Comparison of the effects of PRP and hyaluronic acid in promoting peripheral nerve regeneration An experimental study with vascular conduit model in rats'.

AIM: Peripheral nerve defects generally occur due to mechanical, chemical, thermal and pathologic causes and the reconstruction is still a challenging problem. In the present study, we aimed to compare the effects of platelet rich plasma (PRP) that has high levels of growth factors and hyaluronic acid (HA) that is known to have positive effects on nerve regeneration by decreasing scar formation in a rat model where they were injected through allogeneic aorta graft in peripheral nerve defects using histopathologic and functional methods. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 20 Wistar Albino male rats that weighed 200 to 250 grams and aged about 1 year old. Of the rats, two were used as donor for PRP and aorta graft harvest. Three random groups of 6 rats were composed. In all of the groups, the left sciatic nerves were used and 1 cm of defects were created. The right sciatic nerves were used as control groups. Group 1 was the group repaired with autograft, Group 2 was the group repaired with HA injected through aorta graft and Group 3 was the group repaired with PRP injected through aorta graft. The findings were evaluated in terms of functional (electromyography and walk test analysis) and histopathologic parameters at 12 weeks. RESULTS: In all of the groups varying degrees of axonal regeneration was observed. Group 1 was the closest group to the control group showing highest rate of nerve regeneration followed by Group 3 where PRP was injected through aorta graft and group 2 where ha was used respectively. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that PRP enhances peripheral nerve regeneration more than HA when used in a vascular conduit model. KEY WORDS: Hyaluronic acid, Peripheral nerve regeneration, PRP.

Surgical modalities in gunshot wounds of the face.

Maxillofacial traumas caused by gunshot wounds may cause quite varied defects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reconstruction methods in 12 patients with gunshot wound-related mandibular and maxillofacial bony and soft tissue defects. Twelve patients who were operated on for maxillofacial gunshot wounds at our clinic between 2002 and 2012 were included in the study. Seven patients were wounded in a suicide attempt, and 5 were wounded as a result of an accident or in assaults. Two patients underwent reconstruction using free fibula osteocutaneous flap, 4 patients received the free radial forearm osteocutaneous flap, 2 patients received costal bone graft, and 3 patients received iliac bone grafts. Satisfactory functional and aesthetic outcomes were achieved in cases where staged secondary reconstruction, balloon treatment, and consecutive fat and steroid injections into the depressed scar areas were applied. In conclusion, the basic goal in maxillofacial reconstruction is the functional and aesthetic reconstruction of the contours. Because it is not easy to get perfect results with only 1 clinical approach or 1 method, the proper timing and reconstruction method should be selected.

Correction of true hanging columella using medial crural tuck-up technique.

BACKGROUND: The nasal tip and columella are the two main key components that affect the results of a successful and aesthetically satisfactory rhinoplasty. A true hanging columella is a deformity in which the caudal border of the columella has a downward bowing appearance due to disproportion between the ala nasi and the columella, which is usually congenital. In the management of this challenging deformity, a thorough understanding and consideration of tip dynamics and the anatomical causes address the proper technique to be used. In this study we present our clinical experience with the medial crural tuck-up technique used on 53 consecutive patients with a true hanging columella. METHODS: A total of 1,421 patients underwent rhinoplasty between January 2005 and September 2011; 53 of those patients (age range=20-37 years; mean=27.3 years), who underwent this technique, were involved in the study. Thirty-eight patients were followed up for more than 1 year. RESULTS: The results were evaluated by comparing postoperative photos with preoperative photographic documentation. The appearance of the nasal tip and columella remained fine and stable over the 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Despite its limitation of applicability in secondary cases, the advantages of this technique are that it does not require conchal or costal cartilage and the desired tip rotation and projection can be done with ease. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Double-skin paddled superficial temporofascial flap for the reconstruction of full-thickness cheek defect.

The most common causes of cheek defects include trauma, burn, and tumor resections. In the reconstruction of the defects in this region, it is essential to use similar or adjacent tissue considering the aesthetic and functional properties. For this purpose, numerous local, regional, or distant free flaps were described. The local flaps harvested from the head and neck region are the most frequent methods because of the similar skin color, texture, and compatibility with cheek.In this study, the reconstruction in a 29-year-old male patient who had a full-thickness cheek defect due to tumor resection on the left side was performed, wherein a hairless skin island was carried through the frontal branch of superficial temporal artery for oral mucosa, and a hairy skin island through the parietal branch of the same pedicle was carried for the bearded skin defect. No complication occurred postoperatively and both aesthetic and functional satisfactory results were obtained, providing the oral mucosal and natural beard integrity. Donor-site scarring and temporal alopecia were recorded as the disadvantages of this method.This technique is a useful method for the reconstruction of full-thickness cheek defects because of its advantages including compatibility of color and texture, reliable blood supply, requiring single-session procedure, and being able to carry 2 different skin islands on the same pedicle.

An ideal composite graft donor site for postburn alar rim deficiencies: root of helix.

One of the challenging postburn face deformities is alar rim defects or deformities. Small through-and-through defects of the nasal ala may be managed with a composite graft of auricular tissue, obtained from the earlobe, the helical rim, and the root of the helix. We use usually the root of the helix for postburn alar defect correction as a composite graft donor site. The advantage of these composite grafts is that the procedure is a single-stage operation with excellent contour correction and a well toleration of donor site morbidity by the patient.