Perforator-Based Cross-Midline Flaps of the Trunk: A Paradigm Shift in Flap Design.

BACKGROUND: The traditional design for truncal perforator flaps is ipsilateral without midline decussation. The presumed rationale is to minimize the risk of distal flap necrosis. In this article, the authors present their experience and results with contralateral truncal perforator flaps designed and raised crossing the midline. METHODS: This retrospective analysis included 43 patients (25 men and 18 women) who underwent reconstructive surgery from 1984 to 2021 using a contralateral flap design crossing the midline in the anterior trunk and upper back. Considerations included pathology, location, and the dimensions of the defect and flap. Arithmetic and weighted means with their 95% confidence intervals were estimated to compare ipsilateral and contralateral techniques. RESULTS: Contralateral flaps used included the internal mammary perforator flap ( n = 28) superficial superior epigastric artery flap ( n = 8), superior epigastric perforator flap ( n = 2), and the second or ninth dorsal intercostal artery perforator flap ( n = 5). All of these flaps, excluding the superficial superior epigastric artery flap, demonstrated length and coverage surface averages that were significantly greater than those of traditional ipsilateral flaps. However, with the contralateral superficial superior epigastric artery, both measures were statistically similar to those of traditional ipsilateral flaps. CONCLUSION: The anatomical variation design suggests that the trunk midline is not a barrier and that perforator flaps in these two regions may be raised on different longitudinal axes without compromising vitality. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

Differential Diagnosis of Charcot Neuroarthropathy in Subacute and Chronic Phases: Unusual Diseases.

Charcot Neuroarthropaty (CN) is a complication of diabetes with devastating consequences as it produces severe deformities in the foot developing in recurrent ulcers that rise the probability of amputation. There are several diseases mentioned in the literature that have to be considered for the differential diagnosis of CN, often related to the acute phase (gout, ankle sprain, inflammatory arthritis, cellulitis, venous thrombosis) but there is paucity of information related to the differential diagnosis in later stages (coalescence, remodeling) when there is deformity of the foot. Clinicians and diabetologists are not familiarized with orthopedic pathology and do not have in mind certain diseases that could mimic CN in the subacute or chronic phases and this can develop in a wrong diagnosis. It is important to make a correct diagnosis in patients with suspected CN not only in the acute phase but also in the chronic phase to establish an accurate treatment. This article is a review of the differential diagnosis of CN in subacute and chronic phases showing similarities and differences that can help clinicians and diabetologists to make an accurate diagnosis and treatment. We describe unusual diseases like tendon and muscles disorders, Frieberg's disease, complex pain regional syndrome, transient regional osteoporosis and osteomyelitis superimposed to CN and the main features of each one that could help in making a differential diagnosis.

Diabetic foot and COVID-19. Medical consultation and severity of lesions compared to 2019 / Pie diabético y COVID-19. Número de consultas y gravedad de las lesiones comparadas con 2019

Abstract At the end of 2019 a novel coronavirus was identified as a cause of pneumonia in Wuhan, China. This emerging disease has caused an unexpected turn in the economy and in society, which has led to the necessity of social isolation and confinement. Diabetic foot consultation was affected by the ongoing situation. The aim of this study was to compare the number of medical visits and the severity of new lesions at presentation at the Diabetic Foot Unit during June 2020 compared to June 2019. Three hundred and fifty six medical visits were analyzed, resulting in a 29% reduction in the number of visits during 2020. The number of patients presenting with new lesions increased from 6.4% to 10.3% (p = ns) during pandemic. The number of visits from the patients´ relatives was higher during June 2020 (16.3% vs. 1.4%) (p < 0.05). Controls of feet without active lesions (i.e.: closed wound or periodic control) decreased from 16.8% to 4.5% (p < 0.05). Consultation for medical prescription only was higher in 2020 (22.4%) than in 2019 (7.3%) (p < 0.05). In our sample, there were no significant differences in the severity of new lesions at presentation or on the days of evolution of new ones in comparison with the previous year. During 2020, telehealth consults represented a 7% of all medical visits. There were no major amputations during 2019 and 4 during 2020. Given the dynamics of confinement, further studies about this topic are required to make sound and accurate decisions.

Resumen A fines de 2019 se identificó un nuevo coronavirus como causa de neumonía, en Wuhan, China. Esta nueva enfermedad (COVID-19) causó un inesperado vuelco en la economía y en la sociedad. El aislamiento social y el confinamiento provocaron cambios en la dinámica de las consultas médicas. En este estudio se compararon la cantidad de consultas y la gravedad de las lesiones nuevas en la Unidad de Pie Diabético entre junio de 2020 y junio de 2019. Se analizaron en total 356 visitas médicas, hallando un 29% de reducción en el número de visitas en 2020. El número de consultas por lesión nueva aumentó del 6.4% a 10.3% (p = ns) durante la pandemia. Las visitas de familiares por diversos motivos en lugar del paciente aumentaron durante 2020 de 1.4% a 16.3% (p < 0.05). Los controles de pacientes sin lesión (pie de alto riesgo, control post alta), disminuyeron de 16.8% a 4.5% (p < 0.05) y también aumentaron las visitas únicamente para prescripciones médicas (7.3% a 22.4%, p < 0.05). En nuestra muestra, no hubo diferencias significativas en la gravedad de la presentación ni en los días de evolución de las lesiones nuevas en relación al año anterior. Durante 2020 las teleconsultas representaron el 7% del total. En junio de 2019 no se registraron amputaciones mayores y en 2020 se registraron 4. Dada la dinámica del confinamiento, se requiere un continuo seguimiento y nuevos estudios para evaluar las consecuencias que se producirán en los pacientes con esta enfermedad con el fin de tomar decisiones acertadas.

Diabetic foot and COVID-19. Medical consultation and severity of lesions compared to 2019.

At the end of 2019 a novel coronavirus was identified as a cause of pneumonia in Wuhan, China. This emerging disease has caused an unexpected turn in the economy and in society, which has led to the necessity of social isolation and confinement. Diabetic foot consultation was affected by the ongoing situation. The aim of this study was to compare the number of medical visits and the severity of new lesions at presentation at the Diabetic Foot Unit during June 2020 compared to June 2019. Three hundred and fifty six medical visits were analyzed, resulting in a 29% reduction in the number of visits during 2020. The number of patients presenting with new lesions increased from 6.4% to 10.3% (p = ns) during pandemic. The number of visits from the patients' relatives was higher during June 2020 (16.3% vs. 1.4%) (p < 0.05). Controls of feet without active lesions (i.e.: closed wound or periodic control) decreased from 16.8% to 4.5% (p < 0.05). Consultation for medical prescription only was higher in 2020 (22.4%) than in 2019 (7.3%) (p < 0.05). In our sample, there were no significant differences in the severity of new lesions at presentation or on the days of evolution of new ones in comparison with the previous year. During 2020, telehealth consults represented a 7% of all medical visits. There were no major amputations during 2019 and 4 during 2020. Given the dynamics of confinement, further studies about this topic are required to make sound and accurate decisions.

A fines de 2019 se identificó un nuevo coronavirus como causa de neumonía, en Wuhan, China. Esta nueva enfermedad (COVID-19) causó un inesperado vuelco en la economía y en la sociedad. El aislamiento social y el confinamiento provocaron cambios en la dinámica de las consultas médicas. En este estudio se compararon la cantidad de consultas y la gravedad de las lesiones nuevas en la Unidad de Pie Diabético entre junio de 2020 y junio de 2019. Se analizaron en total 356 visitas médicas, hallando un 29% de reducción en el número de visitas en 2020. El número de consultas por lesión nueva aumentó del 6.4% a 10.3% (p = ns) durante la pandemia. Las visitas de familiares por diversos motivos en lugar del paciente aumentaron durante 2020 de 1.4% a 16.3% (p < 0.05). Los controles de pacientes sin lesión (pie de alto riesgo, control post alta), disminuyeron de 16.8% a 4.5% (p < 0.05) y también aumentaron las visitas únicamente para prescripciones médicas (7.3% a 22.4%, p < 0.05). En nuestra muestra, no hubo diferencias significativas en la gravedad de la presentación ni en los días de evolución de las lesiones nuevas en relación al año anterior. Durante 2020 las teleconsultas representaron el 7% del total. En junio de 2019 no se registraron amputaciones mayores y en 2020 se registraron 4. Dada la dinámica del confinamiento, se requiere un continuo seguimiento y nuevos estudios para evaluar las consecuencias que se producirán en los pacientes con esta enfermedad con el fin de tomar decisiones acertadas.