Topical negative pressure in wound management.

Objective: To investigate the role of topical negative pressure (TNP) therapy in the management of difficult wounds.

Design: Prospective consecutive patient series.

Patients And Setting: 30 patients referred to our tertiary plastic and reconstructive surgical service with wounds deemed unsuitable for reconstructive surgery were treated between November 1997 and the end of December 1998.

Classification and evaluation of the functional results of replanted parts of the hand at the Prince of Wales Hospital and the Prince of Wales Children's Hospital: 1984 to 1988.

This paper describes a simple method of classification and evaluation of the functional results of replanted and revascularized parts in the hand. The results are presented in graphic form and have been analyzed to correlate various factors: injured part, cause, and zone (level) of injury. The type of injury, ischemic time and age have been studied in more detail to determine their influence of the final functional result.

Upper lip reconstruction: use of the free superficial temporal artery hair-bearing flap.

The use of the superficial temporal artery hair-bearing flap applied to the repair of burn injuries to the upper lip of two male patients is described. It is a relatively simple method of providing tissue to the injured lip with advantages over traditional methods in that it is single-staged and provides the possibility for hair growth in the form of a camouflaging moustache. Donor site morbidity is minimal.

The venous flow augmentation pump: a solution to venous congestion.

Venous congestion is a well-recognized cause of failure of survival of replanted digits. When re-exploration of a venous congested digit is not possible, an alternate solution is presented. A description of the venous flow augmentation pump is provided, along with a preliminary case report of its successful use.