Application of a Microsuction Background Device for Microanastomosis in a Rat Femoral Vessel Model.

SUMMARY: Microvascular anastomoses can be challenging to perform when edematous fluids and blood continuously flood and compromise the field of view. Intermittent irrigation and suctioning disturb workflow, require an assistant, and can increase risk of arterial thrombosis from vessels being drawn into suction drains. The authors developed and patented a novel three-dimensionally printed background device with microfluidic capabilities to provide autonomous, continuous irrigation and suction to optimize operator autonomy and efficiency. The authors tested this in a rat femoral vessel model. Twelve end-to-end anastomoses were performed by two senior microsurgeons [six conventional, six suction-assisted background (SAB)] in a rat femoral artery model. The primary outcome was time taken to complete the anastomosis. Secondary outcomes included the validated Structured Assessment of Microsurgery Skills (SAMS) score and the total number of "wiping" events to obtain field clarity. Each procedure was recorded, and videos were independently rated by two blinded experts using the SAMS score. Time taken to complete the anastomosis was greater in the conventional group compared with the SAB group (741.7 ± 203.1 seconds versus 584 ± 155.9 seconds; P = 0.007). The median SAMS score was lower in the conventional group compared with the SAB group (32.3 ± 1.4 versus 38.3 ± 1.5; P = 0.001). The median number of wiping events was significantly greater in the conventional group compared with the SAB group (13 ± 2.2 versus 1.7 ± 1.2; P < 0.001). The authors show that a novel microfluidic background device allows continuous irrigation and suctioning without the need for an assistant, optimizing the efficiency of the microvascular anastomosis. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: The authors have designed a novel, patented, three-dimensionally printed microsurgical background device that provides continuous irrigation and suction, reduces operative time, and provides better vessel clarity during a microsurgical anastomosis compared to standard background.

High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic (HIFEM) Energy With and Without Radiofrequency for Noninvasive Body Contouring: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Emsculpt Neo (EmSculpt NEO Device, BTL Industries, Inc.) is a FDA-cleared noninvasive body contouring treatment for increasing muscle tone and/or reducing fat. The device uses high-intensity electromagnetic energy to stimulate muscle contractions and to build muscle mass (Emsculpt) or a combination of electromagnetic energy with radiofrequency (Emsculpt NEO) to produce a synergistic effect of building muscle mass and reducing fat. In this study, we conduct a high-quality systematic review to evaluate outcomes for Emsculpt and Emsculpt NEO treatments for noninvasive body contouring. METHODS: An electronic search was performed of the PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science databases using the key terms "High intensity focused electromagnetic therapy; HIFEM; Emsculpt; Emsculpt NEO; BTL Industries." The search included all articles published in English through January 2023. Inclusion criteria included articles noninvasive body contouring and reporting at least one outcome of interest (clinical or patient-reported outcomes). Methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed using the GRADE criteria. Articles involving applications other than for body contouring, animal studies, and review articles were excluded. RESULTS: Of the 159 articles identified in the initial search strategy, 51 met relevance based on abstract screening. Fifteen clinical studies were identified, including Emsculpt (n=11) and Emsculpt NEO (n=2). The typical protocol involved four treatments given over a 2-4-week period (range 3-8 treatments) with increase to 100% intensity setting and 1-6-month follow-ups. No complications were reported. Abdominal measurements were obtained using imaging were reported in eight studies. Treated areas included the buttocks (n=4), thighs (n=3), arms or calves (n=1), and abdomen (n=11). For abdominal contouring, mean reductions of fat thickness were 5.5 mm, muscle thickness of 2 mm, and rectus diastasis improvement of 3.0 mm. No studies reported weight change before and after treatment. All studies with patient-reported outcomes report high patient satisfaction. Two studies report marginal or no benefit of treatment. Certain studies failed to report comorbidities or demographic characteristics other than age and sex, which precludes analysis of specific subgroups that may benefit from treatment. Furthermore, certain studies failed to address how missing data or the final study population was analyzed. CONCLUSION: This systematic review reports on currently published evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of Emsculpt and Emsculpt NEO for body contouring. High-quality level data reporting with patient-reported outcomes will optimize shared decision-making and informed consent. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE II: Therapeutic study. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

The Use of Hyaluronic Acid in Non-surgical Rhinoplasty: A Systematic Review of Complications, Clinical, and Patient-Reported Outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: In cosmetic practices, non-surgical rhinoplasty using filler injections has become increasingly common. Nevertheless, the outcome and overall complications have not been studied as a systematic review in the literature. This study provides a high-quality systematic review of studies reporting clinical and patient-reported outcomes following non-surgical rhinoplasty with hyaluronic acid (HA) to further guide practitioners. METHODS: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO. The search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane. The literature retrieval was conducted by three independent reviewers, and the remaining articles were screened by two independent reviewers. The quality of included articles was assessed using the MINORS and methodological quality and synthesis of case series and case reports tools. RESULTS: A total of 874 publications were found based on the search criteria. A total of 3928 patients were reviewed for this systematic review from 23 full-text articles. For non-surgical rhinoplasty, Juvéderm ultra was the most commonly used HA filler. The nasal tip was most commonly injected (13 studies), followed by the columella (12 studies). Nasal hump deformities are the most common reason for non-surgical rhinoplasty. All studies showed high patient satisfaction. Among all patients reviewed, eight developed major complications. CONCLUSION: Non-surgical rhinoplasty performed with HA has minimal side effects and a short recovery period. Furthermore, non-surgical rhinoplasty with HA results in high satisfaction. To strengthen the presently available evidence, further well-designed RCTs are needed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors https://www.springer.com/00266.

A Bibliometric Analysis of the Highest Cited Rhytidectomy Literature.

In this bibliometric analysis, we investigated the top 100 most cited articles on rhytidectomy, a prevalent cosmetic surgical procedure in the United States of America. Using data from Web of Science spanning from 1900 to 2021, we found these papers collectively cited 7737 times, with individual citation counts ranging from 277 to 37 (mean 77). Notably, the majority of these papers (58 out of 100) were categorized as Level of Evidence 5, indicating a prevalence of expert opinions, anatomical studies, and narrative reviews. Interestingly, none of the papers achieved Level 1 status, underscoring a lack of high-quality research in the field. The primary focus of these papers was on operative techniques (48 papers) and surgical anatomy of the face (20 papers). Only 10 articles incorporated patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), but none utilized validated scales. This analysis highlights the urgent need for improved research methodologies in rhytidectomy studies, emphasizing the necessity for rigorous, high-quality research, and the implementation of validated rhytidectomy-specific PROMs.

A Systematic Review of the Efficacy and Safety of Tranexamic Acid in Facelift Surgery.

Tranexamic acid (TXA) has become widely utilized in different specialities including facelift surgery. The aim of this review was to robustly evaluate the quality of available evidence on the efficacy and safety of TXA use in facelift surgery. We searched the MEDLINE (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD), Embase (Elsevier, Amsterdam, the Netherlands), CINAHL (EBSCO Information Services, Ipswich, MA), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; Wiley, Hoboken, NJ), Google Scholar (Alphabet Inc. Mountain View, CA), Science Citation Index (Clarivate, London, UK), and Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information (LILACS; São Paulo, Brazil) databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies. Primary outcomes were blood loss, postoperative hematoma, ecchymosis, and swelling, in addition to technical considerations and complications. We assessed review quality with the AMSTAR 2 tool, study quality with Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations approach (GRADE) tool, and the risk of bias with Cochrane's RoB 2.0 tool for RCTs and ROBINS-I for nonrandomized studies. Of the 368 articles, a total of 3 studies including 150 patients met the inclusion criteria. The RCT reported a significant reduction in postoperative serosanguineous collections in the TXA group (P < .01), and in surgeon-rated postoperative ecchymosis and bruising. The prospective cohort study reported reduced drainage output in first 24 hours in the TXA group (P < .01). The retrospective cohort study reported lower intraoperative blood loss, mean postoperative day 1 drain output, percentage of drain removal on postoperative day 1, and number of days to drain removal in the TXA group (all P < .01). The quality of studies was moderate, and this review was the highest rated compared to previous reviews, as per the AMSTAR 2 tool. Based on limited literature, TXA improves clinical outcomes regardless of the route of administration. Topical TXA is an emerging route, expediting drain removal and reducing blood loss. Future Level I high-quality studies are required.

Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of Combination Triamcinolone Acetonide and 5-Fluorouracil versus Monotherapy Triamcinolone Acetonide or 5-Fluorouracil in the Treatment of Hypertrophic Scars and Keloids: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Keloids and hypertrophic scars cause physical and psychosocial problems. Combination 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) may enhance the treatment of pathological scars, although the evidence base is limited. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and complication rates of combination intralesional TAC and 5-FU in comparison to monotherapy intralesional TAC or 5-FU for the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars. METHODS: EMBASE, MEDLINE and CENTRAL were searched by two independent reviewers. The primary outcome was treatment efficacy (51% to 100% improvement). Study quality and risk of bias were assessed using Cochrane's risk of bias tool, respectively. RESULTS: Of 277 articles screened, 13 studies were included comprising 12 randomised control trials (RCT) and 1 non-randomised study. There were six and nine studies comparing combination intralesional therapy versus monotherapy 5-FU and monotherapy TAC, respectively. The combined group demonstrated superior objective treatment efficacy compared to the monotherapy TAC group (OR 3.45, 95% C.I: [2.22-5.35], I 2=0%, P<0.00001) and monotherapy 5-FU group (OR 4.17, 95% C.I: [2.21-7.87], I 2=0%, P<0.0001). Telangiectasia was less frequent in combination therapy (OR 0.24, 95% CI: [0.11-0.52], I 2=0%, P=0.0003) compared to monotherapy TAC. CONCLUSIONS: Combined intralesional TAC and 5-FU administration demonstrated superior treatment efficacy outcomes compared to monotherapy TAC or 5-FU. Patient-reported outcome measures, lacking here, should be incorporated in the design of future research to justify clinical recommendations.

A Cross-Sectional Study on Inequity and Unmet Needs in Conducting Systematic Reviews (SRMA) and Meta-Analysis Among Medical Students and Junior Doctors.

Background: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses allow a transparent, rigorous, and replicable analysis to summarize the results of multiple related studies and are considered top of the evidence-based medicine study hierarchy. The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on the unmet educational needs of students worldwide, notably those from underprivileged backgrounds. This cross-sectional study aimed to ascertain students' and junior doctors' attitudes on their current knowledge, confidence and preparedness of appraising and conducting systematic reviews and meta-analysis internationally. Methods: A free online webinar was held in May 2021 by the senior author and a pre-event questionnaire was distributed. Responses collected were used for analysis anonymously to ascertain students' knowledge, experience, and confidence in preparing a systematic review and meta-analysis using a 1-5 Likert scale using IBM SPSS 26.0. Associations were examined using Chi-square and crosstabs analysis. Results: Out of 2004 responses from 104 countries included in the analysis, the majority of delegates were from lower middle-income countries and were not familiar with the PRISMA checklist (59.2% and 81.1% respectively of the total number of participants). The majority had never attended any formal training (83%) and felt their medical institute gave them minimal advice (72.5%) in preparing systematic reviews. Among those who had attended formal training, the proportion was significantly higher in those belonging to high and upper middle-income countries combined (20.3%) than lower and lower-middle-income countries combined (15%). Conclusion: This study highlights gaps that need addressing to enhance the knowledge of medical students and junior doctors performing systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Clear disparities are found in country income and the level of education. Future large-scale studies are needed to understand the rationale of working on online research projects and the opportunities available to medical students and junior doctors that may lead to medical curriculum changes.

Sural communicating nerve for application as a vascularized nerve graft: A microneurovascular anatomic study in cadavers.

INTRODUCTION: Sural nerve harvest causes paraesthesia to the lateral heel of the foot, which can debilitate those with already compromised proprioception. To circumvent this, we investigated an alternative donor nerve, branch of the lateral sural nerve complex called the sural communicating nerve (SCoNe), for its harvest and use as a vascularized nerve graft, in cadaver. METHODS: The SCoNe was visualized by dissection in 15 legs from 8 human cadavers and the relationship of the SCoNe to the overall sural nerve complex was documented. The surface markings, dimensions, and the micro-neurovascular anatomy in the super-microsurgery range (up to 0.30 mm) of the SCoNe was recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: SCoNe graft surface marking was confined within a triangle drawn between the fibular head laterally, the popliteal vertical midline medially and the tip of the lateral malleolus inferiorly. The proximal end of the SCoNe was situated at a mean intersection distance of 5 cm from both the fibular head and popliteal midline respectively. The mean length of the SCoNe was 226 ± 43 mm with a mean proximal diameter of 0.82 mm and mean distal diameter of 0.93 mm. In 53% of the cadavers, an arterial input was present in the proximal third of the SCoNe and veins were predominantly (87%) present in the distal third. In 46% and 20% of the 15 legs respectively, there was a nutrient artery and vein perfusing the SCoNe in its central segment. The external mean diameter of this artery was 0.60 ± 0.30 mm, while the vein was slightly larger with a mean diameter of 0.90 ± 0.50 mm. DISCUSSION: SCoNe graft may preserve lateral heel sensation, compared to sural nerve harvest, pending clinical studies. It may have wide applications as a vascularized nerve graft, including being ideal as a vascularized cross-facial nerve graft because its nerve diameter is similar to the distal facial nerve branches. The accompanying artery is a good anastomotic match to the superior labial artery.

Smile Outcomes When Using Masseteric Nerve-based Nerve Transfers versus Direct Muscle Neurotization in Facial Palsy Patients.

When dealing with a weak smile, nerve transfer is a viable strategy. We evaluated outcomes of masseteric nerve to facial nerve transfers and compared them with direct muscle neurotization (DMN). Methods: In a retrospective cohort study of 20 patients (n = 20), we compared nerve transfer versus DMN over a 6-year period (2016-2021). Outcomes were measured using the validated Sunnybrook score, Ackerman Smile Index, and Terzis scores. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon sign rank and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: Comparing pre- versus postoperative scores after nerve transfers, there was a significant improvement in median overall Sunnybrook score (24 versus 47, P = 0.043), lip elevation (1 versus 2, P = 0.046), open mouth smile (1 versus 3, P = 0.003), and Terzis scores (1 versus 3, P = 0.005), with no difference in resting symmetry (-15 versus -5; P = 0.496). Compared with DMN, there was no difference in median Terzis score improvement from preoperative to postoperative state (2 versus 1, P = 0.838), median smile improvement (2 versus 2, P = 0.838), resting symmetry (10 versus 5, P = 0.144) or overall Sunnybrook score (23 versus 21, P = 1.000). Lip elevation improvement was in favor of nerve transfers (1 versus 0, P = 0.047). Conclusions: This is the first study evaluating nerve transfer neurotization of smile-mimetic muscles and comparing the outcomes with DMN, with masseteric nerve as donor. Nerve transfer leads to improved facial mimetic function, smile excursion and open mouth smiles, as does DMN, with improvement in lip elevation in favor of nerve transfer. Nerve transfer was preferred for more severe smile weakness.

MicroSUCI: A Microsurgical Background That Incorporates Suction Under Continuous Irrigation.

The microsurgical anastomosis is integral to the success of autologous-free tissue transfer. Successful performance of this procedure relies strongly on operator dexterity, which can be made more challenging when blood and edematous fluids obscure the field of view. Workflow is impeded by intermittent irrigation and suctioning, necessitating presence of an assistant, with risk of arterial thrombosis, from vessels being drawn into suction drains. To negate these current disadvantages and minimize the barrier of entry to microvascular operations, we designed, manufactured, and patented a novel three-dimensional printed microsurgical background device with microfluidic capabilities that allow continuous suction and irrigation as well as provide platforms that enable multiangle retraction to facilitate operator autonomy. This was validated in an ex vivo model, with the device found to be superior to the current standard. We believe that this will have major applicability to the improvement of microsurgeon.

A Comparison of Outcomes between Finger and Pulp Replantation/Revascularization in a Single Center.

Supermicrosurgery has allowed the replantation/revascularization of the pulp, but how does this currently compare with more proximal digit replantation/revascularization? Methods: In a retrospective case study over a 5-year period at our institute, a total of 21 patients (n = 21) had either finger or pulp replantation-revascularization posttrauma. All pulp replants had a single-vessel anastomosis viz., "artery-to-artery" or "artery-to-vein" only, with venous outflow dependent on the skin-shave technique, while more proximal replants had both arterial and venous anastomoses. Age, sex, ischemic time, handedness, smoker status, and injury-replant interval were compared between the two groups, with all procedures performed by a single surgeon. The outcome parameters studied were length of hospital stay, timeline for wound healing, viability, and functional outcomes. Results: Our patients consisted of 18 men and three women, of which 14.3% were smokers and 85.7% were right-handed. There were 11 finger replantation/revascularizations (n = 11) versus 10 pulp replantation/revascularizations (n = 10). The average age of digit replantation/revascularization patients was 44.8 years compared with 26.4 years in pulp replantation/revascularization patients (Student t test, P = 0.04). Mean ischemia time in digital replants was 67 minutes versus 32.3 minutes in pulp replantation/revascularization (Student t test, P = 0.056). Digital replantation/revascularization was viable in 72% of cases versus a 90% viability in the pulp subcohort. Conclusions: In our patient cohort, pulp replantation/revascularizations produced better postoperative viability. Where supermicrosurgery expertise is available, pulp replantation/revascularization should be considered a worthwhile option when compared with digital replantation/revascularization.

Piezoelectric Osteotomy versus Conventional Osteotomy in Rhinoplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Previous systematic reviews evaluating piezoelectric osteotomy are of critically low quality. We conducted a high-quality systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate outcomes for piezoelectric versus conventional osteotomy. Methods: The study protocol was published a priori (PROSPERO: CRD42021287877). MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and CENTRAL were searched for studies comparing piezoelectric versus conventional osteotomes and reporting at least one outcome of interest (clinical or patient-reported outcomes, PROs). Methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed using GRADE and Cochrane's RoB-2/ROBINS-I tools, respectively. Random effects models were applied. Results: Of 347 articles, 10 studies (nine randomized controlled trials; one prospective cohort study) including 554 patients were included. Piezoelectric osteotomy was associated with significantly reduced edema [standardized mean difference (SMD), -0.67; 95% confidence interval (CI), -1.03 to -0.30; P < 0.0004], ecchymosis (SMD, -0.93; 95% CI, -1.13 to -0.73; P < 0.00001), and pain (SMD, -1.48; 95% CI, -2.07 to -0.88; P < 0.00001) compared with standard osteotomy. Odds of mucosal injury were significantly lower following piezoelectric osteotomy (odds ratio, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.52; P = 0.01). There was no difference in duration of osteotomy (SMD, 3.15; 95% CI, -1.82 to 8.12; P = 0.22) or total procedure duration (SMD, 0.46; 95% CI, -0.43 to 1.36; P = 0.31). One study reported PROs, favoring piezoelectric osteotomy. Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis provides support (albeit weak, due to low-quality evidence) for piezoelectric over conventional osteotomy, for reducing morbidity in the early postoperative period. High-quality level I data reporting PROs will optimize shared decision-making/informed consent.