[The inferior gluteal musculocutaneous flap: Short and long-term results for 69 patients]. / Le lambeau fessier inférieur libre en reconstruction mammaire : analyse des résultats de 69 lambeaux.

The inferior gluteal musculocutaneous flap described by Shaw then Le-Quang offers the possibility of harvesting a large amount of tissue with a well-concealed scar in the inferior fold. Since 1996, we used this flap for breast reconstruction without implant. The purpose of this study was to assess short and for long-term results in our patients. Between 1996 and 2005, 64 patients underwent 69 musculocutaneous flaps by two seniors surgeons, for secondary unilateral reconstruction (57 cases, 51 total mastectomy, three partial mastectomy, three constitutional breast asymmetry), five bilateral reconstruction or one thoracic skin ulceration after radiotherapy. The average flap weight and size was respectively 360g and 18 × 7cm. For short results, the assessment was based on flap success and surgical morbidity. For long-term results, the assessment was based on breast result (shape, volume, symmetry, skin and scar) and donor-site morbidity (scar, contour deformity, muscle function and sensation). Patients and surgeons global satisfaction were compared. Minimal follow-up was three years for 60 patients. Two patients died with metastasis. Sixty-three flaps succeeded. We had five flap necrosis, one after general complication (pulmonary embolism), four after venous thrombosis during the first period of our experience. Forty patients underwent a second procedure on the flap or on the other breast (25 cases). For the patients, the global result was excellent in 20 cases, good in 32 cases, fair in nine cases. For surgeons the global result was excellent in 13 cases, good in 32 cases, fair in 13 cases and poor in three cases. Concerning the donor-site, only one patient had an asymmetry of the buttock. Mostly, the scar of the donor site was good. Five cases needed a new surgery for poor scar. Five patients had functional complaints (for bicycle and squatting). Twenty-three patients noticed the hypoesthesia in the territory of the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve. For breast reconstruction, the gluteal region is an acceptable donor site with low morbidity and stable results. This technique needed a relative long learning curve, especially for the venous pedicle. We recommend to use a large vein dissected from the arm and axillary vessels. We also reduce the harvesting volume of the muscle to preserve the function. The reconstructive breast had a good shape, sufficient volume and acceptable symmetry.

[Long-term morphologic results of a 32 successive patients series presenting unilateral complete cleft lip and palate with surgery at early age]. / Résultats morphologiques à long terme d'une série de 32 patients successifs porteurs de fentes labiopalatines unilatérales totales opérées en conditions précoces.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective study is to describe and evaluate the long term morphologic results of patients who present unilateral complete cleft lip and palate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-two patients with non syndromic unilateral complete cleft lip and palate were operated early by the same surgeon, at the mean age of 70,4 days old, with two operating procedures. The first group was operated of cheiloplasty with the Millard method during the neonatal period, associated to the closure of the palate in the same time. The second group was operated with a modified Millard method during the neonatal period associated to a closing of the palate by the Wardill method at the age of ten months old. The criteria of evaluation were the anatomic remaining abnormalities after surgery of nose, lips, primary and secondary palate (back of 17 years). RESULTS: Our results show that Millard method and derived are taken as a whole effective, even if the number of secondary surgery and supplementary adjustments was sizeable (87%). The postoperative abnormalities concerning red lip (discontinuity, mucous excess) were frequent (53%), but easily correctable. The secondary surgeries were mainly for minor touch up of lip (46%), second time palate surgeries (53%), and rhinoplasties (40%). CONCLUSION: Progress in anesthesia and reanimation allowed us to assure an early management of clefts. The absence of incorrigible after-effects by a secondary surgery of the first-operated patients encouraged the team to continue in this way.