Randomized Controlled Trial: Acquisition of Basic Microsurgical Skills Through Smartphone Training Model.

Background: Microsurgery is essential in various surgical specialties, but learning these skills is challenging due to work hour limitations, patient safety concerns, documentation time, and ethical objections to practicing on live animals. This randomized controlled trial compares 2 microsurgical training models: the smartphone model and the microscope model.

Methods: Thirty students without prior microsurgery experience were randomized into 3 groups: control (CG), smartphone (SG), and microscope (MG).

Systematic Review on Working Mechanisms of Signaling Pathways in Fibrosis During Shockwave Therapy.

Fibrosis is characterized by scarring and hardening of tissues and organs. It can affect every organ system, and so could result in organ failure due to the accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins. Previous studies suggest that mechanical forces (such as shockwave therapy, SWT) initiate a process of mechanotransduction and thus could regulate fibrosis.

Automated thermographic detection of blood vessels for DIEP flap reconstructive surgery.

Purpose: Inadequate perfusion is the most common cause of partial flap loss in tissue transfer for post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. The current state-of-the-art uses computed tomography angiography (CTA) to locate the best perforators. Unfortunately, these techniques are expensive and time-consuming and not performed during surgery.

The evolution of breast reconstructions with free flaps: a historical overview.

Background: Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer among women and is responsible for the highest number of cancer-related deaths. Approximately 40% of the patients with breast cancer will undergo a mastectomy. Breast amputation is a lifesaving but mutilating procedure.