[Successful free microvascular radial artery flap for phalloplasty in case of a persistent median artery - Retrospective analysis of 48 patients and review of the literature]. / Erfolgreiche freie mikrovaskuläre A. radialis-Lappenplastik zur Phalluskonstruktion bei persistierender A. mediana (PMA).

BACKGROUND: Anomalies of the radial arterial system can be of importance during harvesting of a radial forearm flap. In particular when using the forearm flap for phalloplasty due to the required dimensions of the flap, sufficient arterial supply is of fundamental importance. In case of a persistent median artery perfusion conditions in the supply area of ​​the A. radialis and the A. ulnaris may have been altered or even completely regressed. METHODS: A retrospective evaluation of all phalloplasties performed in our institution was carried out from January 2016 to December 2018. In all patients technique according to Gottlieb and Levine or Chang was applied. RESULTS: In the retrospectively evaluated population of 48 patients, a persistent arteria mediana was found intraoperatively in two patients, corresponding to an incidence of 4.2 %. In both patients, the phalloplasty was accomplished without restriction of flap perfusion or hand perfusion. A review of the literature provides an overview of the incidence of aberrant vascularization of the forearm and the consequences that can be derived for the planning of a radial artery flap. CONCLUSION: Variations in the arterial anatomy of the forearm, as the presence of a persistent median artery, are sufficiently common to warrant careful preoperative evaluation when planning a free vascularized forearm flap for reconstructive surgery. The preoperative performed Allen-test provides no clear inference possibility and therefore often requires intraoperative random findings. The reconstructive surgeon should be aware of these possible variations because it can affect the harvest and the survival of the forearm flap as well as causing ischaemia of the hand.

[Preservation of the outer ear in a complex burn injury]. / Erhalt des äußeren Ohres bei einer komplexen Verbrennung.

Saving the outer ear in burn injuries is a challenging task for the treating surgeon that should not be underestimated. Burns which are initially evaluated as superficial, particularly in this region, often have a tendency to undergo progressive tissue destruction whereby conservative treatment is often no longer sufficient to preserve the skin of the auricle with the underlying cartilage. Various possibilities for saving the ear and for ear reconstruction are described, but in the case of severely burned patients it is often necessary to carry out a quick and relatively simple treatment. In the complicated case of a severely burned patient involving the external ear, a good cosmetic result could be finally obtained with preservation of form and function by means of an economical cartilage resection with subsequent adaptation.

Analysis of the microcirculation after soft tissue reconstruction of the outer ear with burns in patients with severe burn injuries.

Reconstruction of soft tissue defects of the ear with burns remains one of the most difficult tasks for the reconstructive surgeon. Although numerous reconstructive options are available, the results are often unpredictable and worse than expected. Besides full and split skin grafting, local random pattern flaps and pedicled flaps are frequently utilized to cover soft tissue defects of the outer auricle. Because of the difficulty and unpredictable nature of outer ear reconstruction after burn injury, a case-control study was conducted to determine the best reconstructive approach. The microcirculatory properties of different types of soft tissue reconstruction of the outer ear with burns in six severely burned Caucasian patients (three men and three women; mean age, 46 years (range, 22-70)) were compared to those in the healthy tissue of the outer ear using the O2C device (Oxygen to See; LEA Medizintechnik, Gießen, Germany). The results of this study revealed that the investigated microcirculation parameters such as the median values of blood flow (control group: 126 AU), relative amount of hemoglobin (control group: 59.5 AU), and tissue oxygen saturation (control group: 73%) are most similar to those of normal ear tissue when pedicled flaps based on the superficial temporal artery were used. These findings suggest that this type of reconstruction is superior for soft tissue reconstruction of the outer ear with burns in contrast to random pattern flaps and full skin grafts regarding the microcirculatory aspects. These findings may improve the knowledge on soft tissue viability and facilitate the exceptional and delicate process of planning the reconstruction of the auricle with burns.