Moist heat postconditioning to increase flap survival.

One of the areas of interest within the discipline of reconstructive microsurgery is increasing the amount of tissue harvested along with a given pedicle and sustaining it. The aim of this study is to introduce moist heat postconditioning as a means to increase skin flap survival and evaluate its effectiveness. Eight white New Zealand rabbits weighing 2500 to 3000 g were separated into two groups.

The effect of "minimally invasive transfer of angiosomes" on vascularization of prefabricated/prelaminated tissues.

Prefabrication and prelamination are experimental and clinical applications of reconstructive surgery and inspired the vascularization challenge of engineered tissues. The purpose of this study is to test the efficiency of "minimally invasive transfer of angiosomes" to enhance the vascularization of the final construct during prefabrication and prelamination. Fifteen rabbits were used for this study.

The effect of autogenous vein grafts on nerve repair with size discrepancy in rats: an electrophysiological and stereological analysis.

Aside from anatomical repairs, the reestablishment of sensory and motor innervations for proper functional recovery is one of the fundamental objectives of reconstructive surgery. The heterotopic transfer of autologous tissues is likely to result in a size discrepancy between the donor and recipient nerves, which will have a negative influence on regeneration. Twenty Wistar albino female rats were used in a study that was divided into two main groups: tibial-peroneal (TP) and peroneal-tibial repair (PT).

Influence of diabetes on critical flaps based on the vascular axis of a sensory nerve.

Delayed sural flap based on the vascular axis of the sural nerve has been advocated for coverage of diabetic foot ulcers. In this study we compared the survival of neurovenous and standard inferior epigastric island flaps in diabetic and non-diabetic rats. VEGF concentrations and electrolyte balance of the flaps were also investigated during elevation and on the fifth day to explore the possible mechanisms that influence ischaemia of the flap during the hyperglycaemic state.

The Amazons and an analysis of breast mutilation from a plastic surgeon's perspective.

Background: The Amazon philosophy has been increasing in popularity because of the evolving status of women in society. Many references point to Themiscrya on the southern coast of the Black Sea in Anatolia as the Amazon homeland. The primary objective of this article is to discuss the different femininity of the Amazons and their breast mutilation from the perspective of a plastic surgeon who has been living in this region that the Amazons inhabited.

A simple and effective procedure for treating burn contractures: releasing incision and quadra Z technique.

Burn contractures particularly involving the joints are challenging problems which might cause severe functional impairments. Many surgical techniques have been described for use, however, an ideal method yet to be found. Releasing incision is the most common and effective way to release the wide and severe contractures but it has some drawbacks.

Oblique scapular flap.

We report an axial transposition flap based on the anterior branch of the descending branch of the circumflex scapular artery. This has some advantages, including a hidden donor site, easy transfer with no abnormalities, no distortion of the structures, and much pliable tissue.

The effect of twisting on perforator flap viability: an experimental study in rats.

Perforator flaps increasingly find acceptance and use in the field of reconstructive surgery due to their decreased donor-site morbidity and increased like-tissue coverage. Nevertheless, they are more prone to vascular compromise, especially when the meticulous technique they require is not employed. Pedicle twisting is a condition occasionally encountered in flap procedures, sometimes inadvertently, sometimes inevitably.

A perichondrial flap for functional purposes in rhinoplasty.

Recent trends in rhinoplasty techniques have focused on anatomic repair as well as respect and preservation of soft tissue integrity. In this article, the authors describe the use of a perichondrial flap, then discuss technical considerations and clinical perspectives of their advantages. A perichondrial flap helps to restore the stability of the upper lateral cartilage, to achieve extra padding, and to secure osteocartilagenous grafts.

Longitudinally-split radial forearm flap.

We have applied the split flap concept to a distally-pedicled radial forearm flap to cover separate dorsal defects of the fingers in two cases. The rationale is that there are the vascular plexuses inside and around the sensory nerve that permit surgical splitting of the flap. In the split design, the first segment is supplied by the radial artery itself.

Botulinum toxin for the treatment of temporomandibular joint disk disfigurement: clinical experience.

Type A botulinum toxin was used for the treatment of symptoms of 26 patients (40 joints) with temporomandibular joint disk disfigurement. In all patients, 0.5 ml (12.

Compensatory brow asymmetry: anatomic study and clinical experience.

To obtain detailed information about the interdigitation between the frontalis muscle and the orbicularis oculi muscle, the authors performed an anatomic study involving 9 cadavers (17 specimens). Three types of interdigitation were recognized. Complete interdigitation was noted in 13 specimens, and partial interdigitation in 13 specimens.

Spontaneous recanalization of the divided lactiferous duct in the rat.

The objectives of the current study were to test the hypotheses that ductus lactiferous may regenerate after its transection and to develop a reproducible model for future studies. A total of 168 nipples from 14 Wistar female rats were used in this experimental study. This study was conducted in 2 parts.

Subcision surgery for the correction of ear deformities.

The authors report the application of subcision surgery to ear deformities for crosscutting and weakening of the deformed cartilage. The subcision techniques for correction of a deformed cartilage are divided into two groups. With the first method, termed "horizontal subcision," a 18-gauge needle is inserted horizontally through a puncture in the skin surface, and multiple passes are made.

Delay in neurovenous flaps: experimental and clinical experience.

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of the standard surgical delay in the flaps based on the cutaneous branches of the vascular axis around a superficial sensory nerve. The delay procedure was experimentally tested in rats and subsequently used in patients. In the experimental study, the survival of a delayed inferior epigastric neurovenous flap was compared with that of a nondelayed inferior epigastric neurovenous flap.

No-touch technique for autologous fat harvesting.

A new technique for autologous fat harvesting is presented. It is termed the "no-touch" technique because the concentrated fat graft is obtained with no handling of fatty tissue. With the no-touch technique, fat aspiration is performed under tourniquet.

Free rectus abdominis muscle flap with plantar skingraft--a combined method of aesthetic and functional reconstruction of the heel.

A 16-year-old girl presented with a contusion of the left calcaneus that was treated by combined free rectus abdominis muscle flap and plantar skin graft. The main advantages of this procedure are that it replaces weight-bearing skin of the heel with histologically similar skin from the instep, and the fibrofatty pad of the heel with muscle; it provides a good cosmetic result in the heel, and the scars of the donor site are well-hidden.

Proximally pedicled musculocutaneous anterior interosseous flap for cubital fossa reconstruction.

Based on preexisting anatomic studies and our experience related to the upper extremity flaps, a proximally pedicled anterior interosseous flap was developed and used in 1 patient for the reconstruction of skin defect of cubital fossa and the biceps brachii muscle. The distal half of the brachioradialis muscle was included in the flap. The recovery of the elbow was excellent, with a full range of movement.