Quality of Life Assessment and Comparative Analysis of Anterolateral Thigh Flap and Pectoralis Major Myo-cutaneous Flap for Reconstruction of Post Excision Defects of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Present study is a comparative evaluation of the financial impact on choice of flap, clinical results as well as post resection quality of life assessment of cancer patients reconstructed with anterolateral thigh(ALT) flap and pectoralis major myo-cutaneous(PMMC) flap. Ethical clearance was obtained from institutional ethical committee. In this non-randomised, prospective study design among 49 oral squamous cell carcinoma cases, 39 cases were reconstructed using PMMC flap and 10 using ALT flap from year 2020 to 2022. These 2 flaps were compared in terms of parameters like time utilised for reconstruction, hospital stay, overall survival and Washington University Quality of Life index(UW-QOL) for head and neck cancer. Patients were followed regularly for post-operative complications. The University of Washington Quality of Life score (UW-QOL) questionnaire, version 4, was completed at six months post-operatively. Obtained data was statistically analysed using IBM® SPSSⓇ. Washington University Quality of Life index scores and esthetics are better with Antero-lateral thigh flap, with less overall post-operative complications. On the other hand Pectoralis myocutaneous flap has less surgical time and more salvage potential. Despite of Antero-lateral thigh flap having Good Washington University Quality of Life index scores, lesser post-operative complications and better esthetics; scale of developing nations is still tipping towards economical, less time consuming and less technique sensitive Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap.

Revisiting Rhombic Flaps for Aesthetic Facial Resurfacing: Addressing a Surgical Conundrum.

BACKGROUND: Facial resurfacing is a surgical and aesthetic challenge, as it requires soft, pliable, and stretchable donor skin with a good match of color, texture, and thickness and minimum donor scarring. Rhombic flap is a highly versatile flap that has the aforementioned properties. Careful flap planning and execution is vital for successful outcomes. AIMS: The aim of this work was to study the geometry of the classic rhombic flaps; to evaluate their versatility and technical finesse as well as their application to resurface defects over various regions of the face. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Overall, 42 patients with facial scars due to trauma, malignancies, small nevi, and mature scars of the face were studied and operated on. Of the four rhombic flaps that were possible, choosing the best option required careful attention to camouflage of scar and proximity to vital deformable anatomical structures. Geometrical planning of the flap was the essence of the entire surgical exercise. RESULTS: Outcome of rhombic flaps were meticulously and critically analyzed. The study consisted of 36 females (85.71%) and only 6 males with a mean age of 23 years. Defects were created on 27 mature scars (64.29%) and 11 burn scars (26.19%). Defects over the cheek and lateral canthus of the eye were especially problematic. It is a safe flap with excellent results as far as visible scarring and traction deformities are concerned. Scars elsewhere on the face fared better than on the bony prominence. CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: Rhombic flaps offer an excellent alternative to resurface facial scars and defects in a selected subset of patients.

Radiological Evaluation of Postsurgical Course of Perforators in Retrograde Posterior Tibial Fasciocutaneous Flaps for Distal Leg and Foot Defects.

Background Mapping of vascular perforators by various methodologies have been described for planning of a variety of flaps in the lower limbs. We attempted to assess the changes in posterior tibial perforators after transfer of fasciocutaneous flaps for leg defects. Methods 20 patients with distal leg and foot defects were studied by computed tomography angiography (CTA) and preoperative audio Doppler to ascertain perforators of posterior tibial artery. Fasciocutaneous flaps were raised, based on these perforators, depending on the site and size of soft-tissue defects. The number of perforators and their distance from the medial malleolus were also studied. Postoperative CTA was performed on the 7th to 10th day, with emphasis on postoperative changes of the perforators on which the flaps were based. Results One to four posterior tibial perforators were found between 5 cm and 8 cm proximal to the medial malleolus. After flap transfer, the perforators could be traced to variable distance through the total length of the flap. The perforators formed small vascular loop in 12 patients, following retrograde posterior tibial flap transfer. The height of the loop, the number of such loops, the dilatation and tortuosity of the perforators, and their longitudinal orientation were studied in detail. Most of the findings can be explained by mechanical realignment of perforators as well as by the delay phenomenon associated with retrograde fasciocutaneous flaps. Conclusion It was concluded that the morphological changes associated with the perforators explained the vascular rationality and success of these flaps.