Is the Anterolateral Thigh Flap the Solution for Orthopedic Trauma Complication Reconstructions?: A Case Series.

The anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap, which can be applied as a free or pedicled flap, is supplied by musculocutaneous or septocutaneous perforators belonging to the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery. Because local or regional flap options that can be used for the reconstruction of large tissue losses in the distal third of the tibia and foot are limited, ALT and other free flaps are frequently used when needed. The aim of this report is to present our experience with and clinical results of free ALT flaps in a tertiary health-care institution. Between June of 2017 and April of 2020, lower extremity reconstruction with free ALT flaps was performed in seven patients. In the preoperative period, dominant perforators were determined in each patient by Doppler ultrasonography, and surgery was planned considering the size and localization of the defect. All the patients were men, with an average age of 41.7 years. Three patients were operated on for implant exposition on the distal-medial third of the tibia after fracture repair, one patient for posttraumatic calcaneal deformity with osteomyelitis, and two patients because of localized posttraumatic tissue loss in the anterior aspect of the tibia and one patient in the dorsum of the foot. Secondary recovery was achieved in two patients and localized linear necrosis was observed at the flap suture line. No infection was observed in the donor or recipient site. In all patients, the donor site was closed primarily and no wound healing problem was encountered. This is one of the primary reconstruction options for the free ALT flap, especially in cases of large tissue losses in which local and/or regional flap alternatives are insufficient.

The Effect of Patient Education Prior to Rhinoplasty Surgery on Anxiety, Pain, and Satisfaction Levels.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of education before rhinoplasty surgery on patients' anxiety, pain, and satisfaction levels. DESIGN: This was a randomized controlled experimental study. METHODS: Of the 90 patients who underwent rhinoplasty surgery at Kayseri City Hospital, Turkey between October 2017 and December 2018, 79 were included in the study. The patients were assigned to an experimental or control group according to a computer-generated randomization list. The experimental group (n = 36) was educated using a rhinoplasty training guide prior to routine plastic surgery procedures. The control group (n = 35) received only routine plastic surgery procedures. A patient identification form, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Care Scale, and Visual Analog Scale were used to collect data. Data analysis included the Shapiro-Wilk normality test, Q-Q plot, two-way analysis of variance, Friedman and Mann-Whitney U tests, and Pearson's chi-square. FINDINGS: In the postoperative period, the mean state anxiety inventory score of the experimental group (36.25 ± 9.78) was found to be significantly lower than that of the control group (42.28 ± 9.42) (P < .05). There was no statistically significant difference between the trait anxiety inventory scores of the experimental (39.63 ± 10.20) and control (38.77 ± 6.16) (P > .05) groups. The mean Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Care Scale score of the experimental group (71.01 ± 14.65) was significantly higher than the control group (62.93 ± 16.36) (P < .05). There was no significant difference between the pain scores of experimental and control groups postoperatively at 6, 12, and 24 hours (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of our study, we conclude that it would be beneficial to educate patients before rhinoplasty surgery in line with their needs and aesthetic concerns.

A four-year community hospital experience regarding procedures for the replantation and revascularization of fingers.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the clinical results and experiences in a community hospital regarding procedures for the replantation and revascularization of fingers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between June 2015 and December 2019, a total of 58 patients (51 males, 7 females; mean age: 33.4±6.3 years; range, 23 to 46 years) who were followed after total and/or subtotal amputation and replantation were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were evaluated at nine months in terms of cold intolerance, static two-point discrimination, and functional results using the range of motion (ROM) and Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire. RESULTS: The majority of the patients presented with work-related injuries (70%), most commonly by the mechanism of guillotine (64%), and to the dominant hand (76%) and the third finger (36%) most frequently. The overall success rate of digit salvage was 72.9% (n=51). Of 19 digits with unsuccessful surgical outcomes, seven were from total and 12 were from subtotal amputations. In the long-term, cold intolerance was observed in 14 patients (24.1%) according to the cold intolerance severity scale. The mean static two-point discrimination value was 6.0±0.7 mm and the mean QuickDASH score was 22.3±5.0. The mean ROM measured at nine months after surgery in the metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints of the third and fourth digits was significantly lower than that in the others (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The predictors of survival of a replanted digit indicated in this study can be used as a guide and decision-making aid for any attempts for replantation.

Delayed Primary Closure of Traumatic Tension Wounds Using Plastic Straps and Kirschner Wires.

Tension of the wound edges should be overcome with precise surgical planning, which is recognized as one of the major contributors to local complications by compromising circulation of the wound edges. In this article, it was aimed to present the clinical results of a surgical technique, in which the plastic straps and Kirschner wires are used for delayed primary closure of traumatic tension wounds. Depending on the assessment of the wound localization, wound dimension, and mobility of adjacent soft tissue, the technique was performed in 9 patients with a male to female ratio of 8:1. Gunshot injury was the leading cause (n = 5), and in most cases, the wounds were located at the lower extremities (n = 6). The mean time between performing the technique and closing the wound primarily and the mean hospitalization time were 4.8 ± 1.1 and 13.5 ± 3.9 days, respectively. In each case, wound closure and healing were achieved successfully without any serious complications. The presented technique provides advantages of using a low cost as well as a very simple equipment, improved and reliable stability during tightening process due to self-locking feature of the plastic straps, no donor site morbidity, short operating time with low rate of post-operative complications, and short hospitalization time. We recommend using this invaluable technique reliably for the treatment of traumatic tension wounds. However, further studies are needed for better evaluation of cosmetic and functional outcomes of the presented technique.

Il faut une planification chirurgicale précise pour éviter la tension au pourtour des plaies, qui est reconnue comme l'un des principaux éléments responsables des complications locales. En effet, la tension compromet la circulation au pourtour des plaies. Dans le présent article, les auteurs ont cherché à présenter les résultats cliniques d'une technique chirurgicale qui fait appel à des bandes de plastique et à des broches de Kirschner pour retarder la fermeture primaire des plaies de tension traumatiques. Compte tenu de l'évaluation du foyer de la plaie, de la dimension de la plaie et de la mobilité des tissus mous adjacents, neuf patients (huit hommes et une femme) ont été soumis à cette technique. Les blessures par balle étaient la principale cause des plaies (n = 5), et dans la plupart des cas, celles-ci étaient situées sur les jambes (n = 6). La période moyenne entre l'exécution de la technique et la fermeture primaire de la plaie était de 4,8 ± 1,1 jours et le séjour hospitalier moyen, de 13,5 ± 3,9 jours. Dans chaque cas, la plaie s'est fermée et a guéri sans complications graves. La technique présentée a l'avantage de faire appel à du matériel peu coûteux et très simple, à assurer une stabilité fiable et plus importante pendant le processus de resserrement grâce à l'autoblocage des bandes de plastique, à éviter la morbidité au site du donneur, ainsi qu'à favoriser une opération de plus courte durée, un faible taux de complications et un court séjour hospitalier. Les auteurs recommandent cette technique inestimable pour traiter les plaies de tension traumatiques. Il faudra toutefois mener des études plus approfondies pour mieux en évaluer les résultats esthétiques et fonctionnels.

Use of infragluteal folds as a full-thickness skin graft donor site for construction of the neovagina in cases of Mullerian agenesis.

AIM: The aims of this study were to present the results of using infragluteal folds as a skin graft donor site in cases of Mullerian agenesis undergoing full-thickness skin graft vaginoplasty and to evaluate the outcomes of the surgical technique. METHODS: Demographics and clinical parameters of 24 consecutive Mullerian agenesis patients refusing any dilatational procedure and undergoing neovaginal construction using infragluteal folds skin grafts from May 2004 to July 2015 were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 21.5 ± 5.7 years. Five patients had nonfunctional rudimentary uterus, one patient had unilateral ovarian agenesis, one patient had unilateral renal agenesis, and one had undergone a previous vaginoplasty. There were no serious complications needing surgical or medical intervention. The depth of the neovagina in patients with a follow-up period of more than 6 months (n = 17) varied from 7 to 12 cm. Of these patients, the sexually active ones (n = 8) did not complain of dyspareunia or vaginal dryness during sexual intercourse. The resulting scars were satisfactory and acceptable for all patients. CONCLUSION: It has been our practice to use infragluteal folds as a skin graft donor site for full-thickness skin graft vaginoplasty. We believe that the results of this study demonstrate that this area is versatile and an excellent alternative to the groins and lower abdomen. Further clinical and histomorphological investigations are necessary for strong statements and results.

Correcting Concavity of Rabbit Auricular Cartilage: Comparison of Single Scoring Incisions with Butyl Cyanoacrylate-Aided Techniques.

BACKGROUND: The authors present the results of an experimental study in which four different techniques were used for the correction of concave rabbit auricular cartilage. METHODS: Sixteen New Zealand adult male rabbits were used in the study. Butyl cyanoacrylate-aided cartilage graft fixation and butyl cyanoacrylate-aided bone graft fixation and scoring technique, alone or combined with butyl cyanoacrylate application, were performed to correct the concavity of rabbit auricular cartilage. RESULTS: Angle measurements showed that all four techniques were efficient for correction of the cartilage concavities. However, the mean postsacrifice angles of the graft fixation groups were significantly higher than those of the other study groups, reflecting the fact that graft fixation with butyl cyanoacrylate application was more efficient for preserving the final cartilage shape. Furthermore, in the ninth month, graft fixation groups had the lowest chondrocyte densities, the highest degree of inflammation, the highest degree of foreign body reaction, and the highest butyl cyanoacrylate density. CONCLUSIONS: Fibrosis or chondrocyte proliferation on scoring incision lines is not an associated feature of this technique. When the incision depths were standardized, the scoring technique provided efficacy similar to that of the scoring incisions combined with butyl cyanoacrylate application for correction of the cartilage concavity. The scoring incision plus butyl cyanoacrylate group showed less toxicity than the graft fixation groups because of rapid removal of toxic breakdown products. Graft fixation techniques were superior to other corrective procedures with regard to preservation of the final cartilage shape. Although they resulted in greater toxicity, the cartilage correction was not affected unfavorably.

Superiorly based nasolabial island flap for reconstruction of the lateral lower eyelid

Background/aim: Various flap procedures have been described and used for the lower eyelids; however, the nasolabial flap is rarely employed. We herein aimed to present the clinical results of using the superiorly based nasolabial island flap for repair of surgical defects extending to the lateral lower eyelid. Materials and methods: Nine patients with a mean age of 62 +- 6 years underwent surgery for reconstruction of the lower eyelid.Results: The diagnosis of lesions was nodular basal-cell carcinoma (n = 5), superficial basal-cell carcinoma (n = 1), well-differentiated squamous-cell carcinoma (n = 1), and basosquamous-cell carcinoma (n = 2). According to the classification reported by Spinelli and Jelks, 6 surgical defects were located at zones II and IV, while 3 were at zones II and V. Five patients required posterior lamellar reconstruction. Lagopthalmos (n = 1), ectropion (n = 1), and transient numbness of the ipsilateral upper lip (n = 1) were noted as postoperative complications. Conclusion: Despite the low number of patients, the present series demonstrated that lower eyelid defects involving zone IV or zone V can be repaired safely and reliably with the superiorly based nasolabial island flap, along with its use shown in the literature for zone II or zone III defects. The technique for raising the flap is fairly simple, with predictable surgical results. In addition, the superiorly based nasolabial island flap provides a reliable means of obtaining good wound healing with acceptable aesthetics, as well as functional results of both the donor site and reconstructed area.

Steel Wool-Aided Dermabrasion of Deep Partial-Thickness Burns.

Early tangential excision of the burn wound is essential for removal of necrotic tissue and promotion of burn wound healing process. However, the depth of the burn wound is not easily assessed during the tangential excision performed by hand-held dermatomes, and it may be possible to excise unburned vital dermis unnecessarily, which aids in primary epithelization of the burn wound by adnexal structures. We herein present early clinical results of steel wool-aided dermabrasion in patients with deep partial-thickness burns. This is a retrospective case study of 23 consecutive hospitalized patients with deep partial-thickness burns. All of the steel wool-aided dermabrasions were performed under general anesthesia within 48 hours after injury. Patients were excluded from the study if the admission was not within 24 hours after injury, and if the burn wound was entirely superficial partial- or full-thickness. Thirteen male and 10 female patients with a mean age of 26.2 ± 17.1 years were enrolled in the study. During the follow-up period, all of the patients had burn wounds primary epithelized on postburn day 15.1 ± 1.8, without any complications. None of the patients exhibited a mortal course, and redebridement or skin grafting of the previously dermabraded deep partial-thickness burn wounds were not required in any of the patients. Steel wool-aided dermabrasion is an easy, cost-effective, and reliable technique for the treatment of deep partial-thickness burns, which provides complete removal of necrotic tissue, preserves the vital dermis, reduces the requirement for skin grafting, and decreases length of hospital stay.

A Practical Technique for Reduction of the Bony Nasal Dorsum Height Using Kazanjian Bone-Cutting Forceps.

BACKGROUND: Resection of the nasal hump is one of the most critical steps of the rhinoplasty procedure, which is quite prone to complications when performed improperly or inappropriately. In this article, a practical, facile and minimally traumatic hump resection technique using Kazanjian bone-cutting forceps is presented with excellent cosmetic and functional results. METHODS: Fifty-seven consecutive primary (septo-)rhinoplasty patients with wide nasal bases, and various sizes of nasal humps, were enrolled in the study. Following reduction of the cartilaginous dorsum height, L-strut shaping of the septum, and septoplasty procedures, Kazanjian bone-cutting forceps were used for resection of the bony nasal hump. Lateral osteotomies were then performed, and the surgery was completed following insertion of the structural grafts, tip procedures and turbinate surgery. A computer software was used to measure the nasal hump. The "Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation" questionnaire was used to evaluate patient satisfaction 12 months after the operation. RESULTS: The technique presented here was performed on 19 male and 38 female patients with a mean age of 24.95 ± 6.07 years. The mean height of the nasal hump was 4.65 ± 1.56 mm. No patient had complications requiring further corrective surgery. The "Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation" questionnaire showed that all patients remained in the group of happy subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term patient satisfaction indicates that the proposed technique could be used as an alternative procedure to other hump resection techniques. The technique described is an effective, reliable and atraumatic method of resection of any size nasal hump. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: 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 http://www.springer.com/00266 .

K-wire assisted split-thickness skin graft harvesting from the anterior trunk.

Split thickness skin graft (STSG) harvesting from the anterior chest and abdominal wall skin is quite a difficult process. The main reason for the difficulty to perform this process is the unsuitable anatomic characteristics of the anterior trunk, such as irregular wavy-like surface over the ribs and lax abdominal wall skin resulting in collapse due to lack of adequate underneath supporting structures when a downward force is applied by the skin graft dermatome. Lower extremity and especially the thigh are generally chosen as the donor site where the STSGs are easily harvested from. However, extensive lower extremity burns, with or without other region burns, preclude harvesting auto STSGs from this invaluable anatomic site. We harvested K-wire assisted STSGs from the anterior chest and abdominal wall skin of 7 patients with lower extremity burns and also a patient that sustained motor vehicle collision. We encountered no problems in any of our patients both intra and postoperatively by using K-wire assisted STSG harvesting. All of the STSGs donor sites healed uneventfully without complications. In our opinion, K-wire assisted STSG harvesting must always be in the tool-box of any surgeon who deals with extensive burns with or without lower extremity burns and extensive traumas of lower extremities.

Experience of 80 cases with Fournier's gangrene and "trauma" as a trigger factor in the etiopathogenesis.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to retrospectively analyze the patients' data presented with Fournier's gangrene (FG), to compare obtained data with the literature and to investigate the role of "trauma" in the etiopathogenesis. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 126 patients with FG that consulted to our department. RESULTS: There were 76 male and four female patients. The mean age of the patients was 53.5±13.6 years. The most common presentation of patients was swelling (n=74). The scrotum has been shown to be the most commonly affected area in the patients (n=75). Diabetes mellitus was the leading predisposing factor and trauma was the leading responsible cause for FG. Escherichia coli was the most frequently identified microorganism (n=43, 53.75%). Primary closure was the most common technique used for all patients. Three patients exhibited a mortal course due to sepsis and multi-organ failure. CONCLUSION: FG still has a high mortality rate. Rapid and correct diagnosis of the disease can avoid inappropriate or delayed treatment and even death of the patient. The healthcare professionals should be aware that any trauma in the perineal region could lead to FG.

Retrospective analysis of burn injuries caused by hot milk in 159 pediatric patients: 14 years of experience in a burn unit.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the hot milk burns among the pediatric patients and to compare our experiences with similar studies in the literature. METHODS: A 14-year retrospective study was conducted on 159 pediatric patients with hot milk burn who hospitalized at the Burn Unit of Erciyes University Medical Faculty. RESULTS: There were 81 male and 78 female patients with a male to female ratio of 1.03:1. The mean age of the patients was 2.7±1.6 years. The initial injury was immersion in 59.7% of the patients and spillage in 40.3%. The mean burned body surface area of the patients was 18.6±10.8%. Twenty-two percent of the patients had moderate, and 78% had major burn trauma. Forty-nine percent of the patients received burn wound debridement and reconstruction with auto-skin grafts. Our burn unit's mortality rate was 1.5% among 542 pediatric patients with hot water, and 5.6% among 159 pediatric patients with hot milk burn during the same period, respectively. CONCLUSION: Hot milk burns should be considered as separately from other hot liquid burns which do not contain fat such as water, tea, and coffee. Physical and chemical properties of milk because of its high content of fat give rise to more tissue destruction, increased morbidity and mortality.

Fractures of the mandible: a 20-year retrospective analysis of 753 patients.

BACKGROUND: The craniofacial region is one of the most frequently injured parts of the body, and mandibular fracture is one of the commonest facial skeletal injuries. The most frequent causes of mandibular fractures are the traumas related to traffic accidents, falls, interpersonal violence, and sports activities, etc. METHODS: Seven hundred fifty-three cases (615 male, 138 female; megan age 36.2 years) (age >16) with mandibular fracture were evaluated retrospectively. Patient records were examined in terms of age, sex, etiology, seasonal variation, fracture localization, accompanying traumas, treatment modality, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Traffic accidents were the most common etiologic cause in all age groups and both sexes. All cases had a total of 1090 fractures, and the most common fracture localization was the parasymphysis (28.6%), followed by the condyle, corpus, angulus, symphysis, dentoalveolar process, ramus, and coronoid process, respectively. In 25 (3.3%) patients with fissure-like, non-displaced fracture, only symptomatic treatment was applied. Closed reduction with elastic bandage, arch bar, quick-fix screws or Ivy Loop was the only method performed in 280 (37.2%) patients. Osteosynthesis by open reduction and internal fixation (miniplates, screws or transosseous wiring) was performed in 403 (53.5%) patients; closed reduction techniques were also performed in 134 of these patients. CONCLUSION: In the recent years, double-road constructions, increased traffic audits and regulation of the traffic rules decreased the incidence of mandibular fractures.

Risk factors for nosocomial infection and mortality in burn patients: 10 years of experience at a university hospital.

To evaluate the risk factors for nosocomial infection (NI) and mortality in a university hospital, 10-year data of burn patients were assessed retrospectively. The study was conducted at Erciyes University's Burn Center during 2000 and 2009. The records of 1190 patients were obtained. Overall, 131 (11%) patients had 206 NIs with an incidence density of 14.7 infections/1000 patient days. Burn wound infection (n = 109, 53%) was the most common NI. High (%TBSA burned) and late excision were found to be the most significant risk factors for the development of NI. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequent causative microorganism. However, the prevalence of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii has increased in recent years with a prevalence of 47% in 2009. The carbapenem resistance of P. aeruginosa has decreased in recent years, whereas that of A. baumannii increased and it had a prevalence of 94% in the last year. Conversely, the most important risk factors for mortality were advanced age, high %TBSA and having an underlying disease. Prevention of NI is an important issue in burn units to reduce mortality rates. Early excision and wound closure are important therapeutic approaches for the prevention of burn wound infection.

Application of split-thickness dermal grafts in deep partial- and full-thickness burns: a new source of auto-skin grafting.

Early tangential excision of nonviable burn tissue, followed by immediate skin grafting with autograft or allograft, has resulted in the improvement of burn patient survival. The aim of this study was to add split-thickness dermal grafts (STDGs) as a new source of auto-skin grafting tool to our reconstructive armamentarium in deep partial- and full-thickness burns and soft tissue defects. The authors successfully applied STDGs along with split-thickness skin grafts as a new source of auto-skin grafting in 11 deep partial- and full-thickness burns over a period of 1 year without any significant donor site morbidity. Dermal graft take was complete in all but one patient. There was no donor site healing problem, and donor site epithelization was completed generally 1 week later than split-thickness skin graft by semi-open technique. Autologous split-thickness skin grafting still remains the standard therapy for burn wound closure but may be in limited availability in severe burns. The authors conclude that STDGs may be a new source of auto-skin grafting tool in extensive deep partial- and full-thickness burns.