Transumbilical endoscopic costal cartilage harvesting: a new technique.

BACKGROUND: The quality and quantity of costal cartilage allow for versatile and stable cartilage supply for various nasal deformities, but the apparent scar on the chest wall can be a major concern in cosmetic surgery of Asians. The authors describe a new method for harvesting costal cartilage by transumbilical endoscopic approach to avoid any scar on the chest wall and to fulfill the requirements of cosmetic procedures. METHODS: An endoscopic retractor paired with a 10-mm and 30-degree down-viewing rigid endoscope is used to harvest the seventh, eighth, and ninth rib cartilage on the right. Elevators and eletrocautery units designed for conventional endoscopic procedures are used for cartilage dissection. Adequate amount of cartilage graft can be obtained through umbilical incision. RESULTS: Eight patients underwent rhinoplasty with costal cartilage harvested using this method. The length of the harvested blocks from the seventh and eighth ribs ranged from 4.5 to 7 cm. The cartilage blocks harvested from the ninth ribs were 2.5 and 3.5 cm in length. The operative time of cartilage harvesting ranged from 2 to 2.5 hours. There were no associated intraoperative complications. In all cases, no signs of pneumothorax were detected after operation. The umbilical wounds healed without significant scarring within 2 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: This technique provides an effective alternative for costal cartilage harvesting with an inconspicuous scar hidden by the umbilicus that can be applied to selective rhinoplasty cases.

Aesthetic restoration of fronto-orbital deformity with prefabricated implant utilizing modeling clay and rapid-prototyping technology.

Skeletal deformity in the fronto-orbital region resulting from various problems can have significant aesthetic concerns. Restoring an aesthetically acceptable appearance relies most importantly on the restoration of a precise skeletal contour. Current surgical options for depression deformities or partial-thickness defects range from extensive corrective osteotomies to less complicated methods of onlay grafting with autogenous or alloplastic materials. Both methods have difficulties in providing a symmetric and smooth contour for predictable and reliable cosmetic results. Alloplastic implants provide another effective alternative and the success of the skeletal contouring correlates directly with the accuracy of the implant sculpture. Prefabricated methylmethacrylate implants, with the aid of modeling clay, computer imaging, and modern rapid-prototyping technologies, fits the depression deformity well and balances the skeletal contour. It provides plastic surgeons greater precision in customizing the implant, which ensures better predictability and reliability of cosmetic outcomes.

Quality control of reconstructed sagittal balance for sagittal imbalance.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective radiographic study. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of controlling quality of reconstructed sagittal balance for sagittal imbalance. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Patients with sagittal imbalance cannot walk or stand erect without overwork of musculature because of compromised biomechanical advantage. The result is muscle fatigue and activity-related pain. During reconstructive surgery, restoration of optimal sagittal balance is crucial for obtaining satisfactory clinical results. However, there is no way to control quality of reconstructed sagittal balance before or during surgery. METHODS: A method was developed to determine the lumbosacral curve in a way that theoretically would bring sagittal balance to an ideal state by calculation and simulation for each patient before surgery and then template rods of the curve and a blueprint were made accordingly for operative procedures. Ninety-four consecutive patients with sagittal imbalance due to lumbar kyphosis were treated for intractable pain and then followed up for a mean of 4.3 years. Radiographs were analyzed before surgery, 2 months after surgery, and at most recent follow-up. RESULTS: The mean estimated values of L1-S1 lordosis, sacral inclination angle, sacrofemoral distance, and distribution of L1-S1 lordosis at the closing-opening wedge osteotomy site and L4-S1 segments were 30.8°, 24.6°, 0 mm, 16.1% (-5°), and 62% (-19°), respectively. The mean reconstructed values were 41.1°, 23.3°, 3.9 mm, 41% (-17°), and 46% (-19°), respectively. There were significant differences between estimated and reconstructed values of L1-S1 lordosis and the percentage of distributions; however, there was no significant difference between the estimated and reconstructed magnitude of L4-S1 lordosis, sacral inclination angle, and sacrofemoral distance. A properly oriented pelvis can be brought nearly directly above the hip axis. The mean sagittal global balance, represented by the distance between the vertical line through the hip axis and sacral promontory, improved from 61.4 mm before surgery to 3.9 mm 2 months after surgery, and 1.3 mm at final follow-up. Normal sagittal global balance was reconstructed and maintained. The mean sagittal spinal balance measured as the horizontal distance between the C7 sagittal plumb line and the posterior superior corner of S1 improved from 97.4 mm before surgery to 11 mm 2 months after surgery. However, there was significant loss of sagittal spinal balance to 25.4 mm at the fi nal visit. Normal sagittal spinal balance was reconstructed and appeared to be maintained. The magnitude of T1-T12 kyphosis compensated from 13° before surgery to 25.2° 2 months after surgery and 34.5° at fi nal follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Quality control of the reconstructed sagittal balance for sagittal imbalance is possible. Correctly orienting the pelvis, reconstructed by the restoration of enough L1-S1 lordosis with adequate distribution at L4-S1 segments, is a matter of critical importance for optimizing reconstructed sagittal balance. The correctly oriented pelvis can be determined before surgery. Preventing junctional fracture and persistent rehabilitation of surgically injured lumbar extensor musculature are crucial for maintaining the reconstructed sagittal balance.

Surgical strategies to salvage the venous compromised deep inferior epigastric perforator flap.

BACKGROUND: Elevation of the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap interrupts its superficial venous system, and if drainage through the deep venous system is inadequate the flap may develop congestion. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the fate of the congested DIEP flap and to optimize the strategy for its salvage. METHODS: Thirty-two of 162 patients who underwent unilateral breast reconstruction with a DIEP flap developed venous congestion. For the purpose of outcome analysis, cases were retrospectively allocated to "observation-only" (group A, n = 11), postoperative salvage (group B, n = 7), and intraoperative salvage (group C, n = 14), and complications among the various groups were compared to determine the necessity and optimal timing of salvage intervention. RESULTS: Two flaps (1 in group A, another in group B) failed completely, giving a success rate 98.8%. The complication rate and hospital stay were significantly lower in group C than in group B (P = 0.03, P = 0.02). The rate of venous congestion requiring salvage procedures was 13%, with a salvage rate of 95%. Salvage procedures included venous augmentation with an additional recipient vein in 7 procedures, adding superficial inferior epigastric vein (SIEV) to DIEV in 11 procedures, and substituting with SIEV in 7 procedures. There was no statistical difference in flap salvage rate using the SIEV between "augmentation" and "substitution." CONCLUSIONS: The salvage procedures for venous compromised DIEP flap are better performed intraoperatively rather than postoperatively to prevent further complications. The engorged SIEV could be incorporated by anastomosing to an additional recipient vein or adding to the DIEV-internal mammary vein axis or substituting for DIEV.

Salvage of a complicated penis replantation using bipedicled scrotal flap following a prolonged ischaemia time.

Microsurgical replantation is the standard method to treat penile amputation. The loss of variable area of skin is a common complication following penile replantation due to prolonged ischaemia time, postoperative venous congestion, oedema and wound infection. There is limited literature available on the management of complications following replantation. A skin graft is commonly used to resurface the denuded areas after skin necrosis. However, this simple and rapid approach has some inherent disadvantages, including paresthesia, contracture, mismatched skin colour and disfiguring donor site. In this report, we present the salvage of a replanted penis by a bipedicled scrotal flap in which the skin fragment was necrosed due to prolonged ischaemia time. Cosmetic and functional outcomes in the 1-year follow-up period were satisfactory.

Postoperative morbidity and mortality of head and neck cancers in patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing surgical resection followed by microsurgical free tissue transfer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association and the related risk factors between postoperative complications and mortality and the severity of liver cirrhosis in head and neck cancer patients undergoing tumor ablation followed by microsurgical free tissue transfer. METHODS: Between January 2000 and December 2008, a total of 3108 patients were retrospectively reviewed. The diagnosis of liver cirrhosis was made mainly by abdominal ultrasonography. The Child's classification was used to assess the severity of liver cirrhosis. RESULTS: There were 60 men and 2 women enrolled. Preoperatively, 42, 17, and 3 patients were classified as Child's class A, B, and C, respectively. Class B patients had statistically significantly prolonged stay in the intensive care unit and hospital stay compared to class A patients. Patients with class B or C cirrhosis had more complications than those with class A cirrhosis (80% vs. 19.1%, P < .001). This included significantly increased rates of pulmonary complications, acute renal failure, and sepsis. The mortality rate was also significantly higher for patients with class B/C cirrhosis than for those with class A cirrhosis (30% vs. 4.8%, P = .011). By logistic regression model, preoperative platelet count, intraoperative blood transfusion > or =2 units, and Child's class were found to be significant predictive factors for morbidities. Likewise, Child's class, albumin level, intraoperative blood transfusion > or =2 units, intraoperative blood loss >500 ml, and prothrombin time were significant predictive factors for mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Child's class, along with its several components, and intraoperative blood transfusion of > or =2 units are predictive factors for morbidity and mortality.

Replantation of a degloved hand with added arteriovenous anastomoses: report of two cases.

Revascularization of the degloved skin is generally accepted as the best option for the management of totally degloved hands. Nevertheless, the selection of vessels for anastomoses is usually difficult in this situation, and insufficient perfusion of the degloved hand skin is common after arterial repair. We present 2 cases of patients who sustained totally degloved hand injuries. Favorable outcomes of replantation were achieved with added arteriovenous anastomoses between the dorsal veins of the degloved hand skin and the digital arteries.

The impacts of liver cirrhosis on head and neck cancer patients undergoing microsurgical free tissue transfer: an evaluation of flap outcome and flap-related complications.

Several authors have cited liver cirrhosis as a risk factor for surgery but no study performed statistical correlation between flap outcome and severity of liver cirrhosis in patients with head and neck cancer. We performed a retrospective analysis of 3108 patients who underwent free tissue transfer after head and neck cancer ablation between January 2000 and December 2008. Liver cirrhosis was identified in 62 patients. Forty-two patients (67.7%) were classified as having Child's class A cirrhosis, seventeen (27.4%) as having class B, and three (4.9%) as having class C cirrhosis. The overall complete flap survival rate was 90.3% (56/62). The flap-related complications of patients with Child's class A, B, and C were 38.1% (16/42), 47.1% (8/17), and 100% (3/3), respectively and showed no significant difference between these three groups (p=0.2758). The rate of postoperative neck hematoma was 14.5%; the risk of postoperative neck hematoma was significantly higher in patients with more advanced liver cirrhosis (p=0.0003). The recipient-site complications of patients with Child's class A cirrhosis, Child's class B, and Child's class C cirrhosis were 35.7%, 41.1%, and 66.6%, respectively, with no significant difference among the three groups. The statistical analysis demonstrated that diabetes mellitus is significantly associated with a negative prognosis for free flap reconstruction (p=0.0364). The flap survival rate and patency of microvascular anastomosis have no association with liver cirrhosis. To achieve a superior surgical outcome, preoperative optimization and a multidisciplinary team responsible for the evaluation and treatment of head and neck cancer patients with cirrhosis are necessary.