Surgical Treatment of Obstetric Plexus Lesions by Direct Coaptation Compared to Sural Nerve Graft Interposition.

 To date, there are no uniform guidelines for the treatment of obstetric plexus lesions in German-speaking countries. An end-to-end direct suture after resection of trunk neuroma is recommended for surgical treatment if tension-free coaptation is possible, whereas the use of autologous nerve grafts bridging the gap between the adaptation margins is advised by consensus if tension-free coaptation is impossible.  The aim of the study was to investigate which reconstruction strategy may provide a better recovery of motor function for patients after obstetric brachial plexus lesion.

Systematic evaluation of adhesives for implant fixation in multimodal functional brain MRI.

Objective: Invasive multimodal fMRI in rodents is often compromised by susceptibility artifacts from adhesives used to secure cranial implants. We hypothesized that adhesive type, shape, and field strength significantly affect susceptibility artifacts, and systematically evaluated various adhesives.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-one adhesives were applied in constrained/unconstrained geometries and imaged with T2*-weighted EPI at 7.

Scapho-metacarpal dual mobility prosthesis for TMC-1 joint salvage: technical insights.

Introduction: Rhizarthrosis, or osteoarthritis of the trapeziometacarpal joint, predominantly affects women over 50, with up to 30% experiencing some degree of arthritis in this joint. Traditional surgical approaches, such as trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction, can result in some patients in persistent pain or limited functionality. TMC ball-in-socket arthroplasty, with a cup placed in the distal scaphoid, offers a promising alternative to traditional arthrodesis or resection-suspension arthroplasty.

Free vascularized fibula transfer in single- or double-barrel technique for reconstruction of segmental bone defects following oncological resection or posttraumatic bone loss.

Background: Significant osseous defects or osteonecrosis, precipitated by open fractures, infections, or neoplastic conditions, represent infrequent yet critical medical conditions. The free vascularized fibular graft (FVFG) is a challenging but straightforward, reliable surgical intervention for the reconstruction of defects across various anatomical regions. This study aims to compare, quantify, and demonstrate the FVFG's versatility.

Nerve transfer of the median flexor pollicis brevis branch to the deep branch of the ulnar nerve for ulnar nerve palsy: a cadaveric feasibility study.

An ulnar nerve (UN) palsy is devastating for hand function, resulting in an intrinsic minus position or claw hand with a loss of pinch grip. Distal nerve transfers facilitate faster reinnervation of hand intrinsic muscles in cases of proximal ulnar nerve lesions. The traditional anterior interosseous nerve (AIN) to UN motor transfer is commonly used, however, this still leads to long reinnervation times for the distal intrinsic muscles, important for the thumb to index pinch grip.

Electrospinning based biomaterials for biomimetic fabrication, bioactive protein delivery and wound regenerative repair.

Electrospinning is a remarkably straightforward and adaptable technique that can be employed to process an array of synthetic and natural materials, resulting in the production of nanoscale fibers. It has emerged as a novel technique for biomedical applications and has gained increasing popularity in the research community in recent times. In the context of tissue repair and tissue engineering, there is a growing tendency toward the integration of biomimetic scaffolds and bioactive macromolecules, particularly proteins and growth factors.

Gender Gap? A Survey among Plastic Surgeons in Germany.

Introduction: There is an ongoing increase in the percentage of females in the field of Plastic Surgery in Germany. Currently, 29,1% of fellows and 46% of residents in Germany are female. Several studies have pointed out the various obstacles that female doctors, especially female plastic surgeons, are confronted with in their professional life.

Pelvic packing - status 2024.

Patients with unstable hemodynamics and unstable pelvic ring injuries are still demanding patients regarding initial treatment and survival. Several concepts were reported during the last 30 years. Mechanical stabilization of the pelvis together with hemorrhage control offer the best treatment option in these patients.

Comparative Analysis of Liposuction and Conservative Treatment in Lipedema Patients: A Modified Body-Q Questionnaire Study.

: Despite its estimated high prevalence among women and increasing awareness, lipedema remains under-investigated. Ignoring its debilitating nature, surgical treatment for this condition is frequently covered by health insurance only in advanced stages and after the exhaustion of conservative therapies. : A total of 1015 patients with lipedema were recruited via social media platforms.

Standardization to Characterize the Complexity of Vessel Network Using the Aortic Ring Model.

Regeneration after ischemia requires to be promoted by (re)perfusion of the affected tissue, and, to date, there is no therapy that covers all needs. In treatment with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), the secretome acts via paracrine mechanisms and has a positive influence on vascular regeneration via proangiogenic factors. A lack of standardization and the high complexity of vascular structures make it difficult to compare angiogenic readouts from different studies.

Evaluating smartphone-based 3D imaging techniques for clinical application in oral and maxillofacial surgery: A comparative study with the vectra M5.

Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the applicability of smartphone-based three-dimensional (3D) surface imaging for clinical use in oral and maxillofacial surgery, comparing two smartphone-based approaches to the gold standard.

Methods: Facial surface models (SMs) were generated for 30 volunteers (15 men, 15 women) using the Vectra M5 (Canfield Scientific, USA), the TrueDepth camera of the iPhone 14 Pro (Apple Inc., USA), and the iPhone 14 Pro with photogrammetry.

The Transcription Factor SOX18 Inhibitor Small Molecule 4 Is a Potential Treatment of Cancer-Induced Lymphatic Metastasis and Lymphangiosarcoma.

Background: Malignant tumors release growth factors, promoting lymphangiogenesis in primary tumors and draining sentinel lymph nodes, ultimately facilitating lymph node metastasis. As a malignant lymphatic tumor entity, lymphangiosarcomas are characterized by low survival rates and limited treatment options. The transcription factor SOX18 plays a crucial role in both lymphatic endothelial cell differentiation and cancer-induced lymphangiogenesis.

Extracorporeal Shock Waves Therapy for the Treatment of Acute and Chronic Wounds-A Prospective, Monocentric Clinical Trial to Examine the Effect of Shock Waves on Wound Healing.

Introduction: The aim of our prospective blinded clinical study was to examine a possible improvement and acceleration of epithelialization by treatment with low-energy extracorporeal shock waves on skin graft donor and recipient sites in patients with chronic wounds. In addition, several secondary parameters were investigated to evaluate the compatibility of the therapeutic method, its influence on infection occurrence and bacterial colonization.

Materials And Methods: A total of 35 patients were included in the study.

Clavicle height asymmetry: A common problem for planning reduction mammoplasties - A correlational study.

The distance between the mid-clavicle and nipple (MCN) is crucial in planning reduction mammoplasties. MCN has been shown to be superior in achieving nipple-areola complex symmetry. However, there is great variability in clavicle anatomy.

Delayed cutaneous wound healing in young and old female mice is associated with differential growth factor release but not inflammatory cytokine secretion.

The capacity for tissue repair during wound healing declines with age. A chronic low but systemic inflammatory status, often called "inflammaging", is considered a key factor that contributes to impaired tissue regeneration. This phenomenon has been substantiated by an increased number of immune cells in wound-tissue of old mice.

SarkoLife: quality of life in patients undergoing multimodal soft tissue sarcoma treatment.

Objective: To assess the tolerability of multimodal therapy in soft tissue sarcoma patients, particularly with regard to their quality of life and level of distress.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective cohort study enrolled individuals receiving sarcoma therapy at the sarcoma center of the University of Tuebingen between 2017 and 2022. Participants completed an online survey that included the EORTC's questionnaire (QLQ-C30), coupled with the distress thermometer and demographic inquiries.

A conformational change of C-reactive protein drives neutrophil extracellular trap formation in inflammation.

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) represents a routine diagnostic marker of inflammation. Dissociation of native pentameric CRP (pCRP) into the monomeric structure (mCRP) liberates proinflammatory features, presumably contributing to excessive immune cell activation via unknown molecular mechanisms.

Results: In a multi-translational study of systemic inflammation, we found a time- and inflammation-dependent pCRP dissociation into mCRP.

Impact of Postoperative Norepinephrine Administration on Free Flap Flow.

The perioperative interplay between blood pressure, vasopressors, and macrocirculation is well established. However, in the context of free flap surgery, the potential impact of these factors on microvascular flow remains elusive. The aim was to evaluate the impact of norepinephrine administration on the microcirculation of free flaps.

The sarcoma ring trial: a case-based analysis of inter-center agreement across 21 German-speaking sarcoma centers.

Purpose: The management of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) at reference centers with specialized multidisciplinary tumor boards (MTB) improves patient survival. The German Cancer Society (DKG) certifies sarcoma centers in German-speaking countries, promoting high standards of care. This study investigated the variability in treatment recommendations for localized STS across different German-speaking tertiary sarcoma centers.

Identification of degenerative precursors at the wrist with advanced imaging: current updates.

Articular malalignment and ulnocarpal impaction can progress to osteoarthritis in the wrist. This may be triggered by tears of the scapholunate ligament (rarely the lunotriquetral ligament) or the foveal lamina of the triangular fibrocartilage complex. In the pre-degenerative stages, radiographic findings are inconclusive, and symptoms may be absent or discrete.

Impact of Synchronized Radiofrequency and High-Intensity Facial Electrical Stimulation on Facial Muscles and the Superficial Fascial System in the Midface.

Background: Midfacial aging involves skeletal changes, muscle weakening, and fat redistribution, resulting in volume loss, skin sagging, and deepened nasolabial folds. High-Intensity Facial Electrical Stimulation (HIFES) combined with Radiofrequency (RF) is a novel non-invasive method to address these changes by enhancing muscle mass and remodeling subcutaneous tissue.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of HIFES and Synchronized RF in improving midfacial aesthetics, specifically muscle thickness, skin displacement, and facial volume.

Targeting pleuro-alveolar junctions reverses lung fibrosis in mice.

Lung fibrosis development utilizes alveolar macrophages, with mechanisms that are incompletely understood. Here, we fate map connective tissue during mouse lung fibrosis and observe disassembly and transfer of connective tissue macromolecules from pleuro-alveolar junctions (PAJs) into deep lung tissue, to activate fibroblasts and fibrosis. Disassembly and transfer of PAJ macromolecules into deep lung tissue occurs by alveolar macrophages, activating cysteine-type proteolysis on pleural mesothelium.

Unveiling Inequities: Racial Disparities in Risk-Reducing Mastectomy for Breast Cancer Prevention.

Background: Risk-reducing mastectomy (RRM) significantly lowers breast cancer risk as a preventive surgery. While racial disparities in breast cancer treatment are well-documented, research on racial differences in the utilization and outcomes of RRM is limited.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (2008-2022) to identify women who underwent RRM.

A flat posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction restores native knee kinematics, comparable to a double-bundle reconstruction-A biomechanical robotic investigation.

Purpose: To biomechanically evaluate a flat posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction utilizing rectangular femoral bone tunnels.

Methods: Eight fresh-frozen human knee specimens were tested in a six-degrees-of-freedom robotic test setup. In each testing step, a force-controlled test protocol was performed, including 89 N posterior tibial translation (PTT) in neutral, internal and external rotation, from 0 to 90° of flexion.