Local Coverage for Acute Severely Herniated Brain Using Scalp and Forehead Flaps in a Pediatric Patient With Head Trauma.

A 4-year-old-boy required emergent craniectomy and drainage of a large right-sided acute subdural hematoma after head trauma, during which massive sinus hemorrhage with brain swelling occurred. Acute intraoperative management entailed dural cover using synthetic dural membrane substitute and scalp coverage over the herniated brain using acellular dermal matrix. After intensive monitoring and control of raised intracranial pressure over the next few days, the exposed brain was then covered by scalp and forehead flaps with cadaveric skin grafting to the donor site. This temporary coverage continued until adequate resolution of the intracranial swelling and control of the hydrocephalus using a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Ultimately, the flaps were derotated and the craniectomy site was reconstructed with autologous banked bone. The child had a significant functional recovery with some residual left-sided weakness. This case is the first report of local tissue flaps used for temporary coverage of malignant brain herniation in a pediatric head trauma patient and highlights their effective use. Through serial surgical procedures the brain was successfully covered without significant blood loss and the patient's local tissues returned to their original donor sites with good cosmetic outcome, without sacrifice of the patient's own skin or free flap options.

Tranquilli-Leali or Atasoy flap: an anatomical cadaveric study.

BACKGROUND: The Tranquilli-Leali and Atasoy volar V-Y advancement flaps are considered workhorse flaps in the reconstruction of fingertip amputations. However, their description in the literature in terms of surgical dissection and blood supply is often indistinct. This study describes the differences between the two flaps and highlights their unique blood supply based on a thorough cadaveric study and review of the literature. METHODS: Using 16 fresh cadaveric fingers, eight Tranquilli-Leali and eight Atasoy volar V-Y advancement flaps were dissected, mapping the arterial blood supply using an injectable blue resin. In addition, a thorough literature search on the subject was done. RESULTS: In all eight fingertips dissected as decribed by Tranquilli-Leali, the flap was supplied by the anastomotic connections between the terminal branches of the palmar digital arteries and dorsal nail-bed arcades via the fibro-osseous hiatus. In contrast, in all eight fingertips which were dissected as described by Atasoy, the flaps were perfused through the terminal branches of the palmar digital arteries. CONCLUSIONS: The Tranquilli-Leali and Atasoy volar V-Y advancement flaps, used to reconstruct fingertip amputations, are distinct from one another in several ways. The most obvious difference is their technique of flap dissection, which, in turn, dictates a unique blood supply. Through careful dissection and a review of the literature, this anatomical study has brought to light the specific vascular supply to each flap that was evaluated.