Publications by authors named "Akhavani M"

Article Synopsis
  • Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the UK, and implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR) is a common surgical approach, often using acellular dermal matrices (ADM).
  • A survey involving 32 international experts revealed significant disagreement about the effectiveness and benefits of ADM in pre-pectoral IBBR, with few believing it reduces complications.
  • The study highlights the need for more robust scientific evidence and large-scale trials to clarify the surgical outcomes and effectiveness of ADMs in breast reconstruction.
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Background: Lipoabdominoplasty is an established technique, but outcomes of high lipoaspirate volumes in large series are lacking. The authors present the UK experience of high-volume, drainless lipoabdominoplasty using progressive deep tension sutures.

Methods: A total of 286 consecutive patients at a single center underwent drainless lipoabdominoplasty with a lipoaspirate volume of 500 mL or greater between 2017 and 2023.

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Background: Traditionally, the use of a pneumatic arterial tourniquet was requisite for safe and effective surgery of the hand. The use of arterial tourniquets necessitates the use of regional or general anaesthesia. Wide-awake local anaesthetic no tourniquet (WALANT) has emerged as a novel technique to overcome the limitations of tourniquet use in conjunction with regional/general anaesthesia.

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The medial sural artery perforator (MSAP) flap is a versatile fasciocutaneous flap, and yet is less commonly utilized than other free flaps in microvascular reconstructions of the head and neck. The aim is to conduct a high-quality Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA)- and Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2)-compliant systematic review comparing the use of the MSAP flap to other microvascular free flaps in the head and neck. Medline, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched to identify all original comparative studies comparing patients undergoing head and neck reconstruction with an MSAP flap to the radial forearm free flap (RFFF) or anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap from inception to February 2021.

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The repair of zone 1 flexor tendon injury often relies on re-inserting the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendon to the distal phalanx. The aim of this retrospective study is to compare outcomes at 12 weeks following traditional button-over-nail (BON) versus bone anchor (BA) repair of zone I FDP injury. Patients undergoing zone 1 FDP repair between April 2007 and September 2018 using a BON or a BA were included in the study.

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Operative repair of flexor tendons after traumatic injury may be performed under general anesthesia (GA), regional blocks, or a wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) technique. To our knowledge there are currently no large-scale reports evaluating outcomes of flexor tendon repair in patients where wide-awake anesthesia was utilized in comparison to regional anesthesia (RA) and general anesthesia. We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent treatment for flexor tendon injuries at a tertiary referral center for hand surgery over a two-year period.

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Background: A reliable venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment model (RAM) can assist surgeons in identifying patients who would benefit from VTE prophylaxis. This systematic review was aimed at summarising the current available evidence on VTE RAMs used in aesthetic plastic surgery.

Methods: A comprehensive search was performed in the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases to include primary studies describing VTE RAMs in aesthetic plastic surgery from 1946 to February 2019.

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Surgical fixation of Bennett's fracture of the thumb is critical to prevent functional impairment; however, there is no consensus on the optimal fixation method. We performed an 11-year retrospective cohort analysis and a systematic literature review to determine long-term patient-reported outcomes following Bennett's fracture fixation. Retrospective cohort analysis identified 49 patients treated with Kirschner (K)-wire fixation, 85% returned to unrestricted movement during hand therapy.

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The Covid-19 pandemic has forced us to treat mammalian bite injuries more conservatively as resources were redirected to the Covid effort resulting in limited availability of hospital beds and theatre space. When comparing our outcomes before and during the first Covid-19 lockdown, this more conservative approach, which resulted in 24% less admissions and 19% less washouts in theatre, did not result in an increased infection rate. An increased rate of bite injuries during the national lockdown period was also noted.

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Background: The BAAPS advice against Brazilian butt lift (BBL) surgery in the UK was set in October 2018. A Delphi study conducted by BAAPS highlighted the importance of defining current practice and perceptions amongst UK surgeons, as this is currently unknown.

Objectives: To evaluate BAAPS members' current practice and perceptions around BBL surgery to ensure patient safety and propose better recommendations.

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 Peripheral nerve injuries in children are uncommon and can be challenging to diagnose. There is a paucity of data on long-term sensorimotor and functional outcomes following surgical repair. We present a 12-year retrospective analysis of pediatric peripheral nerve repair with long-term functional outcomes.

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Background: Cosmetic surgery tourism is thriving. Lower costs and all-inclusive cosmetic surgery holiday packages have led to more patients seeking cheaper aesthetic surgery abroad. However, limited postoperative care results in patients frequently presenting to UK National Health Service hospitals with postoperative complications requiring surgery.

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Technical steps to avoid incomplete proximal release of the carpal tunnel are described. Local anaesthesia is infiltrated as a subcutaneous bleb over the distal wrist crease and extending 2-3 cm over the forearm fascia. Tumescence of local anaesthesia into the subcutaneous plane helps create a pocket between the forearm fascia and subcutaneous tissues.

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Subgaleal haematoma (SH) is a rare condition, most frequently observed in neonates as a complication of Ventouse-assisted delivery. There have been few patients reported beyond this period. Those that are present within the literature have typically resulted from significant blunt scalp trauma, with or without associated skull fracture.

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Background: "Postbariatric" patients are at significant risk for increased postoperative complications. This study aimed to define the risk of venous thromboembolism following body-contouring surgery after massive weight loss.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on all patients who had undergone all forms of body-contouring procedures after massive weight loss between January 2005 and August 2012 at St George's Hospital, South West London, United Kingdom.

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Although much has been published about the treatment of Dupuytren's disease, there is no clear consensus regarding the most effective form of treatment. Part of this uncertainty may result from the absence of a universal method of assessing this condition. We undertook a review of the literature in order to summarize the various methods by which Dupuytren's disease has been measured and quantified.

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The safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of mannose 6-phosphate in enhancing the outcome in Zone II flexor tendon repair was studied in a multicentre parallel double-blinded randomized controlled trial. Eight UK teaching hospitals were involved in treating repaired flexor tendons with a single intraoperative intrathecal dose of 600 mM mannose 6-phosphate, with follow-up over 26 weeks. A total of 39 patients (mannose 6-phosphate, n = 20; standard care, n = 19) were randomized.

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Reconstruction of the inframammary fold (IMF) during breast reconstruction is vital in achieving good aesthetic outcomes and avoiding further corrective surgery. The IMF is usually reconstructed by comparing with the other side and estimating its correct position. The IMF template can be used to accurately and consistently mark the position of the IMF relative to the contralateral side thus aiding accurate reconstruction without the need to estimate.

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