Impact of Postoperative Antibiotic Prophylaxis Duration on Surgical Site Infections in Autologous Breast Reconstruction.

Background: Although some surgeons prescribe prolonged postoperative antibiotics after autologous breast reconstruction, evidence is lacking to support this practice. We used the Tracking Operations and Outcomes for Plastic Surgeons database to evaluate the association between postoperative antibiotic duration and the rate of surgical site infection (SSI) in autologous breast reconstruction.

Study Design: The intervention of interest for this study was postoperative duration of antibiotic prophylaxis: either discontinued 24 hours after surgery or continued beyond 24 hours.

Skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate tissue expander breast reconstruction in patients with macromastia using the Passot breast reduction pattern.

Skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) with immediate tissue expander reconstruction poses a challenge in the patient with macromastia or excessive ptosis. Skin reduction via the Wise pattern has been described but is associated with high rates of skin necrosis. The study group consisted of 43 women with grade 2 or 3 ptosis who underwent SSM and immediate reconstruction with tissue expanders, using the Passot (horizontal) skin reduction pattern.

The effect of saliva and oral intake on the tensile properties of sutures: an experimental study.

The plastic surgeon often operates in the oral cavity. Little or no information exists regarding the effect of saliva and oral intake upon the tensile properties of suture. Polyglactin 910 (Vicryl) and chromic gut were studied.

Squamous cell carcinoma arising from an arteriovenous malformation of the scalp.

We present the case of a 70-year-old man with a congenital scalp lesion consistent with an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) which over the last 3 years had developed ulcerative changes and bleeding in the central aspect that was a biopsy proven squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA). To control hemorrhage during surgery, a radiologist performed selective embolization of major feeding arteries in the lesion three days before the surgery. After total resection of the lesion, a scalp reconstruction was performed by using a free latissimus muscle flap and skin graft.

The educational value of a resident aesthetic surgery clinic: a 10-year review.

Background: Resident experience in aesthetic surgery is often deficient in many training programs around the country.

Objective: This study is the first to review the 10-year experience of a resident aesthetic clinic and identifies important educational aspects necessary for residency training in aesthetic surgery.

Methods: The operative experience of each chief resident from 1994 through 2004 and the database of the resident aesthetic surgery clinic during the same period were reviewed.

Breast reduction as an alternative treatment option for early breast cancer in women with macromastia.

Macromastia has been considered a relative contraindication to breast conservation therapy because of difficulties with postoperative radiation therapy and cosmesis. This study evaluates the feasibility of the inferior pedicle reduction mammaplasty as a component of breast conservation therapy for patients with early breast cancer. A retrospective review identified 6 patients with macromastia receiving oncologic treatment of breast cancer and simultaneous breast reduction.

Reconstruction of limited soft-tissue defect with open tibial fracture in the distal third of the leg: a cost and outcome study.

This study was conducted to analyze the cost and outcome of free-tissue transfers versus local muscle flaps for reconstruction of limited soft-tissue defects associated with tibial fractures in the distal third of the leg. Twelve adult patients underwent either free (n = 6) or local muscle (n = 6) flap reconstruction were retrospectively reviewed. Total operative time for local muscle flap reconstruction was 215 +/- 47 minutes compared with 450 +/- 90 minutes (P < 0.

Two partially embedded rings resulting in chronic erosion of a finger.

Embedded rings in the fingers may cause neurovascular, tendinous, or bony injury. These are very rare injuries usually found in patients with mental illness. To minimize the potentially serious complications, mentally-challenged individuals should have tight rings removed.

Autogenous orbital reconstruction in a child with congenital abnormalities of the orbital roof and vertical orbital dystopia.

Congenital anomalies of the orbital roof are rare occurrences. The case of a 2-year-old child with vertical orbital dystopia and abnormalities of the right bony orbit is presented. The patient underwent right orbital reconstruction to restore facial symmetry.

Pseudoaneurysm of the lateral plantar artery after foot laceration.

Two children with lateral plantar artery pseudoaneurysms are presented. Both cases were associated with a plantar laceration and were successfully treated with ligation. Only one other report of a lateral plantar artery pseudoaneurysm was found in the literature; no reports involving the medial plantar artery have been reported.