Expanding horizons of reconstructive microsurgery in Lebanon: Reconstruction of complex traumatic wounds with anterolateral thigh perforator flaps in paediatrics patients less than 10 years of age.

Paediatric complex wounds pose a challenge to the reconstructive surgeon due to the intricacy of reconstructive options required. Developments in microsurgery and microsurgical technique have brought free tissue transfer ever closer to the comfort zone of the reconstructive surgeon for reconstruction of paediatric traumatic complex wounds. We present our experience of microsurgical reconstruction in Lebanon for complex traumatic wounds in paediatric patients under the age of 10 years using the free anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap. The ALT flap has proven its value as a safe, adaptable, and aesthetically acceptable reconstructive option in paediatric complex trauma.

The External Jugular Vein Used as Recipient Vessel in Head and Neck Free Flap Reconstruction: Outcomes Compared to the Internal Jugular Vein.

BACKGROUND: Contradictory data exists on the success rates of employing the external jugular (EJ) vein as a recipient vessel for venous outflow in free flap head and neck reconstruction compared with the internal jugular (IJ) vein. The authors hereby present a retrospective study of prospectively collected data over a 14-year period. METHODS: Five hundred seventy-eight patients underwent 639 free flap head and neck over 14 years. Two hundred seventy-eight free flaps employed the EJ vein as the recipient vessel while 326 free flaps employed the IJ vein. Rates of acute and late complications were compared. RESULTS: There were no differences in rates of complications: flap loss, venous thrombosis, arterial thrombosis, bleeding, hematoma, or infection between the EJ and IJ vein groups. CONCLUSION: The external jugular vein as a recipient vessel for venous outflow in head and neck free flap reconstruction of postoncologic resection defects is a valid option for both primary reconstructions and secondary surgeries.

Reconstruction of composite leg defects post-war injury.

BACKGROUND: In a high conflict region, war injuries to the distal lower extremity are a major source of large composite defects involving bone and soft tissues. These defects are at the edge between using a single free flap [osteo-(+/-myo) cutaneous] vs double free flap reconstruction (bone and soft tissue). In this paper, we present our experience and outcomes in treating patients with leg war injury reconstructed using a single free fibula flap. METHODS: Fifteen patients with distal leg composite defects secondary to war injuries were treated between January 2015 and March 2016. All patients were reconstructed using single barrel free fibula osteo-(+/-myo)cutaneous flap where single or double skin paddles were used according to the soft tissue defect requiring coverage. RESULTS: There were no cases of total or partial flap loss. Complications were limited to three cases including traumatic fibula fracture, venous congestion with negative findings, and residual soft tissue defect requiring coverage. There were no cases of wound dehiscence or infection. Mean follow-up time was 418.8 days. Mean bone healing time was nine months after which patients were allowed full weight bearing. CONCLUSION: A single barrel free fibula osteo-(+/-myo)cutaneous flap is a valid and reliable tool for reconstruction composite lower extremity defects post-war injury. Adequate planning of fibula flap soft tissue components (skin, muscle) rearrangement is essential for success in such challenging reconstructions.

The use of the fibula flap in post oncologic reconstruction of long bone in pediatric patients: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric sarcomas are the most common malignancies of bones in childhood. With advances in adjuvant treatment, limb salvage surgery has become common, increasing the demand of skeletal reconstruction. Traditional practice included bone grafting and transport. Recently, microsurgical tissue transfer in pediatric patients has become a well-accepted practice, with the fibula as an ideal biologic construct for long bone reconstruction. We aim to assess the success rate of this operation, including flap survival, bony union, weight-bearing ambulation, and complications. METHODS: We identified 10 pediatric patients who underwent reconstruction of long bones (femur, humerus, or tibia) with a free fibula flap from January 2015 to January 2020. All patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy 4 weeks prior to the surgical procedure followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: The average follow-up time was 15 months. We had no partial or total flap loss. Three of our patients passed away in the first post-operative year due to metastatic disease. In the remaining 7 patients, we had two long-term complications. The fibula of one patient did not exhibit hypertrophy, yet weight-bearing ambulation was achieved. The other patient had nonunion proximally that required bone grafting at 8 months post-operatively. After that, the same patient fractured her fibula and required surgical fixation. She was eventually able to achieve weight-bearing ambulation. CONCLUSION: The vascularized fibula flap is a reliable tool for reconstruction in children. Flap survival is similar to that of adults. Complication rate is low compared to that for other forms of reconstruction.