Phalloplasty: The dream and the reality.

Phalloplasty has come a long way as Plastic Surgery has evolved over the years. The complication ridden multistage tube pedicles popularized by Gillis were, with the advent of microsurgery, replaced by radial forearm flaps. The composite osteo-cutaneous version of this flap promised 'All for one and one for all' assuring both a reliable urinary conduit and a phallus stiffener. Prelamination and prefabrication to make the neo-urethra came with the promise of reducing both fistula and strictures but that did not happen and flap failure rates increased. Penile stiffeners of various types have been introduced; the artificial ones were associated with high infection and failure rates and are best inserted after the neo-penis regains some sensitivity. With the introduction of perforator flaps the Anterolateral thigh flap in its sensate pedicled form has started replacing the Radial forearm free flap as the first choice flap because of a hidden donor area and lack of microsurgical expertise requirement. Being sensate it tolerates a stiffener better. It is now possible to reconstruct an aesthetically pleasing glans as well, thus meeting both the aesthetic and functional desires of the patient. Complications encountered in this reconstructive effort include flap failure, urethral fistula, urethral stricture and stiffener related problems.

Mandibular reconstruction using osteocutaneous radial forearm flap.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of radial forearm osteocutaneous free flap in complex mandibular reconstruction. STUDY DESIGN: A case series. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from January 1998 to January 2008. METHODOLOGY: Patients having a small bony component and a large soft tissue mandibular defect requiring reconstruction were selected. These defects include composite through-and-through defects of the cheek in the retromolar trigone, small lateral bony defects with large intra and extra oral soft tissue defects and small central bony defects with large extra oral tissue loss. Radial forearm osteocutaneous free flap was employed. Complications and graft acceptance were determined at follow-up. RESULTS: Patients were followed-up for an average period of 28 months. Complications occurred in 8 patients. Wound infection and partial wound dehiscence were the most common complication observed in 3 patients. Non-union at recipient site was seen in 2 patients. Flap donor site healed uneventfully in all patients with no fractures at the donor site. CONCLUSION: The radial forearm osteocutaneous flap covers oromandibular defects with large intra-oral and extra oral soft tissue losses. Lateral and anterior mandibular defects were reconstructed satisfactorily in our series.

Benign paediatric mandibular tumours: experience in reconstruction using vascularised fibula.

The majority of the paediatric oral and maxillofacial tumours are benign and the mandible is involved in one-third of these cases. A review of the literature reveals only a handful of studies pertaining exclusively to benign paediatric mandibular tumours. The basis of this study was to fulfil the need to assess the suitability of major mandibular reconstructions using a vascularised fibular graft in cases of benign tumours in children. From April 1999 to April 2011 we have managed 18 cases of benign paediatric mandibular tumours. All the reconstructions were done using vascularised fibular graft. The age of these patients ranged from 8 to 16 years. The most common pathology seen in our series was Ameloblastoma, followed by Giant Cell Granuloma and vascular malformation. Other cases included fibrous dysplasia, aneurysmal bone cyst and odontogenic myxoma. Five of these were recurrent lesions. The mean length of the fibula harvested was 12 ± 2 cm. All the flaps in this series survived. Bone union occurred in all cases by 6 weeks. All the patients have maintained a satisfactory chin contour of the mandible during the follow-up period with minimal distortion occurring secondary to contralateral native mandibular growth in two cases. We conclude that, for benign paediatric mandibular tumours requiring major bone resection, the vascularised fibula is an excellent reconstructive option with the advantages of having a good bone stock, possibility for osteotomy, long pedicle length and potential for growth along with the possibility of dental rehabilitation.

Has the anterolateral thigh flap replaced the latissimus dorsi flap as the workhorse for lower limb reconstructions?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the applicability and reliability of free Anterolateral thigh flap (ALTF) with Latissimus Dorsi free flap (LD) in different reconstructive scenarios of lower limb. To compare flap elevation time, vessel diameters, pedicle lengths, total operative time, peri-operative blood requirement, number of secondary procedures and complications between the two types of flaps. METHODS: Patients of all age groups with lower limb soft tissue defects requiring free tissue transfer, reporting to Department of Plastic Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from November 2005 to November 2008, were included in the study. The patients were distributed into two groups irrespective of the primary disease; Group 'A' patients underwent LD reconstruction and Group 'B' patients had an ALTF transfer. RESULTS: A total of 60 cases were included in the study (Male : Female = 6.5 : 1). Mean patient age was 30.33 +/- 10.082 years. The mean follow up period was 19.73 +/- 9.303 months. Larger defects were covered with ALTF as compared to LD (p=0.003). The total surgery time was longer in Group 'A' (p=0.017). Peri-operative blood requirements and debulking procedures were also more frequently required in Group 'A' (p=0.002, 0.007). There was no significant difference in rest of the flap and operative parameters between the two groups. CONCLUSION: ALTF is as reliable a flap as LD for various lower limb defects. Its additional advantages include short operation time, decreased requirement of peri-operative blood transfusion and subsequent debulking procedures. Considering these benefits, the ALTF may be labeled as the 'New Workhorse' for lower limb reconstructions requiring free tissue transfer.

Rotation-transposition correction of nasal deformity in Tessier number 1 and 2 clefts.

OBJECTIVE: To formulate a standardized procedure for repair of the nasal component of Tessier number 1 and 2 clefts. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The procedure was performed from 1998 to 2007 in 13 patients with congenital nasal clefts of different degrees of expression corresponding to Tessier 1 and 2. The patients' ages ranged from 3 months to 28 years. There were 10 male and three female patients. In the absence of any standard published technique for these rare defects, we devised our own method, which we find uniformly applicable to all such cases. We use a composite muco-chondro-cutaneous lateral alar flap to recreate the alar rim. The resulting defect on the lateral nasal wall is then covered with a transposition flap from the dorsum. An alar rim z-plasty was added in cases where notching was evident. RESULTS: In all cases, no problem of flap viability was encountered and all healed well with minimal scarring. The postoperative results were satisfactory and have remained stable over an average 6-month follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend this technique to be used for the correction of nasal deformity associated with Tessier clefts number 1 and 2. We feel that this technique is relatively simple and easily reproducible.

Clinico-pathological profile and outcome of inhalational burns.

OBJECTIVE: To determine clinico-pathological profile and outcome of inhalational burns in a specialized burns treatment unit. STUDY DESIGN: Case-series. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The Department of Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre Unit, Combined Military Hospital, Kharian Cantonment in March 2005. METHODOLOGY: Patients of inhalational burns were included and evacuated within 30 hours of accident to the specialized burns centre after immediate resuscitation. Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) involved in burns was calculated. Complete blood count and renal profile along with serum albumin and total proteins was obtained. Portable chest radiographs and bronchoscopic examination was conducted. Escarotomies were carried and wounds were covered with split thickness skin grafts. Ventilatory support was used as needed. Comparison of the clinico-pathological profile of surviving and fatal cases was done for significance using t-test. RESULTS: There were 19 patients of inhalational burns, 8 (42%) of whom expired. The mean percentage of TBSA in 11 surviving patients was 50+/-10.87 and 70+/-15.46 in fatal cases. The mean haemoglobin (Hb) on admission was 15.8+/-1.6 g/dL and after fluid resuscitation it became 11.4+/-1.5 g/dL. The mean Total Leucocyte Count (TLC) in surviving patients was 9.6+/-6.1 x 10(9)/L and 1.5+/-2.3 x 10(9)/L in fatal cases (p=0.001). The mean platelet count of surviving patients was 205+/-63 x 10(12)/L while in fatal cases was 58+/-48 x 10(12)/L (p=0.05). The serum urea levels in surviving patients was 4.3+/-2 mmol/L while in fatal cases was 8.6+/-0.9 mmol/L (p=0.05). The serum creatinine levels were 98.2+/-16.5 micromol/L in the survivor group and 249.5+/-76 micromol/L in the mortality group (p=0.05). The serum total protein in surviving patients was 63+/-8 g/dL while in mortality cases it was 57+/-7 g/L. Serum albumin in the survivor group was 36.7+/-5 g/L and 35+/-4 g/L in fatal cases. Significant in Hb, protein and albumin levels. All the expired patients had acute respiratory distress syndrome while acute renal failure with multi-organ failure co-existed in 6 patients. CONCLUSION: Inhalational burns injury cases multi-system injury with high mortality. Body area involvement, total leucocyte count, platelet count, serum area and serum creatinine are important indicators of survival.

Quality of life assessment in patients with locally advanced head and neck malignancy after ablative surgery and reconstruction with microvascular free flaps.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the improvement in Quality Of Life (QOL) after ablative surgery in locally advanced head and neck malignancies by microvascular free flaps reconstruction. STUDY DESIGN: Quasi-experimental. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Plastic Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from September 2005 to February 2007. METHODOLOGY: A total of 44 patients with locally advanced stage III and IV malignancy of head and neck were included in the study. All patients were treated with ablative surgery and reconstruction with microvascular free flaps. QOL was assessed by using a scoring questionnaire (including 5 parameters for extra oral cancers including physical and role function, body image, weight loss score and pain donor site morbidity; and an additional 5 parameters for intraoral tumours that included swallowing, speech, drooling of saliva and mouth opening). A high score indicated a poor QOL. Patients were assessed pre-operatively and then at 2, 4 and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Mean accumulative score and mean individual parameter scores for both extra- and intraoral tumours were significantly improved (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Microvascular free flap reconstruction after ablative surgery in locally advanced head and neck malignancy had a profound impact on the improvement of QOL. There was an initial deterioration of physical scores postoperatively and postradiotherapy, followed by gradual improvement. By the end of 6 months, it surpassed the pre-operative QOL scores.

Limb salvage in malignant tumours of the upper limb using vascularised fibula.

INTRODUCTION: Modern reconstructive techniques can prevent amputation in most cases of malignant musculoskeletal tumours. The free fibula has emerged as the primary method of bridging long bone gaps during limb salvage. METHODS: Limb salvage was attempted in 23 patients (15 males and eight females) aged 17-57 years. The tumour was located in the humerus in 18 patients, radius in four patients and the metacarpals in one patient. Osteogenic sarcoma was the most common tumour (11 cases) followed by Ewing's sarcoma in six patients. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, MRI was repeated and resectability assessed. Wide local excision was performed and the bony defect bridged by free fibulae. RESULTS: All the flaps survived. The average length of defect reconstructed was 18 cm and the average time for bone union was 7 months. At a minimum follow up of 12 months, 21 patients were alive and disease free. One patient required amputation due to recurrence and one died of metastatic disease. Secondary surgery was needed in eight patients (five tendon transfers, two latissimus dorsi flap readjustments and one bone graft). Overall patient satisfaction was high with 21/23 patients having a useful limb. CONCLUSION: Limb salvage in the upper limb using vascularised fibula in patients with malignant musculoskeletal tumours can result in good tumour control along with reasonable limb function.

Injection sclerotherapy for haemorrhoids causing adult respiratory distress syndrome.

A young lady with first-degree haemorrhoids was administered injection sclerotherapy with 5% phenol in almond oil. Soon after the injection, she developed syncope and later signs and symptoms of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). She was kept on ventilatory support for 4 days, made a smooth recovery and was successfully weaned off from the ventilator.

A huge malignant triton tumour.

A 45 years old man presented with progressively increasing abdominal mass of two years duration. The mass had rapidly increased in size in the past five months. The patient was emaciated, with a grossly protuberant abdomen. The biopsy revealed fibrosarcoma. Extirpation of the tumour was contemplated. A huge 82 x 53 x 32 cm retroperitoneal mass was removed and the histopathology confirmed it as malignant triton tumour.

Massive splenic hydatid cyst.

Hydatid disease can involve any organ of the body and a high suspicion of this disease is justified in endemic regions. A case of massive splenic hydatid cyst with hepatic hydatidosis presented with 5 years history of abdominal distension with discomfort is reported. Clinically she had massive splenomegaly with hepatomegaly. Laboratory and radiological findings were diagnostic of hydatid disease of the liver and spleen. Peroperatively huge (35 x 20 cm) splenic hydatid cyst with two liver cysts was seen. Splenectomy was performed and hepatic lesions were subjected to endocystectomy with capsulorrhaphy.

Male pseudohermaphroditism.

An unusual case of a 40-year-old infertile male is presented. On examination he had cryptorchidism with other normal secondary sexual characters. Ultrasonography and computerized tomography raised the suspicion of tumour in the right abdominal testis. On exploration, a uterus with cervix, fallopian tubes and abdominal testes were detected. This was confirmed histopathologically. Chromosomal analysis revealed 46XY.

Follicular carcinoma thyroid in Pendred syndrome.

Pendred syndrome is a rare inherited disorder of bilateral sensorineural deafness with goitre. Presence of follicular carcinoma thyroid makes it even rarer. A case of a young girl is described with the features of Pendred syndrome and euthyroid state. Follicular carcinoma of thyroid was detected on histopathology requiring re-tailoring of the management.