Performing a greater number of free flap procedures inevitably results in an increase in the number of cases that experience free flap failure. In cases that require a second free flap after the failure of the first, recipient vessel selection becomes difficult. Furthermore, recipient vessel selection can be complicated if the vessel is deep in the recipient site, or if there is an increased ri...

Free fibula transfer can be associated with a slow and tedious dissection/harvest due to difficulty in visualizing the deeper structures. The purpose of this article is to review the first author's (Y.D.) experience with a novel technique for expedited harvest of fibula free flaps for mandibular reconstruction. A retrospective chart review was performed using the first author's clinical practic...

This study compares sensory recovery after total lower lip reconstruction in a wide variety of flaps including bilateral depressor anguli oris flap, submental island flap, bilateral fan flaps, radial forearm flap, and pectoralis major myocutaneous flaps in a large number of patients. Spontaneous return of flap sensation was documented by clinical testing in the majority (3%) of patients who und...

Free skin grafting has become recognised as a valuable part of the primary treatment of traumatic skin defects. However, free skin grafts can be used only when the base of the wound is vascularised. Fascia and muscle are ideal recipient sites whereas covering of tendons, bones and open joints needs pedicle flaps carrying their own blood supply. When extensive skin loss has occurred around an op...

In this study, partial breast reconstruction was undertaken after breast conservation therapy using mini abdominal free flaps on both an immediate and delayed basis.Patient demographics, oncologic status, reconstructive data, and complications were collected from medical records.Twelve patients (age range 39-60) were included in this study with a mean follow-up time of 5 years. Ten mini superfi...

approximately 25% of all oral cavity carcinomas involve the lips, and the primary management of these lesions is complete surgical resection. loss of tissue in the lips after resection is treated with a variety of techniques, depending on the extension and location of the defect. here we review highly accepted techniques of lip reconstruction and some of new trials with significant clinical res...

A retrospective review of 50 knees in 46 patients treated by arthroscopic removal of chondral flaps is reported. There was a relationship between the site of the flap and the type of symptoms; patellofemoral flaps produced anterior knee pain, posterior condylar flaps produced instability. At review after 18 to 36 months, after a second arthroscopy in eight cases, 44 of the 50 knees had retained...

OBJECTIVE To examine the indications for, and the success of, free flap reconstruction in patients with forehead and scalp defects. DESIGN Case series. SETTING Two tertiary referral university teaching hospitals. Patients Twenty-six consecutive patients, aged 31 to 85 years, presenting with 26 scalp defects, 5 forehead defects, and 1 combined defect (size, 70-672 cm(2)). Three patients requ...

Total ear reconstruction in the postburn auricle is one of the most challenging procedures for plastic surgeons. Adverse factors associated with these procedures include reduced or damaged blood supply, poor elasticity of scar tissue, increased risk of infection, and the possible destruction of skin, temporoparietal fascia, or retroauricular fascia. In cases where patients are severely burned, ...

The defects of mucosal surfaces of the face, either congenital, traumatic, or postoperative, have been prominent subjects of plastic surgery. Local skin flaps and free flaps have been used to repair these defects. Because the face is the most vascularized portion of the body, skin flaps in this area have a great chance for viability. Buccal mucosa also shares the same feature of vascularity and...