Minimally invasive scar release by autologous adipose tissue transfer for post-traumatic neuropathic pain.

Introduction: Addressing post traumatic lower limb neuropathic pain is challenging across medical specialties. To address this potentially devastating condition, several invasive and non-invasive approaches have been proposed with inconsistent results. Adipose fat transfer (AFT), also known as fat grafting, is a regenerative medicine technique in which a patient's own fat is harvested from one area of the body (usually through liposuction) and then injected into another area for various purposes, such as aesthetic contour enhancement or reconstruction and regeneration of scarred tissues.

Minimally invasive nerve and artery sparing surgical approach for temporal migraines.

Background: Temporal migraines (TM) present with throbbing, pulsating headaches in the temporal area. Different surgical techniques ranging from resecting the auriculotemporal nerve (ATN) and or ligating the superficial temporal artery (STA) have shown similar good results to decrease TM symptoms. No conclusive data supports a specific disease of the STA in TM patients.

Minimally Invasive Nerve- and Muscle-Sparing Surgical Decompression for Occipital Neuralgia.

Background: Occipital neuralgia is a well-defined type of headache, and its treatment algorithm is still debated across medical specialties. From the analysis of the literature, it appears that surgical decompression of the occipital nerves is the most effective invasive approach to improve the quality of life of patients with occipital neuralgia refractory to medications. The authors describe here a minimally invasive nerve- and muscle-sparing technique to decompress the occipital nerves.

Portable bioluminescent platform for in vivo monitoring of biological processes in non-transgenic animals.

Bioluminescent imaging (BLI) is one of the most powerful and widely used preclinical imaging modalities. However, the current technology relies on the use of transgenic luciferase-expressing cells and animals and therefore can only be applied to a limited number of existing animal models of human disease. Here, we report the development of a "portable bioluminescent" (PBL) technology that overcomes most of the major limitations of traditional BLI.

Selective denervation of the corrugator supercilii muscle for the treatment of idiopatic trigeminal neuralgia purely paroxysmal distributed in the supraorbital and suprathrochlear dermatomes.

Introduction: Idiopatic trigeminal neuralgia purely paroxysmal (ITNp) distributed in the supraorbital and suprathrochlear dermatomes (SSd), refractory to conventional treatments have been linked to the hyperactivity of the corrugator supercilii muscle (CSM). In these patients, the inactivation of the CSM via botulinum toxin type A (BTA) injections has been proven to be safe and effective in reducing migraine burden. The main limitation of BTA is the need of repetitive injections and relative high costs.

Chronic Knee and Ankle Pain Treatment through Selective Microsurgical Approaches: A Minimally Invasive Option in the Treatment Algorithm for Refractory Lower Limb Pain.

Background:  Injury or compression of a sensory nerve is an under-reported source of disabling pain in the lower limb. It is known that peripheral nerve microsurgeons can reconstruct and rewire injured nerves to relieve chronic pain but this option remains not completely understood and ignored by most orthopaedic surgeons, neurologists, and pain therapists. In this paper, we describe our experience with knee and ankle peripheral nerve surgery to improve the condition of patients suffering from chronic, posttraumatic lower limb pain.

Embryonic stem cell extracts improve wound healing in diabetic mice.

Aims/hypothesis: Impaired wound healing significantly impacts morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients, necessitating the development of novel treatments to improve the wound healing process. We here investigated the topical use of acellular embryonic stem cell extracts (EXTs) in wound healing in diabetic db/db mice.

Methods: Wounds were induced in diabetic db/db mice, which were subsequently treated with EXTs, with 3T3 fibroblast cell line protein extracts (3T3XTs) or with saline as a control.

The Greater Occipital Nerve and Obliquus Capitis Inferior Muscle: Anatomical Interactions and Implications for Occipital Pain Syndromes.

Background: The compression/injury of the greater occipital nerve has been identified as a trigger of occipital headaches. Several compression points have been described, but the morphology of the myofascial unit between the greater occipital nerve and the obliquus capitis inferior muscle has not been studied yet.

Methods: Twenty fresh cadaveric heads were dissected, and the greater occipital nerve was tracked from its emergence to its passage around the obliquus capitis inferior.

Double Triangular Cartilage Excision Otoplasty.

Background: Prominent ears have a negative impact on patients' psychosocial well-being. There are numerous surgical correction techniques described, but the majority have high complication and recurrence rates. In this article, the authors present a stitchless technique that takes advantage of different approaches to minimize complications and recurrences.

Minimal Undermining Suspension Technique (MUST): Combined Eyebrow and Mid-face Lift via Temporal Access.

Background: Less downtime following esthetic interventions leads to the popularity of injectable solutions for facial rejuvenation treatments. Surgical interventions for esthetic purposes are usually associated with higher complication rates and longer recovery times when compared to less invasive treatments. Here we present for the first time a minimally invasive surgical technique for a simultaneous mid-face and eyebrow lift using one small temporal incision.

Anatomic and Compression Topography of the Lesser Occipital Nerve.

Background: The surgical treatment of occipital headaches focuses on the greater, lesser, and third occipital nerves. The lesser occipital nerve (LON) is usually transected with relatively limited available information regarding the compression topography thereof and how such knowledge may impact surgical treatment.

Methods: Eight fresh frozen cadavers were dissected focusing on the LON in relation to 3 clinically relevant compression zones.

The Outcome of Primary Subglandular Breast Augmentation Using Tumescent Local Anesthesia.

Background: Tumescent local anesthesia (TLA) technique to obtain regional anesthesia and vasoconstriction of the skin and subcutaneous tissues is routinely adopted for several plastic surgery procedures. Here, we describe the use of TLA in primary subglandular breast augmentation. This series evaluates advantages and disadvantages of TLA in elective augmentation breast surgery as well as patients' response to this procedure.

Novel micropatterns mechanically control fibrotic reactions at the surface of silicone implants.

Over the past decade, various implantable devices have been developed to treat diseases that were previously difficult to manage such diabetes, chronic pain, and neurodegenerative disorders. However, translation of these novel technologies into clinical practice is often difficult because fibrotic encapsulation and/or rejection impairs device function after body implantation. Ideally, cells of the host tissue should perceive the surface of the implant being similar to the normal extracellular matrix.

Nonactivated versus thrombin-activated platelets on wound healing and fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation in vivo and in vitro.

Background: Platelet preparations for tissue healing are usually preactivated before application to deliver concentrated growth factors. In this study, the authors investigated the differences between nonactivated and thrombin-activated platelets in wound healing.

Methods: The healing effects (i.

Epoxyeicosanoids stimulate multiorgan metastasis and tumor dormancy escape in mice.

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are small molecules produced by cytochrome P450 epoxygenases. They are lipid mediators that act as autocrine or paracrine factors to regulate inflammation and vascular tone. As a result, drugs that raise EET levels are in clinical trials for the treatment of hypertension and many other diseases.

A review of the role of mechanical forces in cutaneous wound healing.

Cutaneous wound healing is a complex process with many types of mechanical forces regulating the quality and speed of healing. The role of mechanical forces in regulating tissue growth, repair and remodelling was recognised more than a century ago. Such forces influence gene expression, the synthesis of growth factors and inflammatory mediators and cellular processes like proliferation of many load-sensitive cells.

Poly-N-acetyl glucosamine fibers induce angiogenesis in ADP inhibitor-treated diabetic mice.

Background: It has been previously demonstrated that short-fiber poly-N-acetyl-glucosamine (sNAG) nanofibers specifically interact with platelets, are hemostatic, and stimulate diabetic wound healing by activating angiogenesis, cell proliferation, and reepithelialization. Platelets play a significant physiologic role in wound healing. The influence of altered platelet function by treatment with the ADP inhibitor Clopidogrel (CL) on wound healing and the ability of sNAG to repair wounds in diabetic mice treated with CL were studied.

Waveform modulation of negative-pressure wound therapy in the murine model.

Background: Negative-pressure wound therapy applied with a porous foam interface has been shown to accelerate granulation-tissue formation when a cyclic application mode of suction is applied, but the optimal waveform has not been determined. The authors hypothesized that changes in the suction waveform applied to wounds would modulate the biological response of granulation tissue formation.

Methods: A vacuum-assisted closure device (Kinetic Concepts, Inc.

A facial inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour in a 6-year-old girl: plastic surgery lessons from a rare case.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours (IMT) are rare, challenging lesions with respect to differential diagnosis, biological behaviour and treatment. We reviewed the literature and report a unique case of a large (9 × 8 × 8 cm) IMT in the nasal region of a 6-year-old girl responsible for important facial deformation. Following surgical resection, without any craniofacial reconstruction, the dysmorphism regressed spontaneously with a good result at 2 years of follow-up.

The mobilization and effect of endogenous bone marrow progenitor cells in diabetic wound healing.

Diabetic patients suffer from impaired wound healing, characterized by only modest angiogenesis and cell proliferation. Stem cells may stimulate healing, but little is known about the kinetics of mobilization and function of bone marrow progenitor cells (BM-PCs) during diabetic wound repair. The objective of this study was to investigate the kinetics of BM-PC mobilization and their role during early diabetic wound repair in diabetic db/db mice.