The Use of Absorbable Mesh in Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction: A 7-Year Review.

BACKGROUND: Breast reconstruction is most frequently performed using implants or expanders. Adjunctive materials such as acellular dermal matrix and synthetic meshes are used to support the implant or expander. A paucity of large studies exist on the use of synthetic mesh for breast reconstruction. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all patients over the past 7 years who had implant reconstruction with synthetic absorbable mesh at the Massachusetts General Hospital was performed. Data were collected on demographic and surgical outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: A total of 227 patients (376 mastectomies) were treated with direct-to-implant subpectoral reconstruction with absorbable mesh from 2011 to 2017. The infection rate was 2.1 percent. The rate of capsular contracture was 4.8 percent. Patients who had radiation therapy either preoperatively or postoperatively had a higher rate of complications, including capsular contracture. Cost savings for using mesh instead of acellular dermal matrix surpassed $1.2 million. CONCLUSION: Synthetic absorbable mesh is a safe alternative to acellular dermal matrix in prosthetic breast reconstruction and provides stable results along with significant cost savings. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

Hip Asymmetry: Implications in Body Contouring Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Asymmetry of the hips and its implication in body contouring procedures has not yet been reported. Hip asymmetry is common in the general population and may account for uneven abdominoplasty scar and the apparent discrepancies in volume following liposuction of the hips and flanks. The goal of this study was to determine the presence of hip asymmetry in women presenting for abdominal contouring surgery. METHODS: Analysis of preoperative photographs of 100 female patients was performed by three independent plastic surgeons. They were asked to evaluate for hip asymmetry and, when present, determine which side was higher. Adobe Photoshop was also used to objectively measure hip asymmetry. Patients were women with no known history of hip abnormalities; age ranged from 17 to 64 years and the body mass index ranged from 16 to 47 kg/m(2). RESULTS: All three plastic surgeon reviewers found that the majority of patients had hip asymmetry, with raters 1, 2, and 3 documenting discrepancies in hip height in 88, 60, and 76 percent of patients, respectively. The interrater reliability was 0.713. Chi-square statistical analysis suggested that the raters were not statistically different from one another (p = 0.086). The objective analysis found asymmetry in 82 percent of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that the majority of patients who present for abdominal contouring surgery have asymmetric hips. Patients are usually unaware of the unevenness of their own hips; however, they often notice postoperative discrepancies in scar height after abdominoplasty or volume differences after liposuction.

Patient Evaluation and Surgical Staging.

Comprehensive evaluation of the massive-weight-loss patient is a key factor to minimize complications while optimizing surgical outcomes. Special attention is given to medical and weight loss history, nutritional status, and physical examination. Massive-weight-loss patients often present with multiple areas of concern and therefore benefit from staged procedures. Staging requires knowledge on how the tissues are affected by each procedure and an understanding of the patient's priorities and goals.

Dynamic Cleft Maxillary Orthopedics and Periosteoplasty.

In 1985 this cleft team, dissatisfied with the treatment and results from cleft lip and palate repair, began a longitudinal long-term study using dynamic maxillary orthopedics and periosteoplasty as was originally described by Drs Millard and Latham. All cases were carefully documented through adolescence, including clinical assessments, orthodontic, radiographic, and cephalometric analyses. In 1998, in this journal, we published our data on 35 complete unilateral and 10 complete bilateral cleft patients. At that time facial growth was following normal cephalometric patterns. Crossbites were dental and treated with orthodontics. There was radiologic evidence of bone within the alveolus with elimination of the oronasal fistula, and facial aesthetics revealed soft faded scars and balanced noses.That publication was a preliminary study with the intent to provide long-term results when full facial growth was achieved. This article reports on 25 patients from the initial cohort (20 unilateral and 5 bilateral) that we were able to closely follow up for 25 years, with the same clinical team, making it the longest study of its kind.At this stage, data revealed continued growth of the midface both vertically and horizontally. Secondary alveolar cleft bone grafting when required was in small aliquots placed into well-healed tissue, and orthodontic movement of teeth was through a consolidated alveolus. Orthognathic procedures were performed in 2 of 5 bilateral and 0 of 20 unilateral cases.We concluded that in this cohort, dynamic maxillary orthopedics and periosteoplasty, despite controversy in the literature, did not negatively impact facial growth and provided the benefit of early structural normalization and social integration by consolidation of the maxilla, closure of the oronasal fistula, tension free closure of the lip, and by balancing the nose.