Acta chirurgiae plasticae最新文献

Introduction: Artificial skin replacements were developed to cover defects in general surgery or after burns. Their main indication in oncologic surgery is secondary resection of appropriate margins in skin tumors after incomplete primary excision. This is contraindicated in sarcomas where only wide excision is indicated. The aim of the study is to show rare possible indications for temporary skin closure (TSC) in extremity soft tissue sarcomas (STS).

Materials and methods: Out of 594 patients with extremity STS treated surgically at the Department of Orthopedics, University Hospital Bulovka, Prague, since 2014, we evaluated those with TSC concerning their indications.

Results: TSC (Aquagel twice, Parasorb four times, and COM 30 five times) was used in 11 patients. Six cases were on the foot, three on the femur and two on the lower legs. Seven cases were high-grade sarcomas, two cases were synovial sarcomas, one case was low-grade myxofibrosarcoma and one case was low-grade malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. We covered tendons five times, bones four times and vessels once. Ten of the 11 cases were recurrent tumors with extensive reconstructions, an increased risk of infection or unclear final histology. Two-stage surgeries seem good indications to decrease the adverse effects of prolonged surgery on flap perfusion or patients status.

Discussion: Not only the anesthesiologic, but also oncologic factors, potentiating the adverse effects of prolonged surgery on the patient and flaps, are discussed. The pros and cons of individual indications and their alternatives are compared.

Conclusion: The indications for TSC in extremity STS are rare, but exist. TSC can be a good solution, enabling a safe two-stage reconstruction at a specialized plastic surgery unit, after an initial wide excision at a department of oncologic surgery. This can be a safer method concerning the perfusion of flaps and general status of an oncologic patient.

Introduction: The temporoparietal fascia flaps (TPFF) have been widely used to cover the framework in auricular reconstructions. However, flap harvesting is mostly done by open surgery which may be easier but often results in bad scarring and hair loss. We would like to present a series of cases using endoscopic-assisted flap harvesting techniques with only one single cosmetic auricular incision.

Patients and methods: Prospective studies from June 2018 to September 2021 on patients who underwent single-stage total auricular reconstruction using autologous costal cartilage and porous polyethylene (PPE) framework. Variables include age, gender, flap survivability as well as visual results and complications.

Results: A total of 61 TPFFs were harvested to cover 15 autologous costal cartilages and 46 PPE frameworks in 60 patients (one patient had operation on both sides). TPFF harvests are performed by endoscopic techniques with one single auricular incision. There was no flap necrosis, no bleeding and no cases required framework removal. Only 7/61 (11.5%) ears had small framework exposure which resolved on their own or only required local skin flap coverage and 1 ear had frontal nerve injury.

Conclusion: Single-stage auricular reconstruction is a difficult surgery, yet greatly beneficial to young children. Through a single-incision endoscopic technique, we can obtain sufficiently large high-survivability TPFFs ensuring full coverage of the autologous costal cartilage or PPE framework. This method is reliable, and reproducible with advanced training. After reviewing the literature, we can state that our report probably includes the largest endoscopic-assisted TPFF harvesting series and the first to implement single-incision endoscopic technique in auricular reconstructions.

Scalp necrosis following a cranioplasty and subsequent exposure of the implant is a dreaded complication and needs to be treated promptly. Conventionally, implant removal is often advised to prevent delayed infection. We present a case of a scalp necrosis following cranioplasty using a titanium mesh for a patient who had undergone glioma excision and radiation therapy. Using a latissimus dorsi free muscle flap, we salvaged the implant. Patient had a persistent dural leak which was addressed by a pedicled extended forehead flap and suction drain under the latissimus dorsi flap. We successfully stopped the cerebrospinal fluid leak and covered the defect adequately concluding that muscle flaps are very useful to salvage exposed implants.

The authors present a technique of bilateral breast reconstruction in case series of 5 patients, allowing simultaneous harvest of both latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps. Three patients underwent bilateral immediate reconstruction after prophylactic mastectomy. One patient underwent a delayed reconstruction, in 1 patient latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap was used after prophylactic mastectomy and reconstruction with implants followed by bilateral necrosis of the skin flaps. The described technique enables safe breast reconstruction in one procedure. The average reconstruction time was about 4 hours, which represents bilateral latissimus dorsi procedure to the centre of the breast reconstructions range, between the reconstructions with double free tissue transfer and the breast implants.