Free vascularized lymph node transfer for treatment of lymphedema: A systematic evidence based review.

BACKGROUND: Free vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) is a relatively novel technique for treatment of lymphedema. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the current evidence on VLNT and to determine if there is objective data concerning improved outcomes. METHODS: A literature search of PubMed, EMBASE and CENTRAL electronic databases was conducted to identify articles written in the English language on VLNT for treatment of lymphedema. Publications were selected according to inclusion criteria. Papers reporting adjunct techniques and those that did not describe outcomes were excluded. Data including patient demographics, surgical technique, complications and outcomes were extracted. A quality score was calculated for each article. RESULTS: Eighteen studies were included with an overall study population of 305 patients. Mean quality score of articles was 5.3 with levels of evidence range from II to IV. Among 182 patients who underwent limb circumference assessment, 165 (91%) showed postoperative improvement. Reduction of limb volume was noted in 98 of 114 (86%) patients. Ninety two patients underwent lymphoscintigraphy/lymphangiography and 55 (60%) demonstrated moderate or significant improvement of flow. Patient satisfaction was questioned in 105 patients and with exception of 7 patients, all reported a high satisfaction level with significant relief in symptoms and improved quality of life. Publications also reported a reduction in infectious episodes. CONCLUSION: VLNT appears to provide improvement in lymphedema. More studies with standardized methods for reporting outcomes and uniform patient selection are needed to evaluate this technique thoroughly.

Using smartphones to collect time-activity data for long-term personal-level air pollution exposure assessment.

Because of the spatiotemporal variability of people and air pollutants within cities, it is important to account for a person's movements over time when estimating personal air pollution exposure. This study aimed to examine the feasibility of using smartphones to collect personal-level time-activity data. Using Skyhook Wireless's hybrid geolocation module, we developed "Apolux" (Air, Pollution, Exposure), an Android(TM) smartphone application designed to track participants' location in 5-min intervals for 3 months. From 42 participants, we compared Apolux data with contemporaneous data from two self-reported, 24-h time-activity diaries. About three-fourths of measurements were collected within 5 min of each other (mean=74.14%), and 79% of participants reporting constantly powered-on smartphones (n=38) had a daily average data collection frequency of <10 min. Apolux's degree of temporal resolution varied across manufacturers, mobile networks, and the time of day that data collection occurred. The discrepancy between diary points and corresponding Apolux data was 342.3 m (Euclidian distance) and varied across mobile networks. This study's high compliance and feasibility for data collection demonstrates the potential for integrating smartphone-based time-activity data into long-term and large-scale air pollution exposure studies.

Mandibular osteonecrosis and Ramsay Hunt syndrome following a case of herpes zoster.

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is the agent that causes chicken pox, a common childhood infection that characteristically presents as vesicular rashes affecting the trunk and head. After the primary infection has resolved, VZV lies dormant in the spinal dorsal root ganglia or extramedullary cranial nerve ganglia until reactivation results in herpes zoster (shingles). The sensory nerves of the trunk, as in classic shingles, and the fifth cranial nerve, as in trigeminal zoster, are the most frequently affected. Shingles is an acute viral infection characterized by the appearance of painful unilateral vesicular rash usually restricted to a dermatomal distribution of a sensory nerve. The rash of shingles is usually preceded by pain and paresthesia. A rare, severe complication of the reactivation of VZV in the geniculate ganglion of the facial nerve is Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS). RHS is characterized by otalgia, vesicles in the auditory canal, and ipsilateral facial paralysis. An even rarer complication of VZV infection includes post-zoster osteonecrosis. This report documents a case of severe mandibular osteonecrosis and RHS after an outbreak of herpes zoster and treatment strategies.

Retrospective analysis of facial dog bite injuries at a Level I trauma center in the Denver metro area.

BACKGROUND: Facial dog bite injuries pose a significant public health problem. METHODS: Seventy-five consecutive patients (45 males, 30 females) treated solely by plastic surgery service for facial dog bite injuries at a Level I trauma center in the Denver Metro area between 2006 and 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. The following information were recorded: breed, relationship of patient to dog, location and number of wounds, the duration between injury and surgical repair and dog bite incident, type of repair, and antibiotic prophylaxis. Primary end points measured were wound infection, the need for revision surgery, and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Ninety-eight wounds in the head and neck region were repaired (46 children; mean age, 6.8 years) and (29 adults; mean age, 47.3 years). Twelve different breeds were identified. There was no significant association between the type of dog breed and the number of bite injuries. The duration between injury and repair ranged from 4 hours to 72 hours (mean [SD], 13.7 [10.9] hours). The majority of bite wounds (76 of 98) involved the cheek, lip, nose, and chin region. Direct repair was the most common surgical approach (60 of 98 wounds) (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant association between wounds needing reconstruction versus direct repair according to dog breed (p = 0.25). Ten wounds required grafting. Twenty-five wounds were managed by one-stage or two-stage flaps. Only three patients (3.06 %) underwent replantation/revascularization of amputated partial lip (n = 2) and of cheek (n = 1). There was one postoperative infection. Data from five-point Likert scale were available for fifty-two patients. Forty patients were satisfied (5) with the outcome, while five patients were somewhat satisfied (4), and seven were neutral. CONCLUSION: Availability of the plastic surgery service at a Level I trauma center is vital for the optimal treatment of facial dog bite injuries. Direct repair and reconstruction of facial dog bite injuries at the earliest opportunity resulted in good outcomes as evidenced by the satisfaction survey data and low complication rate. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, level V. Epidemiologic study, level III.

Functional reconstruction of total lower lip defects using innervated gracilis flap in the setting of high-energy ballistic injury to the lower face: preliminary report.

BACKGROUND: Reconstruction of total full-thickness lower lip defects combined with extensive composite mandibular defects particularly in the setting of close-range high-energy ballistic injury presents a formidable challenge for the reconstructive plastic surgeon. While the fibular flap has been widely accepted for its usefulness in the reconstruction of composite mandibular defects, to date, there is no definitive widely established method of total lower lip reconstruction. The article presents authors' approach using innervated gracilis muscle flap for total lower lip reconstruction in the setting of high-energy gunshot injuries to the face. METHODS: Three patients underwent composite mandibular defect reconstruction using fibular osteocutaneous flap and functional lower lip reconstruction using innervated gracilis muscle flap. Lip lining was reconstructed using the skin paddle of the fibular flap. The external surface of the gracilis muscle was skin-grafted. Facial artery myomucosal flap provided vermilion reconstruction in two patients. RESULTS: All fibular (n=3) and gracilis flap transfers (n=3) were viable. An electromyographic study at 1 year postoperatively demonstrated successful re-innervation of the gracilis muscle. Starting at about 10 weeks postoperatively, patients exhibited voluntary lip movements and oral competence. In addition, all patients achieved near-normal speech, evidence of recovered protective sensitivity and satisfactory appearance. The mean follow-up was 16.1 months. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary report in three patients demonstrated that innervated gracilis muscle transfer combined with fibular flap provides a successful reconstruction of extensive composite mandibular and total lower lip defects resulting from gunshot injuries to the face. Oral continence was achieved by combination of regained tonicity and voluntary movement of the gracilis muscle following re-innervation and assistance of the cheek muscles on the gracilis muscle. The described technique was reliable and the results were promising.

Reconstruction of large supra-eyebrow and forehead defects using the hatchet flap principle and sparing sensory nerve branches.

BACKGROUND: To reconstruct a forehead defect, a plastic surgeon must be knowledgeable about the neural, vascular, and muscular anatomy. The position of fixed structures such as eyebrows and hairline should be respected. For the past 5 years, we have used double hatchet flaps for reconstruction of relatively large supra-eyebrow and forehead defects. Because this flap does not appear to be among the techniques used by young plastic surgeons, we thought that it would be valuable to report our experience. METHODS: Supra-eyebrow and forehead defects ranging from 2.5 × 2.5 cm to 3.5 × 3.5 cm were reconstructed using double hatchet flaps in 10 patients. Pearls and pitfalls of the technique are discussed along with the presentation of 3 cases. RESULTS: The reconstructions were uneventful and the flaps were highly viable in all patients. There was no significant distortion in the eyebrow or hairline due to reconstruction in any of the patients. All the flaps were sensate. A mild anesthesia in the distribution of supraorbital/trochlear nerve proximal to the flaps was noted only in 3 patients. This was associated with inevitable nerve damage during excision of malignant skin lesions and/or flap dissection. No recurrence was noted during the follow-up period which ranged from 6 to 36 months (mean, 13.5 months). Overall patient satisfaction score based on scar appearance and perceived degree of forehead anesthesia was 3 (neither satisfied nor dissatisfied) in 1 patient, was 4 (somewhat satisfied) in 4 patients, and was 5 (very satisfied) in 5 patients. CONCLUSION: Hatchet flaps have similar color and texture to that of the adjacent supra-eyebrow and forehead defects. The scarring is acceptable with reliable and reproducible results. Oftentimes, sensory nerve branches can be preserved with careful planning and tedious dissection. This type of reconstruction should be considered in the armamentarium of supra-eyebrow and forehead defects.

Racial/ethnic differences in receipt of pelvic lymph node dissection among men with localized/regional prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Black and Hispanic men have a lower prostate cancer (PCa) survival rate than white men. This racial/ethnic survival gap has been explained in part by differences in tumor characteristics, stage at diagnosis, and disparities in receipt of definitive treatment. Another potential contributing factor is racial/ethnic differences in the timely and accurate detection of lymph node metastases. The current study was conducted to examine the association between race/ethnicity and the receipt of pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) among men with localized/regional PCa. METHODS: Logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted odds of undergoing PLND among men who were diagnosed during 2000 to 2002 with PCa, who underwent radical prostatectomy or PLND without radical prostatectomy, and who were diagnosed in regions covered by the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (n = 40,848). RESULTS: Black men were less likely to undergo PLND than white men (odds ratio [OR], 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84-0.98). When the analysis was stratified by PCa grade, black men with well differentiated PCa (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.27-0.84) and poorly differentiated PCa (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.60-0.89) were less likely to undergo PLND than their white counterparts, but racial differences were not observed among men with moderately differentiated PCa (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.88-1.05). CONCLUSIONS: Among men with poorly differentiated PCa, failure to undergo PLND was associated with worse survival. Racial disparities in the receipt of PLND, especially among men with poorly differentiated PCa, may contribute to racial differences in prostate cancer survival.

Current status of robot-assisted surgery in urology: a multi-national survey of 297 urologic surgeons.

PURPOSE: The surgical robot is becoming an important tool for performance of minimally invasive surgical procedures around the world. We surveyed opinions about and utilization of robot-assisted surgery among urologic surgeons from 44 countries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 297 surveys were completed from September to November 2008 by participating urologic surgeons polled at various national and international urologic meetings. The survey evaluated surgeon background, personal experience with minimally invasive surgery, institutional status regarding robotic surgery surgeons' attitudes towards robot-assisted surgery, in general, and prostate, bladder and kidney oncologic procedures, specifically. RESULTS: Two hundred ninety-seven participants completed the survey of which 35% were in training for and 54% in practice of urology. Although 57% of these participants were older than 40, 62% had never sat on a robotic surgical console but 61% believed they would perform robot-assisted surgery. Seventy-eight percent of respondents felt it was required or beneficial to have training in robot-assisted surgery. Only 21% of respondents were currently performing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. Sixty-one percent of respondents felt robot-assisted radical prostatectomy was the current gold standard or as good as laparoscopic prostatectomy. Only 10% had performed robot-assisted radical cystectomy and 70% of these surgeons have transferred skills from robot-assisted radical prostectomy. Ten percent were performing robot-assisted radical nephrectomies and 30% had transferred skills for laparoscopic partial nephrectomy to robot-assisted partial nephrectomy. CONCLUSION: Robot-assisted surgery has begun to integrate into the minimally invasive armamentarium for urologic surgery and is applied for more procedures as experience is gained.