Pedicled Fat Research Articles

Pedicle Fat Grafts for the Prevention of Scar Formation After Laminectomy

The formation of scar tissue always follows lumbar disc surgery and usually causes no difficulty. Reoperation may be necessary because of disc reherniation or because of the scar tissue itself. Reoperation is tedious and dangerous because of the presence of scar formation. Beginning in February 1975, the authors performed laminotomies in 107 dogs in an attempt to study the possibility of prevention of scar tissue formation about the dural sac and nerve roots. Gelfoam and Gelfilm were found to increase scar formation. Micropore tape and plastics such as polyethylene, mylar, and woven and smooth silastic were tried without complete success. Free fat grafts gave better protection than other substances, but it was found that pedicle grafts of fat gave more complete prevention of scar. The living pedicle fat grafts also prevented the usual closure of the laminotomy. The technique of pedicle fat grafts has also been used with success in 36 human patients to date.

An Application of Fat Pedicle Flap for Neurolysis in Volkmann's Contracture

At the time of neurolysis in Volkmann's contracture the following attempt was done: After neurolysis the nerve was wrapped with fat pedicle flap from the volar subcutaneous fat tissue to prevent the adhesion of the nerve from the surrounding damaged tissue.One of our cases reconstructive operation was carried out nine months after the first operation and it was confirmed that necrosis of fat pedicle flap was not occured and adhesion of the nerve was appeared slightly in the fat tissue but markedly in the other part.

Mechanical Occlusion of the Vertebral Artery

Acute insufficiency of the basilar artery, in the absence of organic disease, has been encountered in 20 patients. Attacks are transient and are precipitated by turning the head laterally and upwards. Two conditions are extant: (1) obliteration of vertebral artery flow by the contraction of the longus colli muscle and the scalene muscle at the level of the vertebral foramen of the sixth cervical vertebra and (2) a hypoplastic contralateral artery which does not adequately supply the basilar circulation. Vertebral angiography confirms the diagnosis by demonstrating one hypoplastic artery and a large contralateral artery that occludes upon forced lateral rotation of the head. The treatment consists of clearing the sixth vertebral foramen of all tendonous attachments and interposing a fat pedicle amongst the severed tendons to obviate their reattachment.

Breast reconstruction with local derma and fat pedicle flaps.

From the Plastic Surgical Service at Christ and Bethesda Hospitals, Cincinnati, Ohio 11503 Carew Tower Cincinnati, Ohio