Publications by authors named "Wojciech Dec"

Background: Choosing the optimal mastectomy incision must account for oncologic, reconstructive, and aesthetic considerations, including nipple preservation, mastectomy skin margins and potential for skin involvement, mastectomy skin perfusion and viability, mastectomy skin excess, previous breast scars, the reconstructive plan, and inconspicuous new scar placement. In the present study, we aimed to assess breast reconstruction aesthetics, as they are influenced by mastectomy incision design.

Methods: Nine commonly utilized mastectomy incision patterns were grouped into 3 categories: hidden scar, vertical scar, and transverse scar.

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The anterior chest wall is commonly involved in pediatric burn injuries. In women, deep thermal injuries may result in damage to the breast bud and breast skin, which can disrupt breast development and result in long-term deformities. In adulthood, the techniques frequently applied to correct these deformities focus on scar release in combination with skin grafting and implant-based procedures; however, these techniques often result in suboptimal aesthetic outcomes.

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Aims: Reduction mammoplasty (RM) is one of the most common plastic surgeries in the United States. We aimed to demonstrate the rate of incidental atypical and malignant breast lesions (AMBL) found in RM specimens and the impact of the number of submitted tissue sections on the rate of AMBL.

Methods And Results: We analysed our database for patients who had undergone reduction mammoplasty between 2000 and 2018.

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Background: Patients undergoing autologous breast reconstruction are at high risk of perioperative venous thromboembolic events. The efficacy of chemoprophylaxis in decreasing venous thromboembolic events is well established, but the timing of chemoprophylaxis remains controversial. The authors compare the incidence of bleeding following preoperative versus postoperative initiation of chemoprophylaxis in microvascular breast reconstruction.

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Breast reconstruction that leaves no visible scars on the breast is possible for a subset of patients. This article reviews a cohort of 10 patients who underwent 14 autologous breast reconstructions. To achieve a reconstruction without visible breast scars, the mastectomy and autologous reconstruction are carried out through a periareolar incision.

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Background: Achieving excellent aesthetic outcomes in reconstruction of large or ptotic breasts is especially challenging. Incorporating a Wise pattern into the mastectomy design is effective in reducing the excess breast skin, however it increases the risk of mastectomy skin necrosis. The aim of this study is to describe surgical maneuvers which optimize aesthetic outcomes, anticipate flap volume requirements, and limit mastectomy skin necrosis in autologous reconstruction in patients with macromastia and grade III ptosis.

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Background: The need to restore both the missing breast volume and breast surface area makes achieving excellent aesthetic outcomes in delayed breast reconstruction especially challenging. Autologous breast reconstruction can be used to achieve both goals. The aim of this study was to identify surgical maneuvers that can optimize aesthetic outcomes in delayed breast reconstruction.

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 Management of craniofacial and cranial base tumors is a challenge due to the anatomic intricacies associated with the calvarium, the pathological diversity of lesions that present, and the potential complications. Clinical outcomes in laparoscopically harvested omentum free flaps for cranial base and craniofacial reconstruction are presented in this paper, in the largest case series to date.  A retrospective single-center experience for over 10 years with laparoscopically harvested omentum flaps used to reconstruct craniofacial and cranial base defects.

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Background: Lower extremity reconstruction after resection of long bone tumors in children is challenging because of the unique functional demands and growth potential of the lower extremity. The use of a free fibula flap inside a massive bone allograft provides a reliable reconstructive option. The authors evaluate the surgical and functional outcomes of using this technique.

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Preoperative nasoalveolar molding (NAM) in combination with primary gingivoperiosteoplasty (GPP) reduces the need for secondary alveolar bone grafting by 60% in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (CL/P). Herein, we investigate the efficacy of NAM and primary GPP in patients with bilateral CL/P. All patients (n = 38) with bilateral CL/P who underwent NAM and primary GPP from 1988 to 1998 with at least 14 years of follow-up were included in this study.

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Despite significant advances in cleft lip and palate treatment, anatomical controversies remain. Some have proposed that the width of the cleft is due to alveolar segmental displacement. Others suggest that the width is due to palatoalveolar hypoplasia.

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The incidence of postoperative complications in cleft care is low. In this 19-year retrospective analysis of cleft lip and palate patients treated with preoperative nasoalveolar molding, we examine the incidence of postoperative oronasal fistulae. The charts of 178 patients who underwent preoperative nasoalveolar molding by the same orthodontist/prosthodontist team and primary cleft lip/palate repair by the same surgeon over a 19-year period were reviewed.

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Craniofacial vascularized composite allotransplantation is especially challenging when bony components are required. Matching the complex three-dimensional anatomy of the donor and recipient craniofacial skeletons to optimize bony contact and dental occlusion is a time-consuming step in the operating room. Currently, few tools exist to facilitate this process.

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Background: Nasoalveolar molding was developed to improve dentoalveolar, septal, and lower lateral cartilage position before cleft lip repair. Previous studies have documented the long-term maintenance of columella length and nasal dome form and projection. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of presurgical nasoalveolar molding on long-term unilateral complete cleft nasal symmetry.

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Background: The application of distraction osteogenesis is an effective treatment for mandibular deficiencies. A priori, a horizontal vector of distraction was hypothesized to produce horizontal movement of the mandible and a vertical vector of distraction to produce primarily downward vertical elongation of the ramus. This study was designed to test this hypothesis.

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Background: Unilateral craniofacial microsomia is characterized by soft-tissue and bony deficiencies. Mandibular distraction osteogenesis can be used to augment the hypoplastic skeleton and improve facial symmetry. The aim of this study was to determine how the vector of unilateral mandibular distraction affects treatment outcomes.

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Although recent studies indicate that regional dura mater influences the fate of the overlying cranial suture, little is known about the assembly of extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules within the patent and fusing murine cranial suture complexes. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to study ECM assembly within patent and fusing cranial suture complexes. Coronal sections (20 microm thick) of patent sagittal (SAG) and fusing posterior frontal (PF) sutures from postnatal 8-, 14-, and 18-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were scanned in 0.

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The decision to replant a severed part is based on the numerous factors that influence survival of the part and the functional and aesthetic benefits gained from replanting. Not all amputees will benefit from or are candidates for replantation. The decision to proceed is therefore made by the surgeon who must consider the mechanism and extent of injury, the age of the patient, the presence of other medical or surgical conditions, the likely functional outcomes, and the patient's motivation to undergo a difficult procedure, which is followed by a lengthy recovery.

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