Introduction: In this study, we evaluate the versatility of smartphone thermal imaging technology as a valuable intraoperative modality in different stages of perforator flap surgery aiming to minimize the complications and achieve the best postoperative outcome.
Patients And Methods: Thermography was performed in 20 perforator flaps in 20 patients at different surgical stages in three different ways to identify the most dominant perforator: first, by measuring the surface temperature of the skin; second, by using the dynamic infrared thermography technique; and third, by assessing the perfusion pattern when the flap was supplied by each perforator separately. Thermography was used to help in discarding the least perfused area of the flap.
Introduction: Flexor tendons are traditionally repaired under either general anaesthesia (GA) or regional anaesthesia (RA), allowing for the use of an arm tourniquet to minimise blood loss and establish a bloodless surgical field. However, the use of tourniquets exposes the patient to certain risks, including skin, muscle and nerve injuries. A recent advancement in anaesthesia delivery involves the use of a wide-awake approach where no sedation nor tourniquets are used (wide-awake local anaesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT)).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlopecia affects perceptions of age, beauty, success, and adaptability. Hair loss can be caused by genetic, physiological, environmental, and immunologic factors. The current treatment for alopecia is varied.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLiposuction plays an important role as a surgical treatment option for lipoedema. This article serves to critically review the evidence in the literature, as well as explain the differences between the lipoedema population compared with the aesthetic surgery population undergoing liposuction. It is not a comprehensive text on lipoedema management but serves to guide surgeons.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlast Reconstr Surg Glob Open
November 2022
Unlabelled: Breast augmentation is one of the most common aesthetic surgical procedures. Tissue expansion followed by permanent implants is the most frequent postmastectomy breast reconstruction method. Implant contamination remains a critical problem with these procedures' resulting in acute infection as well as capsular contracture.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: A single digit amputated proximal to the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) insertion is a relative contraindication to replantation. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review on replantation of these injuries to synthesize best available evidence on outcomes.
Methods: This review was registered in PROSPERO under registration number CRD42021277305.
J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg
September 2022
Background: The first-line treatment for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) involved either surgical excision (SE) or Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). The current waiting time for MMS and whether this is associated with worsening of outcome is unknown. We aim to look at the waiting time for MMS upon review at the Outpatient Specialist Dermatology Clinic and the increase in lesion size during this time period.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg
April 2022
Objectives: Breast reconstructive surgery is often performed following breast cancer treatment to restore the natural appearance of the breast. Despite various research performed in this field, there is a discrepancy between the research question that is considered crucial jointly by patients, carers and healthcare professionals and the research performed. The Breast Reconstruction Priority Setting Partnership was formed to determine the top research priorities in all aspects of breast reconstructive surgery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLiposuction is one of the commonest surgical aesthetic procedures performed worldwide. Despite being perceived to be a technically simple procedure, poor patient selection, sub-optimal technical execution or sub-optimal peri‑operative management could lead to significant harm. This guidance was produced on behalf of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) and British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) by the expert liposuction group.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHigh prevalence of non-healing chronic wounds contributes to a huge healthcare burden across the world. Early treatment interventions for non-healing wounds are vital. It was previously shown that accumulation of 15% or more of senescent cells in a chronic wound edge is an indicator that the wound is unlikely to heal.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: There is great uncertainty regarding the practice of immediate autologous breast reconstruction (IBR) when post-mastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) is indicated. Plastic surgery units differ in their treatment protocols, with some recommending delayed breast reconstruction (DBR) following PMRT. IBR offers significant cosmetic and psychosocial benefits; however, the morbidity of flap exposure to radiation remains unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: A reliable venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment model (RAM) can assist surgeons in identifying patients who would benefit from VTE prophylaxis. This systematic review was aimed at summarising the current available evidence on VTE RAMs used in aesthetic plastic surgery.
Methods: A comprehensive search was performed in the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases to include primary studies describing VTE RAMs in aesthetic plastic surgery from 1946 to February 2019.
J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg
November 2021
Background: The current management of an infected breast implant is varied. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to synthesise the current evidence and establish the efficacy of the various managements of infected breast implants.
Methods: A comprehensive search in the MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL databases was conducted for primary clinical studies that report on the management of infected breast implants from 1946 to September 2019.
Introduction: Implant loss due to infection is the most devastating complication of implant-based breast reconstruction. The use of negative pressure wound therapy with instillation(NPWTi) for salvage of infected implant-based breast reconstructions has shown promising results allowing early reinsertion of a new implant as an alternative to the current management with delayed reinsertion. This study compares the patient-reported outcome and cost implication of NPWTi to the current management.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWound coverage by split-thickness skin graft (SSG) and epidermal graft (EG) shortens healing time, with comparable outcomes. However, the healing mechanism of EG is not as well understood as SSG. The difference in the healing mechanisms of EG and SSG was investigated using gap junctional proteins, proliferative marker, and cytokeratin markers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHand injury is a common presentation in the emergency department (ED). The accurate assessment of hand injuries is essential to ensure optimal management, which may need to include referral to a tertiary trauma centre. However, hand injury assessment can be challenging, particularly in children.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Current literature clearly outlines the complication rates of liposuction in general; however, data specific to large-volume liposuction (LVL) remain unclear.
Objectives: The authors aimed to synthesize the current evidence on the safety of LVL with this systematic review.
Methods: A comprehensive search in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases was conducted for primary clinical studies reporting on safety or complications related to aesthetic LVL from 1946 to March 2020.
This study evaluates the current clinical evidence of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy with Instillation and dwell time (NPWTi-d) to establish its clinical application and efficacy. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases were searched from 1946 to July 2019 for studies reporting clinical outcomes on wounds treated with NPWTi-d. The primary outcome was proportion of wounds with complete healing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChronic, nonhealing diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are increasing in prevalence and are often unresponsive to conventional therapy. Adipose tissue, containing adipose-derived stem cells, and platelet rich plasma (PRP) are regenerative therapies rich in growth factors which may provide a solution to chronic wound healing. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of conducting a definitive randomised controlled trial (RCT) to investigate the efficacy of these therapies for the treatment of DFU.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Split thickness skin grafting (SSG) is an important modality for wound coverage; however, it leads to donor site morbidity. Epidermal grafting (EG) is a promising option for autologous skin grafting which offers minimal donor site morbidity, though it is not known if EG is an effective clinical alternative for SSG. This study compared the efficacy of EG as an alternative to SSG in terms of wound healing outcomes, donor site morbidity, patient satisfaction and adverse events.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: About 30% of patients request breast reconstruction following surgery for breast cancer, but radiation therapy negatively influences the outcome. Post-reconstruction radiotherapy is associated with more complications, including more severe capsular contracture and inferior cosmetic results. In general, less fibrosis is seen if autologous reconstruction is performed after radiotherapy, so surgeons will often delay reconstruction until after radiotherapy is complete.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPenile wounds after traumatic and surgical amputation require reconstruction in the form of autologous tissue transfers. However, currently used techniques are associated with high infection rates, implant erosion and donor site morbidity. The use of tissue-engineered neocorpora provides an alternative treatment option.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDonor site aesthetic outcomes of epidermal graft (EG) vs split-thickness skin graft (SSG) have yet to be objectively compared. Here, we evaluate donor site healing using a validated scar assessment tool and digital colorimetric technique, which compares colour in a consistent and objective manner. Ten patients (SSG (n = 5) and EG (n = 5)) were included.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap is widely regarded as the Gold Standard in autologous breast reconstruction. Although drain-free abdominoplasty is performed in many centres, there is a paucity of evidence comparing outcomes when applied to DIEP breast reconstruction.
Method: A retrospective review of patients who underwent DIEP breast reconstruction without abdominal drain insertion at Royal Free Hospital between Jan 2012-Nov 2016 was undertaken.