BACKGROUND To establish a relation between the survival rate of island skin flaps submitted to prolonged ischemia and the effect of streptokinase and allopurinol administered after the ischemic period. METHODS A total of 48 male Winstar rats, each weighing between 300 and 350 grams,were separated into four groups of twelve as follows: control, allopurinol, streptokinase and association of all...

BACKGROUND Leeches have been used clinically to help salvage venous-congested skin flaps since 1960. Numerous articles have described their success in benefitting the survival of local, regional, and free flaps. However, the clinical application remains imprecise. The theory behind leech therapy is that leech bites decrease venous congestion in compromised skin flaps. Venous congestion is detri...

Although 17beta-estradiol (E2) is protective in experimental models of myocardial and brain ischemia, its effect on skin ischemia remains unknown. Here, we assessed the protective effect of E2 in a mouse model of skin ischemia, mimicking the surgery of skin flaps. Whereas necrosis appeared in the half portion of the skin flap within 1 week after surgery in ovariectomized mice, it was reduced up...

In order to decrease the incidence of flap necrosis after reconstructive surgeries, new approaches are required. In the present study, a model of venous congested flaps in rats was established to test the heat shock protein (HSP) 90α, 'F-5', protein as an intervention therapy to alleviate ischemia-reperfusion injury. A recombinant plasmid pET15b-F-5 carrying the HSP90α gene was constructed and ...

INTRODUCTION In a patient with recurrent Dupuytren's disease, we performed dermofasciectomy including the diseased skin and soft tissue, and covered the soft tissue defect using an ulnar parametacarpal flap. CASE REPORT A 65-year-old man had undergone invasive aponeurectomy for Dupuytren's contracture of the right 5th finger 3 years before, but showed recurrence about 1 year after surgery. Si...

A variety of flaps are available to cover skin defects after surgery or trauma in the head and neck area. The bilobed flap is a double transposition flap commonly used in reconstruction of small-to-medium skin defects of the face where skin is less mobile. However, larger defects can also be effectively treated with a bilobed flap in certain cases. The classic indication to cover a small defect...

Background Surgery for reconstruction of defects after surgery should be performed selectively and the many points must be considered. The authors conducted this study to compare the local flap and skin graft by facial location in the reconstruction after resection of facial skin cancer. Methods The authors performed the study in patients that had received treatment in Department of Plastic S...

This case report presents salvage of a partially failing anterolateral thigh flap. A 37-year-old male, a victim of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, received tumor ablation and a chimeric anterolateral thigh skin and vastus lateralis muscle flap reconstruction. Before ligation of pedicle, both skin and muscle portions had robust blood supply; however, only the vastus lateralis muscular com...

BACKGROUND Extensive degloving injuries of the extremities usually result in necrosis of the flap, necessitating comprehensive skin grafting. Provided there is a sufficient tool to evaluate flap viability, full-thickness skin can be used from a nonviable avulsed flap. We used a Wood's lamp to determine the viability of avulsed flaps in the operation field after intravenous injection of fluoresc...