Outcomes of microsurgical free tissue transfer performed on international surgical collaborations in low-income and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Microsurgical free tissue transfer is the gold standard for reconstruction of significant soft tissue and bony defects following cancer resection and trauma. Many reconstructive units in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) do not yet have access to the resources or training required to perform microsurgical procedures. Long-term international collaborations have been formed with annual reconstructive programmes conducting microsurgery. AIMS: To critically analyze outcomes of microsurgical free tissue transfer performed on international reconstructive collaborations in LMICs. METHODS: PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis of outcomes for free tissue transfer performed during international collaborations in LMICs using an inverse variance model. The study protocol was published prospectively and registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD42021225613). RESULTS: Seven studies, included 290 flaps on 284 patients. The most common sites requiring reconstruction were Head and neck (53% (n = 153)) and lower limb (7.9% (n = 23)) were lower limb reconstruction. The most common free flaps were radial forearm (22%; n = 64) and anterolateral thigh (18%; n = 51). Total Flap Failure rate was 3.8% (n = 13; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.9-6.3%) Overall complication rate was 38% (95% CI =27-48%), with 19% of flaps requiring emergency return to theatre (95% CI =14-26%). Flap salvage was successful in 52% of take-backs (95% CI =15% - 88%). CONCLUSIONS: Free flaps performed during international surgical collaborations in LMICs have comparable failure rates to those performed in higher-income settings. However, there are higher complication and take-back rates. This should be taken into account when planning international collaborations. These results should help preoperative counselling and the consent process.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international reconstructive collaborations in Africa.

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic has catalysed a widespread humanitarian crisis in many low- and middle-income countries around the world, with many African nations significantly impacted. The aim of this study was to quantify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the planning and provision of international reconstructive collaborations in Africa. Methods: An anonymous, 14-question, multiple choice questionnaire was sent to 27 non-governmental organisations who regularly perform reconstructive surgery in Africa. The survey was open to responses for four weeks, closing on the 7th of March 2021. A single reminder was sent out at 2 weeks. The survey covered four key domains: (1) NGO demographics; (2) the impact of COVID-19 on patient follow-up; (3) barriers to the safe provision of international surgical collaborations during COVID-19; (4) the impact of COVID-19 on NGO funding. Results: A total of ten reconstructive NGOs completed the survey (response rate, 37%). Ethiopia (n = 5) and Tanzania (n = 4) were the countries where most collaborations took place. Plastic, reconstructive and burns surgery was the most common sub-speciality (n = 7). For NGOs that did not have a year-round presence in country (n = 8), only one NGO was able to perform reconstructive surgery in Africa during the pandemic. The most common barrier identified was travel restrictions (within country, n = 8 or country entry-exit, n = 7). Pre-pandemic, 1547 to ≥ 1800 patients received reconstructive surgery on international surgical collaborations. After the outbreak, 70% of NGOs surveyed had treated no patients, with approximately 1405 to ≥ 1640 patients left untreated over the last year. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed huge pressures on health services and their delivery across the globe. This theme has extended into international surgical collaborations leading to increased unmet surgical needs in low- and middle-income countries.Level of evidence: Not gradable. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00238-021-01892-4.

Increasing the Reach of the Submental Artery Island Flap Using the Y-V Pedicle Lengthening Technique: Video and Technical Considerations.

SUMMARY: This article and instructional video detail a step-by-step approach to performing the Y-V venous pedicle lengthening technique, which can be used to increase the reach of the submental artery island flap by up to 5 cm, permitting reconstruction of soft-tissue defects of the middle and upper thirds of the face. This technique can also be used to maximize advancement of many common flaps around the body, including the medial plantar and lateral arm flaps.

Protocol for a systematic review of outcomes from microsurgical free-tissue transfer performed on short-term collaborative surgical trips in low-income and middle-income countries.

BACKGROUND: In many units around the world, microsurgical free-tissue transfer represents the gold standard for reconstruction of significant soft tissue defects following cancer, trauma or infection. However, many reconstructive units in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) do not yet have access to the resources, infrastructure or training required to perform any microsurgical procedures. Long-term international collaborations have been formed with annual short-term reconstructive missions conducting microsurgery. In the first instance, these provide reconstructive surgery to those who need it. In the longer-term, they offer an opportunity for teaching and the development of sustainable local services. METHODS: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis will be performed. A comprehensive, predetermined search strategy will be applied to the MEDLINE and Embase electronic databases from inception to August 2021. All clinical studies presenting sufficient data on free-tissue transfer performed on short-term collaborative surgical trips (STCSTs) in LMICs will be eligible for inclusion. The primary outcomes are rate of free flap failure, rate of emergency return to theatre for free flap salvage and successful salvage rate. The secondary outcomes include postoperative complications, cost effectiveness, impact on training, burden of disease, legacy and any functional or patient reported outcome measures. Screening of studies, data extraction and assessments of study quality and bias will be conducted by two authors. Individual study quality will be assessed according to the Oxford Evidence-based Medicine Scales of Evidence 2, and risk of bias using either the 'Revised Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials' (Rob2), the 'Risk of bias in non-randomized studies of interventions' (ROBINS-I) tool, or the National Institute for Health Quality Assessment tool for Case Series. Overall strength of evidence will be assessed according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. DISCUSSION: To-date the outcomes of microsurgical procedures performed on STCSTs to LMICs are largely unknown. Improved education, funding and allocation of resources are needed to support surgeons in LMICs to perform free-tissue transfer. STCSTs provide a vehicle for sustainable collaboration and training. Disseminating microsurgical skills could improve the care received by patients living with reconstructive pathology in LMICs, but this is poorly established. This study sets out a robust protocol for a systematic review designed to critically analyse outcomes. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO 225613.

Premaxillary Setback With Posterior Vomerine Ostectomy: Outcomes of Single-Stage Repair of Complete Bilateral Cleft Lip With a Severely Protruding Premaxilla.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluating the safety and outcomes of premaxillary setback with posterior vomerine ostectomy in single-stage repair of complete bilateral cleft lip (CBCL) with severe premaxillary protrusion. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Multiple outreach surgical sites. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: From 2012 to 2016, 41 patients with CBCL and severe premaxillary protrusion underwent posterior vomerine premaxillary setback (PVPS) by a single surgeon in Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru. Patients 4 months to 18 years old undergoing primary or revision CBCL surgery were eligible for inclusion in the study. Patients with diagnosed syndromes were excluded. INTERVENTIONS: Posterior vomerine premaxillary setback. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postoperative complications and postoperative aesthetic outcomes. RESULTS: The mean age at surgery was 3.7 ± 3.8 years, with an average follow-up time of 17.0 ± 13.9 months. Patients underwent their procedures in Brazil (71%), Ecuador (22%), and Peru (7%). The majority of patients were aged 2 years or less (56%), were males (54%), had undergone prior surgery (56%), and had not undergone preoperative surgical orthopedics (95%). None of the patients developed major complications. All patients were able to undergo PVPS with concomitant required procedures and had good aesthetic outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Few reports have evaluated single-stage CBCL repair or revision with severe premaxillary protrusion using PVPS. Our study shows that this technique is safe and results in good aesthetic outcomes. Further follow-up with anthropometric patient data is needed to evaluate long-term postoperative outcomes.

Sustainable Cleft Care Through Education: The First Simulation-Based Comprehensive Workshop in the Middle East and North Africa Region.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the conduct of the first multidisciplinary simulation-based workshop in the Middle East/North Africa region and evaluate participant satisfaction. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey-based evaluation. SETTING: Educational comprehensive multidisciplinary simulation-based cleft care workshop. PARTICIPANTS: Total of 93 workshop participants from over 20 countries. INTERVENTIONS: Three-day educational comprehensive multidisciplinary simulation-based cleft care workshop. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of workshop participants, number of participants stratified by specialty, satisfaction with workshop, number of workshop staff, and number of workshop staff stratified by specialty. RESULTS: The workshop included 93 participants from over 20 countries. The response rate was 47.3%, and participants reported high satisfaction with all aspects of the workshop. All participants reported they would recommend it to colleagues (100.0%) and participate again (100.0%). No significant difference was detected based on participant specialty or years of experience. The majority were unaware of other cleft practitioners in their countries (68.2%). CONCLUSION: Multidisciplinary simulation-based cleft care workshops are well received by cleft practitioners in developing countries, serve as a platform for intellectual exchange, and are only possible through strong collaborations. Advocates of international cleft surgery education should translate these successes from the regional to the global arena in order to contribute to sustainable cleft care through education.