Assessing the Readability of Online Patient Education Resources Related to Neophallus Reconstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Online patient education materials (PEMs) often exceed the recommended 6th grade reading level. This can negatively affect transmasculine patients' understanding of treatment plans, increasing barriers to care and worsening health outcomes and patient satisfaction. This study assessed the readability of online English and Spanish PEMs regarding phalloplasty and urethroplasty. METHODS: The English and Spanish terms for phalloplasty and urethroplasty were queried on Google. The first fifty results were grouped into institutional (government, medical school, teaching hospital), noninstitutional (private practice, news channel, blog, etc.), and academic (journal articles, book chapters) categories. Readability scores were generated using the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook and Spanish Simple Measure of Gobbledygook scales. RESULTS: All PEMs exceeded recommended reading levels. For both procedures, English PEMs had an average reading level approximately of a university sophomore and Spanish PEMs had an average reading level approximately of a high school junior. For both procedures, English PEMs were harder to read than Spanish PEMs overall (P < 0.001) and when compared across the three categories between the two languages (P < 0.001). For Spanish urethroplasty PEMs, noninstitutional PEMs were more difficult to read than institutional PEMs (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Online information for phalloplasty and urethroplasty should be revised and/or standardized materials should be created by trans-affirming health-care providers and national organizations in order to more fully educate the public and prospective patients prior to intervention. A well-informed patient population will improve patient decision-making and surgeon-patient communication, ultimately leading to better health outcomes.

Levamisole-induced vasculitis.

Levamisole is a veterinary antihelminthic, chemotherapeutic agent, and immunomodulator that also is used as an adulterant and cutting agent in cocaine distribution. This drug may potentiate the sympathomimetic actions of cocaine and can cause neutropenia, agranulocytosis, purpuric retiform lesions, and skin necrosis. This article describes two cases of suspected levamisole-induced vasculitis. No standardized diagnostic or treatment algorithm exists for this challenging condition. Diagnosis and treatment require a multidisciplinary team approach.

Postsurgical Pyoderma Gangrenosum After Penile Inversion Vaginoplasty: Case With Review of Diagnostic and Management Strategies.

Background: Postsurgical pyoderma gangrenosum (PSPG) is a highly uncommon and unpredictable wound healing complication. Rapid progression of ulcers at incisions can cause unfettered dehiscence. Most commonly, PSPG involves breast procedures; however, in this work, we detail a case of a patient who developed PSPG 10 days postoperatively after penile inversion vaginoplasty. Methods: The patient in this case underwent a penile inversion vaginoplasty with orchiectomy in the standard fashion. She had no risk factors for PSPG. Following an uncomplicated hospital stay, the patient developed difficulty with pain control and increasing serous drainage on the 10th postoperative day. On readmission, the patient was found to have developed large, mildly purulent ulcers throughout the perineal wound edges. On exam under anesthesia, the neovaginal canal was found to be patent and intact. The dehisced portions of the incisions were left open and redressed with occlusive bismuth-petrolatum dressing. Dermatology was promptly consulted with suspicion for PSPG. The patient was started on an 18-day prednisone taper with cyclosporine, along with doxycycline and ciprofloxacin. Results: After 5 days of immunosuppressive treatment, the ulcers visibly converted to healthy granulation tissue and were no longer actively purulent. Following another washout, the dehisced wound edges were reapproximated. At follow-up, the patient had no evidence of PSPG recurrence and continued dilating on schedule. Our patient recovered from PSPG without further complications and a satisfactory aesthetic result. Conclusions: This unique case highlights the importance of prompt dermatological consultation, immunosuppression, and avoidance of further pathergy in the setting of suspicion for PSPG.

Total Reconstruction of Lower Lip and Chin Following Firework Injury Using Composite Bilateral Radial Forearm-Fascia Lata Flaps: A Case Report.

Background: Primary explosion injuries with fireworks can lead to devastating and geometrically complex facial traumas that present a challenge to the reconstructive surgeon. Our patient, a woman in her early thirties, was hit directly in her chin by a large artillery shell firework. This caused complete soft tissue loss of the lower lip and chin beyond the oral commissures, complicated further by a comminuted mandible fracture. Methods: After external fixation, our patient underwent a 2-stage reconstruction with a novel composite flap arrangement. Soft tissue coverage and lip reconstruction were performed with opposing bilateral radial forearm free flaps. The outer flap constituted the soft tissue of the new chin and outer lower lip, whereas the inner flap composed the intraoral lining. In the second stage, portions of the inner upper lip mucosa and superior orbicularis oris muscle were flipped down as a bipedicle, axial pattern "bucket-handle" type flap to the lower lip to reconstruct the vermilion. A graft of fascia lata was attached to the modioli of the orbicularis oris and interpositioned beneath the vermilion flap and the radial forearms to restore static and some dynamic sphincter control. One month later, the mandibular fractures underwent open reduction and internal fixation. Results: Two months after soft tissue reconstruction with no complications, our patient had satisfactory aesthetic outcomes, oral competence, and speech. Conclusions: This case has shown that use of bilateral, fascia lata-reinforced radial forearm flaps may be an effective choice for soft tissue reconstruction and oral competence restoration in cases of severe facial explosion trauma.

One-stage Flexor Reconstruction With Anterolateral Thigh and Fascia Lata Rolls After High-Voltage Trauma: A Case Report.

Background: Electrical injuries from high-voltage power lines are unique forms of trauma that can create challenging wounds for reconstructive surgeons. Our patients, a man in his late thirties (Patient 1) and a man in his early twenties (Patient 2), both sustained upper extremity injuries after contact with a high-voltage line. Methods: Despite minimal superficial damage, both patients required fasciotomies and debridement of the volar forearm, revealing segmental defects in most digital tendons as well as the distal median nerve. Free fasciocutaneous anterolateral thigh (ALT) flaps were harvested to ensure adequate wound coverage. Additionally, fascia lata grafts were taken from the free flap donor site and rolled into tubes to transfer available flexor digitorum superficialis proximal tendon stumps to the distal stumps of flexor digitorum profundus. The rolls were also used to bridge segmental tendon defects in flexor pollicis longus, while cadaveric nerve allografts were used to bridge the median nerve defects. Results: Nine months postoperatively, Patient 1 had premorbid function with activities of daily living (ADLs), and Patient 2 required only minimal assistance with instrumental ADLs. Within a year following reconstruction, Patient 1 mostly regained range of motion in his digits with some rigidity, and Patient 2 regained full range of motion in his digits with minimal rigidity. Conclusions: These cases have demonstrated that the use of an ALT free flap combined with rolled fascia lata graft tubes may be an effective choice for reconstruction and functional restoration in cases of severe high-voltage electrical trauma.

A pilot study of inflatable penile prosthesis placement in transgender neophallus using Tutoplast® pericardium graft sock technique.

Placement of an inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) in a transgender patient's neophallus carries unique considerations versus cis-gender IPP placement in mitigating infection, erosion, and overall complication rates. An example of this includes the lack of an anatomical corpus cavernosum and crura for cylinder placement and anchoring. Multiple grafting approaches and materials have been utilized to mitigate possible cylinder instability and improve anchoring. Here we describe our experience and surgical technique in IPP neophallus placement utilizing a single cylinder with distal and proximal cylinder human cadaver pericardium (Tutoplast®, IOP Ophthalmics, Costa Mesa, CA, USA) grafts. Our goals were to determine postoperative satisfaction and device functionality in patients undergoing transgender neophallus IPP placement using our technique. Both patients report satisfaction and no complications at last follow-up (currently up to 14 and 23 months post-operatively, respectively) with satisfactory erectile function and ability to perform penetrative intercourse. In neophallus IPP placement, the anatomical differences compared to cis-gender IPP operations require unique considerations such as cylinder grafting material selection for proximal cylinder fixation and mitigation of device erosion rates. Optimization of grafting material in neophallus IPP placement in an effort to reduce erosion rates has become increasingly important as frequency of this operation increases. Utilizing human cadaver pericardium graft in distal and proximal cylinder coverage shows beneficial preliminary outcomes in our patients.

Lumbosacral paraspinal interfascial plane blocks for pain control after feminizing genital gender affirmation surgery.

Aim: Feminizing genital gender affirmation surgery (fgGAS) is increasing in prevalence in the USA. Management of postoperative pain following fgGAS is challenging. We report a series of patients where post-fgGAS pain was adequately controlled with paraspinal blocks. Materials & methods: This is a case series of three patients who received bilateral lumbar and sacral erector spinae plane blocks after fgGAS. Block techniques, medications administered, opioid requirements and pain scores were reviewed. Results: Erector spinae plane blocks provided adequate analgesia for 24-48 h following the block. Conclusion: Currently, there are two regional anesthetic techniques described for the treatment of postoperative pain after fgGAS. We describe two additional approaches as options for improved pain management in this patient population.

Impact of Opioid-Minimizing Pain Protocols After Burn Injury.

In 2019, we implemented a pill-based, opioid-minimizing pain protocol and protocolized moderate sedation for dressing changes in order to decrease opioid exposure in burn patients. We hypothesized that these interventions would reduce inpatient opioid exposure without increasing acute pain scores. Two groups of consecutive patients admitted to the burn service were compared: Pre-group (from January 1, 2018 to July 31, 2019) and Post-group (from January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020) from before and after the implementation of the protocols (from August 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019). We abstracted patient demographics and burn injury characteristics from the burn registry. We obtained opioid exposure and pain scale scores from the electronic medical record. The primary outcome was total morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs). Secondary outcomes included MMEs/day, pain domain-specific MMEs, and pain scores. Pain was estimated by creating a normalized pain score (range 0-1), which incorporated three different pain scales (Numeric Rating Scale, Behavioral Pain Scale, and Behavioral Pain Assessment Scale). Groups were compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum and chi-square tests. Treatment effects were estimated using Bayesian generalized linear models. There were no differences in demographics or burn characteristics between the Pre-group (n = 495) and Post-group (n = 174). The Post-group had significantly lower total MMEs (Post-group 110 MMEs [32, 325] vs Pre-group 230 [60, 840], P < .001), MMEs/day (Post-group 33 MMEs/day [15, 54] vs Pre-group 52 [27, 80], P < .001), and domain-specific total MMEs. No difference in average normalized pain scores was seen. Implementation of opioid-minimizing protocols for acute burn pain was associated with a significant reduction in inpatient opioid exposure without an increase in pain scores.

Is Prophylactic Immunosuppressive Therapy for Patients with a History of Postsurgical Pyoderma Gangrenosum Necessary?

Postsurgical pyoderma gangrenosum (PSPG) is a rare but serious surgical complication with a predilection for the breast and abdomen. Immunosuppression is the mainstay of treatment of PSPG. In addition, it has become a common practice for clinicians to prophylactically treat patients with a history of PSPG with corticosteroids or immunomodulators during subsequent operative procedures to prevent recurrence. Although many practitioners have reported successful outcomes with these measures, currently no protocol exists for prophylactic perioperative therapy. Here, we present the clinical course and 10-year follow-up of a woman who developed PSPG after undergoing body-contouring surgery, subsequently underwent multiple operative procedures without prophylactic immunosuppression, and has not experienced recurrence of PSPG. This case suggests that prophylactic therapy may not be necessary in all patients with a history of PSPG and shows that further research into the use of perioperative immunosuppression to prevent PSPG recurrence may be warranted.