Surface enlargement of a new arterialised venous flap by the surgical delay method.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The delay method is a surgical, pharmacological and combined method that includes two or more time separated phases, which gives bigger flap surface. In our research we explored the possibility of flap surface enlargement in a new arterialised venous flap (AVF) on an experimental rabbit ear model by the delay surgical method. The aim of this research was to establish vitality surface of our AVF and to maintain the difference in flap vital surface between AVF flaps, with or without performing the delay surgery method. METHODS: We used both ears of "Big Chinchilla" rabbits in 10 experimental male animals, divided into two groups, average weight 3-3.5 kg, and average age 8-10 months. In the first (experimental) group, a venous flap was arterialised by our method. In the second (control) group, the venous flap was arterialised 14 days after the delay surgical method. AVF surface was measured on the 1 and 14 days by the method of trapezoid rule. RESULTS: Vital surface on our AVF experimental model was bigger than 87% of elevated flap surface after the delay surgical method. Vital surface on AVF without delay on our experimental model was bigger than 30% of elevated flap surface (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Analysis of previous experimental models on the rabbit ear, non-delayed and delayed (to enlarge flap surface) led us to conclusion that previously created experimental models of non-delayed AVF are hemodynamically negative. Our experimental non-delay AVF model is hemodynamically more positive than previously created models of non-delay AVF and provides better conditions for AVF survival and enlargement of vital flap surface of elevated flap. On the other hand, surgical delay method significantly enlarges vital surface of AFF.

[Sensibility of vagina reconstructed by McIndoe method in Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome].

BACKGROUND/AIM: Congenital absence of vagina is a failure present in Mayer-Küster-Rokitansky-Hauser syndrome. Treatment of this anomaly includes nonoperative and operative procedures. McIndoe procedure uses split skin graft by Thiersch. The aim of this study was to determine sensitivity (touch, warmness, coldness) of a vagina reconstructed by McIndoe method in Mayer-Küster-Rokitansky-Hauser syndrome and compare it with the normal vagina. METHODS: A total of 21 female persons with reconstructed vagina by McIndoe method and 21 female persons with normal vagina were observed. All female persons were devided into groups and subgroups (according to age). Sensibility to touch, warmness and coldness were examined, applying VonFrey's esthesiometer and termoesthesiometer for warmness and coldness in three regions of vagina (enter, middle wall, bothom). The number of positive answers was registrated by touching the mucosa regions for five seconds, five times. RESULTS: The obtained results showed that female patients with a reconstructed vagina by McIndoe method, felt touch at the middle part of wall and in the bottom of vagina better than patients with normal one. Also, the first ones felt warmness at the middle part of wall and coldness in the bottom of vagina, better than the patients with normal vagina. Other results showed no difference in sensibility between reconstructed and normal vagina. CONCLUSION: Various types of sensibility (touch, warmness, coldness) are better or the same in vaginas reconstructed by McIndoe method, in comparison with normal ones. This could be explaned by the fact that skin grafts are capable of recovering sensibility.

[Plastic surgery in the treatment of primary cutaneous melanoma]. / Plasticna hirurgija u lecenju primarnog melanoma koze.

Surgery is still the most effective treatment modality of skin melanoma. The margins of excision are determined by the thickness of primary tumor. From January 1999 to December 2001, 99 patients (57 male and 42 female, of the average age 55), were surgically treated at the Clinic for Plastic Surgery and Burns of the Military Medical Academy. The most usual localization of the primary tumor was the back (23.23%), followed by the forearm, and the lower leg. Regarding the clinical type of the melanoma, nodular melanoma dominated (62.62%). Microscopic staging of the melanoma (classification according to Clark and Breslow), showed that the majority of patients already suffered from the advanced primary disease, which called for radical excision and the choice of reconstructive methods in the closure of post-excision defects. The reconstructive plastic surgical methods enabled the closure of post-excision tissue defects, regardless of their size, structure, and localization. During the closure of post-excision defects, direct wound closure or split skin draft was performed in 76.76% of patients. Flaps were applied in 19.19% of patients with the primary melanoma of the head, face, foot, and hand. The sufficiency of the available reconstructive procedures makes plastic surgery irreplaceable in the surgical treatment of the primary melanoma of the skin.

[Surgical treatment of hand deformities in hereditary dystrophic bullous epidermolysis]. / Hirursko lecenje deformacija sake kod hereditarne distrofijske bulozne epidermolize.

In the period 1996-2001 in the Clinic for Plastic Surgery and Burns of the Military Medical Academy, 18 patients. 12 male and 6 female, with hereditary dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (HDEB) and hand deformities were surgically treated, to achieve the complete separation of fingers, correction of the thumb adduction contracture and flexion or extension contracture of finger joints. The period of wound healing on flat surfaces after surgery, and the period between two operations was estimated. The most common deformity was the flexion contractures of metacarpophalangeal (MP) joints (45%) and one or both interphalangeal (IP) joints (types A1, A2). In 20% of the hands MP joint was stretched with the flexion contracture in distal interphalangeal (DIP) or both IP joints (types B1, B2). In 35% of hands MP joint was in hyperextension with folded proximal interphalangeal (PIP) or both IP joints (C1 i C2). The adduction deformity of the thumb type 1, without the possibility of abduction, was present in 15%, type 2, when the thumb was placed above the palm in 60% and type 3, when the thumb was fused in the palm in 25%. Pseudosyndactyly of the first degree (till PIP joint) was found in 30% of hands, the second degree (till DIP joint) in 25%, and the third degree (the whole finger length) in 45% of hands. Fingers were completely separated and stretched surgically. The period of spontaneous healing was 15 days on the average. EBDC represents great medical and social problem that requires multidisciplinary approach of physicians of various specialties (surgeons, dermatologists, pediatrists, geneticists, nutritionists, physiatrists, ophthalmologists, dentists, ENT, as well as specially trained persons and families). The efficient specific systemic therapy aiming to increase the skin resistance to mechanical trauma does not exist yet, and should be developed in the field of gene therapy. The surgical correction of hand deformities, acrylate glove use in the longer post operative period combined with physiotherapy, the active use of hands, the protection of injuries and skin care are the measures which prolong the period between the recurrence of contractures.

[Microvascular free flaps and care of war injuries with tissue defects]. / Mikrovaskularni slobodni reznjevi u zbrinjavanju ratnih rana sa defektima tkiva.

BACKGROUND: War wounds caused by modern infantry weapons or explosive devices are very often associated with the defects of soft and bone tissue. According to their structure, tissue defects can be simple or complex. In accordance with war surgical doctrine, at the Clinic for Plastic Surgery and Burns of the Military Medical Academy, free flaps were used in the treatment of 108 patients with large tissue defects. With the aim of closing war wounds, covering deep structures, or making the preconditions for reconstruction of deep structures, free flaps were applied in primary, delayed, or secondary term. The main criteria for using free flaps were general condition of the wounded, extent, location, and structure of tissue defects. The aim was also to point out the advantages and disadvantages of the application of free flaps in the treatment of war wounds. METHODS: One hundred and eleven microvascular free flaps were applied, both simple and complex, for closing the war wounds with extensive tissue defects. The main criteria for the application of free flaps were: general condition of the wounded, size, localization, and structure of tissue defects. For the extensive defects of the tissue, as well as for severely contaminated wounds latissimus dorsi free flaps were used. For tissue defects of distal parts of the lower extremities, scapular free flaps were preferred. While using free tissue transfer for recompensation of bone defects, free vascularized fibular grafts were applied, and in skin and bone defects complex free osteoseptocutaneous fibular, free osteoseptocutaneous radial forearm, and free skin-bone scapular flaps were used. RESULTS: After free flap transfer 16 (14.4%) revisions were performed, and after 8 unsuccessful revisions another free flaps were utilized in 3 (37.5%) patients, and cross leg flaps in 5 (62.5%) patients. CONCLUSION: The treatment of war wounds with large tissue defects by the application of free microvascular flaps provided shorter wound-closing period, earlier beginning of physical therapy, as well as the treatment of great number of patients with the extensive tissue defects in the conditions of massive influx of the wounded.

[Management of war burns of the lower leg using free flaps]. / Mogucnost zbrinjavanja ratnih opekotina potkolenice slobodnim reznjevima.

Free flaps are used in the surgical treatment of burns for wound closure where the burn is too deep, and in case, when after necrotic tissue excision, the bones, tendons, nerves, and blood vessels remain bare. Covering of the exposed structures is commonly performed in the primary delayed, or in the secondary wound treatment. The possibilities of covering the defects of the lower leg with local flaps are limited. Free flaps are used when all the possibilities of the other reconstructive procedures have been exhausted. The defect of the soft tissue of the lower leg was covered with free flaps in the injured soldiers with deep burns, treated at the Clinic for Plastic Surgery and Burns, Military Medical Academy, Belgrade. In one patient the wound closing was performed immediately after excision of necrotic tissues, and in the other two in the secondary management. The application of free microvascular flaps enabled the closure of large post excision defects of the lower leg in one operation. Our experience in the treatment of these soldiers point to the possibility of coverage of the exposed deep structures with free flaps as early as possible.