Borderline Case in Reconstructive Plastic Surgery of the Lower Limb Treated with Bone Drilling and Use of Dermal Regeneration Template.

The traumatic pathology of the lower limb represents a very complex branch of medicine, which, despite the wide presence of guidelines, aimed at regulating the various therapeutic procedures, and is still greatly influenced by random variables and by the multiple responses to treatments. In this report, we present our experience with a borderline case, where the timing of the trauma and the patient's characteristics made it difficult to use the most recommended procedures in trauma management.

Cling Wrap Technique: An Inexpensive and Simple Way to Seal Negative Pressure Wound Therapy on External Fixation Devices.

SUMMARY: Negative pressure therapy is often applied to treat limb traumas with or without bone exposure. However, sealing a negative pressure dressing in the presence of an external fixation device may be complicated and time consuming. In this technique, we attempted to maintain vacuum conditions by preventing air leakage around the screws using plastic drape and cling wrap as the final layer over the external fixation device. To prevent rupturing of the wrap, the prominences of the pins and rods were covered using cotton wool roll. This novel solution is also effective for complex and extended wounds, with no need for additional dressing changes and no occurrence of complications for approximately 4 days. Furthermore, it is an inexpensive, quick, and readily available technique requiring minimal training to perform. It is also adaptable to any anatomical region, allowing the inspection of the limb when required.

Adipose Stem Cells and Platelet-Rich Plasma Induce Vascular-Like Structures in a Dermal Regeneration Template.

In the context of biointeractive dressings used for enhancing wound healing, the use of stromal vascular fraction (SVF) or adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) hereof derived has not been fully exploited yet. Noncultured SVF, a heterogeneous mesenchymal population of cells, is attractive in the field of dermal regeneration because it can be instantaneously obtained, avoids genomic alterations, and is comparatively safer than cultured ASCs. Integra® Dermal Regeneration Template (DRT) was sprinkled with ASCs in complete medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), or SVF, obtained from emulsified or nonemulsified fat, in medium supplemented with 2% platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The presence and differentiation of cells were evaluated by standard histochemistry and immunohistochemistry, whereas conditioned media were analyzed for vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) by ELISA. In vitro experiments were conducted to analyze ASC proliferation in the presence of either FBS or PRP. Deposition of ASCs in medium supplemented with FBS caused their integration into Integra DRT as early as 1 h. ASCs were found as aggregates until 6-10 days without forming organized structures. When seeded onto Integra DRT, SVF cells in medium supplemented with PRP formed aggregates at early times, which at 7 and 10 days organized into vascular-like structures, lined by CD31+ and smooth muscle actin-positive cells. With nonemulsified fat, the lacunar structures did not show an organized distribution of SVF cells. PRP induced ASC proliferation although at lower level than FBS. VEGF secretion was enhanced when fat emulsification was introduced into the protocol. In conclusion, the combination of SVF cells obtained from emulsified fat, PRP, and Integra DRT exhibit synergistic effect on the formation of vessel-like structures indicating a step forward aimed at regenerative surgery for chronic wound healing.

The Role of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells, Dermal Regenerative Templates, and Platelet-Rich Plasma in Tissue Engineering-Based Treatments of Chronic Skin Wounds.

The continuous improvements in the field of both regenerative medicine and tissue engineering have allowed the design of new and more efficacious strategies for the treatment of chronic or hard-to-heal skin wounds, which represent heavy burden, from a medical and economic point of view. These novel approaches are based on the usage of three key methodologies: stem cells, growth factors, and biomimetic scaffolds. These days, the adipose tissue can be considered the main source of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells, especially adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). ASCs are easily accessible from various fat depots and show an intrinsic plasticity in giving rise to cell types involved in wound healing and angiogenesis. ASCs can be found in fat grafts, historically used in the treatment of chronic wounds, and have been evaluated as such in both animal models and human trials, to exploit their capability of accelerating wound closure and inducing a correct remodeling of the newly formed fibrovascular tissue. Since survival and fitness of ASCs need to be improved, they are now employed in conjunction with advanced wound dressings, together with dermal regenerative templates and platelet-rich plasma (as a source of growth and healing factors). In this work, we provide an overview of the current knowledge on the topic, based on existing studies and on our own experience.

Hemangioma of the oral and perioral region: Nd:YAG vs surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Hemangiomas are very commonly diagnosticated in childhood. The area most affected by this disease is the head and neck. In recent decades, the laser therapy has changed the treatment of hemangiomas through special techniques with advantages in bleeding risk management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Object of this study is comparing Nd:YAG laser and surgical excision, in terms of aesthetic outcomes, in the treatment of hemangiomas of oral and perioral region. The aim is the comparison between the two techniques in terms of aesthetic outcomes through photographic reportage and clinical supervision by three expert plastic surgeons (observers), unrelated to treatment, through the use of Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale. RESULTS: The results of the investigation with POSAS show a better aesthetic result with the use of the Nd:YAG laser compared with excisional treatment with cold blade, both for the patient and for the external examiners. CONCLUSIONS: Nd:YAG laser treatment for hemangiomas of the perioral region is a safe, fast and low complications choice. The lower risk of bleeding allows to use the laser technique even in the clinics not equipped for surgeries offering an important advantage to the operator. The main indication is represented by hemangiomas that cause a psychological and functional discomfort to the patient, such as frequent possibility of ulcerations and bleeding, in which it is clear the benign nature of the lesion. KEY WORDS: Hemangiomas, Laser Therapy, Nd:YAG, Vascular lesions.

Management of nipple-areolar complex complications in skin-sparing mastectomy with prosthetic reconstruction A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECCTIVES: Venous congestion of the NAC (Nipple-Areola Complex) is not an uncommon complication of Skin-Reducing Mastectomy (SRM). The correct and prompt evaluation of the NAC's vitality in the first hours after surgery is important for the survival of the same, in fact the possibility of early intervention allows avoiding the use of invasive and radicals techniques to the advantage of simpler rapid procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DM, 57yr, multiple invasive ductal carcinoma of the right breast, underwent a SRM and immediate reconstruction with implant in August 2014 In the immediate post-operative appeared a venous stasis of the NAC. Treatment started with Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NWPT) through VAC-Systems to 75 mmHg. RESULTS: The use of the VAC-Therapy was in total 12 days and allowed the partial rescue of the NAC (85%). the vacuum pump is put into a portable bag so the patient's mobility is not limited. DISCUSSION: NWPT permitted a rapid resolution of NAC's complication in SRM in order to guarantee an optimal timing for the start of adjuvant chemotherapy. The VAC-Therapy is a cost effective and simple to use in cases of suffering venous NAC in patients undergoing breast surgery. KEY WORDS: NAC, NWPT, Skin-Reducing Mastectomy, VAC-Therapy.