Free intra-osseous muscle transfer for treatment of chronic osteomyelitis.

Background: Chronic osteomyelitis is still a big reconstructive challenge. Even with standard care, therapeutic failures and recurrences are common. Multiple techniques of tissue transfer have increased the success rate.

Toxic shock syndrome due to group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus presenting with purpura fulminans and limb ischemia in a pediatric patient treated with early microsurgical arteriolysis.

We describe a 2.5 year-old child with toxic shock syndrome due to group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS) who presented with purpura fulminans and limb ischemia treated with early microsurgical arteriolysis. The clinical picture of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) presenting with purpura fulminans and limb ischemia is an exceptionally uncommon finding in sepsis due to GABHS.

Minimizing limb amputations in meningococcal sepsis by early microsurgical arteriolysis.

Purpose: Surgical treatment of children with meningococcal sepsis has mainly involved debridement of necrotic skin and amputation of limbs. This resulted in major functional impairment. On the contrary, when early microsurgical arteriolysis was performed, freeing up the blood vessels, the impaired blood flow could be restored, thereby significantly reducing the amputation levels.

A study of perfusion of the distal free-TRAM flap using laser Doppler flowmetry.

The aim of this study was to characterise microcirculatory changes in the distal part of a flap and to evaluate whether measurement of the microcirculation may predict flap complications (FC). In this prospective study, 30 patients undergoing a delayed breast reconstruction were included. Perioperative data were recorded and with the laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF; Perimed) blood flow was recorded in the central part (zone I) and the distal part (zone IV) of the flap.

Risk factors and blood flow in the free transverse rectus abdominis (TRAM) flap: smoking and high flap weight impair the free TRAM flap microcirculation.

Mastectomy patients may have significant psychologic-related problems. Breast reconstruction provides in these cases substantial benefits in restoring body image and health-related quality of live. Autologous free tissue transfer is the treatment of choice due to excellent outcome.

Is the treatment of keloid scars still a challenge in 2006?

Background: Several options are described to treat keloid scars, none of them being 100% successful. Radiotherapy is suggested to have the most significant effect on recurrence rate.

Objectives: The aim of the study is to confirm the effectiveness of iridium brachytherapy combined with surgery and to evaluate patient satisfaction.

The role of free flaps in the treatment of persistent scalp osteomyelitis.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of the combination of an extensive surgical debridement and simultaneous free flap repair in case of troublesome cranial osteomyelitis.

Methods: Five patients with persistent, frontal bone osteomyelitis were treated with surgical debridement of the infected bone and reconstruction with a free flap. In all patients, osteomyelitis occurred after neurosurgical procedures and lasted from 1 to 7 years.

Infected chronic wounds show different local and systemic arginine conversion compared with acute wounds.

Background: Several experimental studies have shown the importance of arginine in wound healing. However, little is known about its role in human wound healing. In this study, we investigated arginine metabolism in impaired wound healing.

Quality of life after breast reduction.

The purpose of this study is to compare health-related quality of life in women with symptomatic macromastia before and after breast reduction. Two comparable groups of women were enrolled in the study, those waiting for breast reduction (group 1) and those who underwent surgery approximately 2 years before (group 2). To evaluate the specific beneficial effects of breast reduction, we used a unique combination of general and specific questionnaires: the Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36), the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE), the Self-Consciousness Scale (SCS), and the Derriford Appearance Scale 59 (DAS-59).

Preservation of rat cremaster muscle microcirculation after prolonged cold storage and transplantation.

Background: Microvascular surgery for the reconstruction of complex defects involves an ischemic period, which may cause flap failure as the result of ischemia/reperfusion injury. We assessed the microvascular consequences of rat cremaster muscle transplantation after prolonged periods of cold storage in HTK-Bretschneider solution (HTK).

Materials And Methods: Cremaster muscle transplantations were performed immediately or after 8 or 24 h of cold storage (4 degrees C) in HTK or saline.

Do preservation solutions protect rat cremaster microcirculation during ischemia and reperfusion?

Background: Our aim was to investigate the potential of the preservation solution Celsior to protect rat cremaster muscle microcirculation during ischemia and reperfusion, and to compare its effects with those of HTK (histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate-Bretschneider solution). Because of its anti-oxidant contents, we expected Celsior to be more protective than HTK.

Materials And Methods: Capillary perfusion and leukocyte-endothelium interactions were examined in rat cremaster muscle using intravital microscopy.

Arterialized venous free flaps for soft-tissue reconstruction of digits: a 40-case series.

When there is not sufficient local tissue available for reconstruction of one or multiple digital defects, distant flap reconstructions are required. Available thin flaps with defined arterial inflow and venous outflow are limited and require the sacrifice of an arterial pedicle. In addition, a functional limitation can occur at the donor site.

Identification of differentially expressed genes in subcutaneous adipose tissue from subjects with familial combined hyperlipidemia.

Subjects with familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL) are characterized by a complex metabolic phenotype with hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, and central obesity. FCHL is due to impaired adipose tissue function superimposed on hepatic overproduction of lipoproteins. We investigated adipose tissue as an interesting target tissue for differential gene expression in FCHL.

Free fascia temporalis interpositioning as a treatment for wrist ankylosis.

The fascia temporalis is a thin and well-vascularized tissue and, for this reason, its use in reconstructive surgery is versatile. It can be used as an island flap in defects of the head and neck or as a free flap in reconstructions of different anatomic regions. As a "living" spacer in the treatment of wrist ankylosis, its use has not yet been described.