The Vascularized Medial Femoral Corticoperiosteal Flap for Thumb Reconstruction.

We present an interesting method of shaping a vascularized medial femoral condyle (MFC) flap into a "neophalanx" for phalangeal reconstruction. Our patient presented with limited strength and function secondary to fracture nonunion of the proximal phalanx of the dominant thumb. Following excision of the pseudarthrosis, an MFC corticoperiosteal flap was harvested, sculpted into a prism shape and inset. The superomedial genicular pedicle was anastomosed to the princeps pollicis artery and a cephalic tributary. On follow-up, new bone growth was seen on radiographs and the patient had substantially improved function, with full metacarpophalangeal extension, a Kapandji score of 9, and a markedly reduced Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score of 2.68. The MFC flap is useful for reconstruction of bony defects, with minimal donor morbidity. This versatile vascularized flap can be crafted to requisite shapes and is useful for small defects in the hand, including phalangeal reconstruction.

A Simple Algorithm for Immediate Postmastectomy Reconstruction of the Small Breast-A Single Surgeon's 10-Year Experience.

INTRODUCTION: Immediate small breast reconstruction poses challenges including limited potential donor site tissues, a thinner skin envelope, and limited implant choice. Few patients are suitable for autologous reconstruction while contralateral symmetrization surgery that often offsets the problem of obvious asymmetry in thin and small-breasted patients is often unavailable, too expensive, or declined by the patient. METHODS: We reviewed 42 consecutive patients with mastectomy weights of 350 g or less (the lowest quartile of all reconstructions). Indications for the mastectomy, body mass index, bra cup size, comorbidity, reconstruction type, and complications were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 59 immediate reconstructions, including 25 latissimus dorsi flaps, 23 implant-only reconstructions, 9 abdominal flaps, and 2 gluteal flaps, were performed in 42 patients. Of the 42 mastectomies, 4 were prophylactic. Forty-three percent of patients had immediate contralateral balancing surgery. The average mastectomy weight was 231 g (range, 74-350 g). Seven percent of implant-based reconstructions developed capsular contracture requiring further surgery. One free transverse rectus abdominus myocutaneous flap failed because of fulminant methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus septicaemia. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Balancing contralateral surgery is key in achieving excellent symmetry in reconstruction small-breasted patients. However, many patients wish to avoid contralateral surgery, thus restricting a surgeon's reconstructive options. Autologous flaps, traditionally, had not been considered in thinner women because of inadequacy of donor site tissue, but in fact, often, as with larger-breasted patients, produce superior cosmetic results. We propose a simple algorithm for the reconstruction of small-breasted women (without resorting to super-complex microsurgery), which is designed to tailor the choice of reconstructive technique to the requirements of the individual patient.

Immediate microvascular breast reconstruction after neoadjuvant chemotherapy: complication rates and effect on start of adjuvant treatment.

BACKGROUND: The effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on immediate microvascular breast reconstruction is of concern because any complication might delay adjuvant treatment. We sought to determine whether the complication rate is increased and whether the interval between surgery and subsequent treatment is delayed compared with patients without neoadjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: Complication rates and interval from surgery until adjuvant treatment of patients with mastectomy for locally advanced breast cancer followed by immediate microvascular breast reconstruction (deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap, transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap, superior gluteal artery perforator (SGAP) flap, transverse musculocutaneous gracilis (TMG) flap, or superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) flap) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were compared with those of patients who underwent immediate breast reconstruction without neoadjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients with locally advanced breast cancers who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy before mastectomy and immediate microvascular reconstruction and 52 patients without neoadjuvant chemotherapy were identified. 36% of patients with neoadjuvant chemotherapy had one or more complications compared with 29% of patients without previous chemotherapy, but this difference was not statistically significant. The occurrence of complications in patients with neoadjuvant chemotherapy did not result in a delayed start of adjuvant treatment compared with patients without complications after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (43.6 vs. 44.6 days). CONCLUSIONS: Immediate microvascular breast reconstruction after neoadjuvant chemotherapy does not result in an increased complication rate or delay the start of adjuvant treatment even if complications occur and therefore can be performed safely in patients with locally advanced breast cancer.