Colgajos en reconstrucción de la región calcánea lateral / Flaps in reconstruction of the lateral calcaneal region: case series and treatment algorithm for soft-tissue complications of the lateral approach for calcaneal fractures

Introduction: Calcaneal fractures are the most frequent tarsal bone fracture. A high complication rate has been reported for the L-shaped lateral calcaneus surgical approach. Coverage of the resulting defect can be challenging. The aim of this article is to report a case series and propose a new treatment algorithm. Materials and Methods: Between January 2011 and December 2013 ninety-five patients underwent a close calcaneus fracture surgery by lateral approach. Ten patients suffered from surgical wound complications. Defects were classified as small (< 2 cm), medium (2-5 cm) or big size (> 5 cm). Results: Small size defects were covered with local fasciocutaneous advancement and rotation flaps. Medium size defect were covered either with a distally based sural neurocutaneous flap or propeller flap based on peroneal artery perforators. A free flap was used in the big size defect presented. Mean follow-up was 16 month (range 5-41 month). Stable coverage was achieved in all cases and no revision surgery was needed. Conclusions: Soft-tissue complications associated to lateral approach for calcaneal fractures needs an ordered approach. The algorithm presented including propeller perforator flaps proved to be safe and useful.

Introducción: Las fracturas de calcáneo son las fracturas más frecuentes de los huesos del tarso. Diversos estudios han mostrado alta tasa de complicaciones del abordaje que requieren cobertura. El objetivo principal es presentar un nuevo algoritmo de tratamiento para estos defectos de cobertura. Material y Métodos: Entre el 2011 y el 2013 se operaron 95 pacientes con fractura cerrada de calcáneo. Diez pacientes presentaron defectos de cobertura de la herida operatoria. Los defectos se clasificaron en pequeños (< 2 cm), medianos (2-5 cm) y grandes (> 5 cm). Resultados: Se realizaron 11 colgajos en 10 pacientes. Seis pacientes presentaron un defecto pequeño y fueron tratados mediante colgajos locales; cuatro casos de defectos medianos se resolvieron mediante tres colgajos perforantes de arteria peronea de tipo propeller y un colgajo sural. Todos los defectos de la zona dadora, tanto en el colgajo sural como en los colgajos propeller, fueron cerrados de manera primaria sin requerir injertos. Hubo un defecto grande que fue necesario cubrir con un colgajo libre. El período de seguimiento promedio fue 16 meses, con un rango de 5 a 41 meses. En todos los casos se proporcionó una cobertura estable que no requirió revisiones. Conclusiones: Es necesario un enfrentamiento ordenado y protocolizado para resolver estos defectos. En nuestro trabajo, proponemos un algoritmo simple basándonos en el ancho del defecto, incorporando como alternativa el colgajo perforante pediculado tipo propeller para defectos medianos, con el cual se logran coberturas estables y planas, con cierre primario de la zona dadora.

Rol del colgajo perforante pediculado en hélice (propeller flap) en reconstruccción post traumática de extremidades / Propeller flap in post-traumatic lower limb defects

Aim: To describe indications and results obtained in distal lower leg post traumatic reconstruction using pediculated perforator propeller flap. Patients and Methods: Prospective series of consecutive patients treated with propeller flaps between March 2011 and March 2014. Patient’s characteristics, defects and flaps characteristics and post operative complications were recorded. Descriptive statistical methods were used in this study. Results: Eight patients were included with a median age of 40 years. The injuries were caused by degloving (one case) and fractures (seven cases), including four calcaneal fractures, two open tibial fractures and one ankle fracture. Three cases were reconstructed with posterior tibial artery pedicled perforator flaps, and five cases with peroneal artery perforator flaps. The median average area of the flaps was 55.8 cm² (range 40-117.8 cm²). Coverage was achieved in all cases. No total flap necrosis was reported. Discussion: Propeller flaps are a useful tool in reconstruction of medium size defects of the distal third of the lower limb. They allow primary closure of the donor site and have a low rate of complications.

Objetivos: Evaluar los resultados obtenidos en cobertura cutánea post traumática con colgajos pediculados basados en perforantes distales en extremidades inferiores. Pacientes y Método: Se realizó un registro prospectivo de todos los pacientes con lesiones post traumáticas tratados con colgajos perforantes pediculados en hélice entre marzo de 2011 y marzo de 2014. Se registró datos demográficos, características del defecto cutáneo, características de los colgajos utilizados, así como la presencia de complicaciones post operatorias. Se utilizó medidas de tendencia central y de dispersión para describir la serie de pacientes. Resultados: La serie analizada incluyó ocho pacientes con una mediana de 40 años (27-59 años). El mecanismo de lesión fue desforramiento (un caso) y fracturas de la extremidad inferior (siete casos), de las cuales, 4 fueron fracturas de calcáneo, 2 fracturas expuestas de tibia y 1 fractura de tobillo. En tres casos se realizaron colgajos basados en perforantes de arteria tibial posterior y en cinco casos se utilizó perforantes de arteria peronea. El área de los colgajos tuvo una mediana de 55,8 cm² (rango 40-117,8 cm²). Un caso presentó una necrosis distal, dos dehiscencia del borde distal y un hematoma. Se logró cobertura en todos los casos y la zona dadora fue cerrada en forma primaria. No hubo necrosis totales de colgajos. Discusión: El colgajo perforante pediculado de tipo propeller es una herramienta útil en la cobertura de defectos de extensión menor del tercio distal de la extremidad inferior con una baja tasa de complicaciones.

Validación de un instrumento para evaluar calidad de vida asociada a hipertrofia mamaria en mujeres chilenas / Validation of a Spanish version of the breast related symptoms questionnaire for breast hypertrophy

Breast hypertrophy has been associated with a significant impact on quality of life. Aim: To validate a specific scale to evaluate quality of life of Chilean women with symptomatic breast hypertrophy. Material and Methods: We included 80 women, 40 patients (20 undergoing reduction mammoplasty) and 40 controls. The Breast Related Symptoms (BRS) questionnaire in Spanish was used. The results are expressed as a score ranging from 0 to 100, with higher values representing better specific quality of life. Internal consistency, reliability and validity of the test were evaluated. The results of patients and controls and the scores of patients undergoing reduction mammoplasty, before and after surgery, were compared. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to define the score cutoff point defining symptomatic breast hypertrophy. Results: The Cronbach´s alpha was 0.96, linear weighed kappa test-retest was 0.87 [95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.31-1] and inter-observer variability was 0.79 [95% CI 0.71-0.87]. Participants with breast hypertrophy had a lower specific quality of life than the control group (25 (2-71) and 91 (25-100) respectively, p < 0.01). In patients undergoing surgery, the preoperative score was lower than the postoperative figures (37 (12-71) and 96 [94-100] respectively, p < 0.01). The area under the ROC curve was 0.97 (p < 0,001) and the cutoff point for symptomatic breast hypertrophy was a score below 72.1. Conclusions: The Spanish version of the BRS questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument to measure specific quality of life in Chilean women with mammary hypertrophy.

Colgajo perforante en hélice basado en arteria peronea para reconstrucción distal de extremidad inferior / Peroneal artery propeller perforator flap for distal lower limb reconstruction

Introduction: propeller flaps are local pedicle flaps, based on a perforator vessel, which acts as the pivot point for the skin island that can be rotated up to 180°. These flaps can be performed wherever a perforator vessel of adequate size is encountered, expanding the reconstructive options for lower limb defects. Clinical case: we present a case of reconstruction of soft-tissue defect of the leg using a peroneal artery propeller perforator flap. A review of the main advantages of this technique for reconstruction of lower limb defects is also presented.

Introducción: el colgajo en hélice (propellerflap) corresponde a un tipo de colgajo local pediculado, basado en vasos perforantes, que actúan como punto pivote sobre el cual se rota la isla cutánea hasta en 180°. Este tipo de colgajo puede ser efectuado en cualquier sitio donde exista un vaso perforante de calibre adecuado, ampliando las alternativas de cobertura para defectos de extremidad inferior. Caso clínico: presentamos un caso de cobertura de defecto de partes blandas secundario a aplastamiento de tobillo, utilizando un colgajo en hélice basado en perforante de arteria peronea. Se discuten las principales consideraciones respecto al uso de esta técnica en reconstrucción de extremidad inferior.

La quemadura eléctrica por alto voltaje es un factor predictor de mortalidad en pacientes "grandes quemados" / High voltage electrical burns as a risk factor for mortality among burn patients

Background: Electrical burns are associated with complications and may aggravate burned patients. Aim: To evaluate the effect of electrical burns in mortality and length of stay in a critical care unit for burn patients. Material and Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical records of 182 patients aged 15 to 90 years, admitted to an intensive care unit for burn patients. The length of stay and mortality of 14 patients that suffered electric burns was compared with the features of 168 patients with other type of burns. Results: Patients with electrical burns were younger, had a lower percentage of total body surface burnt and had a lower frequency of inhalatory injuries than their counterparts with other type of burns. Mortality rate among patients with electric or other types of burns was similar (three and 49 patients, respectively). Intensive care unit stay was also similar. A multivariate analysis showed that high voltage electric burns were an independent risk factor for death with an odds ratio of 12 (95 percent confidence intervals 1.8-79.4). Conclusions: High voltage electric burns are an independent risk factor for death among burn patients.

Reconstrucción de pene / Penis reconstruction

La pérdida del pene en cualquier momento de la vida implica una grave mutilación. En el adulto, la pérdida de la actividad sexual, así como las disfunciones urinarias, pueden tener consecuencias devastadoras. Debido a esto, numerosas técnicas de reconstrucción peneana han sido descritas desde el primer intento de faloplastia con colgajo tubular de Bogaras, en 1936. Las técnicas de faloplastia han sido progresivamente mejoradas para acercarse a las características que el neopene ideal debería tener, en el tratamiento de las pérdidas por amputación, sea traumática o quirúrgica, quemaduras, infecciones necrotizantes, sexo ambiguo o cirugía de cambio de sexo. La reconstrucción quirúrgica del pene representa un complejo desafío, dados los numerosos requerimientos, tanto estéticos como funcionales (micción y relación sexual). Los objetivos que se deben cumplir en esta cirugía se resumen en la construcción de un pene que posea las siguientes características: • Apariencia normal. • Uretra que termine en el extremo distal del pene y permita la micción en posición de pie. • Longitud, diámetro y rigidez necesarios para la penetración. • Sensación táctil y erógena. • Completar la reconstrucción en lo posible en una etapa y con mínima morbilidad de sitio donante. El objetivo de esta revisión es presentar, en forma resumida, las principales técnicas de reconstrucción de pene, con énfasis en aquellas que se utilizan con mayor frecuencia.

Potencia de los músculos inspiratorios en insuficiencia cardíaca crónica y en enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica / Respiratory muscle power output in patients with chronic heart failure and patients with chronic pulmonary obstructive disease

Background: The maximal pressure generated by inspiratory muscles (PIMax) is an index of their strength which is diminished in both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic heart failure (CHF). Although inspiratory muscle power output (IMPO), which includes both strength and velocity of shortening, has been shown to be reduced in COPD, there is no information regarding IMPO in CHF. Aim: To measure Impo in patients with CHF and COPD. Patients and methods: We studied 9 CHF patients with functional capacity II and III and 9 patients with severe COPD. Eight normal subjects of similar ages were included as controls. Power output was measured using the incremental threshold loading test. Results: Maximal IMPO was significantly reduced in both groups of patients. Power output developed with each increasing load was also diminished, basically as a consequence of a reduction in insp. The degree of dyspnea at the end of the test was greater in COPD than in CHF patients and normal subjects. For a given level of power, dyspnea was also greater in patients than in normals subjects. There was no decrease in SpO2 during the test. Conclusions: IMPO is equally reduced in COPD and CHF patients. Power output is better related to dyspnea than PIMax, probably because of the inclusion of shortening velocity