limited in some cases, and it is necessary to deepen its analysis to obtain reliable action protocols in each type of surgery.

Teleconsulta como sistema de información en el cuidado de pacientes con deterioro de la integridad cutánea / Teleconsultation as an information system in the care of patients with cutaneous integrity deterioration

OBJETIVOS: Evaluar los beneficios de la teleconsulta frente a la consulta presencial convencional en pacientes con deterioro de la integridad cutánea. METODOLOGÍA: Estudio piloto de intervención controlado, aleatorizado, abierto. Sujetos de estudio: pacientes con deterioro de la integridad cutánea pertenecientes a los centros de salud urbanos. Se crearon dos grupos, uno sobre el que se realizó la intervención a través de la teleconsulta y otro grupo control donde la consulta y la valoración se hizo de forma presencial. Recogida de los datos mediante observación, entrevistas, cuestionarios y escalas validadas. RESULTADOS: Se realizaron un total de 31 consultas desde los centros de salud, 12 de las cuales fueron de forma presencial (38,7%) y 19 a través de la teleconsulta (61,3%). Las lesiones consultadas fueron en su mayoría de etiología venosa. Estos pacientes presentaban alteración de su calidad de vida. Se obtuvo una media de mejoría de 6 puntos en la escala PUSH en la modalidad presencial frente a 8 puntos en la teleconsulta, siendo menor el tiempo en que se consigue la epitelización de las lesiones en esta última. CONCLUSIONES: La teleconsulta se perfila como un nuevo sistema organizativo, una nueva manera de organizar y gestionar la provisión de los servicios sanitarios en beneficio de los pacientes, profesionales y sistema sanitario en general, estableciendo un canal de comunicación rápido, fluido, efectivo y eficiente que repercuta directamente en el paciente disminuyendo tiempos para la resolución de su problema de salud, evitando desplazamientos innecesarios y disminuyendo los costes

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the benefits of teleconsultation compared to the conventional face-to-face consultation in patients with cutaneous integrity deterioration. METHODOLOGY: Pilot study of controlled, randomized, open intervention. Subjects of study: patients with deterioration of the cutaneous integrity belonging to the urban health centers. Two groups were created, one on which the intervention will be carried out through teleconsultation and another control group where the consultation and Assessment was done in person. Collection of data through observation, interviews, questionnaires and validated scales. RESULTS: A total of 31 consultations were carried out from the health centers, 12 of which were in person (38.7%) and 19 through teleconsultation (61.3%). The lesions consulted are mostly of venous origin. These patients present altered quality of life. A mean improvement of 6 points is obtained in the PUSH scale in the face-to-face modality versus 8 points in the teleconsultation, the time in which the epithelialization of the lesions in the latter is achieved. CONCLUSIONS: Teleconsultation is emerging as a new organizational system, a new way of organizing and managing the provision of health services for the benefit of patients, professionals and the health system in general. Establishing a fast, fluid, effective and efficient communication channel that has a direct impact on the patient, reducing time for the resolution of his health problem, avoiding unnecessary movements and reducing costs

Experiencia en el uso de colgajos locales para cobertura del pulgar / Local flaps utility for thumb coverage: our experience

Introducción y Objetivo. El pulgar asume el 40-50% de la funcionalidad de la mano, por lo que es fundamental su reconstrucción estable y funcional. Además de las opciones que nos ofrece la microcirugía, debemos manejar de manera eficaz los colgajos locales para cobertura del pulgar, ya que nos pueden aportar soluciones adecuadas a difíciles problemas reconstructivos, si se emplean correctamente. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar nuestra sistemática en la reconstrucción con colgajos locales de defectos de pequeño y moderado tamaño del pulgar. Para ello, utilizamos el concepto de unidades estético-funcionales del pulgar y describimos los colgajos que consideramos como primera línea reconstructiva en cada tipo de defecto. Material y Método. Realizamos una revisión retrospectiva, descriptiva, de una serie de 56 casos de pérdidas de sustancia del pulgar con exposición ósea, tendinosa o ambas, susceptibles de cobertura con colgajos locales. Recogemos la edad, mano lesionada, tipo de accidente y mecanismo lesional, subunidad digital afectada y geometría de la lesión. Describimos la técnica reconstructiva indicada en cada caso. Resultados. De los 56 pacientes, el 95% (53 casos) correspondieron a defectos en subunidad distal del pulgar (distal a articulación interfalángica (IF)) que comprometían pulpejo y placa ungueal; 2 de ellos asociados a lesión en subunidad proximal volar y 8 a subunidad proximal dorsal. El otro 5% (3 casos) correspondieron a subunidad dorsal proximal exclusivamente. Para su cobertura, contabilizamos 17 colgajos basados en arteria dorso-cubital tipo Brunelli modificado (30%), 3 Brunelli clásicos (5%), 12 colgajos basados en primera arteria intermetacarpiana dorsal tipo Foucher (22%), 9 Elliot (16%), 4 Elliot asociados a colgajo eponiquial (7%), 6 colgajos heterodigitales de Littler (12%), 3 basados en arteria dorso-radial tipo Moschella (5%) y 2 colgajos heterodigitales tipo Buchler (3%). Conclusiones. Aplicando el concepto reconstructivo de unidades estético funcionales del pulgar, para defectos volares, nuestra primera línea reconstructiva son los colgajos de avance volar o los heterodigitales, por sus características mecánicas y posibilidad de neurotización. En algunos casos, asociamos el colgajo eponiquial de Backach que aporta una mejoría estética considerable. En defectos de predominio dorsal, nuestra preferencia son los colgajos dorso-cubitales o dorso-radiales, o bien al colgajo de primera arteria intermetacarpiana dorsal en defectos mayores. Estos colgajos no aportan apenas sensibilidad, pero presentan características similares a la piel dorsal en grosor y elasticidad (AU)

Background and Objective. The thumb represents 40-50%of hand function making its stability and functional reconstruction essential. Despite the development in microsurgery, the correct use of local flaps for thumb coverage can provide us appropriate solutions to difficult reconstructive problems. The aim of this paper is to present our systematic reconstruction treatment of small and moderate thumb defects using local flaps.We use the concept of functional aesthetic units of the thumb describing the flaps to be consider as first reconstructive line in each type of defect. Methods. We present a descriptive, retrospective review of 56 cases of loss of thumb substance that presented exposure of the bone, tendon or both, which could benefit from coverage by local flaps. We include age, injured hand, type of accident and injury mechanism, digital subunit affected and geometry of the lesion. We describe reconstructive technique indicated in each case. Results. 95% of the cases (53 cases) corresponded to defects in the thumb distal subunit (distal to the interphalangeal joint (IJ)) compromising the pulp and the nail plate; including 2 of them associated with proximal palmar subunit injury and 8 associated with a proximal dorsal subunit injury. The other 5% (3 cases) corresponded to the proximal dorsal subunit exclusively. We performed 17 dorsal ulnar artery modified Brunelli flaps (30%); 3 Brunelli classic (5%); 12 first dorsal metacarpal artery flap (Foucher's flap) (22%); 9 Elliot's flap (16%); 4 Elliot's flaps associated with eponychial flap (7%); 6 Littler's heterodigital flaps (12%); 3 dorsoradial collateral artery flap (Moschella's flap) (5%); and 2 Buchler's heterodigital flaps (3%). Conclusions. In application of the functional aesthetic units of the thumb reconstructive concepts for volar defects, our first reconstructive line are the palmar flaps or the heterodigital flaps due to their mechanical characteristics and the possibility of neurotization. In some cases, we would consider the Backach eponychial flap, which provides a considerable aesthetic improvement. On the other hand, in defects of dorsal preponderance, our preference are the dorsal ulnar and radial flaps and the first metacarpal artery flap for major defects cases. These types of flaps only contribute minimally for the sensitivity, but present similar characteristics with the dorsal skin in terms of thickness and elasticity (AU)