BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Myocutaneous flaps are commonly used for reconstruction in head and neck surgery. The purpose of this study was to characterize the MR imaging findings of the muscular component of these flaps, with an emphasis on enhancement patterns. Recognition of these imaging findings is important in differentiating postoperative changes from recurrent tumor. METHODS MR studies wer...

BACKGROUND As the versatility and variability of free flaps have significantly increased during recent years, so have the indications for free tissue transplantation in burn reconstruction expanded. METHODS The authors report retrospectively the results of 42 free flaps for upper extremity reconstruction in 35 severely burned patients using 13 different free flaps. This experience enabled the...

Ludwigshafen, Germany Background: As the versatility and variability of free flaps have significantly increased during recent years, so have the indications for free tissue transplantation in burn reconstruction expanded. Methods: The authors report retrospectively the results of 42 free flaps for upper extremity reconstruction in 35 severely burned patients using 13 different free flaps. This ...

Nasal reconstruction is always challenging for plastic surgeons. Its midfacial localisation and the relationship between convexities and concavities of nasal subunits make impossible to hide any sort of deformity without a proper reconstruction. Nasal tissue defects can be caused by tumor removal, trauma or by any other insult to the nasal pyramid, like cocaine abuse, developing an irreversible...

INTRODUCTION Primary microvascular reconstruction of multiple defects is challenging particularly if it has to be simultaneous. In trauma cases, harvesting two independent free flaps from different sites is very time-consuming and adds to morbidity. To eliminate these disadvantages, we sought to find out a reliable alternative method of harvesting two independent free flaps based on the descend...

Burns to the hand that are complicated by exposure of bone, joint or tendon cannot be closed with conventional skin grafts and require flap procedures to prevent further damage. Local or regional flaps may be unavailable if electrical or blast trauma produces a large zone of injury, or when forearm burn injury extends beyond fascia. Free tissue transfer may not be tolerated by critically ill bu...

Knowledge of tissue blood flow (BF) changes after free tissue transfer may enable surgeons to predict the failure of flap thrombosis at an early stage. This study used our recently developed noncontact diffuse correlation spectroscopy to monitor dynamic BF changes in free flaps without getting in contact with the targeted tissue. Eight free flaps were elevated in patients with head and neck can...

BACKGROUND Extracorporeal perfusion (ECP) might prolong the vital storage capabilities of composite free flaps, potentially opening a wide range of clinical applications. Aim of the study was the development a validated low-cost extracorporeal perfusion model for further research in small animal free flaps. METHODS After establishing optimal perfusion settings, a specially designed extracorpo...

INTRODUCTION: Patients with large breasts are often the most difficult to reconstruct utilizing free tissue transfer after mastectomy. This is especially true when suitable abdominal tissue is unavailable. These subjects often require two simultaneous free flaps to provide adequate tissue. 1,2 This study provides a review of our experience and lessons learned utilizing unilateral dual free tiss...

BACKGROUND Free-flap surgery and skin grafting can be used to reconstruct large facial defects that may result after skin cancer removal by Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). However, these two methods may produce low postsurgical patient satisfaction with aesthetics, and free-flap surgery may produce an undue burden for the majority of skin cancer patients, who are of advanced age. Hence, the au...