Pediatric patients face multiple reconstructive surgeries to reestablish function and aesthetics postburn injury. Often, the site of the harvested graft for these reconstructions is reported to be the most painful part of the procedure and a common reason for deferring these reconstructive procedures. This study in pediatric burn patients undergoing reconstructive procedures examined the analgesia response to local anesthetic infiltration versus either a single ultrasound-guided regional nerve block of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) or a fascia iliaca compartment block with catheter placement and continuous infusion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlast Reconstr Surg
November 2009
Background: The gracilis myocutaneous free flap provides an alternative for autologous breast reconstruction. It avoids abdominal donor-site morbidity, allows for a quicker recovery, provides an alternative to the thin patient with a hidden and acceptable donor site, and allows for supine positioning for harvest and inset in a timely fashion.
Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of all autogenous postmastectomy reconstructions performed between January of 2005 and March of 2008.