The Surgical Anatomy and the Deep Plane Thread Lift of the Buccal Fat Pad.

BACKGROUND: Management of facial rejuvenation by the thread lift procedure has evolved over the past few years. The role of deep plane thread lift for buccal fat pad reposition was advocated. However, there are concerns about the risks and the feasibility of the deep plane thread lift. This study was designed to determine whether the deep plane thread lift could achieve effective aesthetic results and to investigate the possible risks of critical tissue injury through cadaveric studies. METHODS: Twelve fresh frozen cephalic specimens of 8 male and 4 female Asian body donors (mean age, 63.3 ± 8.0 years) were investigated. The deep plane thread lifts for reposition of the buccal fat pads were performed for all the left hemifaces. Cadaveric dissections were performed to investigate the moving distance of the buccal fat pad and to examine the surrounding tissue of the passage of the deep plane thread lift. RESULTS: The average moving distance of the buccal fat pads after the deep plane thread lift was 3.73 cm. The difference in moving distance of buccal fat pads between bilateral sides was statistically significant (P < 0.001). No injuries of the critical vessels or nerves were found after cadaveric dissection. The passage of the deep plane thread lift was evaluated. CONCLUSION: The deep plane thread lift for reposition of the buccal fat pad is a safe, effective, and practical method.

An Innovative Thread-looping Method for Facial Rejuvenation: Minimal Access Multiple Plane Suspension.

BACKGROUND: Management of facial rejuvenation has evolved over past decades. Facelift with barbed suture is a minimally invasive surgical technique for facial rejuvenation. This study examined the efficacy and associated complications of a new thread-looping procedure called minimal access multiple plane suspension. METHODS: A total of 103 thread lifts were performed between 2014 and 2017. Patient satisfaction and adverse effects were evaluated. RESULTS: In the majority of patients (88/103, 85.4%), the results obtained were considered satisfactory 3 months after the procedure. The incidence of complications was low. Only 5.8% of the patients had slight postoperation asymmetry that was easily corrected. Minor complications experienced by patients included palpable suture knots (12.6%), persistent facial swelling (7.88%), and facial dimpling (2.9%). The causes of procedure-related complications were reviewed and discussed. CONCLUSION: Reinforced by select anchoring points, "minimal access multiple plane suspension" suspends ptotic anatomic tissues, serving as an effective facial rejuvenation procedure with minimal downtime and satisfactory cosmetic results.

The free inverted omega-shaped flap for circumferential hypopharyngeal reconstruction with simultaneous neck skin defect.

BACKGROUND: Circumferential hypopharyngeal defect with simultaneous skin defect can pose complicated reconstructive challenge for reconstructive microsurgeons. Our experience with the versatile inverted-omega flap tubing design is proposed to accommodate such problem. METHODS: From 2012 to 2015, 13 anterolateral thigh (ALT) flaps and one anteromedial thigh (AMT) flap were harvested for reconstruction of circumferential hypopharyngeal defects with skin defects in 14 patients. All patients were males except one. Patient age ranged from 42 to 67 years (average, 53.1 years). Fifty-seven percent were recurrent cases. All but one patient received preoperative chemoradiotherapy. RESULTS: The average flap size was 29 × 8 cm (range: 25-31 × 6-10 cm2 ). An average of 2.6 perforators was included in each flap (2-4 perforators/flap). All flaps survived. One venous thrombosis was noted and salvaged after thrombolectomy and vein graft. The mean follow-up period was 25 months. The fistula rate was 21.4% (three patients). One fistula never healed because of early recurrence; one fistula healed after surgical intervention; and one fistula need a loco-regional flap for secondary reconstruction. Three postoperative strictures were noted (21.4%). CONCLUSION: For the circumferential hypopharyngeal defect with simultaneous neck skin defect, this inverted-omega ALT tubing design offers an alternative choice for such complicated reconstruction. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery, 38:51-59, 2018.

An objective comparison regarding rate of fistula and stricture among anterolateral thigh, radial forearm, and jejunal free tissue transfers in circumferential pharyngo-esophageal reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: The three commonly used free flaps for circumferential pharyngeal reconstruction after total pharyngo-laryngectomy are the radial forearm flap (RFF), the anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap, and the jejunum flap. This study was to objectively compare three different flaps for pharyngeal reconstruction during the past 10 years. Stricture and fistula were assessed using esophagogram and esophagoscopy. METHODS: Forty-five patients with pharyngeal reconstructions had esophagram and esophagoscopy done postoperatively to assess for strictures and fistulas. These patients were divided into three groups based on pharyngeal reconstruction by ALT, RFF, and jejunal flaps. From the results of the esophagogram and esophagoscope, the presence of a fistula or stricture was compared and analyzed. RESULTS: There was only one ALT flap failure. The rate of fistula was 33%, 50%, and 30% in the ALT, RFF, and jejunal flap group respectively. The fistula rate revealed no significant difference between ALT, RFF, jejunal flap groups (P = 0.63). The rate of stricture was 38.1%, 57.1%, and 0% in the ALT, RFA, jejunal flap groups respectively. The stricture rate in jejunal flap group revealed significant decrease (P = 0.0093). CONCLUSION: Jejunal flap has a significantly lower rate of stricture for reconstruction of circumferential pharyngeal defects when compared with RFF or ALT flaps.

Epignathus teratoma with duplication of mandible and tongue: report of a case.

We report a female infant with presentation of epignathus teratoma involving duplication of both the mandible and tongue. Epignathus with duplication of the mandible has rarely been reported in the literature thus far. The location and extent of the tumor, as well as the involvement of adjacent structures, resulted in trismus and upper airway obstruction at birth. Thus, staged operations including debulking and correction of anatomical anomaly were performed on this patient after life-saving tracheostomy. As a result, we not only prevented morbidity associated with the anomaly but also refined the patient's appearance and improved her quality of life.

The outcome of prostaglandin-E1 and dextran-40 compared to no antithrombotic therapy in head and neck free tissue transfer: analysis of 1,351 cases in a single center.

Free tissue transfer has become a popular technique for soft tissue defect reconstruction in head and neck cancer ablation. Although high success rates and good reliability of free flaps are proven, microvascular thrombosis is still the most critical issue for microsurgeons. Pharmacological antithrombotic agents are widely used but their efficacy is still debated. In this study, we analyzed whether prostaglandin-E1 (PGE1) and dextran-40 can improve the outcomes compared to no antithrombotic therapy at all. We retrospectively reviewed 1,351 free flaps performed for head and neck reconstruction after cancer ablation. Three groups defined were 232 flaps received PGE1, 283 flaps received dextran-40, and 836 received no antithrombotic therapy. The demographics of these three groups indicated no statistical differences. The results showed that flap survival revealed no significant difference among PGE1, dextran-40, and control group (P = 0.734). There was a tendency to hematomas in PGE1 group (P = 0.056) when compared with other two groups. Dextran-40 significantly increased flap failure rate in high-risk patients with diabetes mellitus (P = 0.006) or hypertension (P = 0.003), when compared with PGE1 and control group. These results revealed antithrombotic therapy with PGE1 and dextran-40 do not determine a significant improvement in flap survival.

A reusable perforator-preserving gluteal artery-based rotation fasciocutaneous flap for pressure sore reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Perforator-based fasciocutaneous flaps for reconstructing pressure sores can achieve good functional results with acceptable donor site complications in the short-term. Recurrence is a difficult issue and a major concern in plastic surgery. In this study, we introduce a reusable perforator-preserving gluteal artery-based rotation flap for reconstruction of pressure sores, which can be also elevated from the same incision to accommodate pressure sore recurrence. METHODS: The study included 23 men and 13 women with a mean age of 59.3 (range 24-89) years. There were 24 sacral ulcers, 11 ischial ulcers, and one trochanteric ulcer. The defects ranged in size from 4 × 3 to 12 × 10 cm(2) . Thirty-six consecutive pressure sore patients underwent gluteal artery-based rotation flap reconstruction. An inferior gluteal artery-based rotation fasciocutaneous flap was raised, and the superior gluteal artery perforator was preserved in sacral sores; alternatively, a superior gluteal artery-based rotation fasciocutaneous flap was elevated, and the inferior gluteal artery perforator was identified and dissected in ischial ulcers. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 20.8 (range 0-30) months in this study. Complications included four cases of tip necrosis, three wound dehiscences, two recurrences reusing the same flap for pressure sore reconstruction, one seroma, and one patient who died on the fourth postoperative day. The complication rate was 20.8% for sacral ulcers, 54.5% for ischial wounds, and none for trochanteric ulcer. After secondary repair and reconstruction of the compromised wounds, all of the wounds healed uneventfully. CONCLUSIONS: The perforator-preserving gluteal artery-based rotation fasciocutaneous flap is a reliable, reusable flap that provides rich vascularity facilitating wound healing and accommodating the difficulties of pressure sore reconstruction.

The suitability of end-to-side microvascular anastomosis in free flap transfer for limb reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: End-to-end (ETE) microvascular anastomosis used in free flap transfer for limb reconstruction often requires the sacrifice of a major artery, which may aggravate distal circulation of the limb. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the type of microvascular anastomosis and the survival of free flaps, and to highlight the end-to-side (ETS) anastomotic technique when facing vascular anatomic variations. METHODS: Between 1999 and 2008, a retrospective review was conducted by a single microsurgeon on 203 patients who underwent free flap reconstruction for limb reconstruction. We examined the clinical course of 209 arterial and 308 venous anastomoses. ETS anastomoses were performed for 99 vessels, whereas ETE anastomoses for 418 vessels. The distribution and outcome of ETS and ETE anastomoses were compared. RESULTS: One arterial thrombosis (1.15%, 1/87) was recorded in ETS anastomosis group, whereas none (0%, 0/122) was recorded in ETE anastomosis group (P = 0.419). Four venous thromboses (1.35%, 4/296) were found in ETE group, whereas none was found in ETS group (0%, 0/12). There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 anastomotic techniques. Six cases with double pedicles needed ETS anastomosis for 2 arterial and 2 venous reconstructions. Flap survival rate in ETS arterial group was 98.8%, whereas in ETE arterial group, it was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: ETS microvascular anastomosis has an equivalent flap survival rate as compared with ETE microvascular anastomosis. ETS anastomosis should be considered first when facing vessel size discrepancy and for preserving the major arteries of limbs.

Free anterolateral thigh combined flap for chronic postpneumonectomy empyema.

Management of postpneumonectomy empyema has always been a challenging task. Local flaps or free muscle flaps are options for recalcitrant cases when traditional therapeutic attempts fail. This report presents 2 patients with chronic postpneumonectomy empyema who were treated with an anterolateral thigh combined flap consisting of vastus lateralis and rectus femoris muscles. This method showed promising results for reconstruction of large empyema defect.