Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the morbidity and the aesthetic and functional outcomes of primarily closed donor sites of three commonly used free flaps.
Methods: Sixty patients who had undergone free flap reconstruction (20 anterolateral thigh, 20 parascapular, and 20 lateral arm flaps) were included in this study. The average follow-up time was 50 months (range, 6 to 135 months). Patients assessed subjective donor-site morbidity and satisfaction with the aesthetic and overall functional result using a self-report questionnaire. Outcome measures were the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire; the Lower Extremity Functional Scale; and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey questionnaire.
Results: No significant differences in range of motion or in questionnaire, scale, or survey scores were detected. Sensory disorders were present in 100 percent (lateral arm), 90 percent (anterolateral thigh), and 45 percent (parascapular). No correlation to flap size was detected (187 cm for parascapular and anterolateral thigh, and 70 cm for lateral arm flaps). Postoperative complications were seromas (parascapular, n = 2), hematomas (parascapular, n = 1; lateral arm, n = 2), and dehiscence (n = 4 for each flap). Patient satisfaction with the donor site was rated 2.9 for lateral arm and anterolateral thigh flaps and 2.5 for parascapular flaps (1 = excellent, 6 = poor). Seventy percent of anterolateral thigh, 85 percent of lateral arm, and 100 percent of parascapular flap patients would choose their flap again.
Conclusion: In terms of reducing donor-site morbidity, the parascapular flap represents a valuable alternative to the anterolateral thigh and lateral arm flaps, but side positioning and increased seroma are drawbacks.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0b013e31827786bc | DOI Listing |
BMC Oral Health
January 2025
Department of Endodontics, School of Stomatology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Background: Endodontic file fractures are common complications of root canal treatment, and requires removal via specialized techniques such as endodontic microsurgery when the file beyond the apical foramen. It is often challenging to precisely and minimally remove a fractured file. Recently the use of dental autonomous robotic system (ATR) has shown promise in precisely and minimally in dental surgery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBreast J
January 2025
Division of Breast Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Little Rock, AR, USA.
Indian J Plast Surg
December 2024
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
Traditionally, burn reconstructions have been performed by the use of skin grafting or local flaps. Recently free flaps are being used with increasing frequency. Although not very common in the head neck region, free flaps are mostly used for secondary reconstructions of cervicofacial contractures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Biomech
December 2024
Faculty of Health and Sports Science, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan; Human Performance Laboratory, Waseda University, Saitama, Japan.
A muscle's mechanical action is affected by its architecture. However, less is known about the architecture of muscles with broad attachments: "end-divergent" muscles. Potential regional variation of fascicle orientation in end-divergent muscles suggests that their mechanical action varies by region.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClin Chim Acta
December 2024
Unilabs Group, Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address:
Background: Alternative means of blood sampling continue to grow due to the scarcity of phlebotomists and the need for person-centered care. It is crucial to consistently support these alternative blood sampling innovations with scientific evidence to guarantee the quality of care, especially when implementing for instance Lateral Upper-arm Blood Collection (LUBC) for non-trained professionals at home. Knowledge gaps remain in how to quantify imprecision introduced by the collection method and its impact on clinical use.
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