Medial Plantar Artery Perforator Kiss Flap for Salvage of Extensive Palmar Skin Defect.

BACKGROUND: Flaps based on the medial plantar artery (MPA) accomplish favorable surgical outcomes in palmar resurfacing due to its outstanding texture, pliability and contour, but primary closure could not be achieved at the donor site when the flap was designed to be relatively large. In this study, the kiss technique was employed for the reconstruction of extensive palmar defects which minimized donor site morbidity. METHODS: A modified flap surgical strategy was systemically developed based on the perforator distribution of the MPA through our cadaver study. Two or three narrow small skin paddles based on MPA were raised and resembled at the recipient site as a larger flap. S-2PD, hypersensitivity and ROM, QuickDASH, gait and patient satisfaction were evaluated 6 months to 12 months postoperation. RESULTS: From June 2015 to July 2021, 20 cases of reconstruction using the medial plantar artery perforator (MPAP) kiss flap were performed for the resurfacing of palmar skin defects. All flaps survived uneventfully with coverage matching the texture and color of the recipients except one flap that exhibited venous congestion and recovered after revision. 12 flaps (60 percent) were double-paddled and 8 flaps (40%) were triple-paddled with a resurfacing area of 27.19cm 2 and 41.1cm 2 respectively. All donor sites achieved primary closure without major complications. CONCLUSIONS: Versatile kiss flap combinations were developed based on further understanding of the MPA system. Durable and pliable characters of the MPAP flap provide excellent reconstruction for extensive palmar defects while minimizing donor site complications. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

Fingertip and Thumb Tip Wounds: Changing Algorithms for Sensation, Aesthetics, and Function.

Management of fingertip and thumb tip injuries has recently undergone substantial changes. The time-proven traditional armamentarium of local flaps has been expanded and replaced by a wide variety of flaps. Simultaneous with the development of new flaps, the conservative treatment of fingertip and thumb tip injuries with semiocclusive dressings has also become a more acceptable treatment for these injuries. The excellent results with respect to restoring contour, sensibility of the pulp, and aesthetics of the finger justify this more tedious and time-consuming treatment of fingertip and thumb tip injuries. This article gives an update of the most commonly used flaps and the semiocclusive dressing treatments of fingertip and thumb tip injuries.

Intrinsic flaps in the hand.

Advances in anatomical research have created the base for a vast variety of flaps that can be raised in the hand. They are either based on the palmar arterial system or on the dorsal vascular system, which is fed by either perforating vessels from the palmar side or the dorsal arterial system nourished by dorsal carpal arterial network. The majority of small to moderate size defects in the hand can be reconstructed with these types of flaps.

Plastic surgery within the Veterans Affairs Medical System: proposed modified indications for operative procedures.

Many plastic surgery procedures span the divide between aesthetic ("cosmetic") and reconstructive surgery. However, definitions and guidelines may be inconsistent, which may decrease patients' access to legitimate procedures. The article aims to assist Veterans' Health Administration-affiliated plastic surgeons in continuing to provide optimal care to the Nation's Veterans and family members, and should be regarded as an open discussion.

Soft-tissue defects and exposed hardware: a review of indications for soft-tissue reconstruction and hardware preservation.

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, management of exposed hardware has included irrigation and débridement, intravenous antibiotics, and likely removal of the hardware. Increasingly, the goal of wound closure without hardware removal using plastic surgical techniques of soft-tissue reconstruction has been emphasized. Identification of parameters for retaining exposed hardware may assist surgeons with management decisions and outcomes. METHODS: A current literature review was performed to identify parameters with prognostic relevance for management of exposed hardware before soft-tissue reconstruction. RESULTS: The following parameters were identified as important for the potential salvage of exposed hardware with soft-tissue coverage: hardware location, infection, duration of exposure, and presence of hardware loosening. CONCLUSIONS: Management of exposed hardware has included the removal of the hardware. However, if certain criteria are met--specifically, stable hardware, time of exposure less than 2 weeks, lack of infection, and location of hardware--salvage of the hardware with plastic surgical soft-tissue coverage may be a therapeutic option.

Human cadaveric study of subscapularis muscle innervation and guidelines to prevent denervation.

The upper and lower subscapular nerves provide innervation to the subscapularis muscle. However, the axillary nerve may provide a significant innervation to the lower portion of the muscle. The prevalence and patterns of anomalous innervation of the subscapularis muscle were studied to determine if these variations increased the risk of muscle denervation during open shoulder surgery. Twenty human cadaveric shoulders were dissected, and the innervation to the subscapularis was defined. The distance from the nerve insertion to the shoulder joint was measured in neutral and maximal external rotation. In the most common variation, the lower subscapular nerve arose from the axillary nerve (5 specimens; 25%). Although external rotation of the shoulder brought the nerve insertion significantly more lateral (35.2 to 16.9 mm, P < .001), the origin of the nerve had no significant effect on nerve proximity to the joint. The closeness of the nerve insertions to the shoulder joint warrants care during an anterior approach to the shoulder and dissections on the anterior surface of the muscle. Subscapularis nerve damage or denervation may cause unexplained joint instability and subscapularis dysfunction.

Endoscopically assisted sural nerve harvest for upper extremity posttraumatic nerve defects: an evaluation of functional outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral nerve injuries in the upper extremity often require interposition of sural nerve grafts for reconstruction. Due to the poor donor-site appearance with standard techniques, and the potential for trauma to the nerve because of poor visualization during the harvest when the stepladder technique is used, the endoscope has been employed for nerve harvest. METHODS: From January of 1997 until December of 2003, 15 patients with an average age of 27.5 years with posttraumatic upper limb nerve defects of the ulnar, median, or posterior interosseous nerves (crush, cutting, or avulsion injuries) underwent reconstruction with endoscopically harvested sural nerve. The nerves were harvested using atraumatic techniques under video monitor visualization. The functional results of sensation and motor function were assessed using British Medical Research Council scales. RESULTS: All patients regained at least cutaneous pain and tactile sensibility, with most regaining two-point discrimination (nine patients achieved S3+). Two patients achieved complete recovery (S4). The 11 patients with motor nerve involvement achieved between M1+ and M5 after the initial reconstruction. Eight patients required a total of one immediate and nine secondary procedures to achieve the final outcome. The procedures included tenolysis (three patients), intrinsic tendon transfers (four patients), and opponensplasty (three patients). At the 4-year mean follow-up, grip power was M5 in 13 patients (86.7 percent) and M4 in two patients (13.3 percent). CONCLUSIONS: Upper extremity sensory and motor nerve defects can be reconstructed with interposition of endoscopically harvested sural nerve grafts. The procedure is reliable, quick, and atraumatic, and results in reasonable motor and sensory recovery.

Management of abdominal wound dehiscence using vacuum assisted closure in patients with compromised healing.

BACKGROUND: Restoration of the abdominal wall's integrity after postoperative wound dehiscence is frequently performed in a delayed fashion, necessitating a temporary dressing of the dehisced wound. METHODS: The Vacuum Assisted Closure (VAC) system (Kinetic Concepts, Inc., San Antonio, TX) was used in 21 patients with postoperative abdominal wound dehiscences that could not be closed immediately and who were at high risk for healing complications. The VAC device was used in conjunction with sharp debridement and it was maintained on a continuous mode with a negative pressure of -75 to -125 mm Hg. The dressing was changed every 2 days. VAC therapy was continued until the integrity of the abdominal wall was reestablished by surgical procedures or secondary healing. RESULTS: Thirteen patients had fascial dehiscence, and 9 of them had frank bowel exposure. Definitive fascial closure was performed in 9 of 13 patients with fascial dehiscence. Stable cutaneous coverage was subsequently achieved in all patients by local abdominal skin flap advancement (6), skin grafting (9), or secondary intention healing (6). Seven patients had part of their VAC therapy as outpatients. The complications included a low-output small bowel enterocutaneous fistula in 2 patients and partial skin graft loss in 1 patient. The fistulae resolved after operative treatment (1) or conservative treatment (1). CONCLUSION: Integration of the VAC system in the management of post-laparotomy wound dehiscence in patients with compromised wound healing appears to be successful and should be considered in such patients to provide a stable, healed wound.