Preserving the Nipple Projection in Breast Reduction with the Free Nipple-Areolar Graft Technique: Purse-String Suture.

BACKGROUND: Breast reduction with the free nipple-areolar graft (FNG) technique has disadvantages such as loss of nipple projection, loss of nipple sensation, and depigmentation of the nipple-areolar complex. In this study, patients in whom a purse-string (PS) suture was used in the center of the de-epithelialized area to prevent loss of nipple projection were compared with patients who underwent the conventional method. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the patients who underwent breast reduction with the FNG was conducted in our department. Patients were divided into two groups according to the FNG placement. In the PS suture method group, a 1-cm-diameter circumferential suture was placed with a 5-0 Monocryl® (poliglecaprone 25) suture to gain a 6-mm-nipple projection. In the conventional method group, the FNG was placed directly over the de-epithelized area. Graft viability was evaluated after 3 weeks postoperatively. The final nipple projection and depigmentation were evaluated after 6 months postoperatively. The results were evaluated with statistical tests. RESULTS: The number of patients with the conventional method was 10, and the PS suture method was 12. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups regarding graft loss and depigmentation (p > 0.05). Nipple projection was significantly higher in the PS method group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We observed that PS circumferential suture made an acceptable nipple projection compared to the conventional method in breast reduction with the FNG technique. Since the method is easy to apply and has relatively low risk, it would contribute to clinical practice. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: 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 .

Pronator quadratus musculo-osseous free flap for wide hard palatal defect reconstruction: An anatomical study.

Wide hard palate defects include congenital and acquired defects that are six square centimeters or larger in size. Obturator prostheses and autologous soft tissue transfers have been used to reconstruct palatal defects. This study aims to repair wide, hard palatal defects by using a pronator quadratus musculo-osseous free flap to achieve subtotal reconstruction. Seventeen formalin-fixed cadavers were dissected. Free musculo-osseous pronator quadratus flaps were prepared after a 12 cm curvilinear volar skin incision. Standard 30 × 23 mm (690 ± 52.12 mm2) hard palate defects were made by chisels and saws. A subcutaneous tunnel was created between the mandibular edge cross point of the facial vessels and the retromolar trigone through the subcutaneous to the superficial musculoaponeurotic system by dissection. Area measurements of the pedicle and palate defects were performed by the ImageJ program (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA) on drawings over an acetate layer of materials. Mandibular distances of gonion-facial vessel cross point (a), gonion-gnathion (m), and facial vessels' cross point-retromolar entrance point (h) were measured. Ratios of h/m and a/m were calculated. The mean pronator quadratus area was 2349.39 ± 444.05 mm2, and the arterial pedicle pronator quadratus diameter was 2.32 ± 0.34 mm. The mean pedicle length of the pronator quadratus was 117.13 ± 8.10 mm. Study results showed that musculo-osseous pronator quadratus flaps' bone and muscle parts perfectly fit on the defects in all cadavers. Pronator quadratus musculo-osseous flap is a feasible surgical option for wide, hard palatal defect reconstruction strategies.

Neurovascular anatomy of pronator quadratus for reanimation of blepharoptosis.

PURPOSE: Pronator quadratus (PQ) is a quadrilateral muscle on a volar distal side of the forearm. The purpose of this study was to establish a novel surgical technique for reanimation of the upper eyelid for severe ptosis using PQ functional free muscle flap. METHODS: The current study is a cadaveric study, designed to assess a PQ free flap transfer that lies between the frontalis muscle and the upper eyelid. Fourteen PQ from fourteen embalmed cadavers were dissected, and their neurovascular pedicles were isolated. Then they were transferred to the area on the contralateral side between the frontalis muscle and upper eyelid tarsal cartilage. Measurements of the PQ flap, antebrachial region, orbitofrontal region, recipient vessels, and motor nerve were performed using a caliper. The extendibility of neurovascular pedicles was evaluated by measurements of lengths. In addition, the diameter of PQ flap vascular pedicle vessels was compared with recipient vessels. RESULTS: The mean width of the proximal border of PQ was 41.92 ± 2.05 mm and the distal border of the PQ was 42.84 ± 4.04 mm. The mean PQ artery (type II, Mathes-Nahai flap classification) length was found to be 117.72 ± 7.77 mm. The mean diameter of the anterior interosseous nerve was 1.89 ± 0.08 mm. The mean diameter of the uppermost branch of the frontal branch of the facial nerve was 1.18 ± 0.25 mm. The length and diameter of neurovascular pedicles of muscle flaps were adequate for microvascular anastomoses and neurorrhaphy. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this anatomical study demonstrate that the PQ free flap transfer has anatomical features that are suitable and compatible with the surgical treatment of blepharoptosis.