Accuracy of early burn depth assessment by laser Doppler imaging on different days post burn.

BACKGROUND: Accurate diagnosis of burn depth is essential in selecting the most appropriate treatment. Early assessment of burn depth by clinical means only has been shown to be inaccurate, resulting in unnecessary operations or delay of grafting procedures. Laser Doppler imaging (LDI) was reported as an objective technique to determine the depth of a burn wound, but the accuracy on very early days post burn has never been investigated yet. METHODS: In 40 patients with intermediate depth burns, we prospectively evaluated and compared the accuracy of the LDI measurements with the clinical assessments on days 0, 1, 3, 5, 8. Clinical evaluation of the depth of the burn was performed by two observers blinded to the LDI images. Accuracies were assessed by comparison with outcome: healing times longer than 21 days were considered to be equivalent to a biopsy finding of a deep dermal wound. Obviously superficial and full thickness wounds were excluded. LDI flux level was used for LDI prediction of outcome: less than 220PU to predict non-healing at day 21. RESULTS: The accuracies of burn depth assessments on the day of burn and post burn days 0, 1, 3, 5 and 8 using LDI were 54%, 79.5%, 95%, 97% and 100% compared with clinical assessment accuracies of 40.6%, 61.5%, 52.5%, 71.4% and 100%, respectively. LDI accuracy was significantly higher than clinical accuracy on day 3 (p<0.001) and day 5 (p=0.005). Burn depth conversion was also considered. This is the first study to quantify the advantage of LDI scanning over clinical assessments during these important early after burn days.

Autologous in vivo adipose tissue engineering in hyaluronan-based gels--a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: There is a major clinical need for strategies for adequately reconstructing the soft tissue defects found after deep burns, tumor resection, or trauma. A promising solution is adipose tissue engineering with preadipocytes, stem-cell derived precursors of the adipose tissue, implanted within biomaterials. This pilot study evaluated hyaluronan gels mixed with autologous undifferentiated preadipocytes in a pig model for their potency to generate new fat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Preadipocytes were isolated from intra-abdominal pig fat by collagenase digestion, plated on fibronectin-coated culture dishes in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium/Ham's F12 (Biochrom, Berlin, Germany) combined with 10% pig serum, expanded, and mixed with hyaluronan gel. Two types of gels with varying degrees of amidation of the carboxyl groups were tested (HYADD3, HYADD4). Cell-loaded gels and unseeded controls were injected subcutaneously into the ears of three pigs, explanted at 6 wk, and analyzed histologically. RESULTS: Both cell-loaded specimens were detected macroscopically. They demonstrated a slight volume effect with limited stability after 6 wk. Unloaded HYADD3 and HYADD4 controls could not be identified at the time of explantation. Histology of HYADD3 revealed islets of mature adipocytes and vessels embedded in fat tissue surrounded by gel. In contrast, no fat formation was found in HYADD4 gels when implanted in the ear. CONCLUSIONS: Histological findings demonstrate that HYADD3 is a promising gel for generating adipose tissue. Even though HYADD3 might be a potential material for the reconstruction of small tissue defects, the question remains as to whether the adipose tissue within the gel is attributable to preadipocyte maturation or ingrowth from neighboring tissue.

Better cosmetic results and comparable quality of life after skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate autologous breast reconstruction compared to breast conservative treatment.

Preoperative chemotherapy (PCT) can be used in large primary breast cancer to facilitate breast conservative surgery (BCS). Cosmetic results of BCS are influenced by the size of the residual tumour, relative to the size of the breast. After mastectomy, immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) with autologous tissue provides excellent cosmetic outcome and has proven to be safe in breast cancer patients. Besides improving overall and disease free survival, Quality of Life (QoL), body image and cosmetic outcome are also important issues after treatment for breast cancer. In this study, Health-Related-Quality of Life (HRQL) and body image were evaluated, in patients treated with PCT, followed by BCS, or skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) and perforator-flap breast reconstruction. Additionally, clinical observers assessed cosmetic outcome. All participants were evaluated by the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) 36-item Short Form Health Status Survey (SF-36, 36 items) and a study-specific questionnaire. An external panel evaluated standardised photographs of the breasts. For all patients, norm-based scores of physical and mental health state are comparable with the general population, except for vitality (VT) score, which is somewhat lower. No significant differences can be observed between both groups. The majority of the patients were satisfied with the appearance of their breasts. The cosmetic results, assessed by the clinical team, were significantly better for patients having IBR, compared to BCS. The mean score was 7.5/10 for IBR, versus 6.0/10 for BCS (p<0.0001).Breast conserving treatment or mastectomy with reconstruction may yield comparable results of QoL, but cosmetic outcome is better after SSM and perforator-flap reconstruction. Patients must be offered both options, and clinicians should stress that both are equally effective.

The latero-central glandular pedicle technique for breast reduction.

The relatively high number of complications and disadvantages of the conventional techniques in breast reduction combined with our expertise in restoring sensation in breast reconstructive procedures, led to the development of a new technique that was crystallised from the traditional techniques and is able to overcome most of their disadvantages. The key issue of the technique is that the nipple is vascularised and innervated on a column of glandular tissue that remains in contact in its posterior part with the pectoralis muscle and its perforators and in its lateral aspect to the lateral pillar of breast tissue. Due to the ptosis that develops during the process of hypertrophy, this column will gain sufficient length to be turned upwards into the new position of the nipple. Resection of glandular tissue is performed cranially, medial and inferior to this column. Undermining of the skin is reduced to an absolute minimum and glandular resections are always performed in the shape of a wedge. In this way, undermining of the breast gland over the pectoralis muscle is avoided. The glandular pedicles are sutured together after loosely fitting the glandular cone with the nipple into its new position. The long term results of the first 68 cases were reviewed and compared to our experience with the superior dermal pedicle technique combined with the vertical scar as described by Lassus and later by Lejour. Due to increased vascularisation of the nipple-areolar complex (NAC), wound complications were markedly reduced with the new technique. Sensation in the NAC was preserved in almost all cases. There was a high satisfaction about the obtained aesthetical results in regard to shape and volume. Increased viability of the NAC, a reduced rate of wound complications and preservation of sensation in NAC are the main advantages of this technique. Additionally, flattening of the NAC is avoided by the support by glandular tissue behind the NAC that improves projection and hereby the aesthetic conic appearance of both breast and nipple.

Evaluation of nipple-areola complex sensitivity after the latero-central glandular pedicle technique in breast reduction.

INTRODUCTION: Previous anatomical and clinical studies have shown that nipple-areola sensitivity decreased significantly after conventional superior and inferior pedicle technique for 3-6 months postoperatively. We found it necessary to modify our techniques in breast reduction to achieve a better outcome regarding breast sensation. Since 1999, we have been using a new technique of breast reduction with a latero-central glandular pedicle. The pedicle for the nipple-areola is based on a horizontal septum and it is designed to incorporate the anterior ramus of the lateral branch of the fourth inter-costal nerve and perforator vessels. Using this technique, a prospective study was conducted in order to quantitatively assess the nipple-areola sensitivity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sensitivity of the nipple-areola complex (NAC) was evaluated in 20 consecutive patients undergoing breast reduction with the septum-based lateral pedicle technique. The sensitivity was assessed preoperatively, 2 weeks and 3 months postoperatively by the same examiner. The nipple and four cardinal points of the areola were tested. Pressure thresholds were measured with Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments, temperature sensitivity with hot (40 degrees C) and cold (4 degrees C) metal probes and vibratory thresholds with the Biothesiometer. Average sensation of the areola was calculated by means of the four areas tested. RESULTS: Average values of different patterns of sensitivity decreased significantly on the tested areola 2 weeks postoperatively. Three months postoperatively, pressure and vibration values were statistically comparable in averages to preoperative values (nipple: 46.2+/-3.8 versus 34.6+/-2.2 g/mm2 and 6.4+/-1.2 versus 3.7+/-1 micron; areola: 57.4+/-5.7 versus 49+/-6.8 g/mm2 and 6.7+/-1.2 versus 3.1+/-0.6 micron). Concerning the ability to recognise temperature, 27.5 and 20% of patients could not distinguish between cold and hot 3 months after surgery, on the nipple and the areola, respectively. Numbness was found only on two NAC despite the significant decrease of sensitivity after 2 weeks. This may be attributed to postoperative oedema or neuropraxia. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that using the latero-central glandular pedicle technique preserves the sensitivity of the NAC.