Dual-pedicled conjoined abdominal flap for breast reconstruction in a patient with previous radiation therapy

Delayed breast reconstruction is challenging because it requires a large volume and symmetry, and the dual-pedicled deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap is used with microvascular augmentation. However, candidate recipient vessels in patients who have undergone radiation therapy may be damaged, with uncertain patency. This report suggests a novel method, the dual-pedicled conjoined abdominal flap, in which a free DIEP flap is combined with a pedicled transverse rectus abdominis muscle (TRAM) flap. A 57-year-old female patient who had undergone modified radical mastectomy and radiotherapy 25 years previously was referred for breast reconstruction. A whole abdominal flap was needed, but supercharged anastomosis was very risky due to calcification and scarring of the internal mammary vessel. Therefore, the thoracodorsal vessels were anastomosed with a free left DIEP flap, which was combined with a right-pedicled TRAM flap. The reconstructed volume was sufficient, and the blood flow was intact. The patient presented a symmetric contour without any complications after 4 months. The dual-pedicled conjoined abdominal flap is reliable for delayed breast reconstruction that requires a large volume and skin replacement, especially in patients with radiation-injured recipient vessels. Even if microscopic anastomosis failure occurs, secondary rescue is made possible by the pedicled TRAM flap.

Reduction glossectomy of congenital macroglossia due to lymphangioma

Macroglossia is a rare clinical condition defined as an enlarged tongue. Macroglossia can cause structural deformities like diastema and disproportionate mandibular growth and present functional disorders such as dysarthria, dysphonia, and respiratory problems. A 7-year-old boy who had lymphangiomatous macroglossia was treated with a reduction glossectomy by anchor-shaped combination of a U-shape and modified key-hole resection. Postoperatively, the reduced tongue was contained completely within the oral cavity, but open bite remained due to prognathism. Sensory and motor nerves to the tongue appeared to be intact, and circulation was adequate. This patient will be monitored for recurrence of tongue enlargement.

Minimal scarring from giant intramuscular lipoma excision with the harmonic scalpel

Lipoma is the most frequent benign mesenchymal tumor. Giant intramuscular lipomas, defined by a measurement greater than 10 cm in any dimension, reside deep to the fascia and originate within the muscle layer. Traditionally, the length of the incision required for excision is equal to or greater than the diameter of the giant intramuscular lipoma. However, because of injury to the surrounding tissues from excessive traction and thermal injury from the energy delivered by the device, long and noticeable scars with a hypertrophic tendency develop, resulting in patient dissatisfaction. Although some esthetically-favorable methods have been reported, including liposuction and liposuction-assisted excision, these methods did not sufficiently excise lipomas, and led to a higher recurrence rate. In contrast, the ultrasonic harmonic scalpel can excise large and deep-seated lipomas with minimal scarring. The ultrasonic harmonic scalpel requires a shorter incision, and it provides a sufficient view of the surgical field, thereby avoiding unnecessary traction applied to the skin and reducing surrounding tissue injury trauma, which results in hypertrophic scars.

Thermoplastic nipple splint: A simple method of maintaining nipple projection

Maintaining projection of the reconstructed nipple is important for achieving natural and aesthetically appealing outcomes in breast reconstruction. Although various methods of avoiding mechanical force on the reconstructed nipple have been developed, the existing methods are inconvenient, crude, non-reusable, and difficult to clean or adjust. In the present study, a simple method of creating a nipple splint using a thermoplastic material is described. This splint can be easily manipulated, washed, and reused, and it is comfortable to wear for long-term use without any complications and convenient for the patient to apply.

Relapsed Bilateral Gigantomastia Caused by Pseudoangiomatous Stromal Hyperplasia after Reduction Mammoplasty

Gigantomastia is an abnormal proliferation of breasts by excessive mammary tissue. Pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH) is a rare benign disease due to nonspecialized fibrous mammary stroma. The incidence of gigantomastia caused by bilateral diffuse PASH is extremely rare. The authors experienced a unique case of recurrent PASH-caused gigantomastia after reduction mammoplasty. Recurrent PASH-caused gigantomastia has never been reported in the literature so far. A 33-year-old woman who suffered of gigantomastia underwent bilateral reduction mammoplasty 4 years ago. Recurrence occurred, and she visited our department. Both breasts were dense without palpable mass. Mammography revealed extremely dense breasts with a bilateral complex glandular pattern. Mastectomy with Wise-pattern incision line was performed. Nipple was reconstructed at the same time using the triangular skin flaps. Pathologic examination revealed numerous slit-like stromal clefts lined by endothelial-like spindle cells were present in well demarcated nodules and diffuse hyperplastic stromas. The finding was consistent with PASH. Reconstruction of aesthetic breast was impossible due to thinned remaining skin and subcutaneous fat tissues. Nevertheless, patient was satisfied, for her anxiety about relapse and discomfort was gone.

Treatment of Facial Hypertrophic Scar with Cervical Flap and Intraoperative Tissue Expansion

Many plastic surgeons have been tried to attain ultimate goal lies in restoring the original shape and function of the facial aesthetics, in reconstruction of deformities resulting from facial hypertrophic scar and skin defects. This would require consideration in terms of hanmony in color match, skin texture and thickness. Various forms of skin graft, local flap, distant flaps, free flap and tissue expander have been employed in restoring skin defects and deformities of the cheek and submental area, and the use of large local flaps utilizing the cervicofacial skin flaps or tissue expander have brought about improved aesthetic results. the authers have obtained satisfactory results in treating 2 cases of wide hypertrophic scar of the cheek and submental area with combination of wide cervical flap and intraoperative tissue expansion using foley catheter. the merits of this combined operative methods are as follows : 1. It is not necessory to keep tissue expander for a long period. 2. This technique is able to diminish the cost of multistage operation and using of tissue expander. 3. There is no psychologic problems due to undesirable facial appearance during tissue expansion period. 4. Rapid intraoperative tissue expansion by foley catheter during elevating wide cervical flap can allow to dissect one, preserving the perforators without bleeding in a short time. 5. Wide cervical flap and additional expanded tissue by means of intraoperative tissue expansion could brought into suturing avoiding tension of oral commissure and lip eversion. 6. Preservation of perforators of cervical flap above the platysma muscle raised flap's survival rate and then this result could prevent distal ischemic necrosis after flap coverage.

A case report of large orbital cavernous hemangioma treated with inferolateral orbitomomy

Cavernous hemangioma is the most common primary tumor occurred in adults' orbit. This tumor has symptoms characteristically developing over several years with slowly progressive proptosis, eyeball deviation, hyperopia, diplopia and optic nerve compression. It's removal, necessary when there is progressive exophthalmos and visual deficit, is best performed en bloc to avoid intraoperative vleeding, the risk of residue, and potential further growth. In principle, surgical approach to the orbit must provide maximum safety and optimal visualization. The noncompressibility of the globe imposes greater demand on the need for some removal of the osseous orbit for surgical approach. This also must permit immediate functional and aesthetic reconstruction. The authors have experienced a case of large cavernous hemangioma in the orbit inferomedially. The surgical treatment of tumor was achieved by inferomedial approach combined with inferolateral orbitotomy. This surgical approach allows better visualization of the tumor and greater protection of essential anatomic structures. This also permits immediate functional and aesthetic reconstruction. So we present our case with a brief review of the literature related to orbital cavernous hemangioma.