Project description:One of the primary goals of penile reconstruction for female-to-male transsexuals is to enable voiding while standing. Metoidioplasty represents a viable option, but it is associated with a high rate of postoperative fistula formation and recurrence, which affects the aesthetic and functional outcomes. Subsequent surgical repair using scarred and inadequate local tissue may contribute to fistula recurrence. The folded superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator (SCIP) island flap offers sufficient well-vascularized tissue and skin envelope for the reconstruction of the urethra and outer skin after failed metoidioplasty. The SCIP flap can be elevated as a hairless thin flap, making it useful in urethral reconstruction even when it is folded. We describe a case of a 44-year-old female-to-male transsexual patient who developed a refractory urethrocutaneous fistula after metoidioplasty. Surgical repairs were attempted using local tissue 4 times without success. The patient presented to our hospital, and we performed urethral reconstruction using a folded, pedicled SCIP flap for both urethra and skin augmentation. The postoperative course was uneventful, with satisfactory functional results and low donor-site morbidity. No fistula recurrence was observed during the 2 years of follow-up. This novel procedure offers a viable alternative technique for refractory urethrocutaneous fistula repair.
Project description:Although the great toe plays important roles in walking, loading, and maintaining balance when compared with other toes, there are few reports on great toe reconstruction, including the reconstruction of distal phalanx. This report aims to describe the use of a superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator (SCIP)-osteocutaneous flap for reconstructing a complex tissue defect of the great toe. A 62-year-old man presented with a crush injury to the forefoot. Because the great toe was severely crushed, the defect distal to the proximal phalanx of the great toe was reconstructed using a SCIP-osteocutaneous flap. The immediate postoperative course was uneventful; however, surgical revision was necessary. Signs of osseous union could be observed on radiographic images taken 2 months after the initial surgery. Twenty-four months after surgery, the patient could freely walk without resorption of the transferred bone. We demonstrated that SCIP-osteocutaneous flaps may be promising free flaps in complex tissue defect reconstruction of the great toe.
Project description:The deep circumflex iliac artery (DCIA) flap is one of the most commonly used vascularized free flaps for jaw reconstruction; however, its clinical application is limited by donor site complications. We aimed to describe a new technique of using 3-dimensionally (3D) printed patient-specific devices for mandibular reconstruction with DCIA flap and simultaneous dental implants, and for donor site restoration after harvesting the DCIA flap. One patient with mandible ameloblastoma underwent mandibular reconstruction using a DCIA flap with the "jaw-in-a-day" approach. The 3D-printed patient-specific devices included mandibular cutting guides, DCIA harvesting and dental implant guide, surgical plate, and iliac prosthesis. The postoperative 1-month accuracy measurement showed the mean distance deviations of the mandible, transferred bone grafts, dental implants and iliac prosthesis were 1.8 mm, 2.1 mm, 0.9 mm, and 1.2 mm, respectively. Three-dimensionally printed iliac prosthesis satisfactorily restored the contour of the iliac crest after DCIA flap harvesting. No complication of donor site was recorded during the follow-up of 12 months. We successfully used 3D-printed patient-specific implants in both donor and recipient sites for DCIA flap jaw reconstruction. Further studies with a larger sample size and long-term follow-up are needed.
Project description:Posttraumatic radioulnar synostosis (RUS) is a rare event following forearm fractures. Consequences are disabling for patients who suffer from functional limitation in forearm pronosupination. Distal RUS are even more rare and more difficult to treat because of high recurrence rates. The patient we describe in this paper came to our attention with a double distal RUS recurrence and a Darrach procedure already performed. We performed a radical excision of RUS and interposition with a vascularized dorsoulnar artery (DUA) adipofascial perforator flap. Four years after surgery, the patient shows the same complete range of motion in pronosupination, and MRI confirms that the flap is still in place with signs of vascularization. Simple synostosis excision has been proven ineffective in many cases. Interposition is recommended after excision, and biological material interposition seems to be more effective than foreign material. Surgeons are increasingly performing vascularized interposition, and the results are very encouraging.
Project description:We report the case of a 52-year-old man presenting an extensive lumbosacral necrosis after bilateral internal iliac arteries embolization following unstable pelvic fracture. Coverage of the defect was performed using two extended lumbar artery perforator flaps in a propeller fashion. Good functional and esthetic result was achieved at one-year follow-up.
Project description:BackgroundDorsal flap based on proper digital artery perforator has been commonly used in wound coverage of fingertip; yet a small diameter and short length poses a risk of pedicle kinking or occlusion. The present study aims to present our preliminary results of using a double-pivot perforator flap based on the end dorsal branch of proper digital artery to repair finger pulp defect.MethodsWe designed a double-pivot flap based on the end-dorsal perforator branch of proper digital artery, raised from the dorsal aspect of the middle phalanx, with inclusion of both the perforator and a section of the trunk of the artery. This modified procedure forms a pedicle with a larger diameter and length than traditional designs. Twelve patients (12 fingers) each with a soft-tissue defect of the fingertip were successfully treated and followed up in this retrospective study.ResultsAll the flaps survived without showing any signs of necrosis; three cases presented with transient venous flow disorder, these self-resolving without requiring any additional treatment. At final follow-up (12-33 months, mean 20 months), mean static two-point discrimination on the flap was 7.0 mm (range, 6-9).ConclusionThe double-pivot proper digital artery flap serves as a reliable option in fingertip reconstruction offering added benefits of having greater rotation flexibility, a lower risk of vessel kinking or occlusion, and good recovery of cutaneous sensation.
Project description:Treating burn scar contractures is challenging. Although free flap transfer is an effective tool for hand reconstruction, free flaps are often bulky, causing functional disturbance and poor cosmetic appearance. Secondary debulking operations are required, resulting in a prolonged total treatment period and delayed return to daily life and work for the patient. Therefore, 1-stage reconstruction using a thin and pliable flap is ideal. In this report, we present the superthin TDAP flap as an option for the reconstruction of postburn palmar contracture. During TDAP flap elevation, the thoracodorsal artery perforator was identified and traced distally until its penetration into the dermis. Subsequently, the subdermal tissue was removed and a uniformly superthin TDAP flap was elevated. Postoperatively, early functional recovery was achieved with excellent palmar contour and texture. No revision surgery was required and no recurrence of contractures occurred during the 6-month follow-up. This procedure is useful in elevating a superthin TDAP flap and is a feasible option for the reconstruction of working surfaces, such as the palm.
Project description:BackgroundThe purpose of this clinical research is to report our results using the free distal ulnar artery perforator flap for resurfacing complex tissue defects in the finger, and to provide empirical reference for the treatment of subsequent clinical cases.MethodsIn our research, eight patients with complex skin defects were treated with free distal ulnar artery perforator flaps. There were 4 index, 3 long, and 2 ring fingers. All the flaps were raised from the ipsilateral ulnar lateral wrist. The donor sites were covered with a full thickness skin graft or closed by direct suture.ResultsComprehensive analysis of the clinical treatment process of eight patients, all flaps survived completely without any necrosis during the 6-18 months follow-up. The patients were satisfied with the finger mobility, the sensation function, and the aesthetic appearance.ConclusionsResurfacing complex tissue defects in the finger using the free perforator flap in a single stage, especially when the defect is medium in size and accompanied by digit nerve loss, is a valuable technique to achieve satisfaction in both sensation and aesthetic appearance. The ulnar artery perforator flap seems to be a reliable and flexible flap for addressing complex hand injuries with tissue loss.
Project description:PURPOSE:As more breast cancer patients opt for immediate breast reconstruction, the incidence of complications should be evaluated. The aim of this study was to analyze the recipient-site complications and flap re-explorations of immediate compared to delayed deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstructions. METHODS:For this multicenter retrospective cohort study, the medical records of all patients who underwent DIEP flap breast reconstruction in three hospitals in the Netherlands between January 2010 and June 2017 were reviewed. Patient demographics, risk factors, timing of reconstruction, recipient-site complications, and flap re-explorations were recorded. RESULTS:A total of 910 DIEP flap breast reconstructions (n = 397 immediate and n = 513 delayed reconstructions) in 737 patients were included. There were no significant differences in major complications or flap re-explorations between immediate and delayed reconstructions. The total flap failure rate was 1.5 and 2.5% in the immediate and delayed group, respectively. Significantly more hematomas (OR 2.91; 95% CI 1.59-5.30; p = 0.001) and seromas (OR 3.60; 95% CI 1.14-11.4; p = 0.029) occurred in immediate reconstructions, whereas wound problems were more frequently observed in delayed reconstructions (OR 1.99; 95% CI 1.27-3.11; p = 0.003). Correction for potential confounders still showed significant differences for hematoma and seroma, but no longer for wound problems (p = 0.052). CONCLUSIONS:This study demonstrated similar incidences of major recipient-site complications and flap re-explorations between immediate and delayed DIEP flap breast reconstructions. However, hematoma and seroma occurred significantly more often in immediate reconstructions, while wound problems were more frequently observed in delayed reconstructions.
Project description:Lower pole breast cancers are challenging to manage because conventional wide local excision may produce a "bird's beak" deformity. In an era of oncoplastic surgery, techniques that balance oncological results with cosmetic outcomes such as local flaps have extended the role of breast-conserving surgery. Local flaps are particularly useful for partial breast reconstruction due to the relative simplicity of the surgical procedure and reduced morbidity. Intercostal artery perforator flaps have a shorter duration of surgery than free flaps and do not require microsurgical anastomoses. Anterior intercostal artery perforator (AICAP) flaps provide excellent cosmesis, yet traditional crescenteric harvest yields limited volume for reconstruction. We describe a modification to an established reconstructive technique for lower pole breast defects. The technique is based on 3 extensions of tissue, providing a larger volume of tissue replacement compared with traditional AICAP flaps. The technique is particularly suitable for small- and medium-sized non-ptotic breasts, with lower pole tumors. The modified crescenteric AICAP technique can be used to increase the available tissue when performing lower pole reconstructions.