Positive Bacterial Cultures on Spinal Wound Closure Do Not Predict Postoperative Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Complex surgical back wounds represent significant morbidity in patients who have undergone spinal procedures requiring closure or revision by plastic surgeons. This study aimed to assess the utility of bacterial wound culture data for predicting surgical outcomes of wound management. METHODS: This study is a single-institution retrospective review of consecutive patients who required plastic surgery intervention for wound infection following spinal procedures between the years 2010 and 2021 (n = 70). Statistical analysis was performed for demographics, comorbidities, perioperative laboratory studies, and treatment methods. The primary outcomes of interest were rate of postoperative complications after soft tissue reconstruction and reconstructive failure. The secondary outcome of interest was time to healing in number of days. RESULTS: The overall complication rate after wound closure was 31.4%, with wound infection in 12.9%, seroma in 10%, dehiscence in 12.9%, and hematoma in 1.4%. Increasing number of debridements before wound closure increased the likelihood of a surgical complication of any kind (odds ratio [OR], 1.772; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.045-3.002). Positive wound cultures before reconstruction were associated with development of seroma only (OR, 0.265; 95% CI, 0.078-0.893). Use of incisional vacuum-assisted closure devices significantly decreased the odds of postoperative wound dehiscence (OR, 0.179; 95% CI, 0.034-0.904) and increased odds of healing (hazard ratio, 3.638; 95% CI, 1.547-8.613). CONCLUSIONS: Positive wound cultures were not significantly associated with negative outcomes after complex closure or reconstruction of infected spinal surgical wounds. This finding emphasizes the importance of clinical judgment with a multidisciplinary approach to complex surgical back wounds over culture data for wound closure timing.

New and Recurrent Ulcerations after Free Tissue Transfer with Partial Bony Resection in Chronic Foot Wounds within a Comorbid Population.

BACKGROUND: Chronic foot wounds often require bony resection; however, altering the tripod of the foot carries a risk of new ulcer development nearing 70%. Resulting defects often require free tissue transfer (FTT) reconstruction; outcomes data for various bony resection and FTT options may guide clinical decision-making regarding bone and soft-tissue management. The authors hypothesized that alteration of the bony tripod will increase risk of new lesion development after FTT reconstruction. METHODS: A single-center retrospective cohort analysis of patients undergoing FTT from 2011 through 2019 with bony resection and soft-tissue defects of the foot was performed. Data collected included demographics, comorbidities, wound locations, and FTT characteristics. Primary outcomes were recurrent lesion (RL) and new lesion (NL) development. Multivariate logistic regression and Cox hazards regression were used to produce adjusted odds ratios and hazard ratios. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients (mean age, 55.9 years) who underwent bony resection and FTT were included. Mean Charlson Comorbidity Index was 4.1 (SD 2.0), and median follow-up was 14.6 months (range, 7.5 to 34.6 months). Wounds developed after FTT in 42 (67.1%) (RL, 39.1%; NL, 40.6%). Median time to NL development was 3.7 months (range, 0.47 to 9.1 months). First-metatarsal defect (OR, 4.8; 95% CI, 1.5 to 15.7) and flap with cutaneous component (OR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.8) increased and decreased odds of NL development, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: First-metatarsal defects significantly increase NL risk after FTT. The majority of ulcerations heal with minor procedures but require long-term follow-up. Soft-tissue reconstruction with FTT achieves success in the short term, but NL and RL occur at high rates in the months to years after initial healing. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.

Surgical management of pain or infection secondary to calciphylaxis: a wound center's experience and algorithmic multidisciplinary approach.

BACKGROUND: The role of surgical management of calciphylaxis remains understudied. OBJECTIVE: This article reports a case series and algorithmic approach to the multidisciplinary management of calciphylaxis. METHODS: A single-center retrospective review of all adult patients with calciphylaxis treated surgically between January 2010 and November 2022 was performed. RESULTS: Eleven patients met inclusion criteria. The average age was 50.9 years ± 15.8 SD, and most patients were female (n = 7 [63.6%]). Surgery was indicated for infection (n = 6 [54.5%]) and/or intractable pain (n = 11 [100%]). Patients underwent an average of 2.9 excisional debridements during their hospital course. Following the final excision, wounds were left open in 5 cases (29.4%), closed primarily in 4 (23.5%), and local flaps were used in 3 (27.3%). Postoperatively, the mean time to healing was 57.4 days ± 12.6. Complications included dehiscence (n = 1 [9.1%]), progression to cellulitis (n = 2 [18.2%]), osteomyelitis (n = 1 [9.1%]), and lower extremity amputation (n = 2 [18.2%]). Of the 6 patients alive at the time of healing, 5 (83.3%) were no longer taking narcotic medications. At an average follow-up of 26.4 months ± 34.1, 7 patients (63.6%) were deceased, with an average time to mortality of 4.8 months ± 6.7. Of the 4 remaining patients, 3 (75.0%) were ambulatory by their most recent follow-up visit. CONCLUSION: While the morbidity and mortality associated with calciphylaxis are substantial, surgical excision is effective in reducing pain and improving quality of life in patients with this end-stage disease. Wound care centers are uniquely equipped with a variety of medical and surgical specialists with experience in treating chronic wounds and thus facilitate an efficient multidisciplinary model.

An Algorithmic Approach to Dual-System Venous Drainage for DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Few studies compared the use of the deep venous system alone versus combined superficial and deep venous drainage in DIEP flaps. The objective of this study is to compare DIEP flap breast reconstruction using either the deep venous system alone versus dual-system venous drainage and to propose an algorithm for flap design and orientation and veins selection to facilitate consistent use of dual-system venous drainage. METHODS: Patients undergoing DIEP flap breast reconstruction between March 2017 and April 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Flaps were divided into two groups: deep venous system only (Group 1) or dual-system (Group 2). Outcomes included takeback to the operating room (OR), flap loss and thrombosis and operative time. RESULTS: A total of 244 DIEP flaps in 162 patients met inclusion criteria. A total of 130 flaps were included in Group 1 (53.3%) and 114 flaps were included in Group 2 (46.7%). Sixteen flaps (6.6%) required immediate takeback to the OR and takeback rates were not significantly different between groups (p=0.606). Flap loss rate was significantly higher in Group 1: 2.5% vs Group 2: 0%; p=0.031. Flap thrombosis occurred in 8 flaps (3.3%) and tended to occur more frequently in Group 1 but this finding did not reach significance (Group 1: 5.4% vs Group 2: 0.9%; p=0.071). CONCLUSIONS: The use of dual-system venous drainage in DIEP flap breast reconstruction decreases the rate of flap loss. Our algorithm can be used to guide selection of flap laterality, rotation, and veins and recipient vessels to facilitate routine use of dual-system venous drainage.

Virtual Subinternships in the COVID Era: Lessons Learned from Three Institutional Experiences.

After the cessation of all in-person visiting rotations during the coronavirus 2019 pandemic, many programs developed virtual rotations as an alternative for the recruitment and education of prospective applicants. In this study, we developed a consortium of three institutions each with a unique virtual subinternship and prospectively surveyed participating students in order to reflect and improve upon future rotations. All students participating in virtual subinternships at three institutions were administered the same pre subinternship and post subinternship electronic surveys. Subinternship curricula were developed independently at each respective institution. Fifty-two students completed both surveys, for an overall response rate of 77.6%. Students' primary objectives were to evaluate their fit with the program (94.2%), interact with residents (94.2%), gain faculty mentorship (88.5%), and improve didactic knowledge (82.7%). Postrotation surveys revealed that over 73% of students reported having met all of these objectives over the course of the rotation. On average, students ranked programs 5% higher overall after the rotation (P = 0.024). Postrotation results showed that the majority (71.2%) of students perceived the virtual subinternship as slightly less valuable than in-person subinternships but that all students would participate in a virtual subinternship again. Student objectives can be successfully met using the virtual format for subinternships. The virtual format is also effective in enhancing the overall perception of a program and its residents. Although students still prefer in-person subinternships, our results suggest that virtual rotations are more accessible and very capable of meeting student goals.

Perioperative evaluation of nutritional status to predict complications in patients with major lower extremity amputation.

INTRODUCTION: Optimization of nutritional status is critical in postoperative wound healing. Perioperative Alb and pAlb levels have been used as proxies for overall nutritional status. OBJECTIVE: This study examines if such biomarkers correlate with postoperative complications after MLEA for chronic wounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of patients undergoing MLEA at a single institution from January 2017 through October 2021 was performed. Data collection included demographics, comorbidities, and perioperative laboratory values. The primary outcomes were surgical dehiscence, hematoma, and infection within 30 days of surgery. RESULTS: A total of 303 patients undergoing MLEA met the inclusion criteria. At the threshold of less than 3.2 g/dL for low Alb, no significance was found for any postoperative complications. The threshold of less than 10 mg/dL for low pAlb was associated with significantly increased infection rates. At the threshold of less than 9 mg/dL for low pAlb, hematoma and infection were significantly increased compared with the defined normal perioperative pAlb. Alternatively, low Alb (<3.2 g/dL) did not correlate with postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Further investigation of validated biomarkers and their thresholds is needed to guide perioperative optimization of nutritional status after MLEA for chronic wounds.

Risk-Stratified Anticoagulation Protocol Increases Success of Lower Extremity Free Tissue Transfer in the Setting of Thrombophilia.

BACKGROUND: Optimal perioperative thromboprophylaxis is crucial to avoid flap thrombosis and achieve high rates of microsurgical success. At the authors' institution, implementation of a risk-stratified anticoagulation (AC) protocol preliminarily showed a reduction in postoperative thrombotic events and flap loss. The authors present an updated analysis of surgical outcomes using risk-stratified AC in thrombophilic patients who underwent free tissue transfer (FTT) reconstruction for nontraumatic lower extremity (LE) wounds. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent FTT to an LE from 2012 to 2021. Their risk-stratification AC protocol was implemented in July of 2015. Low-risk and moderate-risk patients received subcutaneous heparin. High-risk patients received heparin infusion titrated to a goal partial thromboplastin time of 50 to 70 seconds. Before July of 2015, nonstratified patients were treated with either subcutaneous heparin or low-dose heparin infusion (500 U/hour). Patients were divided into two cohorts (nonstratified and risk-stratified) based on date of FTT reconstruction. Primary outcomes included rates of postoperative complications, flap salvage, and flap success. RESULTS: Two hundred nineteen hypercoagulable patients who underwent FTT to an LE were treated with nonstratified ( n = 26) or risk-stratified ( n = 193) thromboprophylaxis. The overall flap success rate was 96.8% ( n = 212). Flap loss was lower among risk-stratified patients (1.6% versus 15.4%; P = 0.004), which paralleled a significant reduction in postoperative thrombotic events (2.6% versus 15.4%; P = 0.013). Flap salvage was accomplished more often in the risk-stratified cohort (80% versus 0%; P = 0.048). Intraoperative anastomotic revision (OR, 6.10; P = 0.035) and nonrisk stratification (OR, 9.50; P = 0.006) were independently associated with flap failure. CONCLUSIONS: Hypercoagulability can significantly affect microsurgical outcomes. Implementation of a risk-stratified AC protocol can significantly improve flap outcomes. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Selecting a chest masculinization plastic surgeon: a survey of transgender patients.

Background: Chest masculinization is a commonly performed gender-affirming procedure in transmasculine and non-binary patients and has increased in prevalence in recent years despite continued barriers to surgical care. With the expansion of insurance coverage and trained surgeons, patients at times have the opportunity to be selective in choosing their gender-affirming surgeon. This study aimed to investigate factors that transmasculine individuals consider important when selecting their chest masculinization plastic surgeon. Methods: All patients who underwent chest masculinization with a single surgeon between January 2018 and December 2021 were surveyed via an online questionnaire to rate 21 factors associated with surgeon selection. Multiple-choice questions and free text space were included to further clarify patient preferences. Results were analyzed to rate factors in order of importance. Results: One hundred three individuals completed the survey, generating a response rate of 49.5%. Average patient age at time of surgery was 27.0 years, and 2.0% of patients had prior gender affirmation surgery (GAS). The top five most important factors were surgeon specialization in GAS, insurance coverage, board certification, number of times surgeon has performed procedure, and availability of Before and After photographs. The five least important factors were age of surgeon, medical publications, availability of YouTube videos, location of training, and surgeon presence on social media. Conclusions: Transmasculine patients employ distinct criteria when selecting a chest masculinization gender-affirming plastic surgeon. An improved understanding of these factors informs providers of ways to enhance patient access to information and gender-affirming care.Level of evidence: Not gradable.

Nutritional markers for predicting lower extremity free tissue transfer outcomes in the chronic wound population.

BACKGROUND: Optimizing nutritional status is critical to maximize flap success and healing. Prealbumin and albumin have been utilized as easily obtained proxies for overall nutritional status. The aim of this study was to investigate whether these markers are correlated with healing time and overall flap healing after lower extremity (LE) free tissue transfer (FTT) in the chronic wound population. METHODS: A retrospective review of LE chronic wound FTT patients treated by a single surgeon at our institution from 2011 to 2020 was performed. Data collected included demographics, comorbidities, flap characteristics, and perioperative labs. The outcomes of interest were flap healing (FH) and time to flap healing (TFH). RESULTS: We identified 69 patients undergoing LE FTT for limb salvage meeting our inclusion criteria. When using a threshold of <3.5 g/dl for low albumin and < 20 mg/dl for low prealbumin, no significance was found between FH or TFH and preoperative albumin or preoperative prealbumin. With low albumin defined as <2.7 g/dl with the prealbumin threshold unchanged, TFH was significantly increased, and FH was significantly decreased compared with the defined normal preoperative albumin group. CONCLUSIONS: Low preoperative albumin, when defined as <3.5 g/dl, and prealbumin did not correlate with TFH or FH. Contrarily, when defined as <2.7 g/dl, low preoperative albumin correlated significantly with increased TFH and decreased FH rates. Further investigation into validated biomarkers and their thresholds is needed to assess the effect of nutritional status on wound healing and guide perioperative optimization.

Neither Antiplatelet nor Anticoagulant Therapy Increases Graft Failure after Split-thickness Skin Grafting.

Split-thickness skin grafts (STSG) are an effective modality for lower extremity wound coverage. Many patients in the highly comorbid chronic wound population present with cardiovascular disease requiring chronic antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy, theoretically increasing risk for bleeding complications, donor site morbidity, and poor graft take. Some surgeons advocate temporary cessation of antithrombotic therapy, which may increase cardiovascular risk. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of anticoagulation use on STSG outcomes. Methods: All patients receiving STSGs for lower extremity wounds from 2014 to 2016 at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. Successful grafts were defined as greater than 99.5% wound coverage. Patients were divided into two groups: anticoagulation/antiplatelet or no anticoagulation/antiplatelet. Continuous variables were described by means and SDs and analyzed using student's t-test. Categorical variables were described by frequencies and percentages and analyzed using Chi-square or Fisher exact tests as appropriate. Results: In total, 231 wounds were identified among 189 patients; 124 patients were receiving at least one antiplatelet/anticoagulant at time of grafting. Three hematomas were reported during 30 days of follow-up; there was no significant difference between groups (P > 0.05). Anticoagulation/antiplatelet therapy in the perioperative period had no significant impact on STSG take and overall healing. Conclusions: The findings from this study demonstrate that administration of anticoagulant/antiplatelet agents in the perioperative period does not increase the risk of skin graft failure. Based on these findings, STSG can be performed without cessation of anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy.

A Systematic Review of Artificial Intelligence Applications in Plastic Surgery: Looking to the Future.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is presently employed in several medical specialties, particularly those that rely on large quantities of standardized data. The integration of AI in surgical subspecialties is under preclinical investigation but is yet to be widely implemented. Plastic surgeons collect standardized data in various settings and could benefit from AI. This systematic review investigates the current clinical applications of AI in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Methods: A comprehensive literature search of the Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane, and PubMed databases was conducted for AI studies with multiple search terms. Articles that progressed beyond the title and abstract screening were then subcategorized based on the plastic surgery subspecialty and AI application. Results: The systematic search yielded a total of 1820 articles. Forty-four studies met inclusion criteria warranting further analysis. Subcategorization of articles by plastic surgery subspecialties revealed that most studies fell into aesthetic and breast surgery (27%), craniofacial surgery (23%), or microsurgery (14%). Analysis of the research study phase of included articles indicated that the current research is primarily in phase 0 (discovery and invention; 43.2%), phase 1 (technical performance and safety; 27.3%), or phase 2 (efficacy, quality improvement, and algorithm performance in a medical setting; 27.3%). Only one study demonstrated translation to clinical practice. Conclusions: The potential of AI to optimize clinical efficiency is being investigated in every subfield of plastic surgery, but much of the research to date remains in the preclinical status. Future implementation of AI into everyday clinical practice will require collaborative efforts.

Saphenous Vein Interposition Grafts in Lower Extremity Reconstruction: Appraisal of Technique and Case Series.

Vascular microanastomosis is technically challenging in patients with calcified recipient and donor vessels. Inside-to-outside suturing can prevent plaque rupture and ensure full-thickness intimal approximation. Although this is the preferred technique for anastomosis of atherosclerotic vessels, direct connection of calcified arteries necessitates outside-to-inside suturing on one side of the anastomosis. Furthermore, it is difficult to achieve optimal vessel wall approximation in the setting of luminal size mismatch and rigid vasculature. We previously reported on the use of a saphenous vein interposition graft as a novel technique to achieve a flow-sparing anastomosis in patients with diffuse atherosclerosis who are undergoing free tissue transfer. This study further assesses outcomes of this technique in a series of patients and demonstrates a flap success rate of over 93% in patients with calcified recipient and donor microvasculature.

Standardized Perioperative Protocol and Routine Ketorolac Use for Head and Neck Free Flap Reconstruction.

No consensus exists on ideal perioperative management or anticoagulation regimen for free flap reconstruction of the head and neck. Perceived benefits from antiplatelet therapy need to be balanced against potential complications. Ketorolac, a platelet aggregation inhibitor and a parenteral analgesic, was introduced as part of a standardized perioperative protocol at our institution. In this study, we aimed to examine the impact of implementation of this protocol as well as complications associated with the routine use of perioperative ketorolac in a diverse group of patients who underwent head and neck free flap reconstruction. Methods: A single institution retrospective review was performed, including all patients who underwent head and neck free flap reconstruction between October 2016 and November 2019. Patients were divided into two cohorts: those who received ketorolac as part of a standardized protocol, and those who did not. Results: Twenty-four consecutive patients with 24 head and neck free flaps were evaluated. Eighteen patients were in the standard protocol, and six were not. There were no microvascular thromboses, flap failures, or hematomas in either group. Intensive care unit length of stay and opiate use were significantly reduced in the standardized protocol group. Conclusions: A standardized perioperative protocol for head and neck free flap reconstruction can reduce hospital and intensive care unit length of stay. No statistically significant differences in complication rates were identified when comparing ketorolac use and perioperative regimens among patients undergoing a diverse set of microsurgical head and neck free flap reconstructions.

Intraoperative Invasive Blood Pressure Monitoring in Flap-Based Lower Extremity Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Despite the lack of clear indications for the use of intra-arterial lines (IALs) for intraoperative hemodynamic monitoring, they are often used in a variety of settings. In this retrospective review of patients undergoing free tissue transfer (FTT) for lower extremity (LE) reconstruction, we sought to (1) identify patient factors associated with IAL placement, (2) compare hemodynamic measurements obtained via IAL versus noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP) monitoring, and (3) investigate whether method of hemodynamic monitoring affected intraoperative administration of blood pressure-altering medications. METHODS: Patients undergoing LE FTT from January 2017 through June 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were pair matched based on flap donor site, sex, and body mass index to identify patient factors associated with IAL placement. Methods previously described by Bland and Altman (Lancet. 1986;327:307-310) were used to investigate agreement between IAL and NIBP measurements. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients were included with 34 patients in the IAL group and 34 in the NIBP group. Older patients (P = 0.03) and those with a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (P = 0.05) were significantly more likely to have an IAL placed. Agreement analysis demonstrated that mean arterial pressures calculated from IAL readings were as much as 31 points lower or 28 points higher than those from NIBP. Bias calculations with this extent of difference suggest poor correlation between IAL readings and NIBP (R2 = 0.3027). There was no significant difference between groups in rate of administration of blood-pressure altering medications. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons should consider the risks and benefits of IAL placement on a case-by-case basis, particularly for patients who are young and healthy. Our findings highlight the need for clearer guidance regarding the use of IAL in patients undergoing LE FTT.

Prevention, Diagnosis, and Management of Upper Extremity Lymphedema Complications: Altmetric Analysis of Online Media.

Background: Traditional citation-based metrics do not capture the dissemination of upper extremity lymphedema (UEL) research that occurs online and in mainstream media. There is limited literature reporting the most impactful UEL articles based on citation rate and/or online mentions. We sought to use the Altmetric Attention Score (AAS) to determine the most impactful UEL articles in online media and to report trends in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of complications. Methods: The Altmetric database was queried to identify all published articles regarding the management, diagnosis, and prevention of complications seen in the setting of UEL. Extracted data points included article topic and type, journal, and number of online mentions on several platforms. Results: Our index search yielded 638 studies published between 2000 and 2021. Fifty articles with the highest AAS scores were included for analysis. The median AAS was 27.5, but the top four articles had AAS scores that were substantially higher (AAS ≥ 334) than all other studies. Of the top 50 articles, 68% (34/50) were original research. Of those, 23.5% (8/34) were randomized control trials. The most common article topic was the treatment of UEL (36%; 18/50) followed by diagnostic methods of UEL (30%; 15/50). There were a total of 1156 Twitter mentions (median:14) for the top 50 articles. Of all media platforms, news mentions correlated most strongly with AAS (R2 = 0.99, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that alternative metrics measure distinct components of article impact and add an important dimension to understanding the overall impact of published research on UEL.

From pay for performance to collaborative quality initiatives: quality care and implications for the limb salvage center.

Management of chronic wounds, specifically those of the lower extremity, varies considerably by geographic region. The consequences of low-quality care perpetuate poor outcomes and low value for patients and the health care system. The emergence of value-based health care has forced stakeholders to evaluate care from quality and cost perspectives. This review presents a replicable quality assessment model for limb salvage specialists to apply to their practices. This model will foster increased collaboration between caregivers across all disciplines in an effort to increase quality care assurances for patients with chronic wounds of the lower extremity. Current approaches to quality assessment in the management of such wounds are outlined, and areas for innovation, such as collaborative initiatives, are highlighted. Use of the Donabedian model to provide quality and value to patients undergoing treatment for chronic wounds at a tertiary limb salvage center is also described. A value-based care system can be comprehensively assessed using the Donabedian framework. A pay-for-performance approach has largely guided health care reform in the United States; however, the effects of this approach have been incongruent with its intent. Limb salvage centers work to rectify this imbalance and continually evaluate quality measures to improve care. Collaborative quality initiatives have resulted in improved outcomes and cost savings in multiple specialties, and multidisciplinary limb salvage centers may benefit from such infrastructure. Limb salvage specialists have an important role in determining whether health care quality improvements are internally or externally driven. Existing quality assessment tools are imperfect, and the consequences of low-quality care of chronic wounds can be devastating. Through collaboration across institutions and the use of validated quality assessment tools such as the Donabedian model, chronic wound specialists can be leaders in developing and implementing quality care measures.

Long Term Follow-up of Composite Flaps for Single-stage Reconstruction of Concomitant Tendon and Soft Tissue Defects.

Tendon rupture in the setting of significant soft tissue loss poses a challenging reconstructive situation, which requires (1) recreating a stable gait cycle, (2) reducing shear forces and re-rupture risk, and (3) providing adequate soft tissue coverage. In this study, we outline our experience with composite flaps in single-step reconstruction of various lower extremity tendinous injuries with soft tissue loss. METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients requiring free tissue transfer at our tertiary wound care center between 2011 and 2020 was performed. Patients undergoing single-stage free tissue transfer for both soft tissue coverage and tendon reconstruction were selected. Variables of interest included demographics, comorbid conditions, baseline functionality, reconstructive details, and wound characteristics. Outcomes of interest were flap success, return to ambulation, time to ambulation, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were included in this study. Patients were on average 48.0 years old (SD 16.5), with a median Charlson Comorbidity Index of 1.00 (IQR: 0.0-2.5). Defects were most often on the ankle (n = 1 3, 68.4%), with extension to the foot or leg in six of these cases. Median wound size was 68.0 cm2 (IQR: 48.0-120.0). The most common tendon requiring reconstruction was the Achilles (n = 13, 68.4%). An anterolateral thigh flap with attached fascia lata extension rolled into a neotendon was used in all 19 cases. At baseline, all patients were ambulatory. Only one patient (5.3%) required return to the operating room for suspected vascular compromise. At a median of 14.4 months (IQR: 8.5-40.5), all 19 patients were ambulatory. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous reconstruction of tendinous injuries and soft tissue defects can be readily achieved via composite free flaps. Although other methods of reconstruction can be considered for smaller soft tissue and tendon loss, this approach has significant utility for patients with large defects and yields robust return to preinjury functionality.

Popliteal artery patency is an indicator of ambulation and healing after below-knee amputation in vasculopaths.

BACKGROUND: The posterior flap is a conventional technique for closing a below-knee amputation (BKA) that uses the gastrocnemius and soleus muscle and relies on the popliteal and posterior compartment arteries. If the prior mentioned arterial blood supply is compromised, this flap likely relies on collateral flow. The purpose of this study is to identify and differentiate any significant associations between preoperative popliteal and tibial arterial flow and BKA outcomes and patient-reported function. METHODS: A retrospective review identified patients from a single tertiary wound care center who received BKAs and angiogram between 2010 and 2017 by a single surgeon. BKA complications, wound healing, and amputee ambulatory status at latest follow-up were all stratified for differences according to baseline tibial vessel run-off (VRO) status, popliteal artery patency, and popliteal angioplasty outcome. Chi-square, Fisher's exact, and Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used with significance defined as p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: BKAs were performed on 313 patients, of which, 167 underwent preoperative angiography. Thirty-two were excluded due to lack of adequate follow-up leaving a total of 135 patients in the studied population. Diabetes was present in 87%, and 36% had end-stage renal disease. By the study's conclusion, 92% of BKAs had fully healed, with median time-to-healing of 79 days (range 19-1314 days). 60% of patients were ambulatory at 9.5 months. Higher VRO was associated with higher healing rates and lower complications and time-to-healing. The conversion rate of BKA to above-knee amputation (AKA) was 4%. Preoperative popliteal patency was associated with higher postoperative ambulation rates when compared to patients without popliteal flow preoperatively (patent: 71/109, 65%; occluded: 10/26, 40%; p = 0.02) and independently increased the likelihood of postoperative ambulation. CONCLUSIONS: The posterior flap design for BKA works even in the setting of popliteal occlusion. Complication rates are higher in patients with more compromised blood flow, which may ultimately lead to AKA. Given poor ambulation rates in patients who undergo AKA, the results of this study should encourage surgeons to consider a more functional BKA, even in instances when the popliteal artery is occluded.

Building a gender-affirming surgery service: The fundamentals.

BACKGROUND: As the healthcare needs of transgender patients become increasingly recognized and supported, gender-affirming surgery services are in increasing demand. However, establishing a gender-affirming surgery service is unlike many other surgical specialties and requires unique expertise and administrative support. The aim of this article is to outline the considerations for starting a gender-affirming surgery service and identify pearls for success. METHODS: In this article, we describe the critical components of building and maintaining a successful gender-affirming surgery service. We intersperse findings from our own experiences developing a gender-affirming surgery service. RESULTS: A successful gender-affirming surgery service starts by developing a clear vision of the patient population within your hospital system's area, as well as the design of your center. Establishing a center relies on early engagement of hospital administration and its continued support. A multidisciplinary team with intensive interpersonal and operative training offers the best patient experience and surgical outcomes. By following these steps, our service has been able to provide gender-affirming surgery to more than 200 patients since its inception. Future goals entail partnerships with other institutions and continued outcomes evaluation to ensure sustained success of all gender-affirming surgery services. CONCLUSION: Although there are unique challenges and considerations for establishing a gender-affirming surgery service, careful planning and stakeholder engagement allow providers to deliver high-quality care. We hope that our experience can serve as a model for future much needed gender-affirming surgery services.

Early Diagnosis and Surgical Management of Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Lower Extremities: Risk Factors for Mortality and Amputation.

Objective: In this study, we seek to identify patient characteristics associated with limb loss and mortality while exploring the potential impact a multidisciplinary care team may have. Approach: This was a 10-year retrospective review of patients presenting to our tertiary care center for limb salvage with a diagnosis of lower extremity (LE) necrotizing fasciitis (NF). Patient demographics, clinical history, and outcomes were compared between survivors and nonsurvivors and between those who underwent LE amputation and those who did not. The article adheres to the strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology statement. Results: Sixty-two patients presented to our tertiary care center for limb salvage with LE NF. Forty-two patients underwent LE amputation: 27 (43.5%) underwent below-knee amputation, 1 (1.6%) underwent above-knee amputation, 8 (12.9%) underwent transmetatarsal amputation and 2 (3.2%) underwent calcanectomy. The overall mortality rate was 16.1% (n = 10). Risk factors for mortality included increased age (p = 0.034), higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (p = 0.011), thrombocytopenia (p = 0.002), hypotension (p = 0.015), erythema (p = 0.010), pain (p = 0.027), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.012), and malignancy (p < 0.001). Risk factors for LE amputation included DM (p = 0.017), peripheral vascular disease (p = 0.033), and an elevated laboratory risk indicator for necrotizing fasciitis (LRINC) (p = 0.033). Innovation: To identify outcomes after admission to a tertiary hospital with a dedicated limb salvage team with LE NF and to analyze risk factors for mortality and amputation. Conclusions: This is a comprehensive analysis of risk factors for mortality and amputation after LE NF. Our institution's experience highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the care of these patients.