Flap Size Research Articles

Repairing partial suprahyoid epiglottis-preserved circumferential defect in near total laryngectomy with anterior medial thigh flap in advanced laryngeal cancer

To explore the feasibility to restore pronunciation function by repairing partial suprahyoid epiglottis-preserved circumferential defect in near total laryngectomy with anterior medial thigh flap in advanced laryngeal cancer. A retrospective study of 5 male patients with advanced laryngeal cancer between August 2019 and October 2022, aged 56-73 years, with an average age of 65 years were reviewed. The disease duration ranged from 3 to 24 months, with an average of 8 months. Tumor classification by location: 2 cases of glottic type, 2 cases of supraglottic type, and 1 case of subglottic type; TNM staging: 3 cases of T 4N 0M 0 stage, 1 case of T 4N 1M 0 stage, and 1 case of T 4N 2M 0 stage; American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging (2017): stage Ⅳ. Near total laryngectomy with partial suprahyoid epiglottis-preserved and selective bilateral neck dissection were performed before the anterior medial thigh flap was used to repair the circumferential defects. The flap size ranged from 6 cm×5 cm to 8 cm×6 cm. Four patients underwent adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy after operation, while 1 patient did not receive any other adjuvant treatment such as radiochemotherapy. The flaps of all 5 patients survived without obvious neck infection. One patient developed a slight pharyngeal fistula after oral feeding at 1 month after operation, which healed after another week of gastric feeding. Primary healing also achieved in the thigh donor area. One patient had bilateral cervical lymph node metastasis, and 1 patient had lymph node metastasis on one side. The remaining 3 patients had no cervical nodes metastasis on both sides. All 5 patients were followed up 12-36 months, with an average of 27.6 months. Four patients had clear, audible, and hoarse voice while 1 patient (case 3) had pronunciation similar to whispering. Laryngoscopy showed that the reconstructed laryngeal inlet was fissure-shape and the reconstructed laryngo-trachea canal below the laryngeal inlet was gradually enlarged. At 1 month after operation, the gastric tube was withdrawn and the food was taken orally. There was no obvious aspiration pneumonia. The tracheostomy tube could be blocked in 4 patients for from 30 seconds to 3 minutes. Among them, 3 patients were able to make a noticeable pronunciation even when the tube was not blocked, and they were able to engage in barrier-free language communication; the tracheostomy tube could not be blocked in 1 patient who had a pronunciation similar to whispering. Preliminary voice analysis showed that the patients have a relaxed and natural pronunciation, without obvious breath-holding or air-swallowing movement, compared to patients with esophageal pronunciation. Decannulation did not achieved until the last follow-up in all 5 patients. The anterior medial thigh flap can repair circumferential defects after near total laryngectomy in advanced laryngeal cancer patients and achieve satisfactory pronunciation, thus can serve as an effective pronunciation rehabilitation method. The preserved part of epiglottis may play a role to prevent postoperative aspiration.

Hand Reconstruction Using Anterolateral Thigh Free Flap by Terminal Perforator-to-Digital Artery Anastomosis: Retrospective Analysis.

This study aimed to analyze cases of anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap used for hand reconstruction with terminal perforator-to-digital artery anastomosis. Patients who underwent ALT free flap placement with terminal perforator-to-digital artery anastomosis for hand reconstruction between January 2011 and August 2021 were included. The number, length, and diameter of the perforators and veins, flap size, and operative time were investigated through a retrospective review of charts and photographs. The occurrences of arterial thrombosis, venous thrombosis, arterial spasm, and flap necrosis were analyzed. In total, 50 patients were included in this study. The mean diameter and length of the perforators were 0.68 mm and 3.25 cm, respectively, and the mean number of veins anastomosed was 1.88, with a mean diameter of 0.54 mm. Complications included four cases of arterial thrombosis, one case of venous thrombosis, seven cases of partial necrosis, and one case of total flap failure. Regression analysis showed that a longer perforator was associated with arterial thrombosis whereas larger flap size and number of anastomosed veins were associated with partial necrosis ( p < 0.05). The terminal perforator-to-digital artery anastomosis offers advantages in using compact free flaps with short pedicle lengths to cover small hand defects.

A retrospective propensity score-matched analysis of oncological and functional outcomes of submental island flap versus radial forearm free flap for oral cavity cancer reconstruction

BackgroundThis retrospective study aims to compare the oncological and functional outcomes of the submental island flap versus the radial forearm free flap used for oral cavity cancer reconstruction after minimizing differences in baseline characteristics.MethodsPropensity scores for each oral cavity cancer patient who underwent surgical resection and immediate reconstruction with a submental island flap or a radial forearm free flap with a flap size ≤ 60 cm2 between October 2008 and December 2021 were generated based on the likelihood of being selected given their baseline characteristics. Patients were matched using a 1:1 nearest-neighbor approach.ResultsThe final matched-pair analysis included 51 patients in each group. The 5-year overall survival, disease-specific survival, and locoregional control rates were 70.1% and 64.8% (p = 0.612), 77.3% and 83.7% (p = 0.857), and 76.1% and 73.3% (p = 0.664), respectively, for the submental island flap group and the radial forearm free flap group. Speech and swallowing functions were comparable between groups. However, there were significantly lower rates of complication associated with both donor and recipient sites in the submental island flap group, and also the duration of hospital stays and hospital costs were significantly lower in these patients. A subgroup analysis of patients in which the reconstruction was carried out using the submental island flap procedure revealed that in selected cases, the presence of clinically and pathologically positive level I lymph nodes did not affect survival or locoregional control rates.ConclusionsAlthough this study was not randomized, the matched-pair analysis of surgically treated oral cavity cancer patients showed that submental island flap reconstruction is as effective as radial forearm free flap reconstruction with regard to oncological and functional outcomes with lower complication rates, hospital stay, and hospital costs. This flap can be safely and effectively performed in selected cases with a clinical level I lymph node smaller than 1.5 cm and no signs of extranodal extension.

Infrahyoid Myocutaneous Flap for Reconstruction in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Objective: Oral cancers are one of the most common cancers in India. Tongue and lower gingiva-buccal sulcus are the most common subsites in oral cancers. Good reconstruction after resection of primary is a demanding task and determines quality of life. This study reviews our experience with infrahyoid flap (IHF) in reconstruction of small and medium sized defects after oral cancer resection. Materials and Methods: This study retrospectively analyzes all patients of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma who underwent IHF flap by a single surgeon from July 2018 till June 2022 with a median follow‑up of 12 months. Results were analyzed based on characteristics of the patients, site and size of defect, postoperative complications and clinical outcome. Results: Out of 14 patients, 4 patients had skin paddle necrosis (2 total and 2 partial). None of the patient suffered a total flap loss. All cases of partial flap loss resolved with conservative treatment and none of the patient required a revision surgery or developed orocutaneous fistula. The largest flap size was 9 × 4.5 cm. Conclusion: The infrahyoid myocutaneous flap is a fairly reliable and easy to perform flap for small and medium‑sized defects of the oral cavity.

Limitation of microdissected thinning in free anterolateral thigh flap for hand reconstruction

BackgroundHand defects, especially complex defects involving tendon or bone exposure, are challenging to reconstruct. With the limited size and options of local flaps, the free-thinned anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap remains an excellent choice. However, many authors have described thinning procedures differently, leading to inconsistent outcomes. We present our clinical experience of immediate thinning ALT flaps depending on the anatomical structure of the perforator.Materials and methodsBetween 2007 and 2021, we used a free ALT flap in 42 cases to cover hand defects after crushing and friction injuries, burning and burn scars, and animal bite wounds. There were 38 males and 4 females; the mean patient age was 31.2 years. Thinning procedure was performed in all flaps. The primary and microdissected thinning procedure was performed for 35 single flaps and 7 chimeric flaps, including 14 flaps for the fingers (29%), 4 flaps for the palm (8%), 12 flaps for the hand dorsum (24%), and 19 flaps for combined areas (39%).ResultsThe mean flap thickness was 18.6 (11–30) mm before defatting and 6.0 (3–12) mm after defatting, an approximately 65% reduction. The retained fascia island around the perforator was ≤ 1 cm in 73.5% of cases, 2–3 cm in 18.4%, and the remaining 8.1% had a fascia size ≥ 4 cm. The incidence of a well-survive flap was 93.9%. Three cases had partial to total necrosis. None of the patients required a secondary defatting procedure.ConclusionEvery case has a perforator pattern after running through the fascia, which allows surgeons to choose the appropriate thinning method. Perforators that run parallel to the superficial fascia are not good candidates for thinning. Instead, the thinning process should be performed with more perpendicular perforators.Level of evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study

"Submarine-Shaped" Radial Forearm Flap for Simultaneous Reconstruction of Oral and Lower Lip Defects".

Reconstruction of the oral cavity commonly results in trismus and lip incompetence. In this study, we aim to describe an innovative design of a radial forearm free flap for resurfacing bilateral buccal defects and simultaneous functional lower lip reconstruction in a single stage. Between January 2010 and December 2019, 6 males underwent simultaneous buccal and lower lip reconstruction with a radial forearm free flap. The mean age of the patients was 57.3 years (range, 50-68 years). The defects were caused by trismus release and due to previous treatments. The mean size of the defects was 17.9 cm in length and 3.25 cm in width. Flaps were harvested, including the proximal perforators of the radial vessels, and the inset began in the buccal area opposite the anastomosis side. Flap size ranged from 16 to 21 × 2 to 4 cm. The recipient vessels used were the superficial temporal (4) and facial (2). All flaps survived. Lip infection was seen in 2 cases and managed conservatively. The mean follow-up was 19.2 months (range, 12-28 months). The mean increase in the interincisal distance was 10.7 mm. Oral continence was good in all patients. Speech intelligibility was considered total in 4 patients and partial in the remaining 2. The radial forearm flap constitutes an option for simultaneous lower lip reconstruction and resurfacing of bilateral buccal areas after trismus release. The procedure provides a thin and pliable reconstruction using only 1 donor site and 1 set of recipient vessels.

Application of plantar medial thin skin flaps preserving plantar fascia with its superficial fascia tissue to repair skin defects in hands and feet

To explore the feasibility and effectiveness of plantar medial thin skin flaps preserving plantar fascia with its superficial fascia tissue to repair skin defects in hands and feet. Between July 2017 and January 2023, 35 cases of hand and foot defects were repaired with plantar medial thin skin flaps preserving plantar fascia with its superficial fascia tissue (13 pedicled flaps and 22 free flaps). There were 18 males and 17 females, with an average age of 38.8 years (range, 8-56 years). Thirty cases of defects were caused by trauma, and the interval between injury and admission ranged from 2 to 6 hours (mean, 3.3 hours). Three cases were ulcer wounds with a course of 3.0, 3.8, and 7.0 months, respectively. Two cases were malignant melanoma. Eight cases of wounds located in the fingers, 13 cases in the palm, 12 cases in the heel, and 2 cases in the distal foot. The size of skin defects ranged from 4.0 cm×3.5 cm to 12.0 cm×10.0 cm, and the size of flap ranged from 5.0 cm×4.5 cm to 13.0 cm×11.0 cm. The donor sites were repaired with skin grafts. All flaps were survived and the wounds healed by first intention after operation. The partial necrosis at the edge of the skin graft occurred in 1 case, which healed after dressing change; the other skin grafts survived successfully. All patients were followed up 6-24 months (mean, 18 months). The flaps exhibited similar color and thickness to the surrounding hand and foot skin. Two-point discrimination ranged from 7 to 10 mm in the flaps with an average of 8 mm. The donor sites had no painful scars or sensory abnormalities. Foot and ankle functions were good and gaits were normal. Application of plantar medial thin skin flaps preserving plantar fascia with its superficial fascia tissue to repair skin defects in hands and feet had good flap shape, high survival rate of skin graft at the donor site, and no obvious complications.

Optimising oral cancer reconstruction: a retrospective cohort study on the modified radial forearm free flap technique to eliminate the need for a secondary donor site

The radial forearm free flap (RFFF) is commonly used in the reconstruction of oral cancer patients. Traditional RFFF (TRFFF) techniques, which often require a secondary donor site to repair the forearm defect, may result in a scar extending to the dorsal hand. This can lead to significant functional and aesthetic concerns in the forearm. We designed a modified RFFF (MRFFF) that incorporates a glasses-shaped flap and features deep venous drainage. To evaluate its effectiveness we conducted a retrospective chart review of 105 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma who underwent reconstructive surgery between 2018 and 2022. These patients were treated either with a TRFFF (n = 60) or the newly developed MRFFF (n = 45). Our inclusion criteria, guided by preliminary surgical experience prior to initiating the study, stipulated that single oral defects should be no larger than 6 × 6 cm2, and adjacent double defects no larger than 3 × 6 cm2. Flap size, pedicle length, harvesting duration, and anastomosis during the surgical procedure were compared between the two techniques. Preoperative and postoperative oral function, recurrence, mortality, and dorsal scarring were recorded. One-week, one-month, and six-month postoperative subjective aesthetics assessments, and self-reported postoperative donor hand function, were measured using the Michigan hand questionnaire (MHQ). There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of flap size, pedicle length, harvesting time, anastomosis time, postoperative oral function, recurrence, and mortality. However, patients with a MRFFF did not require a second donor graft site and did not have scars extending to the dorsal forearm. They also had significantly improved postoperative aesthetic outcomes (1 week: 70.6%, 1 month: 62.2%) and donor hand function (1 week: 54.6%, 1 month: 40.4%) compared with the TRFFF group (p < 0.001). The MRFFF eliminates the need for secondary donor sites and improves primary donor site outcomes. It is versatile and can be employed for either single or composite oral defects. Through extensive case studies, we have defined its specific scope: it is suitable for single defects measuring no more than 6 × 6 cm2, or for composite defects no larger than 3 × 6 cm2. Furthermore, it does not compromise the functional recovery of the recipient site, and should be widely adopted for all qualifying patients.

Clinical, functional, and patient-reported outcomes of radial forearm versus anterolateral thigh free tissue transfer for reconstruction of glossectomy defects.

There is a lack of literature of health-related quality of life endpoints for radial forearm (RF) versus anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap reconstruction for glossectomy defects. Our goal was to perform a comprehensive evaluation of clinical, functional, and quality of life outcomes after glossectomy reconstruction using a RF or ALT flap. A retrospective review was performed on patients who underwent glossectomy and immediate reconstruction with RF or ALT flaps between 2016 and 2021. Outcomes of interest included readmission and reoperation rates, functional assessments, tracheostomy and gastrostomy tube status, and FACE-Q Head and Neck Cancer scores. Seventy-eight patients consisting of 54 RF and 24 ALT free flaps were included. ALT patients had a larger median flap size (72 vs. 48 cm2 , p = 0.021) and underwent mandibulotomy (50% vs. 7.4%, p < 0.0001) and base of tongue resection (58.3% vs. 24.1%, p = 0.005) at higher rates. No significant differences were found with respect to other outcomes. The RF and ALT flaps are suitable for glossectomy reconstruction, with minimal differences seen in postoperative outcomes. Our study suggests that ALT can be used in patients with base of tongue and larger defect sizes, while providing similar functional and clinical outcomes to RF reconstruction.

Single-Stage Peninsular-Shaped Lateral Tongue Flap for Personalized Reconstruction of Various Small- to Moderate-Sized Intraoral Defects: A Retrospective Case Series with Tongue Function Evaluation Using the Functional Intraoral Glasgow Scale.

Herein, we present our experience using a single-stage peninsular-shaped lateral tongue flap (pLTF) to cover various intraoral defects and confirm the versatile utility and effective application of pLTF in intraoral defect reconstruction. This study included eight cases (six males and two females; average age 60.3 ± 16.9 years) of intraoral defect reconstruction performed by a single surgeon between August 2020 and May 2023 using the single-stage pLTF technique. Electronic medical records and photographs of the patients were collected and analyzed. The functional intraoral Glasgow scale (FIGS) was used to evaluate preoperative and postoperative tongue function. Defect sizes ranged from 3 cm × 3 cm to 4 cm × 6 cm. Notably, all defects were successfully covered with pLTFs, and the flap sizes ranged between 3 cm × 4.5 cm and 4.5 cm × 7.5 cm. The flaps completely survived without any postoperative complications. At follow-up (average, 9.87 ± 2.74 months), no patient had tumor recurrence or significant tongue functional deficits. The mean preoperative and postoperative FIGS were 14.75 ± 0.46 and 14.00 ± 0.92, respectively (p = 0.059). Thus, the single-stage pLTF technique is a good reconstructive modality for various small to moderate intraoral defect coverage in selected cases for personalized intraoral reconstruction.

Treatment of recalcitrant femur nonunion with pedicled corticoperiosteal medial femoral condyle flap

Periosteal or osteoperiosteal medial femoral condyle (MFC) flaps may be good options for atrophic nonunion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of pedicled MFC flap in the treatment of recalcitrant femur nonunion without bone defect. Thirteen patients (11 male and 2 female), who suffered recalcitrant femur nonunion and were treated with pedicled osteoperiosteal MFC flap between January 2014 and April 2018, were included in this study. Patient files were reviewed retrospectively. Atrophic or recalcitrant 2/3 distal femoral nonunion were the indications for this clinical procedure. Demographics and operative data, flap size, visual analog scale (VAS) score, time to union, and complications were evaluated. A total of 13 patients underwent femur nonunion treatment with MFC flap after an average of 3.4 previous surgical procedures. The median age was 34 (Q1: 32.5, Q3:43) years old. The mean flap size was 4.3 × 6.4 cm, all nonunions healed in a median 5 months (Q1: 4.5, Q3: 6). There were an intraoperative knee medial collateral ligament injury in a patient, hematoma in a patient, and seroma in two patients. The median length of the follow-up was 40 months (Q1: 30, Q3: 47). There wasn’t any additional complication in long-term follow-up. Functional outcomes were satisfactory. The median preoperative VAS score was 7 (Q1: 6, Q3: 9.5), decreasing to 1 (Q1: 0, Q3: 1) at the 6-month follow-up, and further reducing to 0 (Q1: 0, Q3: 1) at the 24-month follow-up. The nonunion period ranged from 6 to 18 months. The pedicled MFC flap is a good option for recalcitrant femur nonunion where larger vascularized flaps are not warranted. It is easy to harvest, does not require microvascular anastomosis, is effective, and offers minimal donor site morbidity.

Reconstruction of extensive scalp defects of oncologic origin using thoracodorsal artery perforator free flaps

Purpose: Ablation of malignant neoplasms of the scalp usually leaves extensive defects. Free musculocutaneous transfer using the latissimus dorsi muscle with a skin graft has been the gold standard for restoring such defects; however, this approach may be limited by potential functional morbidity and delayed healing of the grafted skin. This study presents a case series of microsurgical reconstruction with thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flaps for extensive scalp defects after radical oncologic resection.Methods: Consecutive patients with malignant scalp tumors who underwent wide local excision and defect coverage with TDAP free flaps between April 2019 and January 2023 were evaluated. Operation-related data and surgical outcomes, including donor- and recipient-site complications, postoperative shoulder function, and aesthetic results, were thoroughly assessed. As an oncologic outcome, local recurrence was also recorded.Results: Eleven patients who underwent reconstruction with an average flap size of 223.2 cm&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; (range, 160.0–406.0 cm&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;) were identified. The flaps were based on an average of 2.4 perforators. The donor-site wound was closed primarily in all cases. All flaps achieved complete wound healing within an average of 2 weeks and presented stable resurfacing of the scalp with satisfactory morphological outcomes. No functional shoulder disability was observed in the postoperative period. Five patients exhibited local recurrence but were appropriately treated in a timely manner.Conclusion: The free TDAP flap could be a potential, effective reconstructive tool for extensive scalp defects of oncologic origin and can overcome the recipient- and donor-site complications associated with the conventional procedure.

A simplified classification and economical application of anterolateral thigh flap

Anterolateral thigh (ALT) flaps have several anatomical variations and clinical uses. Here, a simplified classification and economical application are introduced. A total of 168 ALT flap reconstructions performed between January 2013 and December 2016 were reviewed. Vascular anatomy of the flaps was classified into 5 types: type I (single perforator from the transverse branch), type II (single perforator from the descending branch), type III (multiple perforators from the transverse branch), type IV (multiple perforators from the descending branch), and type V (multiple perforators from both branches). Furthermore, flaps harvested via preservation of the proximal perforator were compared with those that were not. Vascular classification revealed that type IV (50.0%) and type V (32.1%) flaps were the most commonly used. Of these, 50.0% of type IV and 79.6% of type V were harvested as proximal-perforator-preserving distal ALT flaps. The proximal-perforator-preserving group had a smaller flap size (104.4±84.3cm2 versus 145.9±94.1cm2, p=0.003), shorter reconstruction time (266.3±76.1min versus 302.0±103.0min, p=0.013), and fewer donor-site complications (2.4% versus 13.3%, p=0.009) than the traditional group, whereas the flap success rate was comparable (96.5% versus 96.4%) between them. Five cases received a second ALT flap from the same donor site after 3 failures and 2 metachronous defects. Multiple perforators in ALT flaps allow the harvesting of 2 ALT flaps from the same donor-site metachronously. Our classification and applications can improve efficiency while reducing donor-site morbidity.

Laparoscopic harvest and free transplantation of great omentum flap for extensive tissue defects in complex wounds

IntroductionThe repair of extensive tissue defects remains a challenge, although great progress has been made in reconstructive surgery. The transplantation of a single huge flap or several flaps in combination will inevitably result in donor-site morbidity. Here we report our experience in the repair of these wounds with laparoscopically harvested great omentum flaps. MethodsTwelve patients with extensive tissue defects caused by deep burn injury, avulsion injury, and open fracture underwent free omental flap transplantation and split-thickness skin grafting. The patient demographics, wound characteristics, and complications postsurgical operation were recorded. Prior to omentum flap transplantation, these patients underwent debridement, vacuum sealing drainage treatment, and/or fixation of fractures. All omentum flaps harvested using laparoscopic technique were anastomosed to recipient vessels, and split-thickness skin grafting was performed 14 days after omental flap transplantation. ResultsThe mean defect size was 471 cm2 and the mean omental flap size was 751.1 cm2. Among all 12 cases, the omental flaps survived well except for distal partial necrosis in one case. Skin grafting was also achieved in all cases, and all patients achieved complete wound coverage. All donor sites achieved primary healing without major complications. The mean follow-up time was 30 months with satisfactory appearance and functional outcome. ConclusionFor the reconstruction of extensive tissue defects in complex wounds, the free transfer of an omental flap may be an ideal option because of its well-vascularized and pliable tissue with reliable vascular anatomy, as well as minimized donor-site morbidity.

Application of bilateral facial perforator artery flap in repairing large area defect in middle and lower part of nose

To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of bilateral facial perforator artery flap in repairing large area defect in middle and lower part of nose. The clinical data of 18 patients with large area defect in middle and lower part of nose repaired by bilateral facial perforator artery flap between January 2019 and December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, there were 13 males and 5 females, the age ranged from 43 to 81 years, with an average of 63 years. There were 3 cases of nasal trauma, 4 cases of basal cell carcinoma, 8 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, 1 case of lymphoma, and 2 cases of large area solar keratosis. The size of the defect ranged from 3.0 cm×3.0 cm to 4.5 cm×4.0 cm; the size of unilateral flap ranged from 3.0 cm×1.3 cm to 3.5 cm×2.0 cm, and the size of bilateral flaps ranged from 3.3 cm×2.6 cm to 4.5 cm×4.0 cm. One patient developed skin flap necrosis after operation, and a frontal skin flap was used to repair the wound; 1 case gradually improved after removing some sutures due to venous congestion in the skin flap, and the wound healing was delayed after dressing change; the remaining 16 cases of bilateral facial perforator artery flaps survived well and all wounds healed by first intention, without any "cat ear" malformation. All 18 patients had first intention healing in the donor area, leaving linear scars without obvious scar hyperplasia, and no facial organ displacement. All patients were followed up 3-12 months, with an average of 6 months. Due to the appropriate thickness of the flap, none of the 18 patients underwent secondary flap thinning surgery. All flaps had good blood circulation, similar texture and color to surrounding tissues, symmetrical bilateral nasolabial sulcus, and high patient satisfaction. The bilateral facial perforator artery flaps for repairing large area defect in middle and lower part of nose can achieve good appearance and function, and the operation is relatively simple, with high patient satisfaction.

A Pilot Study: Free Flap Atrophy in Tongue Reconstruction Using 3D Volumetric Analysis.

To identify factors influencing volume change in non-osseous oral free flap reconstruction using postoperative cross-sectional imaging and 3-dimensional segmentation of the free flap's muscular and adipose tissue content. Oral tongue free flap reconstruction cases (2014-2019) were reviewed with inclusion of patients with 3 postoperative, cross-sectional imaging studies with 1 within 6 months, 1 within 1 year, and 1 that spanned 2 years post-reconstruction. Exclusion criteria included recurrence, significant dental artifact, bony reconstruction, and flap failure. Demographics, risk factors, and surgical/clinical treatments were identified. Flap volumes were measured using Materialise MIMICS. Twenty-two patients met strict inclusion criteria. Four flaps were anterolateral thighs and 18 radial forearms. Median percent volume loss greater than 2 years post-reconstruction was 53.2% overall, 58.1% for radial forearms, and 45.4% for ALTs (21.4% for adipose tissue and 57.4% for muscular tissue). Univariate analysis revealed glossectomy amount was associated with percent volume loss (P = .0417). Each successive postoperative month, the flap decreased by 1.54% (P < .0001). Checking for the interaction effect, the percent of flap loss across time was different for glossectomy amount (P = .0093), obesity status (P = .0431), and base of tongue involvement (P = .0472). Glossectomy type, and thus flap size, is a positive predictor for flap atrophy. Obesity and base of tongue involvement are negative predictors for flap atrophy. The amount of tissue loss may differ from classical teachings with median atrophy 53.2% greater than 2 years post-reconstruction.

Axillary Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Comparison between Two Perforator Flap Reconstructive Approaches after Radical Surgical Management.

Axillary hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) can result in significant functional impairment in both personal and professional lives. Stage 3 HS requires radical surgical treatment. Flap reconstruction allows for faster healing and better functional and aesthetic outcomes. We compared the results of thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) and propeller inner arm artery perforator (IAAP) flap reconstructions after radical surgical treatment of axillary HS. We conducted a retrospective study that included 13 consecutive patients who underwent stage 3 axillary HS treatment between August 2015 and January 2023. Seven patients underwent reconstruction by islanded TDAP flaps, whereas six patients underwent reconstruction by propeller IAAP flaps, with one patient undergoing bilateral reconstruction. The data collected from the patient records included age, gender, smoking status, body mass index, comorbidities, operative time, defect size, flap size, hospital stay, and complications. Although not statistically significant (P = 0.1923), a higher rate of flap complications is reported here with propeller IAAP flaps (42.86 %), whereas islanded TDAP flaps had no flap complications (0%). We found a statistically significant difference in operative time (P = 0.0006), defect size (P = 0.0064), and flap size (P = 0.0012) between the two groups. All patients exhibited satisfactory functional and aesthetic outcomes. Fourteen flaps were performed in total; only one case exhibited recurrence (7.14%). After radical surgical management, both islanded TDAP and propeller IAAP flap reconstructions offer excellent outcomes for stage 3 axillary HS. We strongly encourage our peers to consider performing perforator flaps over secondary healing for these patients with a major functional impairment.

Predictive factors and repetition numbers for intraoperative additional resection of initially involved soft tissue resection margins in oral squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective study

BackgroundIntraoperative additional resection (IAR) of initially microscopically involved soft tissue resection margins negatively impacts tumor recurrence in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Increasing the selected initial macroscopic resection margin distance beyond the tumor tissue may help prevent IAR; however, the existence of predictive factors for IAR and IAR repetition numbers remains unclear. This study aimed to identify predictive factors for IAR and to evaluate the IAR repetition numbers in soft tissue for surgically treated OSCC.MethodsA cohort of 197 patients surgically treated for OSCC between 2008 and 2019 was retrospectively reviewed (44 patients with IAR and 153 patients without IAR). Clinical parameters (tumor location, midline involvement, clinical T-status, time between staging imaging and surgery, bone resection, monopolar use, and reconstruction flap size) and histopathological parameters (pathologic T-status [pT-status], grading, vascular invasion, and lymphatic invasion) of the two groups were compared.ResultsPatients with and without IAR differed in their histopathological parameters, such as pT-status above 2 (47.7% vs. 28.1%, p = 0.014) and lymphatic invasion (13.6% vs. 4.6%, p = 0.033); however, their clinical parameters were similar (all p > 0.05). Only pT-status above 2 was predictive for IAR in a multivariable regression analysis (odds ratio 2.062 [confidence interval 1.008–4.221], p = 0.048). The IAR repetition numbers varied from zero to two (zero = 84.4%, one = 11.4%, and two = 2.3%).ConclusionsOnly postoperative available pT-status was identified as a predictive factor for IAR, underscoring the importance of improving preoperative or intraoperative tumor visualization in OSCC before selecting the initial macroscopic resection margin distance to avoid IAR.

Delayed Reconstruction of the Perforator Pedicle Propeller Flap after the Induced Membrane Technique for Gustilo IIIB Open Distal Tibial Fracture.

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of delayed reconstruction of the perforator pedicle propeller flap after the induced membrane technique in the treatment of Gustilo IIIB open distal tibial fracture, and to evaluate the clinical outcome and complications of two different perforator pedicle propeller flaps.Thirty-four patients with Gustilo IIIB open distal tibial fractures treated by the induced membrane technique and delayed reconstruction of two different perforator pedicle propeller flaps from May 2017 to March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the different kinds of perforator pedicle propeller flaps covered. The operation required two stages. The Radiographic Union Score for Tibial fractures (RUST) was used to evaluate the healing of the tibial bone defect. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was used to evaluate ankle function. The complications associated with the technique were recorded.The number of serial debridements, excluding those performed during emergency and final operations, was a mean of 2.28±0.83 in the PAPF group. The PAPF group had a mean bone defect length of 6.76 ± 0.69 cm, the median healing time of 13.11 ± 0.96 months, RUST score 12.68 ± 1.63, and AOFAS score of 84.12 ± 6.38. On the other hand the PTAPF group's mean bone defect length was 6.73 ± 0.95 cm, the median healing time 12.63 ± 1.46 months, RUST score 13.73 ± 1.53 and AOFAS score 82.79 ± 5.49. There were no observed significant differences the two groups in the number of serial debridements, bone defect length, bone union time, RUST score, or AOFAS score (p>0.05). Flap size ranged from 9×6cm2 to 14×7cm2 in the PAPF group and from 9×6cm2 to 13×7cm2 in the PTAPF group. There were no severe complications such as flap-related complications or amputation. The differences in complications in the two groups were not statistically significant.In cases of severe open tibial fracture, the reconstructive method is important. When delayed reconstruction is inevitable, surgeons should first perform radical debridement, followed by vacuum sealing drainage as a bridging therapy; both PAPF and PTAPF can be considered for definitive soft tissue coverage.

Bipaddle Pectoralis Major Myocutaneous Flap (PMMC) for Complex Composite Oral Cavity Defects: An Experience of a Tertiary Cancer Centre.

Although microvascular free flaps are considered the first choice in head and neck cancer defect reconstruction, their use is limited in developing regions by availability of resources and the expertise .The Bipaddle pectoralis major myocutaneous flap (PMMC flap) is a commonly used flap in head and neck cancer reconstruction, but in literature flap is associated with high incidence of drawbacks including donor site morbidity and added bulk of the flap reducing cosmetics and function. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the Bipaddle PMMC flap reliability, operative technique and outcome in reconstructive head and neck cancer surgery in the era of microvascular free flaps. Its a prospective study in which the records of 50 patients treated with Bippadle PMMC flap reconstruction between January 2022 to July 2022 were systematically collected and reviewed. Data of recipient site, serum albumin, history of adjuvant, recurrence, defect dimension, type of donor site closure, length of hospital stay, postoperative complications and outcomes were analysed. There were 45 males and 5 females with a mean age of 41 years (31-60). Bipaddle PMMC flap reconstruction was done in all patients of advanced squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity. There were two males with complete necrosis of flap salvaged with latissimus dorsi flap and forehead flap. Minor infections were noted in two female and one male patient, managed conservatively and recovered well with acceptable final outcome. The Bipaddle PMMC flap is reliable for large defects in head and neck reconstructive surgery, particularly when a bulky flap is required to reconstruct composite defects where the lesion is involving the skin. Placing the flap horizontally with inclusion of nipple and areola in most of the patients increased the reach and size of available flap.