Reconstruction of penile skin loss by superficial circumflex iliac perforator (SCIP) pedicled flap after Fournier's gangrene.

INTRODUCTION: Fournier's gangrene is a serious pathology with a high mortality rate. Treatment requires a large debridement of necrotized tissues, conducing to a skin loss, requiring a reconstruction, which may involve different surgical techniques, depending on the context as well as the size and location of the skin loss. The most common covering technique uses split-thickness skin grafting, which however presents a risk of contracture. CASE: Our 63 years old patient presented a Fournier's gangrene, leading to pubic and circular penile skin defects after multiple debridements. We decided to practice a right superficial circumflex iliac perforator (SCIP) pedicled flap to reconstruct the penile skin sheath. The flap was rotated 180 degrees and rolled around the penis. DISCUSSION: The inguinal pedicle flap is described for penile reconstruction, the SCIP flap for perineal reconstruction, and even bilateral SCIP flaps for performing phalloplasty, but SCIP pedicled flap is not already described for isolated penile skin sheath reconstruction. Skin loss in our patient was not extensive, permitting us to perform this surgical technique. To go further, note the possibility of carrying out this reconstruction by a super-thin SCIP flap, as a pure skin graft flap. CONCLUSION: The SCIP pedicled flap seems us to be a safe technique for penile skin reconstruction and a good alternative to the usual skin grafts, especially regarding the lower risk of contracture, and low donor-site morbidity.

[Satisfaction and quality of life after DIEP-flap breast reconstruction]. / Satisfaction et qualité de vie après reconstruction mammaire par lambeau de DIEP.

Satisfaction and quality of life of patients who have undergone DIEP-flap breast reconstruction have been assessed by many authors in many countries using standardized tools. However, some simple and practical information is often not found in these studies. The aim of our work was to carry out a practical satisfaction survey of patients reconstructed by DIEP flap in our center. Our cohort was made up of 207 patients who underwent DIEP-flap breast reconstruction in Marseille between January 2014 and December 2020. A letter containing our original satisfaction survey was sent to all the patients in our sample. We received 104 responses, which were statistically analyzed using the flat sorting method. Nine-two percent of patients were globally satisfied with the result of their breast reconstruction. A large majority of patients are in favor of the idea of performing their reconstruction again using a DIEP flap. Fifty-five percent of participants were "not bothered at all" by their abdomen after their surgery. The DIEP flap is a versatile technique that allows surgeons to offer it in multiple breast reconstruction situations and to obtain a high degree of patient satisfaction.

Assessing the effect of PRP addition to facial micro-lipofilling for patients suffering from Scleroderma: A prospective routine care analysis.

BACKGROUND: Combining fat graft with platelet derived products is now common practice in regenerative surgery. We proposed to assess the safety and efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) addition to a micro-lipofilling protocol for facial treatment of patients suffering from Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). OBJECTIVE: Main objective was to evaluate the improvement of the Mouth Handicap In Systemic Sclerosis (MHISS) scale score at 6 months post-therapy. METHOD: Included SSc patients had a MHISS score equal or up to 20. Surgery was performed under general anesthesia. Micro-fat and PRP (CCA-NA from DEPA Classification) were mixed in a 70/30 ratio, before injection in peri-oral sites according to a specific protocol. Efficacy criteria were recorded at baseline, 3 and 6 months. Moreover, we compared this cohort (current study) to a former (2015) non-enriched micro-lipofilling cohort in the same indication, using the same protocol. RESULTS: Thirteen women patients with mean age of 53.2 years (±14.3) have been included. At baseline, mean MHISS score was 29.5 (±8.7) and significantly decreased to 22.5 (±7.8) at 6 months (P=0.016), corresponding to a 22.0% of improvement from baseline, with a mean decrease of 6.5 points (±7.5) at 6 months. Patients received a mean volume of 30.8ml PRP-micro-fat (±8.1ml). CONCLUSION: PRP addition appeared beneficial, however, controlled studies are required to determine its superiority to facial micro-lipofilling.

[Classification of mammary asymmetries and principles of treatment]. / Classifications des asymétries mammaires et indications chirurgicales.

Constitutional breast asymmetries are responsible not only for esthetic unsightliness, but also, at times, for psychological disorders, and medical management is necessitated. While surgical treatment is the only viable therapeutic option, given the wide variety of morphological presentations of mammary asymmetries, the surgeon is called upon to be well versed in breast surgery techniques. The authors have put forward a classification of mammary asymmetries and principles of treatment.

A new surgical approach in the treatment of tracheostomy scars.

The tracheostomy procedure presents some long term complications such as the depressed scar. It can be responsible for a tracheal tug, invaginated scar, inaesthetic scar or all of them. No consensus has emerged in the treatment of this type of pathological scarring. We want to propose a new surgical approach to correct all these three pathological scarring mechanism by a subcutaneous flap in single operation.

[Secondary surgery of breast reconstructions by breast implant. Assessment of patient satisfaction based on surgical technique implant conservation vs. autologous conversion]. / Chirurgie secondaire des reconstructions mammaires par prothèses. Évaluation de la satisfaction des patientes selon la technique chirurgicale : conservation d'implant vs conversion autologue.

INTRODUCTION: Breast reconstruction with implants has long-term disadvantages and is leading an increasing number of patients to request secondary corrective surgery. Two surgical strategies are possible: implant replacement (associated with capsulectomy/capsulotomy and/or lipofilling procedures) and implant removal associated with the provision of autologous tissue (flap and/or lipofilling). METHOD: Between 2010 and 2018, 54 patients underwent secondary surgery for correction of a first implant breast reconstruction. The reasons for dissatisfaction with the initial reconstruction, the procedures performed, and postoperative complications were analysed. Patient well-being and satisfaction were evaluated using the BREAST-Q questionnaire. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients benefited from a prosthesis change and 20 patients benefited from a permanent removal of their prosthesis combined with the addition of autologous tissue. The presence of a periprosthetic shell, pain, fixed appearance of the breast and breast asymmetry were the most frequent reasons for dissatisfaction. With a mean follow-up of 2.6 years, autologous conversion patients were generally more satisfied with the appearance of their breasts than patients who retained a breast implant (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: In cases of poor esthetic or functional outcomes of implant-based breast reconstruction, removal of the prosthesis in combination with autologous reconstruction provides better results in terms of well-being and satisfaction than implant replacement.

The two-stage free flap strategy: An alternative to reconstruct major oncological surgical defects with noble organ exposure.

BACKGROUND: To minimize the risk of viscera exposure for parietal or calverial reconstruction after tumor removal, we used the two-stage free flap strategy. The flap was transferred a few days before tumor resection and left in a standby position until the second stage. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We conducted a retrospective monocentric study. All patients who underwent reconstruction with the two-stage free flap strategy after tumor resection since 2000 were included. RESULTS: We performed 14 two-stage flaps (8 for calvaria, 3 for abdomen, and 3 for thorax) on 12 patients. The average skin paddle surface was 318 cm2. The mean operative time was 274min for the first stage and 172min for the second stage. The average time between the two stages was 8.8 days (2 to 24 days). One flap necrosis, one venous thrombosis, and one hematoma were observed after the first stage. Partial skin paddle necrosis (2 flaps) and infections (3 flaps) occurred after the second stage. The mean follow-up was 20 months (6 to 61 months), and two patients had tumor recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The two-stage free flap strategy is another option for major oncological reconstructions, to be safe and reliable some rules must be followed. The flap must contain a large skin paddle to ensure flap autonomization and to allow for complete tight plication of the flap between the two stages, which limits germ colonization. A short delay between the two stages (<12 days) decreases the risk of infection. The presence of a plastic surgeon during the second stage decreases the risk of pedicle trauma.

Arm reconstruction.

The arm is less often concerned by reconstructive surgeries than more distal parts of the upper extremity. However, when affected, the arm is frequently part of complex mutilating injuries involving composite defects. For a given traumatic or oncologic defect, there are several reconstructive options and choosing the right sequence may pose a challenge even to the most experienced surgeon. The latter must integrate not only functional and esthetic requirements, but also the surgeon's habits, especially in situations of emergency. Once life-threatening conditions are averted, wound debridement, bony stabilization, neurovascular, and cutaneous reconstruction tailored to the defects should be performed in a single-stage procedure. Functionally, prompt bony stabilization is necessary to allow early mobilization. Diaphyseal shortening of the humerus can be a salvage procedure to avoid nerve and vascular grafting, with good biomechanical tolerance up to 5cm. Restoration of adequate elbow motion sometimes requires muscle transfer and should be a main concern, as proper positioning of the hand during daily activities demands a functional elbow joint. Esthetically, the surgeon must choose the most cosmetic skin coverage option whilst limiting morbidity of the donor site area. The flaps vascularized by the sub- scapular or thoraco-dorsal vessels are the most useful flaps for arm reconstruction. This paper discusses the reconstructive sequence of complex defects of the arm and provides a review of commonly used reconstructive techniques supported with illustrative cases.

Extensor digiti minimi muscular flap: From a clinical case to an anatomical study.

We present a case report of a failed posterior interosseous flap with distal pedicle rescued by an extensor digiti minimi (EDM) island pedicle flap supplied by the posterior interosseous artery (PIOA) in reverse flow to cover a soft tissue defect in the hand of a 25-year-old man. We subsequently performed an anatomical study on 5 cadaver limbs to determine the EDM muscle's vascularization: it was segmental, multiple and came from the PIOA. The rotation arc reached the dorsal side of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints, as well as the distal part of the thumb. The indications selected are the same as those of the distal pedicle flap: defect on dorsal side of the hand and MCP joints, coverage of carpal tunnel, failure of posterior interosseous flap. This study describes a new flap and adds to our understanding of the EDM muscle's vascularization.

[To harvest a SIEA flap instead of a DIEP flap in breast reconstruction: A technical note]. / Prélever un SIEP à la place d'un DIEP en reconstruction mammaire : note technique.

Breast reconstruction by abdominal flap has evolved to ensure minimal donor-site morbidity with the description of Deep Inferior Epigastric artery Perforator flap (DIEP flap). Being of the same thickness and the same surface, the Superficial Inferior Epigastric Artery flap (SIEA flap) does not require, for it harvesting, to open the abdominal fascia or to dissect through the muscles minimizing again donor-site sequelae. However, it is little used because of the variability of its vascularization and a higher failure rate than the DIEP in the literature. We believe that it is reasonable, in some cases, to harvest a SIEA flap instead of DIEP flap in mammary reconstruction. We present a technical note explaining our operative strategy for reliably taking a SIEA when the caliber of the vessels allows.

Osteocutaneous free transfer of vascularized fibula in cervico-thoracic spinal reconstruction with filling of an esophageal fistula: A case report.

The case under review is a 60-year-old patient with a vertebral plasmocytoma treated by cervico-thoracic fusion 2 years previously. He presented a thoracic spinal septic non-union complicated by esophagospinal fistula. We performed vascularized fibula transplant with cutaneous pad to fill the esophageal fistula. Control CT at day 5 confirmed vascular anastomosis permeability and bone transplant position. Osseointegration was achieved at 18 months postoperatively. The patient was alive 3 years after the last procedure (5 years after tumorectomy). A systematic review of the literature on spinal reconstruction by vascularized fibula transplant showed the diversity of surgical techniques available. In view of the multiplicity of possible organ and soft tissue defects involving the spine, reminders are provided of the different approaches and recipient vessels in this type of reconstruction depending on location.