HIV infection among homosexual/bisexual males attending genitourinary clinics in Scotland

An 80-year-old woman presented with ulceration to the right alar margin about 20 years after first undergoing treatment for trigeminal neuralgia. This was reconstructed with a sensory innervated left nasal flap. Two years later she required an innervated left forehead flap to correct a secondary ectropion of the right lower eyelid, and the following year required further surgery to repair a defect on her chin. Cosmesis remains satisfactory with no further ulceration 2 years after the last operation.     

The hinged mucosal flap. A contour-saving approach to submucosal lesions of the lip

BACKGROUND: A variety of approaches have been described for the removal of lip lesions, but approaches to submucosal lesions are not generally explored as a separate category of problem. A new adaptation of hinged tissue elevation occurred when vermilion mucosa was elevated, a small mucous membrane flap created, and then reapplied over a submucosal lip mass defect. OBJECTIVE: Presentation of a new application of hinged flaps, using lip mucosa as the flap tissue to be raised and reapplied to the underlying muscularis. The purpose of the technique was to preserve all tissue above the mass, while successfully removing the submucosal lesion. RESULTS: Application of the hinged mucosal flap concept to the lower lip resulted in complete preservation of the lip contour without invasion of the infravermilion shelf or subjacent chin areas, and without any anterior vermilion invasion. METHOD: The surgical technique of evolving a hinged mucosal lip flap is described, with multiple photographs demonstrating the serial maneuvers carried out. Surgical intervention resulted in complete obliteration of the benign lesion with essentially no visible scarring and no change in lip contour. CONCLUSION: Utilization of a hinged mucosal flap on the lip for removal of smaller submucosal lesions results in complete preservation of the delicate lip contours without sacrifice of subjacent lip tissue or visible scar beyond the vermilion junction. Further extension of the hinged flap principle to subepidermal exploration and extirpation elsewhere logically follows. Applying the principles of hinged flaps to lip submucosal lesions results in virtually undetectable surgical sequellae.     

Complex injuries of the dorsum of the hand. Therapeutic reflections apropos of 2 cases

We report 2 similar cases of severe injury of the dorsum of the hand, both treated in emergency. FIRST CASE: A 37-year-old right handed male truck driver was admitted with a complex severe injury of the dorsum of his right hand following a traffic accident. He had a combined large defect involving skin, tendons and bone. A complex reconstruction was performed using a massive iliac crest allograft, a tendon graft and a free serratus anterior flap in a one stage procedure, eight hours after the injury. A skin graft was done later. Two years later the functional and esthetic results are good. SECOND CASE: A 37-year-old woman was admitted with a severe injury of the dorsum of her right hand following a traffic accident. She had a large combined defect involving skin, tendon and bone. A complex reconstruction was carried out using a large iliac crest autograft, a multiple tendon graft and a free latissimus dorsi flap, in one stage 6 hours after the trauma. Eight months later the functional result is partial but useful for the daily activities of the patient.     

Comparative pathogenesis of human WA1 and Babesia microti isolates in a Syrian hamster model

The medial thigh flap is a perforator-based flap nourished with septocutaneous or muscle perforators originating from the femoral vessels. To date, 8 patients have been repaired with this flap and extended or connected flaps including this flap: 4 patients with lower leg defects and 4 patients with intraoral and neck defects. The advantages of this flap are (1) several pedicle perforators exist for this flap, which makes possible duplicated vascular anastomoses to establish reliable circulation of the transferred flap; (2) the flap can be extended or connected to other neighboring flaps in the anterior thigh, so that extensively wide defects can be closed in one stage; (3) the great saphenous vein can be simultaneously used as a vein graft or for venous drainage for the flap; (4) the anterior branch of the femoral nerve can be used for sensory potential; and (5) there is minimum morbidity of the donor defect and a large dominant vessel for the leg can be preserved. The suitable indications for this flap are defects after removal of skin cancer in the foot or lower leg and wide defects after resection of head and neck cancer, which can be reconstructed with the flap connected to neighboring skin flaps. The disadvantages of this flap are that it has a small, short vascular pedicle and the bulkiness of the flap's fatty tissue often requires thinning.     

Tibio-talo-calcaneal fusion with a free vascularized fibular graft in comminuted open fractures of the talus and the calcaneus

An operation is described in which a free vascularized fibular graft with a peroneal cutaneous flap is used for tibio-talo-calcaneal fusion and simultaneous skin coverage in treatment of comminuted open fractures of the talus and the calcaneus involving large skin loss. Nine months postoperatively, the tibio-talo-calcaneal arthrodesis was successful, with good coverage of the skin defect on the medial aspect of the sole. One year 7 months postoperatively, the patient is free of pain and able to walk with full weightbearing on the foot.     

Composite resection and reconstruction for oral cavity and oropharynx cancer. A functional approach

Composite resection, the standard surgical approach for treating cancer of the oral cavity and oropharynx, results in considerable functional and cosmetic deformity, whether primary closure or flap reconstruction is employed. To minimize these problems, an alternate surgical approach has been developed. Essentials of the procedure include use of a non-lip-splitting visor flap for exposure and excision of the lesion, reconstruction with a skin or dermis graft formed into a pouch to fill dead space created by resection, and routine use of intermaxillary fixation for immobilization of the reconstructed area. In 16 patients undergoing this procedure, the approach had no adverse effect on short-term survival. Complication rate with skin and dermis graft reconstruction was acceptably low. Cosmetic improvement has been gratifying. Skin or dermis graft reconstruction has resulted in very satisfactory functional results in terms of tongue mobility, articulation, mastication, and swallowing.     

Neurosurgery at the State University of New York at Buffalo

We treated five patients with auricular deformities (microtia in microform and group IIB or III constricted ears) using the following procedure: nearly all of the contralateral conchal cartilage was resected, grafted, and sutured to supplement a cartilaginous deficit and to keep the supporting frame of conchal cartilage expanded by the double banner flap method. After this, a soft tissue deficit was reconstructed by our newly developed method of covering the defect with a triangular flap superior to the auricle by making a skin incision and a rhomboid flap anterior to the auricle. So far, we have obtained satisfactory results using this one-stage procedure.     

Combination of an island advancement flap and a composite graft for reconstruction of the nasolabial defect

BACKGROUND: The alar region is one of the most difficult areas of the face to reconstruct. Up until now, various methods have been demonstrated for achieving the best possible results in terms of cosmetic appearance and function. This report deals with a combination of a random pattern flap and a free composite graft, carried out in two stages. OBJECTIVE: In order to reconstruct the alar region, an island advancement flap as well as a composite graft from the contralateral ear were used. METHODS: The defect in the cheek-upper lip region was closed using an island advancement flap. In a second operation 2 weeks later, the reconstruction of the alar region was attempted using a composite graft from the right ear. RESULTS: The reconstruction of the contour of the wing of the nose succeeded in a satisfactory manner. There are no functional restrictions on nose breathing. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of an island advancement flap with a composite graft from the ear for the reconstruction of the alar region is essentially a less invasive operation that can be carried out under local anaesthesia and that represents an addition to the previously stated methods.     

Reconstruction of defects of the entire vermilion with a buccal musculomucosal flap following resection of malignant tumors of the lower lip

We reconstructed a defect of nearly the entire lower vermilion using a buccal musculomucosal flap following resection of a malignant tumor of the lower lip and obtained satisfactory results. The buccal musculomucosal flap was semi-spindle shaped and pedicled at the angle of the mouth. A flap measuring as much as 1.5 cm in width and 5 cm in length could be raised while ensuring that fibers of the buccinator muscle extended over its entire length. Using this technique, it was possible to reconstruct a wide defect following tumor resection and removal of almost the entire lower vermilion by means of only a transposition of a unilateral buccal musculomucosal flap after about one-quarter of the lower lip had been excised and sutured primarily. Reconstruction with this technique is a two-stage operation, and a secondary minor touch-up operation is performed on the angle of the mouth at the same time as repair of the dog-ear of the pedicle. Advantages of this technique are that food can be taken orally soon after the operation, hemodynamics in the flap are maintained stably because the flap contains fibers of the buccinator muscle, and the vermilion is given a natural eminence. In addition, postoperative drooling is minimized, and sensation returns to the vermilion within the early postoperative period. Based on these advantages, we think our technique should be the first choice for carrying out reconstruction of defects that are located mainly in the lower lip vermilion because this is a safe and reliable method with which we performed 12 cases of vermilion reconstruction without flap necrosis and with satisfactory aesthetic and functional results.     

Minor and major lip reconstruction

Lip reconstruction has made significant advances over the past two decades with refinement of some old techniques and the introduction of new innovative methods. Small and medium defects can be repaired in a variety of ways with similar results. Local lip switch flaps are far superior to any distant tissue. Total lip loss is probably best handled with nasolabial flaps. Extensive resections including the lip, premaxilla, mandible, and skin of the chin and upper neck remain a challenge with all modern techniques, including myocutaneous flaps and free flaps, having little advantage over the standard visor forehead flap.     

Reconstruction of a short nose by full-thickness tissue transfer with osteotomy

A severely shortened nose secondary to fracture of the middle third of the face was reconstructed by full-thickness tissue transfer with osteotomy. A nasalis musculocutaneous island flap, including the scar located in the nasal dorsum, was harvested for the lining. It was elevated based on the lateral nasal artery. The donor site defect of the flap and the covering defect were reconstructed with a forehead flap. The platform and framework of the nose were corrected with an en bloc osteotomy of the nasal bone, including the piriform aperture with a vascularized calvarial bone graft. Satisfactory and stable results were obtained in one stage along with the restoration of the relationships between the nose and the surrounding structures.     

Transposition of a skin flap from the nasal dorsum for repair of skin loss on the nasal wing. Apropos of 9 clinical cases

The authors use a transposition island skin flap from the nasal dorsum for repair of the ala nasi. It is a modification of the stalk-flap advocated by Edgerton in 1967 to augment the columella. The flap is vascularized by branches of the anterior ethmoidal artery. The main modifications are;-the size of the flap which is 50 mm long and 15 mm wide;-the vascular pedicle is not dissected; this makes the flap very reliable;-the outstanding vascularization of this flap is corroborated by the fact that, in the same stage, it may be lined with a partially composite chondrocutaneous graft. The composite graft is taken from the concha and repaired with the Masson procedure. This flap is a very easy procedure for alar cutaneous repair for partial alar reconstruction, it is possible to fold the flap onto itself after resecting a 2 mm transverse skin strip, making the distal extremity a secondary skin island flap which ensures the lining of the proximal part. For total alar reconstruction and hemi-rhinoplasty; the flap is lined with a composite graft, which allows a one-stage thin reconstruction. The flap was used in 9 patients. In one case, there was a total skin necrosis, while half of the fasciomuscle layer survived.     

Reconstruction of the lower lip and chin with local flaps

We present a single patient with reconstruction of a rectangular defect of 40% of the lower lip and chin. The method used constitutes a modification of the Karapandzic method, with the addition of an advancement of the lateral cheek and remaining chin. The technique restores form, sensation, and function- the principles of a successful reconstruction.     

Radial forearm flap in maxillo-facial surgery

Thirty consecutive patients treated with a free radial forearm flap are reviewed. The flap was used in the reconstruction of intraoral defect in 24 patients and of extraoral defect in 6 patients. There were no total or partial flap failures. Donor site complication included a partial loss of skin graft in 4 and radial fracture occurred in 1 patient. The authors considered the application of the radial forearm flap a reliable method for resurfacing large skin defects of the face. However, according to their conviction the most important field of the forearm flap is its use in intraoral reconstruction after pull-through operation. Attention is drawn to the limitation of the use of osteocutaneous flap in the replacement of segmental mandibular defect.     

Mandibular reconstruction using a microvascular method in the transplantation of a fibular flap

The best results in mandibular reconstruction are achieved by transplantation of vascularised bone. This transplant has an own blood supply therefore its surviving is not influenced by the non-sterile environment of the oral cavity and the insufficient blood supply of the operated area (caused by scar or radiation). A new promising method for reconstruction of a wide segmented defect of the mandible is vascularised fibular flap transplantation. Eight consecutive patients treated with fibular flap transplantation in 1993 and 1994 were reviewed. Osteo- and osteo-cutan flaps were used for reconstruction of the composite tissue defects. The authors report on the surgical technique and their first experiences. The authors consider the application of the fibular flap the most successful procedure of all types of reconstruction of segmented mandibular defect.     

Frontonasal flap for reconstruction of complete alar defects

BACKGROUND: It is difficult to reconstruct a satisfactory ala. Axial frontonasal flap has been common in reconstruction of nasal tip. We modified this flap to reconstruct nasal ala. OBJECTIVE: A modified axial frontonasal flap was applied for reconstruction of complete unilateral alar defects in two patients. METHODS: Skin from an intact nasal tip covered the alar defect. The resulting defect in the nasal tip was covered with dorsal skin from the nose. Extended mucosa or a hinged nasolabial flap was used to line the mucosal side of the reconstructed ala. RESULTS: The outcome judged by shape, and texture, was satisfactory. This technique can be employed under field block. CONCLUSION: The modified frontonasal flap is one of the ideal techniques to reconstruct an entire nasal ala.     

DNA variation in a 5-Mb region of the X chromosome and estimates of sex-specific/type-specific mutation rates

Owing to its unique anatomic arterial supply and dual nerve innervation, the first web space of the foot can be used to harvest various sizes and shapes of flaps, which the authors have classified into four types according to their usage in hand reconstruction. This in turn depends on the site, shape, and size of the soft-tissue defect in the hand. Web skin flaps (n = 8) were used in prevention of contracture in the first web space and for proximal finger reconstruction. Two-island skin flaps (n = 4) were used to resurface the pulp defect in two adjacent fingers. In severe adduction contracture of the first web space, fill-up web flaps (n = 10) were used to replace the volume defect after a release procedure in the hand. Adjuvant web flaps (n = 9) were used in wrap-around procedures, in dorsalis pedis flap transfer, and in vascularized joint transfer to supplement the main flaps and to restore sensation in the reconstructed area. In the past 10 years up to February of 1998, a total of 31 patients with soft-tissue defects in the hand and fingers were reconstructed using the web space free flap with flap survival rate of 100 percent. The mean static 2-point discrimination was 8.5 (7.2 to 10) mm, and the mean first web angle was 86 degrees. The advantage of the first web space flap from the foot is that it can easily be harvested to match various sizes and shapes of defects in the hand and fingers. In addition, because of the anatomic similarity in contour, thickness, texture, and nerve innervation with the hand, the sensory restoration is excellent with minimal morbidity at the donor site. By classifying the flaps into four types according to various sizes, shapes, and the site from which the flap are harvested, clinical usefulness in various types of hand and finger reconstruction was confirmed.     

Clinical application of the distally based medial adipofascial flap for soft tissue defects on the lower half of the leg

OBJECTIVE: Reconstruction of soft tissue defects on the lower half of the leg. DESIGN: The distally based medial adipofascial flap nourished by the lower perforator originating from the posterior tibial artery was harvested, and the pivot point of flap transposition is 9 to 12 cm above the tip of the medial malleolus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve cases of open tibial fracture associated with soft tissue defects on the lower half of the leg were reconstructed with this flap. The cases consisted of ten males and two females, and their ages ranged from 16 to 71 (averaging 41 years). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Size of the flap varied from 4 x 7 cm to 5 x 18 cm. Eleven flaps had good perfusion and survived completely. Tip necrosis of the flap occurred in one case. In the early postoperative period, take of the meshed split-thickness skin graft on the flap was not complete. All wounds, however, were resurfaced completely without the need of a second grafting. Discharging sinuses occurred in one case, which was managed by removal of infected bony fragments. All the donor sites were closed primarily, and desquamation of wound edges occurred occasionally. CONCLUSIONS: The distally based medial adipofascial flap was a reliable and effect local flap for the reconstruction of soft tissue defects on the lower half of the leg.     

Vascularized fibular graft for reconstruction of the wrist after excision of giant cell tumor

Seven patients with a giant-cell tumor involving the distal end of the radius were treated with en bloc resection and reconstruction with a free vascularized fibular graft. Two patients with stage 2 disease of Enneking's surgical staging and grade 2 of Campanacci's radiographic grading system were reconstructed with an articular fibular head graft. Five patients with stage 3 and grade 3 disease underwent wrist arthrodesis using fibular shaft transfer. There was radiographic evidence of bone union at the host-graft junctions in all cases. No local recurrence was seen in any of the patients at the most recent follow-up examinations. There were six good and one excellent functional results. Wrist arthroplasty using a vascularized fibula head graft is the best procedure for a stage 2 or grade 2 giant-cell tumor of the distal end of the radius. In cases of stage 3 or grade 3 disease, wrist arthrodesis using a vascularized fibular shaft graft is indicated.