Nuestra experiencia en campaña humanitaria en Liberia / Our personal experience during an humanitarian project in Liberia

Las Organizaciones No Gubernamentales (ONG) intentan aportar bienes básicos y servicios sanitarios a aquellas personas afectadas ya sea por catástrofes humanas o naturales, o bien por situaciones de extrema pobreza. Con este planteamiento, surgió un acuerdo de colaboración entre la Sociedad Española de Cirugía Plástica Reparadora y Estética (SECPRE) y los Hermanos de San Juan de Dios, uno de cuyos frutos ha sido, por segundo año consecutivo, esta campaña en el Saint Joseph's Catholic Hospital de Monrovia (Liberia). En este artículo describimos nuestra estancia en dicho proyecto de ayuda humanitaria desarrollado en noviembre del 2017, tratando de transmitir no sólo las condiciones de trabajo a las que nos enfrentamos, sino también la experiencia personal de todos los componentes del equipo, con el objetivo de que sea útil para miembros de próximas campañas

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) aim to provide basic goods and health care to people affected by human and natural disasters or by situations of extreme poverty. With this objective, collaboration took place between the Spanish Society os Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (SECPRE) and the order of the Brothers of San Juan de Dios. One of its achievements has been that this campaign has taken place for the second consecutive year at Saint Joseph's Catholic Hospital in Monrovia (Liberia). In this article, we describe our personal experience during the humanitarian project carried out in November 2017. We intend to communicate not only the working conditions, but also the personal experience of all the team members involved, with the aim of supporting future campaigns

Arthroscopically guided osteotomy for management of intra-articular distal radius malunions.

PURPOSE: A malunion with a step-off of 1 mm or more after an intra-articular distal radius fracture may cause pain and arthritic changes at midterm follow-up. We present our technique for treating intra-articular distal radius malunions by carrying out an osteotomy from inside the joint outward under arthroscopic guidance using the dry arthroscopy technique, with emphasis on the clinical and radiologic outcomes. METHODS: We performed surgery on 11 patients for intra-articular malunion of the distal radius 1 to 5 months after the injury. Preoperative step-offs ranged from 2 to 5 mm (average, 2.5 mm) on plain radiographs. Original fracture patterns involved 1 radial styloid fracture, 1 radiocarpal fracture-dislocation, and 9 comminuted intra-articular fractures. In 5 cases an anterior-ulnar or radial styloid fragment was repositioned. In the rest, more than 1 fragment (up to 3) was osteotomized. In 1 patient the articular osteotomy was combined with an ulnar shortening osteotomy. RESULTS: Follow-up ranged from 12 to 48 months. Step-offs were reduced in most cases to 0 mm; however, localized gaps (<2 mm) and cartilage defects were commonly seen intraoperatively because the fragments did not accurately fit. According to the Gartland and Werley score, there were 4 excellent and 7 good results (mean score of 2.8). The Modified Green and O'Brien system achieved a mean score of 83, with 3 excellent, 5 good, and 3 fair results. One patient showed radiolunate narrowing on follow-up radiographs. CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopically assisted osteotomy permits direct visualization of the osteotomy site with good midterm clinical and radiologic outcomes. The technique can be used in irregularly defined fragments. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic IV.

Late salvage of the ischemic finger after crush injury using flow-through flaps: case report.

The progressive evolution and late salvage of a posttraumatic digit with poor vascularization has not been discussed in the literature. We report the cases of 3 patients whose fingers were rescued at referral 5 to 16 days after the traumatic event by restoring the arterial inflow by means of flow-through free flaps. All 3 fingers were compromised vascularly with patchy necrosis and absence of Doppler signal distal to the injury. All were salvaged. In our experience, in the setting of a posttraumatic digit with poor vascularization, it is possible to reverse impending necrosis by late revascularization. Frank infection or mummification is considered an irreversible state and a contraindication to salvage.

Ischemic toe encountered during harvesting: report of 6 cases.

Local vessel disease causing lack of arterial inflow at the time of toe harvesting represents a surgical emergency. In a personal experience of 194 toe transfers to the hand, 6 cases (in 4 patients) were found to have diseased vessels at the first web to the point that acute ischemia of the toe occurred when the tourniquet was released at the lower limb. We report our experience in these 6 cases.

Super-thinned iliac flap for major defects on the elbow and wrist flexion creases.

Four free iliac flaps were used to treat or prevent flexion contracture at the elbow or wrist flexion crease. Flap size ranged from 13 x 6 cm to 18 x 8 cm. Two flaps were used for primary coverage, and the other 2 flaps were used to treat established flexion contractures. All flaps survived without vascular complications. Full range of motion was obtained at the elbow and 40 degrees of active extension was obtained at the wrist. The flap has a very thin dermis with minimal panniculus that can be thinned as required, making it ideal to cover flexion creases. Despite the fact that anatomic variations are common in the inguinal region, the flap can be expeditiously and safely elevated. If needed, pedicle length can be up to 8 to 10 cm. The donor site is comparable with that of a full-thickness skin graft harvested from the groin. The donor artery, however, can be very small.

A technique to improve foot appearance after trimmed toe or hallux harvesting.

We describe a technique to improve the appearance of the donor site after hallux harvesting. The surgery has been used in 6 consecutive patients having a trimmed-toe-type transfer. Instead of the classic stump closure advised by Wei, the following steps were performed on the donor site: (1) removal en bloc of the second metatarsal and transposition of the second toe on top of the proximal phalanx of the hallux, (2) interposition of a tibial (medial) glabrous flap from the tibial aspect of the hallux onto the tibial side of the second toe to increase its size, and (3) eponichial flap to increase the nail show on the second toe. Fixation of the toe was achieved with K-wires and cerclage wire. Crossed K-wires stabilized the first to the third metatarsals for 4 to 6 weeks. Ambulation with a stiff sole was allowed a few days after surgery. The main advantage of this technique is the improved donor site appearance. As a bonus, the amount of skin that can be harvested with the trimmed toe is slightly increased. The main drawback is that the number of toes is reduced to 4.

The tibial second toe vascularized neurocutaneous free flap for major digital nerve defects.

PURPOSE: Most digital nerve defects can be reconstructed by means of nonvascularized nerve grafts or artificial tubes, for example. When the bed is poor, the defect is long, or there is a concomitant soft-tissue loss; however, a vascularized nerve graft may be a better option. Our purpose is to introduce a method of 1-stage reconstruction of complex neurocutaneous defects in the fingers and to report the results and clinical effectiveness at a minimum 1-year follow-up period. METHODS: From 1997 to 2005 there were 6 consecutive patients who had a combined soft-tissue and digital nerve defect reconstructed by a vascularized neurocutaneous flap from the tibial (medial) side of the second toe. Three were acute and 3 were chronic cases. One flap was used for the ulnar side of the thumb, 2 for the radial aspect of the index finger, 1 for the radial of the small finger, and 2 for the ulnar side of the small finger. The nerve gap averaged 4.2 cm, and the flap size averaged 3.2 x 2.1 cm. The flaps were revascularized with standard microsurgical techniques to local vessels in the fingers. The nerves were sutured with epineural stitches. A split-thickness skin graft was used to close the donor site of the toe. RESULTS: All flaps survived without complications. At the latest follow-up evaluation static two-point discrimination (s2PD) averaged 8 mm on the pulp. Three patients had normal sensation when tested with Semmes-Weinstein filaments. Subjective feeling was 78% of that of the normal side. Five patients rated their feeling as excellent on a subjective scale. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire score averaged 5. CONCLUSIONS: The tibial neurocutaneous second toe free flap is suitable for reconstructing a missing nerve and soft-tissue defect in the finger. We found good functional recovery and high satisfaction in this group of patients. The donor site morbidity has been minimal, although delayed healing is common. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic IV.

Dry arthroscopy of the wrist: surgical technique.

PURPOSE: To present a method to perform arthroscopic exploration and instrumentation without infusing any fluid. METHODS: The hand is suspended from a bow, with traction on all fingers. Portals are developed as in the classic (wet) wrist arthroscopic procedure except that no water is infused to distend the joint and create the optic cavity. For this procedure the joint must be dried; we use suction through the synoviotomes and neurosurgical patties to accomplish this. RESULTS: We have performed more than 100 wrist arthroscopies using the dry technique without any undue difficulty. CONCLUSIONS: The dry technique is as effective as the classic procedure, without the cumbersome leakage of water or the risk of compartment syndrome. It allows some sophisticated arthroscopic procedures to be performed that would be impracticable with water. In addition from these benefits, if open surgery is performed after the arthroscopic exploration then the tissue planes are dry, making surgery much easier. The technique is believed to be inappropriate if thermal probes are used. A learning curve exists.

Vascularized bone blocks from the toe phalanx to solve complex intercalated defects in the fingers.

PURPOSE: Vascularized bone transplants resist infection and allow rapid healing but keeping small bony segments vascularized, as needed for a finger defect, is a challenge. The purpose of this article is to present a cohort of patients with traumatic intercalated compound bony defects in the fingers that were reconstructed by a vascularized toe phalanx (or part of a phalanx) in a single stage. METHODS: Eight patients were treated with an intercalary vascularized bone graft that included a part of the proximal phalanx (3 patients), most of the middle phalanx (4 patients), or a portion of each phalanx (1 patient) of a second toe (totaling 9 bone blocks). There was an associated soft-tissue defect in each patient, an infection in 6 patients, and cartilage loss in 4 patients. The toes were pedicled on the proper digital artery (6 patients) or a segment of the first dorsal metatarsal artery (2 patients). A mean length of 12 mm of vascularized bone was transferred. The associated skin island varied from a minimum of 2 x 1 cm to a maximum of 5 x 3 cm. Bleeding from all of the bone surfaces was evidenced once the clamps were released. The homolateral digital nerve and the contralateral neurovascular pedicle of the toe were kept in place. The toe defect was treated by soft-tissue arthroplasty or arthrodesis. No toe was amputated. RESULTS: Radiologic bony union was evident at 4 to 6 weeks, except in 1 patient with an acute infection whose distal union failed to unite at 6 weeks because the infection recurred. Finger length loss averaged 3 mm. All patients returned to their preoperative occupation. CONCLUSIONS: In this group of patients the toe phalanx reliably maintained its vascularization, allowing us to solve compound osteocutaneous defects in the fingers in a single stage. Donor site morbidity was minimal.

Correction of malunited intra-articular distal radius fractures with an inside-out osteotomy technique.

PURPOSE: To present an inside-out osteotomy technique under arthroscopic guidance to correct an intra-articular malunion. METHODS: The joint is explored with a 2.7-mm arthroscope through the standard portals without infusing any water. To allow room to introduce the curettes and the osteotomes (4-mm wide), the instrumentation portals are made slightly larger than usual. Malunited fragments are cut with the osteotomes from inside the joint and advanced out. Fragments are mobilized, and granulating tissue and/or new bone is removed with curettes and synoviotomes. After disimpaction and reduction, fixation with plates or screws via the appropriate open approach is performed under arthroscopic control. No water is used throughout the procedure except at the end of the surgery to clear out debris. RESULTS: Steps were corrected to 0 mm in all patients. Gaps of less than 1 mm were common. CONCLUSIONS: This procedure allows us to define each cartilage-containing fragment and to re-create the original articular fracture line without the fear of creating new fracture lines on the articular surface. This technique can be used for patients with irregularly defined fragments that are not amenable to classic techniques. The key to the procedure is to perform the arthroscopic exploration without water infusion (dry technique).

Reconstruction of the distal radius facet by a free vascularized osteochondral autograft: anatomic study and report of a patient.

PURPOSE: Large chondral defects of the distal radius after fractures present a reconstructive challenge. The purpose of this study was to present the anatomic findings from a cadaver of a vascularized osteochondral autograft taken from the third metatarsal appropriate for reconstructing the distal radius articular facet. A patient is presented in whom 70% of the scaphoid fossa was reconstructed with this technique. METHODS: The base of the third metatarsal was studied in the feet of 20 cadavers. The size and shape of the cartilage were measured. Additionally vessel distribution was recorded and the diameters of vascular foramina were measured with Juch's method. RESULTS: The base of the third metatarsal is pear shaped and is wider dorsally than plantarly. It averages 19.2 mm long on its main axis. Its cartilaginous surface is minimally concave or flat and it is slanted slightly proximal-dorsal to distal-plantar and proximal-peroneal to distal-tibial. Nutrient foramina were found in every case in the dorsum and on both sides of the proximal shaft. At least 1 nutrient vessel could be tracked back to the dorsalis pedis in every dissected specimen. CONCLUSIONS: The anatomic features of the base of the third metatarsal make it a potential vascularized autograft to consider for osteochondral defects of the distal radius.

Results of osteotomy, open reduction, and internal fixation for late-presenting malunited intra-articular fractures of the base of the middle phalanx.

PURPOSE: To present our results in the treatment of late-presenting impaction fractures of the base of the middle phalanx treated by osteotomy with full exposure of the articular surface to restore the normal anatomy. METHODS: Eleven patients with a malunited (impacted) fracture of the base of the middle phalanx were treated by osteotomy more than 5 weeks after the injury. All fractures had varying degrees of impaction, comminution, and dorsal subluxation. The malunited joint surface was visualized by dislocating the joint by hyperextension (shotgun approach). The restoration of the cup-shape contour of the middle phalangeal base was accomplished by osteotomy and mobilization of small osteochondral fragments. Rigid fixation was performed by cerclage wire, screws, or a combination of these. A distal radius bone graft was placed beneath disimpacted fragments in 9 of the 11 procedures. RESULTS: Ten of 11 patients were followed-up for more than than 1 year. One patient with a volar lateral impaction fracture was lost to follow-up study 4 weeks after the surgery and was excluded from the results. All patients except 1 achieved a functional range of motion of the proximal interphalangeal joint. Moderate limitations of the distal interphalangeal joint motion were common. Grip and thumb-affected finger tip pinch strengths were 95% and 90%, respectively, of the healthy side. The average pain level (as rated on a visual analog scale of 0-10) improved from a preoperative score of 9.1 to a postoperative score of 0.8. One patient was somewhat dissatisfied; all other patients were satisfied or very satisfied. All returned to their previous work at an average of 13 weeks after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Favorable results have been achieved in this challenging scenario in the short- and middle-term in 9 of 10 patients. Previous surgery and moderate to severe wearing of the cartilage of the proximal phalanx head negatively affected the results.

Overcoming soft-tissue deficiency in toe-to-hand transfer using a dorsalis pedis fasciosubcutaneous toe free flap: Surgical technique.

Reconstruction of combined finger and soft-tissue defects poses a technical surgical challenge. We present our experience with a hybrid flap: the dorsalis pedis fasciosubcutaneous-toe free flap. In a single stage, this flap solves the problem of medium-sized defects associated with digit losses in the hand. Donor-site morbidity has been minimal.

Minimizing impairment in laborers with finger losses distal to the proximal interphalangeal joint by second toe transfer.

Traditionally, toe-to-hand transfers have been reserved for thumb amputations or for use after severe mutilating injuries. The authors report their experience with the use of second toe-for-finger amputations with preserved or reconstructible proximal interphalangeal joints in manual workers. The aim of the procedure was to reduce impairment and to upgrade the hand from a functional and cosmetic standpoint. Fifteen second-toe wrap-around or variations were carried out on 11 adults (18 to 41 years old). Four patients with two or more finger amputations received two sequential second toes; four patients with two finger amputations received one toe; and each of three patients with single-digit amputation received a single toe. All but one amputation were performed less than 3 weeks after the accident. All toes survived. Range of motion at the native proximal interphalangeal joint was more than 90 percent in all patients but one; however, it was minimal at the transplanted joints. Patient satisfaction was high from a cosmetic and functional standpoint. Ten of 11 laborers resumed their previous activity. On the basis of this experience, a classification with aesthetic and functional implications is proposed to help in the decision-making process when dealing with multidigital injuries. It is concluded that second-toe transfer is an excellent choice for finger amputation distal to the proximal interphalangeal joint in laborers. Its prime indication is for amputations of two fingers where at least one toe should be transferred, as required, to achieve an "acceptable hand" (three-fingered hand). Early transfer allows salvage of critical structures from the damaged finger, such as joints, tendons, and bone, that otherwise would be lost. Early transplantation is highly recommended.

Acute hand compartment syndromes after closed crush: a reappraisal.

Severe crush to the hand is associated with a poor prognosis. The authors investigated the hypothesis that compartment syndrome complicates such injuries. From 1996 to 2000, the authors retrospectively identified 11 patients who, after sustaining a closed crush injury, developed acute hand compartment syndrome. Diagnosis was made on clinical grounds in two patients (the intracompartmental pressure was not measured) and after clinical examination plus measurement of intracompartmental pressure in nine patients. In all cases, the muscle burst out once the fascia was released from the affected compartment. Clinical clues to elicit the diagnoses were massive hand swelling and tenseness to palpation. Classic symptoms, such as excruciating pain, were absent or their intensity was attributed to the trauma event (in six patients). Classic signs such as intrinsic muscle minus position and pain on stretching were absent in six and three patients, respectively. In addition, the latter stretch test could not be properly judged in five more patients because of interference by the associated injuries. None of the patients developed contracture or sequela that could be attributed to compartment syndrome. On the basis of this experience, it was concluded that crush injury does not in itself carry a poor functional prognosis, provided that attention is paid to the often-concomitant compartment syndrome. Elevated subfascial pressure may be present despite the absence of classic signs and symptoms.