OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Hematomas may develop in the postoperative setting after free tissue transfer. When hematomas occur, they can exert pressure on surrounding tissues. Their effect on the vascular pedicle of a free flap is unknown. We describe our incidence of hematoma in free flaps and outcomes when the flap is compromised. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective chart review of 1,883 free flaps perfo...

BACKGROUND Current teaching suggests increased perfusion in free transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flaps over pedicled TRAM flaps, broadening indications for its use in high risk patients. This study compared perfusion analysis of free muscle-sparing versus pedicle TRAM flaps in vivo in the peri-operative and late post-operative periods. METHODS The SPY-Elite system using...

Following oncologic surgery for advanced cancer of the hypopharynx, primary closure of the defect of the upper aerodigestive tract is difficult to achieve. Usually locoregional or free flaps are used, the choice being determined by the extent of the surgical defect, the expertise of the surgeons and the general condition of the patient. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the functional re...

Rectangular flaps on the rat or mouse dorsum are frequently used for flap survival elongation research. However, since rectangular flaps are purely random, the survival rate varies among individuals. A reliable animal flap model with low individual variation is desirable for flap survival research, especially in the angiogenic field. We investigated the survival rate of paired flaps in the rat ...

The effects of hyperbaric air and oxygen on skin survival were studied in acute 8 X 8 cm neurovascular island flaps in rats. Skin flaps treated with hyperbaric 8% oxygen (equivalent to room air at standard pressure) exhibited no improvement in skin survival. Skin flaps treated with hyperbaric air (21% oxygen) and hyperbaric 100% oxygen exhibited significant increases in survival.

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...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To determine if the intravascular delivery of mesenchymal stem cells improves wound healing and blood perfusion to postischemic cutaneous flap tissues. STUDY DESIGN Randomized controlled study. METHODS A murine model of a cutaneous flap was created based on the inferior epigastric vessels. Mice (n = 14) underwent 3.5 hours of ischemia followed by reperfusion. Bone marr...

OBJECTIVE To determine the vascular and collagen effects of supplemental basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in irradiated porcine skin flaps. INTERVENTION Animals were subjected to 2 fractions of 650 cGy orthovoltage radiation. Following this, the skin flaps were administered bFGF intracuticularly for 6 days before and after surgery. The animals were sacrificed 3 weeks after the start of b...

PURPOSE To evaluate the outcome of the external dacryocystorhinostomy with and without suturing the posterior mucosal flaps. METHODS This study included 106 patients with lacrimal drainage system disorders who underwent the external dacryocystorhinostomy. Fifty four patients (Group A) underwent external dacryocystorhinostomy with suturing anterior and posterior flaps of the lacrimal sac and n...

BACKGROUND Despite the widespread use of free perforator flaps, pedicled perforator flaps seem not to be as widely accepted, probably because of the fear of vascular complications caused by transfer of a flap attached only by its vascular pedicle, prone to shearing, kinking, and trauma. In this article, the authors report on their experience with 85 consecutive cases, focusing on incidence, pre...