Use of Systemic Rosmarinus Officinalis to Enhance the Survival of Random-Pattern Skin Flaps.

BACKGROUND: Skin flaps are commonly used in soft-tissue reconstruction; however, necrosis can be a frequent complication. Several systemic and local agents have been used in attempts to improve skin flap survival, but none that can prevent flap necrosis have been identified. AIMS: This study aims to determine whether the use of systemic Rosmarinus officinalis (R. officinalis) extract can prevent flap necrosis and improve skin flap recovery. STUDY DESIGN: Animal experimentation. METHODS: Thirty-five Wistar albino rats were divided in five groups. A rectangular random-pattern flaps measuring 8×2 cm was elevated from the back of each rat. Group I was the control group. In Group II, 0.2 ml of R. officinalis oil was given orally 2h before surgery. R. officinalis oil was then applied orally twice a day for a week. In Group III, R. officinalis oil was given orally twice a day for one week before surgery. At the end of the week, 0.2 mL of R. officinalis oil was given orally 2 h before surgery. In Group IV, 0.2 mL of R. officinalis oil was injected subcutaneously 2 h before surgery. After the surgery, 0.2 mL R. officinalis oil was injected subcutaneously twice a day for one week. In Group V, 0.2 mL R. officinalis oil was injected subcutaneously twice a day for one week prior to surgery. At the end of the week, one last 0.2 mL R. officinalis oil injection was administered subcutaneously 2 h before surgery. After the surgery, 0.2 mL R. officinalis oil was injected subcutaneously twice a day for one week. RESULTS: The mean percentage of viable surface area was significantly greater (p<0.05) in Groups II, III, IV, and V as compared to Group I. Mean vessel diameter was significantly greater (p<0.05) in Groups II, III, IV, and V as compared to Group I. CONCLUSION: We have determined that, in addition to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects, R. officinalis has vasodilatory effects that contribute to increased skin flap survival.

Cleft lip nose correction combining open rhinoplasty with the Dibbel technique.

Cleft lip nose rhinoplasty is a challenging procedure because of the different presentation and severity of the deformity. Due to this presentation type, there is still no standard procedure correcting all the components of the deformity although a number of techniques have been published in literature. In this study, the effectiveness of the combination of open rhinoplasty and the Dibbel technique with nasal sill augmentation was evaluated. We hereby report our experience with 7 patients who had unilateral cleft lip nose deformity with slumped lower lateral cartilage and underprojected and deformed dome, operated on between September 2010 and April 2013 by 1 surgeon. The mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 24.5 years (18-38 years) and the patients were followed up for an average of 18.5 months (6-31 months). All patients were operated on with open rhinoplasty and Dibbel technique combination with nasal sill augmentation. Frontal, lateral, oblique, and basilar photographs were obtained preoperatively and postoperatively for each patient. Nasal projection, columella height, nasolabial angle, nasal sill symmetry, and base width were measured on the photographs for comparison of preoperative and postoperative results. All patients' medial and lateral cantus distances were used for photographic standardization. The results demonstrated that there was a statistically significant increase in nasal projection (2.13 ± 0.28 mm preoperatively versus 2.31 ± 0.08 mm postoperatively; P = 0.018), columella height (1.07 ± 0.25 mm preoperatively versus 1.21 ± 0.18 mm postoperatively; P = 0.028), nostril apex height (1.11 ± 0.15 mm preoperatively versus 1.22 ± 0.11 mm postoperatively, P < 0.028), nasolabial angle (77.71 ± 8.74 mm preoperatively versus 91.33 ± 6.49 mm postoperatively; P < 0.05), and nasal sill symmetry (0.42 ± 0.15 mm preoperatively versus 0.27 ± 0.07 mm postoperatively; P < 0.05), and a significant decrease of alar width (2.35 ± 0.44 mm versus 2.16 ± 0.32 mm postoperatively; P = 0.018) on the affected side in response to surgery. The results of this study demonstrated that the Dibbel technique and open rhinoplasty combination with nasal sill augmentation is an effective and safe method for the correction of cleft lip nose deformity in respect to nasal symmetry.

Transfer of the Fifth Finger to Replace an Amputated Thumb: A Preliminary Study.

Amputation of the thumb causes not only loss of significant functional use of the hand but also psychological and social problems. The procedures of toe-to-thumb transfer, pollicization, or metacarpal extension are recognized and well-documented options in thumb reconstruction. Although these techniques have been successfully applied, they have some disadvantages. This study aims to test the feasibility of the fifth finger for thumb reconstruction. The fifth finger was released following exploration of the digital artery, vein, nerve, and flexor and extensor tendons, including the flexor retinaculum. The digital vein and the extensor tendon of the fifth finger were separated at the level of the metacarpophalangeal joint. The proximal phalanx of the fifth finger was cut smoothly at the level of the metacarpophalangeal joint with a saw. The deep flexor tendons, digital arteries, and nerves were preserved. The proximal phalanx of the released fifth finger was fixed to the first metacarpal bone. The digital vein of the first finger was anastomosed to the digital vein of the fifth finger by microsurgery. Angiography was done after the transfer. Exploration till the flexor retinaculum enabled thumb transfer without any restriction of movement in all 10 cadaver fingers. The average total surgical time was 135 ± 12 minutes. Flow from both radial and ulnar arteries was demonstrated in the transferred fifth finger by angiography. The technique appears to be feasible for thumb reconstruction by preserving digital arteries and nerves in a relatively short time, but further important aspects have to be assessed in further clinical studies.

Is it necrotizing fasciitis or necrotizing cellulitis after varicella zoster infection? Two case reports.

Necrotizing fasciitis and necrotizing cellulitis are serious cutaneous complications in varicella patients. Differentiation of necrotizing cellulitis from necrotizing fasciitis can initially be challenging because of indistinct clinical course at the onset of infection and the lack of definitive diagnostic criteria. This paper reports 2 children with necrotizing cellulitis that developed after varicella infection to draw the attention of health care providers to necrotizing cellulitis that showed slower clinical course than necrotizing fasciitis and recovered with conservative treatment approaches without aggressive surgical intervention.

Successful microsurgical revascularization of an almost totally amputated ear lobe by horse bite.

Total or subtotal amputation of the external ear related to horse bite is an uncommon situation. In our case, we report successful microsurgical revascularization of almost totally amputated ear of a 75-year-old male patient caused by a horse bite.

A salvage operation for total penis amputation due to circumcision.

Circumcision is one of the most common rituals in Jewish and Islamic cultures. It may also be performed for phimosis correction or the treatment of recurrent balanitis. Although circumcision is considered to be a technically easy and safe surgical procedure with no significant risk, it may lead to severe complications such as necrotizing fasciitis or total penis amputation. In this report, we present a case of penis amputation at two levels occurring with third-degree burns due to electrocautery during circumcision. Although penile replantation was attempted, it was unsuccessful due to burn damage to the veins. After restoration of the functional structures, the penis was buried in the inguinal area by reepithelization to maintain blood circulation. The recovery of the penis was successful. This case is presented as a novel example of groin flap surgery to achieve a functionally and aesthetically acceptable outcome in a salvage operation for a penis with significant traumatic injury, which has not been previously reported in the literature.

Congenital macrostomia: a case report.

Macrostomia is often associated with the first and second branchial arch syndrome. Depending on the involvement area, appearance may vary. In isolated cases of macrostomia, the cleft usually terminates at the medial border of the masseter muscle. The goal of macrostomia reconstruction is to achieve functional, symmetrical and accurate mouth commissure with minimal scar. In this article, we present an eight-year-old girl case with isolated bilateral macrostomia treated with vermillion-square flap method. We recommend this method for patients with mild to moderate macrostomia.

Neo-vascularisation of musculocutaneous and muscle flaps after division of the major vascular supply: an experimental study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Experimental studies have shown that musculocutaneous flaps are not dependent on a major pedicle for survival after 7-8 days, as revascularisation occurs from surrounding well-nourished tissue. However, muscle component loss in myocutaneous flaps after pedicle division has been reported. No study that examines the nature of the vascular ingrowth from underlying beds by blocking the peripheral cutaneous beds has been conducted in musculocutaneous and skin-covered muscle flaps. This study was designed to investigate the origin of the dominant source of neo-vascularisation after interruption of the major vascular supply in island musculocutaneous and island skin-covered muscle flaps by blocking neo-vascularisation from wound edges and the recipient bed. METHOD: Twenty-eight rats were divided into four experimental groups. In group I, a cutaneous maximus musculocutaneous island flap (MCIF) was raised, and the wound edges of the flap were blocked with a silastic sheet. In group II, an MCIF was raised, and the recipient bed was blocked with silastic. In group III, an island cutaneous maximus muscle flap (IMF) was raised as an island flap covered by a full-thickness skin graft (FTSG), and the wound margins were blocked with silastic. In group IV, an IMF was raised as an island flap covered by an FTSG, and the recipient bed was blocked with a silastic sheet. On the seventh postoperative day, vessel ligation was performed in each animal. Microangiographic studies and histopathological evaluations were performed 14 days after the first operation. RESULTS: In microangiographic studies, neo-vascularisation was more prominent in groups II and IV (the groups in which the recipient beds were blocked) than in groups I and III (the groups in which the wound edges were blocked). Upon histopathological examination, the number of vessels was significantly lower in group I and group III than in group II and group IV (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed that neo-vascularisation from either the recipient bed or the wound edges was sufficient to ensure full flap survival in musculocutaneous flaps, and skin-grafted muscle flaps do not need major axial vessels 7 days after flap elevation in rats if the recipient bed or wound edges are well-vascularised. The results also indicated that revascularisation mainly comes from the peripheral wound edges and is independent of flap type.

Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Cervical Region following Extravasation Injury.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rapidly progressive soft tissue infection that can cause local tissue destruction, necrosis, and life threatening severe sepsis. Necrotizing fasciitis in the head and neck region caused by an extravasation injury is rare. This paper reports a patient with necrotizing fasciitis of the cervical region caused by an extravasation injury which required an early surgical debridement.