Experiences with functional gracilis muscle flap in lower lip reconstruction.

Objective: Reconstruction of the lips is pivotal because the lips play an essential role in facial aesthetics and have unique functional properties. We presented our experience in reconstruction of total or subtotal lower lip defects with functional gracillis muscle flap covered split-thickness skin graft (STSG) in patients.

Methods: Between 2009 and 2011, seven patients underwent resection of lower lip squamous cell carcinoma and lip reconstruction.

Reconstruction of fingertip defects with digital artery perforator flap.

Objective: The aim of this study was to present our findings for the use of the digital artery perforator (DAP) flap in the covering of digital pulp defects.

Methods: The study included 15 patients who underwent reconstruction of the fingertip using a DAP flap between July 2007 and February 2012. The blood supply of the perforator island flap was based on the distal and either radial or ulnar sides of the digit.

Metatarsal artery perforator-based propeller flap.

Soft-tissue defects of the distal foot that involve an exposed tendon and bone demonstrate a reconstructive challenge for plastic surgeons. This report investigates the feasibility and reliability of metatarsal artery perforator (MAP)-based propeller flap for reconstruction of the distal foot soft-tissue defects. Between July 2011 and June 2012, six patients underwent distal foot reconstruction with seven MAP-based propeller flaps.

Comparing various surgical delay methods with ischemic preconditioning in the rat TRAM flap model.

Both surgical delay and ischemic preconditioning (IP) have been shown to be effective in improving the survival of flaps. We used a variety of flap delay methods and IP to increase the surviving area of the transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap in rats, and the results are compared in between. A 6-× 3-cm-sized TRAM flap in 40 Wistar rats was allocated into five groups.

Reconstruction of lateral lower lip defects with transverse lip advancement flap.

Background: Lower lip defects between one and two thirds of the lower lip are usually reconstructed with neighboring tissues from the upper lip, cheeks, or the mentum or a combination of these tissues. In this article, we offer a simple and effective reconstruction option that can be used for lateral defects between one third and two thirds of lower lip tissue. Utilizing the tremendous flexibility and expandability of the lip tissue, we tried to minimize the incisions and scar, and maximize the sensation and function with transverse advancement flap.

Treatment of a supernumerary large breast with medial pedicle reduction mammaplasty.

Unlabelled: Accessory breast tissues including nipples, areolas, and glandular tissue may develop on the chest in addition to two normal breasts. An accessory breast with a complete ductal system, areola, and nipple is termed a "supernumerary breast." Supernumerary nipples are fairly common, but complete supernumerary breasts are rare.

Comparing different postconditioning cycles after ischemia reperfusion injury in the rat skin flap.

Ischemic postconditioning is a useful manipulation to reduce the undesirable effects of ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. The beneficial results of this phenomenon against I/R injury have been seen in several flap models. However, there are no published works comparing different postconditioning (post-con) cycles in skin flaps.

Innervated digital artery perforator flap.

Purpose: To describe a technique for covering defects of the fingertips: the innervated digital artery perforator (IDAP) flap.

Methods: A total of 17 patients were treated with an IDAP flap. The size of the flaps varied between 2 ×1 cm and 3.

Complex partial nasal reconstruction using free prelaminated temporoparietal fascial flap.

The reconstruction of nasal defects together with nasal lining, skeletal support, and skin loss constitutes difficulty to plastic surgeons. We present a single-stage reconstruction of the defect formed on the nasal tip, columella, septum, and upper lip after tumor excision by performing free temporoparietal fascial flap, costal cartilage, and skin graft. In this case, cartilage support was created by the graft taken from costal cartilage, and free temporoparietal fascial flap was wrapped around this cartilage scaffold.

Superiority of medial circumflex femoral artery perforator flap in scrotal reconstruction.

Scrotal skin has unique cosmetic and functional features that make its reconstruction difficult. Coverage of the testicles and constituting a good cosmetic appearance are major expectations from a successful reconstruction. Usually flaps are the choice for scrotal reconstruction, but every single flap has its own characteristics.

Reconstruction of large palatal defects using the free anterolateral thigh flap.

The ideal reconstructive method for the palatal defect should provide durable, stable coverage, and a natural contour, while simultaneously minimizing morbidity of both the defect and donor sites. Although small and usual palatal defects can be repaired easily using local adjacent tissues, successful closure of large, complex defects is still a challenging problem. Numerous free tissue options have to date been described for large palatal defects.

Clinical experience with free anterior interosseous flaps.

Despite versatility of the forearm as a flap source, anterior interosseous flaps from the dorsal forearm has not gained popularity among other alternatives. In our clinical experience, we investigated the feasibility of free anterior interosseous flap as a donor site. Between January 2002 and January 2006, 10 free anterior interosseous flaps were used in 10 consecutive cases.

The old and ill: influence and impact on the reconstructive effort.

Head and neck reconstruction is often mandatory in elderly and ill patients, especially after tumor ablation. Even complex reconstructive procedures can be done in the elderly population after careful evaluation. The morbidity and mortality rates increase with age, thus the risks and benefits of surgical intervention must be weighed precisely.

Midface reconstruction.

In the midface, two polyhedron-shaped maxillary units are separated by the central midportion, which includes the nasal area. The midface includes such facial features as the nose, cheek, and upper lip, and posteriorly it extends to the anterior skull base. In the superoinferior direction, the midface includes the soft and bony tissue from the orbital cavity to the oral cavity.

Effect of cyclooxygenase-2 on ischemic preconditioning of skin flaps.

Ischemic preconditioning is a useful tool to fight against reperfusion injury. This phenomenon is very complex and the underlying mechanism has various branches. Every study on ischemic preconditioning helps us to better understand this process.

A reverse-flow composite flap in the rat.

Reverse-flow flaps are currently particularly used for the reconstruction of defects of the distal part of the extremities. Despite their common usage there have been many reports of postoperative complications, especially resulting in partial or total flap necrosis. There is insufficient knowledge of flap haemodynamics, physiology and wound healing properties in reverse-flow flaps.

Reversed anterior interosseous flap.

Reversed flaps from the forearm have been firmly established for hand coverage. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. The reversed anterior interosseous flap is one option with special advantages in hand reconstruction.

The effect of ischemic preconditioning on secondary ischemia in skin flaps.

Ischemic preconditioning is a useful manipulation to reduce the undesirable effects of ischemia. The beneficial results of this phenomenon against ischemia-reperfusion have been seen in different flap models; however, all these studies have focused on primary ischemia. In this study, we investigated the effects of ischemic preconditioning on secondary ischemia in a skin flap model.

Free tensor fascia lata perforator flap as a backup procedure for head and neck reconstruction.

Free tissue transfer is an essential part of the head and neck reconstruction. Despite several flap options, free perforator flaps have become very popular for head and neck. Anterolateral thigh perforator flap has multiple advantages among other options and is preferred by most of the reconstructive microsurgeons.

Release and free flap reconstruction for trismus that develops after previous intraoral reconstruction.

Background: Oral cancer patients receive wide excision of oral structures and reconstruction of the intraoral defects with skin grafts and/or local, regional, or free flaps. Trismus is a common postoperative sequela, even without postoperative radiotherapy. Trismus decreases patients' quality of life and can have detrimental effects on their oral hygiene and nutritional status.

Guidelines for the optimization of microsurgery in atherosclerotic patients.

We review the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and the issues that must be taken into consideration when performing microsurgery in atherosclerotic patients. Atherosclerosis is a systemic disease, and may affect the success of microsurgery. Atherosclerotic patients have a tendency toward thrombosis, because the nature of the arteries is changed.

A new technique for substernal colon transposition with a breast dissector: report of 39 cases.

This paper investigates the effectiveness of the breast dissector to create a substernal space for oesophageal reconstruction. The surgeon must be extremely careful while dissecting the tissue below the sternum in order to avoid pneumothorax. The endoscopically assisted preparation of the substernal route is safe but it requires appropriate training.

Is it possible to increase the survival of the transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap following previous abdominoplasty using a delay procedure? An experimental study in the rat.

Background: Although, because of the disruption of perforators, abdominoplasty has been suggested as a major contraindication for patients undergoing autologous breast reconstruction with the transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap, many researchers encourage the search for a means of improving the survival of the skin paddle of the flap in patients who have undergone previous abdominoplasty. In this study, the effect of the surgical delay phenomenon on the survival of the TRAM flap following abdominoplasty was investigated.

Methods: Thirty adult Wistar rats were used: the control group (n = 6), the short-term group (n = 12), and the long-term group (n = 12).

Rationale for reconstruction of large scalp defects using the anterolateral thigh flap: structural and aesthetic outcomes.

The advent of free tissue transfer has provided multiple options that allow preservation and maintain both the structural and aesthetic status of the scalp. Since the first report of the anterolateral thigh flap in 1984, it has become one of the most commonly used flaps for the reconstruction of various soft-tissue defects. Eleven free anterolateral thigh flaps were used to reconstruct soft-tissue defects of different regions of the scalp.