Spino-Plastic Surgery: Addressing Spinal Tumors with New Techniques.

Spino-plastic surgery describes a specialized, multidisciplinary approach to addressing various spinal pathologies. The field is the innovative product of a multidisciplinary collaboration between plastic and reconstructive, orthopedic, and neurosurgery. Over the last few decades, this collaboration has borne promising surgical techniques and treatment plans geared toward restoring form, function, and aesthetics in patients with a variety of spinal conditions, including failed fusions, pseudoarthrosis, and the need for oncologic reconstruction.

Spinoplastic Reconstruction Using Iliac Crest Vascularized Bone Graft following Sacral Ependymoma Resection.

Sacral reconstruction post tumor resection has historically been executed with the placement of hardware or free tissue transfer. Reconstruction using a vascularized bone graft is an alternative that avoids the complications associated with hardware placement or free tissue transfer. This article describes the first documented case of spinoplastic reconstruction using an iliac crest vascularized bone graft (IC-VBG) after the resection of a sacral ependymoma.

Occipital Vascularized Bone Graft for Reconstruction of a C3-C7 Defect.

The number of spinal reconstruction cases is growing, as are the accompanying complications. Wound complications after spinal reconstruction can be fatal and can affect up to 19% of patients undergoing major spine surgery. The discipline of spinoplastic surgery is characterized by the use of vascularized bone grafts to reconstruct spinal defects, which provide better results compared with nonvascularized and allogenic equivalents, owing to their superior blood supply.

Energy-Based Medical Devices in Plastic Surgery: A Comparison of FDA-Approved Indications to Advertised Claims.

Background: Lasers and energy-based devices are commonly employed in aesthetic medicine. In the United States, the FDA regulates lasers as medical devices, restricting marketing to approved indications and making off-label claims illegal. Despite this, no comprehensive analysis of off-label marketing prevalence exists.

Wound closure techniques for spinoplastic surgery: a review of the literature.

Purpose: The approach to skin closure in spinal surgery is dependent on surgeon preference and experience. Wound complications, including dehiscence and surgical site infection (SSI), are common following spine surgery. The authors reviewed various wound closure techniques employed in spinal surgery.

Volumetric Analysis of a Novel Chimeric Gracilis and Profunda Artery Perforator Flap.

Background:  The presence of a chimeric gracilis and profunda artery perforator (PAP) flap with a common arterial pedicle has been demonstrated on computed tomography angiography in up to 59% of patients and confirmed in a cadaveric model. Already utilized for head and neck reconstruction by Heredero et al, this novel flap could provide more volume than either flap alone which is advantageous, particularly in patients with sizable defects. The purpose of this study was to determine the average tissue volume that can be utilized from this chimeric flap.

The PUG Flap: Conjoined Profunda Artery Perforator and Upper Gracilis Flap for Breast Reconstruction.

Abdominal-based free flaps are the mainstay of autologous breast reconstruction; however, the region may not be ideal for patients with inadequate soft tissue or history of abdominal surgery. This case describes the use of a novel conjoined flap based on the profunda artery perforator and upper gracilis pedicles, named the perforator and upper gracilis (PUG) flap. This flap design aims to maximize medial thigh flap volume while ensuring robust tissue perforation.

Robotic Surgery and Hospital Reimbursement.

The field of plastic surgery remains at the forefront of technological and surgical innovation. However, the promising applications of robotics in plastic surgery must be thoughtfully balanced with hospital finances and reimbursements. Robotic systems have been studied extensively across multiple surgical disciplines and across diverse health care systems.

Patient Perspectives and Quality of Life after Breast Reconstruction and the Impact of Subsequent Revisions.

Unlabelled: There is limited research on the impact of revisional surgery after breast reconstruction on patient experience and postoperative quality of life (QoL).

Methods: Patients undergoing mastectomy with immediate implant-based or autologous free-flap breast reconstruction from 2008 to 2020 were reviewed. These patients were categorized by revisions (0-1, 2-3, and 4+) and surveyed on QoL metrics using BREAST-Q and Was It Worth It? (WIWI) questionnaires.

Postoperative Complication Impact on Quality of Life after Postmastectomy Breast Reconstruction.

Background: Although the overall psychosocial benefits and body image gains of postmastectomy breast reconstruction are well-established, there is limited information on how postoperative complications affect patient quality of life (QOL).

Study Design: A single-institution cross-sectional survey analysis was performed on patients who underwent postmastectomy breast reconstruction between 2008 and 2020. QOL was assessed using the BREAST-Q and the Was It Worth It questionnaires.

Introduction of the L-PAP Flap: Bipedicled, Conjoined, and Stacked Thigh-Based Flaps for Autologous Breast Reconstruction.

Summary: Thigh-based flaps are increasingly popular options for autologous breast reconstruction in the setting of abdominal donor-site inadequacy, previous surgery, or patient preference, but the volume and skin associated with these flaps are often lacking relative to the abdomen. An individualized, shared decision-making approach to donor-site selection was adopted based on body shape, surgical history, lifestyle, reconstructive needs, and patient expectations. Different thigh-based flaps combined in stacked, bipedicled, or conjoined configurations were selected to maximize efficient use of available soft-tissue skin and volume while optimizing donor-site aesthetics.

Effective Strategies to Patent Plastic Surgery Ideas and Intellectual Property.

Patents are of great importance to plastic surgery, a field fueled by constant innovation. Familiarity with the patent process could promote further innovation by plastic surgeons. By granting proprietary rights to inventors in exchange for publication of their inventions, patents incentivize creativity and innovation while promoting diffusion and transfer of technology.

Current Surgical Outcomes of Nasal Tip Grafts in Rhinoplasty: A Systematic Review.

Background: Refinement of the nasal tip plays an important role in rhinoplasty surgery outcomes and may be considered the most technically challenging aspect of the procedure. Numerous techniques have been described for nasal tip augmentation utilizing grafts. The aim of this study was to systematically review the existing literature on nasal tip grafts and appraise it critically.

Correlation between Relative Value Units and Operative Time for Flap-Based Reconstruction Procedures.

Background: Procedures performed by plastic surgeons tend to generate lower work relative value units (RVUs) compared to other surgical specialties despite their major contributions to hospital revenue. The authors aimed to compare work RVUs allocated to all free flap and pedicled flap reconstruction procedures based on their associated median operative times and discuss implications of these compensation disparities.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of deidentified patient data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program was performed, and relevant CPT codes for flap-based reconstruction were identified from 2011 to 2018.

Management of Free Fillet Flap Transfers in Large Oncologic Resections.

Unlabelled: The fillet flap is a reliable flap for reconstruction of large deformities following oncologic resection. It provides healthy, nonradiated tissue for coverage with the secondary benefit of preserving other potential donor sites for reconstruction.

Methods: A retrospective review of the medical records of eight patients who underwent fillet flap reconstruction from 2013 to 2021 at Mayo Clinic, Arizona, were analyzed.

An Algorithmic Approach to Umbilical Inset during DIEP Flap Reconstruction.

An aesthetically pleasing umbilicus is a critical component to the overall cosmesis and resultant patient satisfaction after deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction. Because of variables in body habitus, comorbidities, and technical aspects of the procedure, patients undergoing DIEP flap breast reconstruction are at a higher risk of umbilical complications and poor aesthetic appearance of the neoumbilicus compared with those undergoing cosmetic abdominoplasty. To minimize these potential problems and maximize the overall aesthetic appearance of the abdomen, the authors propose an algorithmic approach to umbilical inset after DIEP flap harvest that takes into account several critical factors: the thickness of the subcutaneous tissue of the abdominal flap, the length of the umbilical stalk, and the depth of the umbilical bowl.

Sirenomelia: Review of a Rare Syndrome with Case Report, Review of Anatomy, and Thoughts on Management.

Background: Sirenomelia is a rare syndrome in which the infant is born with the legs fused from the pelvis to the feet. Sirenomelia is often fatal in the neonatal period because of multiple other anomalies. The feet may be absent; if present, they are often splayed outward or face backward.