Synergistic clinical application of synthetic electrospun fiber wound matrix in the management of a complex traumatic wound: degloving left groin and thigh auger injury.

BACKGROUND: Managing complex traumatic soft tissue wounds involving a large surface area while attempting to optimize healing, avoid infection, and promote favorable cosmetic outcomes is challenging. Regenerative materials such as ECMs are typically used in wound care to enhance the wound healing response and proliferative phase of tissue formation. CASE REPORT: The case reported herein is an example of the efficacious use of an SEFM in the surgical management of a large complex traumatic wound involving the left lower extremity and lower abdominal region. The wound bed was successfully prepared for skin grafting over an area of 1200 cm2, making this among the largest applications of the SEFM reported in the literature. CONCLUSION: This case report demonstrates the clinical versatility of the SEFM and a synergistic approach to complex traumatic wound care. The SEFM was successfully used to achieve tissue granulation for a successful skin graft across a large surface in an anatomic region with complex topography.

Evaluating micronized adipose tissue niche and artificial dermis grafts following nonmelanoma skin cancer excision: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Recently, micronized adipose tissue (MAT) grafts have shown promising results in wound healing, including diabetic ulcers. OBJECTIVE: To assess the possibility of using 3D printed MAT niche grafts in the management of skin and soft tissue defects resulting from non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) resections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective feasibility study was conducted on patients with skin and soft tissue defects resulting from NMSC resections. Twenty-one patients were treated using either artificial dermis (n = 11) or MAT niche (n = 10) grafting. Healing time and POSAS scores were compared. The Mann-Whitney U test and the Pearson chi-square test were used in statistical analysis to compare between and within groups based on preoperative and postoperative measurements. RESULTS: Wounds in the MAT niche group reepithelialized significantly faster than those in the artificial dermis group (mean [SD] 39.2 [11.4] days vs 63.7 [34.8] days; P = .04). In the 21 scar parameters evaluated, the MAT niche group demonstrated significantly superior outcomes in only 2 parameters based on operator assessment scores: relief (mean [SD] 1.6 [0.7] vs 2.2 [0.6]; P = .047) and scar contracture (mean [SD] 1.3 [0.5] vs 2.5 [1.0]; P = .011). CONCLUSION: This study proves the feasibility of exploring the effects of MAT niche grafting following NMSC excision on healing time and specific parameters of scarring, including scar relief and scar contracture.

Application of Human Acellular Dermal Matrix with Skin Graft for Lacunar Soft-Tissue Defect of Lateral Heel after Calcaneal Fracture.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of human acellular dermal matrix (HADM) combined with split-thickness skin graft in repairing lacunar soft tissue defects of the lateral heel after calcaneal fracture. METHODS: From June 2018 to October 2020, providers repaired 11 cases of lacunar soft tissue defects at the lateral part of the heel using HADM combined with split-thickness skin graft. After thorough debridement, the HADM was trimmed and filled into the lacunar defect area. Once the wound was covered, a split-thickness skin graft and negative-pressure wound therapy were applied. Providers evaluated the appearance, scar, ductility of the skin graft site, appearance of the donor site, healing time, and any reoperation at follow-up. RESULTS: Of the 11 cases, 8 patients achieved successful wound healing by primary intention. Three patients showed partial necrosis in the edge of the skin graft, but the wound healed after standard wound care. Evaluation at 6 and 12 months after surgery showed that all patients had wound healing and mild local scarring; there was no obvious pigmentation or scar formation in the donor skin area. The average healing time was 37.5 days (range, 24-43 days). CONCLUSIONS: The HADM combined with split-thickness skin graft is a simple and effective reconstruction method for lacunar soft tissue defect of the lateral heel after calcaneal fracture. In this small sample, the combination demonstrated few infections, minor scar formation, few donor site complications, and relatively short hospital stays.

Limited debridement combined with ReCell® Techniques for deep second-degree burns.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this article is to introduce a method that combines limited debridement and ReCell® autologous cell regeneration techniques for the treatment of deep second-degree burn wounds. METHOD: A total of 20 patients suffered with deep second-degree burns less than 10% of total body surface area (TBSA) who were admitted to our department, from June 2019 to June 2021, participated in this study. These patients first underwent limited debridement with an electric/pneumatic dermatome, followed by the ReCell® technique for secondary wounds. Routine treatment was applied to prevent scarring after the wound healed. Clinical outcomes were scored using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). RESULTS: All wounds of the patients healed completely. One patient developed an infection in the skin graft area and finally recovered by routine dressing changes. The average healing time was 12 days (range: 10-15 days). The new skin in the treated area was soft and matched the colour of the surrounding normal skin and the VSS score ranged from 3~5 for each patient. Of the 20 patients, 19 were very satisfied and 1 was satisfied. CONCLUSIONS: This article reports a useful treatment method that combines electric dermatome-dependent limited debridement and the ReCell® technique for the treatment of deep second-degree burn wounds. It is a feasible and effective strategy that is easy to implement and minimally invasive, and it is associated with a short healing time, mild scar formation and little damage to the donor skin area.

Biomarkers from subcutaneous engineered tissues predict acute rejection of organ allografts.

Invasive graft biopsies assess the efficacy of immunosuppression through lagging indicators of transplant rejection. We report on a microporous scaffold implant as a minimally invasive immunological niche to assay rejection before graft injury. Adoptive transfer of T cells into Rag2-/- mice with mismatched allografts induced acute cellular allograft rejection (ACAR), with subsequent validation in wild-type animals. Following murine heart or skin transplantation, scaffold implants accumulate predominantly innate immune cells. The scaffold enables frequent biopsy, and gene expression analyses identified biomarkers of ACAR before clinical signs of graft injury. This gene signature distinguishes ACAR and immunodeficient respiratory infection before injury onset, indicating the specificity of the biomarkers to differentiate ACAR from other inflammatory insult. Overall, this implantable scaffold enables remote evaluation of the early risk of rejection, which could potentially be used to reduce the frequency of routine graft biopsy, reduce toxicities by personalizing immunosuppression, and prolong transplant life.

[Application of three-dimensional ultrasound technique in repairing dorsal foot wounds with medial sural artery perforator flaps].

Objective: To investigate the accuracy of positioning perforator of medial sural artery with three-dimensional ultrasound technique guided by a wide band linear matrix array volume transducer probe before operation, and the effectiveness of the flap design based on this in repairing the dorsal foot wounds. Methods: Between January 2019 and December 2022, 30 patients with skin and soft tissue defects of the dorsal foot were treated. There were 19 males and 11 females, with an average age of 43.9 years (range, 22-63 years). There were 12 cases of traffic accident injury, 15 cases of heavy crushing injury, and 3 cases of machine injury. The time from injury to hospitalization was 1-8 hours (mean, 3.5 hours). The wounds in size of 5 cm×3 cm to 17 cm×5 cm were thorough debrided and covered with vacuum sealing drainage dressing. Then the wounds were repaired with the medial sural artery perforator flaps after no obvious infection observed. To obtain the complete three-dimensional image, the number and position of the medial sural artery perforator branches and the position of the main blood vessels in the muscle were detected and recorded by wide band linear matrix array volume transducer probe before operation. Suitable perforating branches were selected to design the flap and guide the flap incision on this basis. The size of the perforating flap ranged from 6 cm×4 cm to 18 cm×6 cm. The sensitivity and positive predictive value were calculated by comparing preoperative exploration with intraoperative observation of perforating branches, so as to evaluate the positioning accuracy of three-dimensional ultrasound technique. The donor sites were sutured directly in 25 cases and repaired with free skin grafting in 5 cases. Results: The 60 perforating branches of medial sural artery were found before operation and 58 during operation in 30 patients. Among them, pre- and intra-operative perforations were consistent with 56. The sensitivity was 93.3% and positive predictive value was 96.6%. The intramuscular position and route of the main blood vessels were basically consistent with the pre- and intra-operative observation. All flaps survived and wounds healed by first intention. All incisions at the donor sites healed by first intention, and all skin grafts survived. All patients were follow up 9-24 months (mean, 14.7 months). The appearance, color, and texture of the flaps were good, and no obvious effect on wearing shoes and walking. At last follow-up, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hind score ranged from 80 to 92, with an average of 87.5. The patient satisfaction was excellent in 29 cases and good in 1 case. Conclusion: The three-dimensional ultrasound technique guided by the wide band linear matrix array volume transducer probe can accurately locate the perforating branch of the medial sural artery, and the three-dimensional imaging is more intuitive, which can be used to guide the design and incision of the medial sural artery perforator flap.

The Application of "Table Tennis Racquet" Random Skin Flap in the Treatment of Facial Skin Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The repair of facial skin and soft tissue defects remains a clinical challenge. The author introduced a novel "table tennis racquet" random skin flap for wound repair after facial skin cancer excision and discussed its survival mechanisms. METHODS: A lateral mandibular neck skin flap shaped like a table tennis racquet with no well-known blood vessels at the narrow pedicle was designed in 31 cases to repair tissue defects. Among them, there were 8 cases of skin carcinoma in the frontotemporal area and 23 cases of skin carcinoma in the cheek. The flap area was 8.0 × 7.0 cm at maximum and 3.0 × 2.5 cm at minimum, with a pedicle width of 1.0-2.0 cm and a pedicle length of 2.0-6.0 cm. RESULTS: All 31 "table tennis racquet" random skin flaps survived, although there were 3 cases with delayed healing of distal flap bruising. All of them had an ideal local shape after repair with a concealed donor area and inconspicuous scars. CONCLUSIONS: This flap has a "table tennis racquet" shape with a pedicle without well-known blood vessels and has a length-to-width ratio that exceeds that of conventional random flaps, making it unconventional. Because of its long and narrow pedicle, it not only has a large rotation and coverage area but also can be designed away from the defect area, avoiding the defect of no donor tissue being localized near the defect. Overall, this approach is an ideal option for repairing tissue defects after enlarged excision of facial skin carcinoma.

Combining the Tunnel Orbicularis Oculi Muscle Flap Technique With Skin Grafting for Enhanced Adhesion in Burn-Induced Ectropion Repair.

PURPOSE: Scar contracture of the eyelid following facial burns often has adverse consequences. Total cicatricial contracture often makes adjustment flap translation challenging to implement. Previously used upper and lower eyelid adhesion methods are ineffective for patients with severe cicatricial contracture, and ectropion can easily recur. This study aimed to retrospectively examine upper and lower eyelid adhesions using an orbicularis oculi muscle flap and verify its stability. METHODS: In patients with ectropion caused by severe scar contracture following head and face burns, we employed a tunnel orbicularis oculi muscle flap technique, which involved creating a tunnel between the skin and the tarsal plate of the eyelid, mobilizing the orbicularis oculi muscle, and rotating it into this tunnel to provide stable adhesion of the upper and lower eyelids. Full-thickness skin grafting was then performed. The eyelids were examined postoperatively to determine whether reoperation was necessary and to monitor for any potential complications. RESULTS: This study included 26 patients and 46 eyes. No accidental disconnection occurred after eyelid adhesion, which lasted for an average of 21.87 ± 10.08 months before the eyelid adhesion was cut open. No complications or adverse reactions occurred, and the adhesions did not break unexpectedly. CONCLUSIONS: Repairing eyelid ectropion with the tunnel orbicularis oculi muscle flap is a simple procedure that immediately creates tension against upper and lower eyelid contractures, providing long-term stable adhesion. This method avoids structural disorders, such as eyelid margin scarring, minimally influences surrounding tissues, and has few postoperative complications. It holds great value for repairing eyelid tissue defects and warrants further study.

Combining antibiotic-loaded bone cement-based free vastus lateralis muscle-sparing flap with split-thickness skin grafts: A reliable strategy for reconstructing diabetic foot ulcers at non-weight-bearing areas.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) present significant challenges due to their associated amputation rates, mortality, treatment complexity and excessive costs. Our earlier work introduced a wound surgical integrated treatment (WSIT) for DFUs, yielding promising outcomes. This study focuses on a specific WSIT protocol employing antibiotic-loaded bone cement (ALBC) in the first Stage, and free vastus lateralis muscle-sparing (VLMS) flaps and split-thickness skin grafts (STSGs) in the second stage to repair non-weight-bearing DFUs. From July 2021 to July 2023, seven DFU patients (aged 47-71 years) underwent this treatment. Demographic data, hospital stay and repair surgery times were collected. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses assessed angiogenesis, collagen deposition and inflammation. SF-36 questionnaire measured pre- and postoperative quality of life. Preoperative ultrasound Doppler showed that the peak blood flow velocity of the recipient area artery was significantly >30 cm/s (38.6 ± 6.8 cm/s) in all patients. Muscle flap sizes varied from 8 × 3.5 × 1 to 18 × 6 × 2 cm. The operation time of the repair surgery was 156.9 ± 15.08 minutes, and the hospital stay was 18.9 ± 3.3 days. Histological analysis proved that covering DFUs with ALBC induced membrane formation and increased collagen, neovascularization and M2 macrophages fraction while reducing M1 macrophages one. All grafts survived without amputation during a 7- to 24-month follow-up, during which SF-36 scores significantly improved. A combination of ALBC with free VLMS flaps and STSGs proved to be safe and effective for reconstructing non-weight-bearing DFUs. It rapidly controlled infection, enhanced life quality and foot function, and reduced hospitalization time. We advocate integrating this strategy into DFU treatment plans.

Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation Following Mohs Micrographic Surgery: An Observational Study.

IMPORTANCE: Functional and cosmetic outcomes following Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) are poorly studied in individuals with skin of color (SOC). Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) may be long-lasting and highly distressing. SOC individuals are particularly susceptible to PIH following procedures.  Objective: To characterize factors that contribute to the development of PIH following MMS in SOC. DESIGN: This retrospective study included 72 SOC individuals with 83 cases of keratinocyte carcinoma treated with MMS between August 2020 and August 2021 at a single medical center in the Bronx, New York. RESULTS: Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation following Mohs micrographic surgery was more common in Fitzpatrick skin types (FST) IV to V (48.0%) compared to FST I to III (18.2%; P=0.006). Grafts and granulation resulted in higher rates of PIH compared to linear repairs and flaps (87.5% vs 30.7%; P=0.003). Cases with postoperative complications resulted in higher rates of PIH compared to cases without (81.8% vs 29.2%; P=0.001). In a subset analysis of linear repairs, polyglactin 910 as a subcutaneous suture produced a higher rate of PIH compared to poliglecaprone 25 (46.2% vs 7.1%; P=0.015).  Conclusions and Relevance: Individuals with SOC (FST IV to V) are more likely to develop PIH following MMS. Grafts and granulation lead to PIH more often than linear repairs and flaps. Postoperative complications significantly increase the risk of PIH. Surgeons should consider these risk factors during surgical planning in an effort to mitigate PIH in SOC individuals. Studies with larger sample sizes are indicated.  J Drugs Dermatol. 2024;23(5):316-321. doi:10.36849/JDD.8146.

Use of MatriDerm with Split-Thickness Skin Graft in Post-traumatic Full-Thickness Wound Defects in Orthopedic Cases: A Case Report and Systematic Review of the Literature.

The management of complex and severe lower-extremity injuries is challenging for the orthopedic surgeon. When the primary or secondary closure of the defect is not feasible, complex procedures with graft (split-thickness or full-thickness) or flap (pedicled or free) are required. These procedures are performed by specialized plastic surgeons and are at high risk for adverse effects, even high morbidity among both the donor and acceptor sites. Furthermore, split-thickness skin grafts (STSGs) often lead to unsatisfactory results in terms of mechanical stability, flexibility, and aesthetics due to the lack of underlying dermal tissue. Consequently, dermal substitutes, such as MatriDerm (MedSkin Solutions Dr Suwelack AG, Billerbeck, Germany), have been proposed and further developed as a treatment option addressing the management of full-thickness wound defects in conjunction with STSGs. We aimed to present a case of post-traumatic full-thickness wound defect of the left foot after traumatic amputation of the digits that was treated with MatriDerm combined with autologous STSG. In addition, we performed a systematic review of the literature to delineate the efficacy of the use of MatriDerm combined with STSGs in orthopedic cases exclusively.

Staged urethroplasty with groin full-thickness skin graft for managing complex anterior urethral strictures: surgical outcomes and predictive factors.

PURPOSE: To describe outcomes of staged-urethroplasty in complex anterior urethral strictures using full-thickness-skin-graft (FTSG) harvested from the hairless groin area, and to identify factors influencing successful outcomes. METHODS: Through retrospective chart review, we identified a total of 67 men who underwent the first-stage operation (grafting) using groin-FTSG for staged-urethroplasty to treat complex anterior urethral strictures unsuitable for one-stage urethroplasty. Among these, 59 underwent the second-stage operation (tubularization) at a median duration of 5.1-months after grafting. Patients were assessed for outcomes as scheduled after tubularization outcomes were analyzed only for 48 patients for whom ≥ 1-year follow-up data after tubularization were available. Their mean follow-up duration was 27.1 months. Success was defined as achieving physiologic voiding without requiring further procedures. RESULTS: Median stricture-length was 5.5 cm in all 67 patients. After grafting, neourethral-opening-narrowing occurred in 18. Partial graft-loss occurred in 8, of whom only 3 underwent re-grafting. The percentage of patients who achieved successful outcomes was 81.3%. Improvements in maximum-urine-flow-rate and post-void-residual-urine-volume were maintained until the last follow-up visit. A urethrocutaneous-fistula occurred in one patient, while meatal-stenosis occurred in two. On multivariate-regression-analysis, the presence of neourethral-opening-narrowing was the only predictor of non-success after tubularization. Furthermore, the presence of hypertension, longer stricture-length, and a history of prior direct-vision-internal-urethrotomy were predictors of the occurrence of neourethral-opening-narrowing. CONCLUSION: Staged-urethroplasty using groin-FTSG is well worth considering as a useful therapeutic option for complex anterior urethral strictures, with an acceptable success rate and low morbidity. The absence of neourethral-opening-narrowing after the first-stage operation leads to success.

Clinical application of V-shaped folded submental flap in the repair of oral defect. / Våž‹æŠ˜å é¢ä¸‹çš®ç“£ä¿®å¤å£è ”ç¼ºæŸçš„ä¸´åºŠåº”ç”¨.

OBJECTIVES: The repair of small and medium-sized defects in the oral has always been a challenge, free skin flap and distal pedicled tissue flaps are difficult to meet clinical needs, and the traditional under-chin flap has the risk of donor-area injury. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of V-shaped folded submental flap in the repair of small-sized and medium-sized oral defects. METHODS: The clinical data of 28 patients with oral defect lesions, who were hospitalized in the Department of Stomatology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from March 2019 to December 2022, were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into a V-shaped folded group (17 cases) and a conventional group (11 cases) according to different surgical methods. The V-shaped folded group was treated with a V-shaped folded submental flap for postoperative soft tissue repair, while the conventional group was treated with a conventional submental flap for repair. The postoperative follow-up time was 6-48 months. The survival status, repair time, and repair effect of the 2 groups were compared. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in flap survival rate, flap size, flap preparation time, repair surgery time, and postoperative hospital stay between the 2 groups (all P>0.05). At 6 months after the surgery, the V-shaped folded group had no difficulty in raising the head or everting the lower lip, no "cat ear" deformity in the submental skin. Scars in the V-shaped folding group were hidden at the lower edge of the mandible. The wound aesthetics and functional scores in the V-shaped folded group were significantly higher than those in the conventional group (both P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The V-shaped foldable submental flap has the advantages of flexible design, simple preparation, reliable blood supply, and protection of the donor area, which can effectively protect the appearance of the chin and avoid functional disorders.

Double right triangular shape full-thickness skin grafts technique for short rectangular or square shape donor site defect - original method with a case report.

Full-thickness skin grafts are essential tools for reconstructive surgery. Rectangular or square secondary defect usually occurs after performing a cross-finger flap or homodigital island flap. With the traditional fusiform ellipse design, trimming out excess graft tissue is necessary. Double right triangular shape full-thickness skin grafts are designed to correct the problem.

[Application of V-Y advancement flap with facial artery perforator for the repair of midface skin defects].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of V-Y advancement flap with facial artery perforator for the repair of midface skin defects. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 18 patients with facial skin cancer, including 11 males and 7 females, aged 65-83 years, who underwent the repair of midface skin defects using V-Y advancement flap with facial artery perforator in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nantong University from January 2020 to April 2023. Medium, large or complex midface skin defects developed after surgical resections of the primary lesions. According to the defect site, size, location information of facial vessels, a V-Y advancement flap with appropriate shape was designed for each case. During the operation, the facial vessels and their perforators were retained in the pedicle of the flap, the facial nerve branches were dissected and protected, and the further denuded pedicle was determined according to actual amount of advancement. After the flap was advanced, the facial defect area was repaired without tension, and the anatomical positions and functions of the eyes, nose and mouth were restored as far as possible. Postoperative follow-ups were conducted to observe the survival rate of the flaps, postoperative complications, recurrences and metastases of tumors. Results: Midface defects of 3.0 cm×3.5 cm-6.5 cm×7.5 cm were observed after tumor resections, which involved one or more subregions. The sizes of the flaps were 3.5 cm×9.0 cm-7.0 cm×18.0 cm. All flaps were completely alive except for one with temporary local bruising. With following-up of 4-40 months, 5 of the 12 patients with lower eyelid and inner canthus invasions had lower eyelid ectropion, but no exposed keratitis was found; one case with poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma had lymph node metastasis in the submandibular region and underwent neck dissection again; no recurrence or metastasis occurred in the remaining cases. Conclusion: The V-Y advancement flap with facial artery perforator can be used to repair medium, large or complex midface skin defects, with a high survival rate, and the operation method is safe and reliable.

Comparative Analysis of Animal-Derived vs Fully Synthetic Acellular Dermal Matrices in Reconstructive Surgery: An Examination of Clinical, Aesthetic, and Economic Measures.

INTRODUCTION: The fully synthetic skin substitute, NovoSorb Biodegradable Temporizing Matrix (BTM), may be a cost-effective alternative to the animal-derived Integra Dermal Regeneration Template (IDRT). However, the current literature insufficiently compares the two. Therefore, our study compared clinical, aesthetic, and economic outcomes in treating soft tissue wounds with IDRT, an animal-derived template, vs BTM, a fully synthetic template. METHODS: Our single-center retrospective study compared outcomes of 26 patient cases treated with BTM (57.7%) or IDRT (42.3%) during 2011-2022. RESULTS: The mean surgery time was significantly shorter in BTM cases (1.632 ± 0.571 hours) compared with IDRT cases (5.282 ± 5.102 hours, P = 0.011). Median postoperative hospital stay was notably shorter for BTM placement than IDRT placement (0.95 vs 6.60 days, P = 0.003). The median postoperative follow-up length approached a shorter duration in the BTM group (P = 0.054); however, median follow-up visits were significantly lower in the BTM group compared with the IDRT group (5 vs 14, P = 0.012). The median duration for complete wound closure was shorter for BTM (46.96 vs 118.91 days, P = 0.011). Biodegradable Temporizing Matrix demonstrated a notably lower infection rate (0.0%) compared with IDRT (36.4%, P = 0.022). Integra Dermal Regeneration Template exhibited higher wound hypertrophy rates (81.8%) than BTM (26.7%, P = 0.015). Revisionary surgeries were significantly more frequent in the BTM group (P < 0.001). Failed closure, defined as requiring one or more attempts, exhibited a significant difference, with a higher risk in the IDRT group (26.7%) compared with BTM (6.7%, P = 0.003). Biodegradable Temporizing Matrix showed a lower mean Vancouver Scar Scale adjusted fraction (0.279) compared with IDRT (0.639, P < 0.001). Biodegradable Temporizing Matrix incurred lower costs compared with IDRT but displayed a lower mean profit per square centimeter ($10.63 vs $22.53, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Economically, although the net profit per square centimeter of dermal template may favor IDRT, the ancillary benefits associated with BTM in terms of reduced hospital stay, shorter surgery times, fewer follow-up visits, and lower revisionary surgery rates contribute substantially to overall cost-effectiveness. Biodegradable Temporizing Matrix use reflects more efficient resource use and potential cost savings, aligning with broader trends in healthcare emphasizing value-based and patient-centered care.

An evaluation of the effectiveness of 'ULTRACOL 200' in enhancing nasolabial fold wrinkles through cutaneous repair.

BACKGROUND: Injectable filler, a nonsurgical beauty method, has gained popularity in rejuvenating sagging skin. In this study, polydioxanone (PDO) was utilized as the main component of the ULTRACOL200 filler that helps stimulate collagenesis and provide skin radiant effects. The study aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of ULTRACOL200 with other commercialized products in visually improving dermatological problems. METHODS: Herein, 31 participants aged between 20 and 59 years were enrolled in the study. 1 mL of the testing product, as well as the quantity for the compared groups was injected into each participants face side individually. Subsequently, skin texture and sunken volume of skin were measured using ANTERA 3D CS imaging technology at three periods: before the application, 4 weeks after the initial application, and 4 weeks after the 2nd application of ULTRACOL200. RESULTS: The final results of skin texture and wrinkle volume evaluation consistently demonstrated significant enhancement. Consequently, subjective questionnaires were provided to the participants to evaluate the efficacy of the testing product, illustrating satisfactory responses after the twice applications. CONCLUSION: The investigation has contributed substantially to the comprehension of a PDO-based filler (ULTRACOL200) for skin enhancement and provided profound insight for future clinical trials.

Occipito-Cervico-Dorsal Flap for Neck Reconstruction After Postburn Contractures: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Because the head and neck are one of the most frequent locations of burns, it is of paramount importance that plastic surgeons and plastic surgical nurses understand the most effective surgical methods for treating neck contractures and the reconstructive technique required for each case. We introduce the case of a 42-year-old woman who presented with a severe postburn neck contracture that was reconstructed with a pedicled occipito-cervico-dorsal flap. We closed the donor-site wound primarily and completely covered the defect with good results. In addition to conventional skin grafts, dermal matrices, and microsurgical techniques, using an occipito-cervico-dorsal flap should be considered for reconstructing postburn neck contractures as it offers good aesthetic and functional outcomes, provides enough tissue and pliable skin, and results in minimal donor-site morbidity.

Use of Integra® on avascular tissue.

Integra® (Integra LifeSciences) is a well-known dermal regeneration template used in partial and full-thickness wound reconstruction. It can be applied directly on to vascular tissue to create a bed for a skin graft, which is often placed in a second surgery. We present our experience of its novel use in oral and maxillofacial surgery patients, using it directly on bone and cartilage (avascular tissue) without further skin grafting. Patients who required full-thickness excision of lesions down to bone or cartilage and who were treated using Integra® were included. After scalp or ear lesion resection, the collagenous dermal layer of Integra® was placed directly on to bone or cartilage and, along with its outer silicone epidermal layer, secured to the defect with absorbable sutures and a bolster dressing. The wounds were kept dry for 14 days, at which point the dressing and silicone were removed and patients continued regular wound care. Seventeen patients were included, 15 of whom had squamous cell carcinoma. One was lost to follow up. The rest achieved complete healing of the defect. Histology showed epidermis developing on the Integra® surface and at one year, the appearance of normal scarred skin. This novel approach could redefine the uses of Integra®, avoiding the need for free-flap surgery or skin grafting when reconstructing large defects. Further resection of close margins or recurrence is easier after reconstruction using dermal regeneration material than after reconstruction with a local or free flap.

[Application of antibiotic bone cement-coated plates internal fixation for primary treating Gustilo type â ¢B tibiofibular open fracture].

Objective: To explore the effectiveness of using antibiotic bone cement-coated plates internal fixation technology as a primary treatment for Gustilo type ⅢB tibiofibular open fractures. Methods: The clinical data of 24 patients with Gustilo type ⅢB tibiofibular open fractures who were admitted between January 2018 and December 2021 and met the selection criteria was retrospectively analyzed. Among them, there were 18 males and 6 females, aged from 25 to 65 years with an average age of 45.8 years. There were 3 cases of proximal tibial fracture, 6 cases of middle tibial fracture, 15 cases of distal tibial fracture, and 21 cases of fibular fracture. The time from injury to emergency surgery ranged from 3 to 12 hours, with an average of 5.3 hours. All patients had soft tissue defects ranging from 10 cm×5 cm to 32 cm×15 cm. The time from injury to skin flap transplantation for wound coverage ranged from 1 to 7 days, with an average of 4.1 days, and the size of skin flap ranged from 10 cm×5 cm to 33 cm×15 cm. Ten patients had bone defects with length of 2-12 cm (mean, 7.1 cm). After emergency debridement, the tibial fracture end was fixed with antibiotic bone cement-coated plates, and the bone defect area was filled with antibiotic bone cement. Within 7 days, the wound was covered with a free flap, and the bone cement was replaced while performing definitive internal fixation of the fracture. In 10 patients with bone defect, all the bone cement was removed and the bone defect area was grafted after 7-32 weeks (mean, 11.8 weeks). The flap survival, wound healing of the affected limb, complications, and bone healing were observed after operation, and the quality of life was evaluated according to the short-form 36 health survey scale (SF-36 scale) [including physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores] at 1 month, 6 months after operation, and at last follow-up. Results: All 24 patients were followed up 14-38 months (mean, 21.6 months). All the affected limbs were successfully salvaged and all the transplanted flaps survived. One case had scar hyperplasia in the flap donor site, and 1 case had hypoesthesia (grade S3) of the skin around the scar. There were 2 cases of infection in the recipient area of the leg, one of which was superficial infection after primary flap transplantation and healed after debridement, and the other was sinus formation after secondary bone grafting and was debrided again 3 months later and treated with Ilizarov osteotomy, and healed 8 months later. The bone healing time of the remaining 23 patients ranged from 4 to 9 months, with an average of 6.1 months. The scores of PCS were 44.4±6.5, 68.3±8.3, 80.4±6.9, and the scores of MCS were 59.2±8.2, 79.5±7.8, 90.0±6.6 at 1 month, 6 months after operation, and at last follow-up, respectively. The differences were significant between different time points ( P<0.05). Conclusion: Antibiotic bone cement-coated plates internal fixation can be used in the primary treatment of Gustilo type ⅢB tibiofibular open fractures, and has the advantages of reduce the risk of infection in fracture fixation, reducing complications, and accelerating the functional recovery of patients.