Analysis of 109 Consecutive Explanted Breast Implants: Correlation Between Suspected Implant Rupture and Surgical Findings.

INTRODUCTION: The use of breast implants is on the rise due to increases in breast reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. Implant rupture is a possible complication. Among assessment modalities for implant rupture detection, MRI is considered the gold standard. METHODS: We conducted a prospective analysis of 57 women after breast augmentation or postmastectomy reconstruction (109 implants), admitted to our department between 2010 and 2015 due to suspected implant rupture. We correlated surgical findings with symptoms, physical examination, imaging, and device specifications. RESULTS: Seventy-four explanted implants were preoperatively suspected as ruptured. Over a third were intact and unjustifiably explanted. MRI evaluation was the most accurate modality. Interestingly, 61 % of ruptured implants were left-sided. Patient's age, comorbidities, smoking, medications, presenting symptoms, implant duration, and volume did not correlate with implant rupture. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirmed preexisting data regarding the importance of imaging diagnosis, with MRI being the most accurate modality in both diagnosing and ruling out implant rupture. Interestingly, our study showed that MRI was accurate in detecting all intact implants, unlike lower detection rates reported in previous studies, thus preventing unnecessary explantation. Another unique finding was that the left-sided implants were significantly prone for rupture. As iatrogenic damage is the most common cause of implant rupture, with most surgeons being right-handed, awareness during surgery must be augmented, with further investigation required for potential causes of this unexpected difference. Our study emphasizes the importance of understanding the causes of rupture and the need for evidence-based indications regarding imaging and replacement of implants. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: 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 .

[Reconstruction in plastic surgery using osmotic tissue expanders].

BACKGROUND: Tissue expander is a major reconstructive modality. Its main disadvantages include: long and inconvenient period of inflation with temporary deformity of the surrounding tissue. Osmotic expander was developed in order to eliminate some of these limitations. It is a self-filling device which absorbs fluids in order to achieve tissue expansion faster. PURPOSE: We present our experience with 28 consecutive cases of tissue reconstruction using osmotic expanders. We wish to emphasize the main advantages and limitations of this device. METHODS: The present study was launched in May 2008, until April 2014, for twenty eight patients, median age 26 years with reconstructions using an osmotic expander (total of 35 expanders). The reasons for using tissue expander included large congenital nevi (75%) and scars. RESULTS: In all of the cases, the operative and post-operative management was uneventful. During the expansion period, there were 2 outpatient clinical visits. The average expansion time was 9 weeks. In 11% (three patients) there was partial extrusion of the expander. In all other cases there were no complications and the final aesthetic results were satisfying. DISCUSSION: Osmotic expander is an advanced modality for tissue reconstruction. The final shape and size are precisely predictable. Its initial small size allows for a small surgical incision and short overall operating time. The expansion period is shorter and more convenient for the patient. Its main disadvantage includes the inability to control the filling rate and the need to remove the expander in case of damage to the overlying tissue. CONCLUSION: Osmotic expander is a reliable tool for tissue expansion. It allows for a satisfying aesthetic result in a shorter period of time and with less inconvenience to the patient.

Self-inflicted burns in soldiers.

BACKGROUND: Self-inflicted burns are a multidisciplinary medical challenge. In contrast to the more common motive of attempted suicide in self-infliction of a burn, usually of a serious degree, a second motive is malingering. Motivation of this nature has been exhibited among Israeli soldiers who inflict on themselves low- to moderate-degree burns to obtain dismissal from mandatory military service. The purpose of our study is to investigate and define this phenomenon. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on a population of 75 soldiers admitted to our Medical Center during the year 2010 with the diagnosis of any sort of burn. We set up a database including all relevant information about the burns including date and time of occurrence, cause, body location, depth of burn injury, area and shape of burn, etiology, and prescribed treatment. RESULTS: The summer was found to be the season with the highest incidence of burns. As far as the day of the week was influential, we found that the greater percentage of burns occurred at the beginning of the week. Most of the burns involved a minor surface area on the dorsal aspect of the foot. Scalding with hot water was the most common cause of burn. Eighty-one percent of the burns were atypical, being well demarcated.Most of the burn cases happened at home with no witnesses to the event. Sixty-one percent of the patients were not admitted to the hospital and were conservatively treated. CONCLUSIONS: Israeli soldiers tend to inflict burns on themselves for ulterior motives. Such burns are almost always minor with a small trauma area and sharp demarcations, and hence can be differentiated from other self-inflicted burns described in the literature. We found that most of the burns occur when the soldiers are on vacation at home. This is probably because the privacy allows them to carry out their act undisturbed. It is important to raise the awareness of attending physicians to the characteristics of these burns. Such patients should be evaluated by medical teams including mental health professionals to help them psychologically and to eliminate this unfortunate problem.

Hybrid Prepectoral Direct-to-Implant and Autologous Fat Graft Simultaneously in Immediate Breast Reconstruction: A Single Surgeon's Experience with 25 Breasts in 15 Consecutive Cases.

BACKGROUND: The direct-to-implant method depends on the quality of the mastectomy flaps and can be used only when the flaps are adequately perfused. Even though the method was designed to be a definitive reconstruction procedure, it has been associated with an increased likelihood that additional operative revision will be required in order to achieve the expected final cosmetic outcome. The authors describe a hybrid prepectoral direct-to-implant method that combines autologous fat grafting in the superior medial pole with immediate reconstruction. METHODS: In this prospective study, 15 patients (25 reconstructed breasts) underwent simultaneous hybrid prepectoral direct-to-implant reconstruction together with autologous fat grafting performed by a single senior plastic surgeon (Y.G). RESULTS: The mean quantity of autologous fat grafted in the superior medial aspect of the breast was 59.4 ± 12.8 cc. The mean total volume of the hybrid reconstructed breast, including implant and autologous fat graft, was 497.2 ± 89.1 cc. Satisfying final outcomes were achieved in all cases. There were no major complications, although minor complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The authors' hybrid approach allows the surgeon to achieve a more satisfying outcome with regard to the cleavage area. It results in a better natural appearance, an improved contour, and reduced upper pole rippling and deflation, with a lower likelihood that an additional operative revision will be required to achieve the desired final aesthetic outcome. The authors believe that their hybrid approach should be implemented as an integral part of the direct-to-implant prepectoral reconstruction procedure. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

Fenestrated sheet split-thickness skin grafting for reconstruction of penile skin loss in pediatric population.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate our experience with fenestrated sheet split-thickness skin grafts (STSGs) in the pediatric population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied a cohort of 17 children 2-18years old who underwent skin grafting owing to circumcision injuries (2 patients), traumatic penile injury (1) and after previous multiple hypospadias surgery (14). Fenestrated 0.012in sheet STSGs from thigh area (15 patients) and buttock area (2) were fashioned to resurface the denuded penis following reconstruction. The median follow up was 13years (range 1-19years). RESULTS: There was 94% take of the grafts. One patient required additional grafting following first graft infection. Six patients underwent concomitant surgery at the time of grafting (4 chordee repair and 2 meatoplasty). Two patients had slight chordee at 3 and 6years postoperatively, and 2 with the history of preputial tubularized island flap hypospadias repair had developed a urethral stricture, which required staged repair with buccal mucosa 12 and 14years following primary hypospadias repair. Six sexually active patients reported normal sexual intercourse and sensation following grafting. None of the patients demonstrated shrinkage of the STSGs over the follow up period. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrated that the use of fenestrated sheet STSGs in patients with penile skin loss yields satisfactory functional and cosmetic outcomes. The buttocks might be considered as a preferable donor site in terms of avoiding a visible scar.