High volume, drainless lipoabdominoplasty with progressive tension sutures -UK experience.

BACKGROUND: Lipoabdominoplasty is an established technique, however outcomes for high lipoaspirate volumes in large series are lacking. We present the UK experience of high-volume, drainless lipoabdominoplasty using progressive deep tension sutures. METHODS: 286 consecutive patients at a single centre underwent drainless lipoabdominoplasty with a lipoaspirate volume of 500 ml or greater between 2017 and 2023. Surgery was performed under total intravenous anaesthesia with SAFELipo©, MicroAire® and a superwet technique. Abdominoplasty was commenced via a low convex abdominal incision with multilayer rectus plication, and abdominal closure undertaken with progressive tension sutures. Logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between lipoaspirate volume and four primary outcomes - all complications, delayed healing, seroma, and need for revision. RESULTS: The mean lipoaspirate volume was 2392.4 ml (500-5900), and abdominal tissue resection weight 1392.0 g (346-3802). One third of patients had local complications - minor irregularities (14.0%), abdominal scar problems (12.9%), umbilical shape/scar (4.5%), localised infection (4.2%) and delayed healing (3.8%). One (0.3%) had a small area of localised necrosis successfully managed by further tissue advancement. There was one abdominal haematoma, and two systemic complications- venous thromboembolism (0.3%) and drug-induced hepatitis. Seroma rate was 3.1%. 16.0% of patients required revision under general anaesthesia, and 6.6% under local anaesthetic. There was no significant relationship between the lipoaspirate volume and any of the four primary outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: High-volume liposuction can safely be performed simultaneously with abdominoplasty. Our complication rates are equivalent to, or lower than other published data on lipoabdominoplasy, challenging current concepts in body sculpting.

Wide Awake Local Anesthetic No Tourniquet in Hand and Wrist Surgery: Current Concepts, Indications, and Considerations.

Background: Traditionally, the use of a pneumatic arterial tourniquet was requisite for safe and effective surgery of the hand. The use of arterial tourniquets necessitates the use of regional or general anaesthesia. Wide-awake local anaesthetic no tourniquet (WALANT) has emerged as a novel technique to overcome the limitations of tourniquet use in conjunction with regional/general anaesthesia. This review aimed to examine the safety and effectiveness of WALANT and provide guidance for surgeons with limited WALANT experience. Methods: A literature review of MEDLINE was performed up to March 2021 to identify all articles related to the use of WALANT in hand surgery. Any article reporting original data related to the use of WALANT was eligible for inclusion. Results: A total of 101 articles were identified through database searching. Of these, 79 met full inclusion criteria and described the use of WALANT in 19 elective and trauma procedures. Current data suggest that WALANT is safe and effective for use in a range of procedures. Conclusions: WALANT surgery is increasing in popularity as evidenced by the variety of surgical indications reported in the literature. There is limited comparative data on the cost-effectiveness of WALANT compared to conventional methods. Current data suggest that WALANT is safe, better tolerated by patients and associated with direct and indirect cost savings.

A Comparison of Outcomes at Twelve Weeks of Traditional Button-Over-Nail versus Bone Anchor Repair of Zone I Flexor Digitorum Profundus Tendon Injury.

Background: The repair of zone 1 flexor tendon injury often relies on re-inserting the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendon to the distal phalanx. The aim of this retrospective study is to compare outcomes at 12 weeks following traditional button-over-nail (BON) versus bone anchor (BA) repair of zone I FDP injury. Methods: Patients undergoing zone 1 FDP repair between April 2007 and September 2018 using a BON or a BA were included in the study. Patient demographics, complications, arc of flexion of distal (distal interphalangeal joint [DIPJ]) and proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) and patient-rated outcomes were analysed. Results: Forty-three patients were included in the study: 21 in the BA group and 22 in the BON group. Good function was achieved by 20 patients in BA versus nine in BON. Complications occurred in five BA patients versus 10 BON patients. Patients achieved a mean active DIPJ flexion of 49° and 31° and PIPJ flexion of 92° and 57° in the BA and BON groups, respectively. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates better arc of motion, patient-rated outcomes and lower complications at 12 weeks after surgery in patients undergoing zone 1 FDP repair using a BA. Level of Evidence: Level III (Therapeutic).

Systematic review of the venous thromboembolism risk assessment models used in aesthetic plastic surgery.

BACKGROUND: A reliable venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment model (RAM) can assist surgeons in identifying patients who would benefit from VTE prophylaxis. This systematic review was aimed at summarising the current available evidence on VTE RAMs used in aesthetic plastic surgery. METHODS: A comprehensive search was performed in the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases to include primary studies describing VTE RAMs in aesthetic plastic surgery from 1946 to February 2019. The objective was to compare the different VTE RAMs described for aesthetic plastic surgery to recommend a reliable model to stratify patients. RESULTS: Of the 557 articles identified in the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases, six articles were included in the final review. Five different RAMs were used in the included studies: Caprini 2005 RAM, Caprini 2010 RAM, Davison-Caprini 2004 RAM, the American Society of Anaesthesiologist's (ASA) physical status grading system and a tool developed by Wes et al. The difference in risk weightage amongst the tools along with the VTE incidences for different categories was compared. The Caprini 2005 RAM was the most widely reported tool and validated in plastic surgery patients. CONCLUSION: Amongst the five different tools currently used, the Caprini 2005 RAM was the most widely reported. This tool was validated in plastic surgery patients and reported to be a sensitive and reliable tool for VTE risk stratification; therefore, current data support its use until further higher quality evidence becomes available. Because of the heterogeneity of the data and low quality of the current evidence, a definitive recommendation cannot be made on the best VTE RAM for patients undergoing aesthetic plastic surgery. This paper highlights the need for randomised controlled trials evaluating the various RAMs which are essential to support future recommendations and guidelines.

Bennett's Fracture Repair-Which Method Results in the Best Functional Outcome? A Retrospective Cohort Analysis and Systematic Literature Review of Patient-Reported Functional Outcomes.

Surgical fixation of Bennett's fracture of the thumb is critical to prevent functional impairment; however, there is no consensus on the optimal fixation method. We performed an 11-year retrospective cohort analysis and a systematic literature review to determine long-term patient-reported outcomes following Bennett's fracture fixation. Retrospective cohort analysis identified 49 patients treated with Kirschner (K)-wire fixation, 85% returned to unrestricted movement during hand therapy. Forty-seven patients (96%) completed the disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) questionnaires at a mean of 5.55 years from injury, with a mean score of 7.75. Systematic literature review identified 14 studies with a cumulative 541 patients. Fixation included open or percutaneous methods utilizing K-wires, tension band wiring, lag screws, T-Plates, external fixation, and arthroscopic screw fixation. Functional outcomes reported included DASH, quickDASH (qDASH), and visual analogue scores. Superficial wound infection occurred in 4 to 8% of percutaneous K-wire fixation. Open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) methods were associated with a 4 to 20% rate of reintervention and 5 to 28% rate of persistent paresthesia. Closed reduction with percutaneous K-wire fixation should be the first choice surgical method, given excellent, long-term functional outcomes, and low risk of complications. ORIF should be utilized where closed reduction is not achievable; however, the current evidence does not support one method of ORIF above another.

Hair Today; Scalped Tomorrow: Massive Subgaleal Haematoma Following Sudden Hair Pulling in an Adolescent in the Absence of Haematological Abnormality or Skull Fracture.

Subgaleal haematoma (SH) is a rare condition, most frequently observed in neonates as a complication of Ventouse-assisted delivery. There have been few patients reported beyond this period. Those that are present within the literature have typically resulted from significant blunt scalp trauma, with or without associated skull fracture. Those resulting secondary to relatively minor trauma, such as hair braiding or hair pulling, are rare but have been reported and are often associated with underlying haematological abnormalities or nonaccidental injury patients. Most patients resolve spontaneously and without complication. The authors report a rare patient of a delayed presentation of a massive SH in an adolescent following a seemingly innocuous episode of hair pulling whilst play-fighting, in the absence of any underlying haematological or anatomical abnormality. Due to the size of the SH and the appearance of large areas of calcification within the haematoma, early liaison with senior neuroradiologists and haematologists, to rule out underlying anatomical and haematological abnormalities, respectively, was essential to guide appropriate management. Our patient highlights the need for an awareness of the possible aetiologies of SH and the necessity of early active multidisciplinary team involvement in the management of such patients, which is critical to ensure optimum patient outcomes.

The use of a template to accurately position the inframammary fold in breast reconstruction.

Reconstruction of the inframammary fold (IMF) during breast reconstruction is vital in achieving good aesthetic outcomes and avoiding further corrective surgery. The IMF is usually reconstructed by comparing with the other side and estimating its correct position. The IMF template can be used to accurately and consistently mark the position of the IMF relative to the contralateral side thus aiding accurate reconstruction without the need to estimate.