Annals of Plastic Surgery最新文献

Background: Plagiocephaly, wherein infants' head exhibits a diagonal asymmetry, is currently diagnosed based on physicians' subjective judgment. Discrepancies between physician and parent perspectives may result in dissatisfaction with treatment outcomes. This problem highlights the need for an objective assessment system aligning with physician-made clinical diagnoses.

Methods: Infant heads were modeled using 3-dimensional scanning techniques. We developed a craniofacial asymmetric index (CAI) based on 10 height planes of heads with varying weight. CAI and traditional craniofacial vault asymmetry index (CVAI) of 10 infants undergoing helmet therapy were compared with 11 craniofacial surgeons' judgment. The Pearson correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman plot were used to determine the correlations and agreement between physicians' judgment and the aforementioned assessment methods. The adjusted intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated to evaluate the reliability of between-physician agreement.

Results: All 10 infants were divided into the following 3 severity groups: severe, moderate, and mild groups based on craniofacial surgeons' judgment. Notably in CAI, front/back halves of skull and multiangular weighting factors were evaluated. The evaluation revealed perfect alignment in severity classification between the CAI and physicians' judgment, whereas both the CVAI score and MATLAB analysis show varying degrees of difference, 6 and 4 distinct results, respectively. Coefficients of the correlations of physician-assigned scores with the MATLAB analysis, CVAI score, and CAI score were 0.500, 0.833, and 1.000, respectively. Furthermore, Bland-Altman plots revealed the best agreement between CAI and physician-assigned scores.

Conclusions: CAI closely aligns with the subjective judgment of craniofacial surgeons' assessing the severity of plagiocephaly in infants.

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in severe burns with high mortality. Previous studies confirmed the renal replacement therapy (RRT) as an effective strategy in burn patients. However, the optimal timing of RRT initiation with AKI is rarely investigated.

Methods: We conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort study at a large burn center in Chongqing, China, from 2010 to 2020. Patients were grouped into early (initiated at Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes stage 1 or 2 of AKI) and delayed RRT (initiated at Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes stage 3 of AKI). The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. The secondary outcomes included renal function recovery, length of stay, and RRT-related complications.

Results: Of the included 79 patients, 42 and 37 were in early and delayed RRT group, respectively. The mean burn area was 68.82%. The in-hospital mortality tended to be higher in the early group (42.86%) than in the delayed group (29.73%, P = 0.227), although the difference was not statistically significant. The rate of partial remission of renal function at 48 hours after RRT discontinuation was significantly higher in the delayed group (78.26%) than early group (36.84%, P = 0.003). Furthermore, multivariable Cox and logistic regression analysis found that interval from AKI occurrence to RRT initiation was protective factors for 90-day mortality (hazard ratio 0.514, 95% confidence interval 0.349-0.756, P = 0.001), but fluid overload, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome were risk factors for mortality. Subgroup analysis revealed that patients with stage 1 or 2 AKI who received RRT within 24 hours after AKI had the lowest survival rate. In contrast, patients with stage 3 AKI who received RRT beyond 24 hours after AKI had the highest survival rate. The delayed group had higher rate of bleeding and lower rate of catheter-related infection than the early group.

Conclusions: Delayed initiation of RRT seemed to have similar survival benefits to early RRT initiation in burn patients with AKI, needing further confirmation by large randomized clinical study in future.

Background: This study aims to present lateral sacral artery perforator (LSAP) flaps as a new option for myelomeningocele reconstruction and to discuss their advantages and disadvantages.

Methods: Eleven patients were included in the study, and reconstruction was performed with 22 LSAP flaps. Patients were evaluated in age, gender, birth weight, kyphosis status, defect localization and size, flap size, operation time, amount of bleeding, and postoperative complications.

Results: Sixteen flaps were raised from the first and 6 from the second LSA. The average time for soft tissue reconstruction was 57 minutes. The mean blood loss was 11.1 mL/kg. No cerebrospinal fluid leakage was detected in any patient. In 1 of the 22 flaps, venous congestion did not completely resolved and resulted in partial necrosis secondary to venous insufficiency. In 2 patients, minimal wound dehiscence was detected in the distal part of the flap. No wound infections, hematomas, donor site complications, or seromas were observed in any patient.

Conclusions: Considering that myelomeningoceles are often located in the lumbar region, we think that LSAP flaps will be a new option among other flaps. Additionally, if other flaps are used in the neonatal period, it may be a good alternative for pressure sore reconstruction in the kyphotic area.

Abstract: This article provides a roadmap for plastic surgeons on how to successfully conceptualize, draft, and publish a paper. By publishing papers, authors will not only add to their professional standings but gain a deeper understanding of their topics and become artful at communicating their expertise to others. The processes of composition, submission, and revisions of manuscripts are an interlocking set of steps, and this essay describes the steps and their relationships to each other and final successful publications.

Abstract: Flexor zone 2 is the area between the A1 pulley at the distal palmar crease to the insertion of the flexor digitorum superficialis tendon at A4 pulley. Termed "no man's land," primary repair at zone 2 had notoriously high rate of complications such as adhesions, contractures, and tendon rupture. Improved understanding of tendon healing, stronger suture materials, novel operative techniques, judicious pulley venting, and early active rehabilitation have helped improve outcomes. This review examines current methodologies and postoperative considerations for zone 2 flexor tendon repair.

Abstract: Lymphedema (LE) is characterized by the accumulation of lymph in the extremities, impairing functionality and quality of life. Despite its prevalence, accurate diagnoses and management remains complex because of inconsistencies in diagnostic criteria and limited epidemiological studies. This review aims to address this gap by providing a comprehensive overview of LE classifications, diagnostic approaches, and current management strategies. By synthesizing existing knowledge, this study seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of LE for improvement of clinical consistency and education.

Background: The 8th rib cartilage was sometimes insufficient to construct a complete external helix in ear reconstruction for microtia. The aim of this study was to investigate the splicing technique of 8th rib cartilage in modified Nagata method stage I.

Methods: Between September 2022 and May 2023, 231 consecutive patients with microtia underwent auricular reconstruction with modified Nagata method stage I. Thirty-four patients with insufficient 8th rib cartilage were screened out by three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography preoperatively, who were included in the study prospectively. The 8th rib was spliced to create the external helix when fabricating the ear framework in the stage I surgery for the 34 patients. The median duration of follow-up was 12.1 months (8-15 months).

Results: There were no perioperative complications in our study. During follow-up, all patients had satisfying outcomes, with no inward collapse, displacement, or absorption of the spliced external helix. The splicing point was not obvious.

Conclusions: It was safe and effective to splice the 8th rib cartilage for external helix of the cartilage framework in ear reconstruction for microtia.

Background: Hand infections represent a significant burden for both health care systems and their patients. Epidemiological understanding of community-acquired hand infections is limited. This study examined a cohort of hand infection patients at a large urban safety net hospital for characteristics that were associated with protective and/or risk factors for hand infections.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review for all patients who required hand surgery consultation in the emergency department during a 1-year period (2021-2022). County-level population characteristics were obtained through the county-level data sources. We then performed a risk ratio (RR) analysis for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.

Results: A total of 125 patients were included in the study cohort. Cisgender male (RR, 4.654; P < 0.001), Black (RR, 6.062; P < 0.001) and American Indian/Alaska Native (RR, 3.293; P = 0.041) patients were found to be overrepresented in our cohort when compared to county proportions, indicating an association with increased risk of hand infections. Patients between 35 and 49 years of age were also found to have an increased risk (RR, 1.679; P = 0.005). Age over 65 years, retirement, and employment were found to be protective factors (RR, 0.341 [ P = 0.001]; RR, 0.397 [ P = 0.043]; RR, 0.197 [ P < 0.001]). In contrast, unemployment and unstable housing (unhoused or shelter) were found to have strong harmful risk for necessitating hand infection consults (RR, 7.587 [ P < 0.001]; RR, 235.715 [ P < 0.001]; RR, 29.990 [ P < 0.001]).

Conclusions: There are clear risk factors at play for hand infection incidence. We found that housing status, employment, race, gender, and age were some of the most important contributors for incidence. This information can assist clinicians and public officials in developing more specific screening algorithms and prevention tools to reduce systematic burden. Further studies are required to elucidate specific etiologies associated with hand infection risk.

Introduction: Free flap surgery is a reliable and safe procedure for breast reconstruction. The survival of free flaps depends on their vascular pedicle initially, but neovascularization can sustain their blood supply after a while. Management of late pedicle occlusion in free flap breast reconstruction and potential implications of late pedicle occlusion on the transferred tissue are controversial.

Methods and materials: We systematically reviewed current literature focusing on articles that reported on late pedicle occlusion in free flaps for breast reconstruction. We aimed to analyze incidences of late pedicle occlusion, the existing evidence for the most appropriate management strategy for late pedicle occlusion, and its implications on overall outcomes. In support of the review, we present a clinical case of a salvage of a deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap following late arterial thrombosis 12 days postoperatively.

Results: The literature is limited to a few case reports on pedicle occlusion in free flap breast reconstruction and a few heterogeneous retrospective reviews reporting on late pedicle occlusion in general. Despite the heterogeneity of articles and approaches to salvage flaps with late pedicle occlusion, we found no convincing evidence that surgery is the best choice to salvage flaps in breast reconstruction that appear to have late pedicle occlusion. Our case demonstrates that a conservative approach may be justified more than initially deemed necessary.

Conclusions: Late pedicle occlusion is a rare but serious event in free flap breast reconstruction. Surgery does not seem to be the most appropriate approach in every case. Decisions should be based on clinical dynamics and imaging findings such as indocyanine-green angiography. A carefully carried out conservative approach may lead to flap salvage.

Abstract: Zone 2 of the hand, which stretches from the region between the A1 pulley at the distal palmar crease to the insertion of the FDS tendon at the end of the A4 pulley, is notable for its high complication rate following surgery. Many of these complications, such as adhesions, contractures, and tendon rupture, can be avoided through adequate rehabilitation. We document the rehabilitation protocol at Vanderbilt University Medical center, which is characterized by 4 phases. An initial postoperative phase emphasizes shielding the flexor tendons with little motion, a second phase focuses on an orthosis to keep the metacarpophalangeal joints flexed at 45 degrees, a third phase focuses on strengthening exercises, and a fourth phase that focuses on transitioning to normal activities without restriction.