Concepts in Early Reconstruction of the Burned Hand

Utilization of Perifascial Loose Areolar Tissue Grafting as an Autologous Dermal Substitute in Extremity Burns

BACKGROUND

Perifascial areolar tissue (PAT) is an areolar layer over the muscle fascia. PAT has been shown to be resistant to ischemia and prone to survival even in ischemic conditions. PAT grafts provide a vascular tissue layer on necrotic bone and tendons where skin grafting is not possible. The effect of PAT grafting on burn reconstruction has not yet been reported. Thus, in this study, we aimed to present our experience and discuss the role of PAT grafting in extremity burn reconstruction.

METHODS

Between January 2019 and December 2020, 16 PAT grafting procedures were performed in 11 patients. All patients had second- or third-degree burns in the upper and lower extremities, with exposed bone or tendon. PAT grafts were harvested from the abdominal region and were used for the upper extremity in 7 patients and the lower extremity in 4 patients. Immediate skin grafting was performed during the same session.

RESULTS

The patients' mean age was 50.7 years; defect size, 3.3 × 3 cm²; and follow-up time, 11.8 months. The survival rates of the PAT and skin grafts were 93.8% and 68.6%, respectively. Partial skin graft losses were encountered in 4 patients, and total skin graft loss was seen in 1 patient.

CONCLUSION

PAT grafting is an alternative method to the use of dermal substitutes and flap surgery in small-to-medium-sized defects with exposed bone and tendon in burn patients.

Modified Colson flap with subcutaneous liposuction for one-stage donor site removal: A case series

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional and cosmetic results of an innovative procedure for modified Colson flap-graft consisting of immediate defatting of the flap by a liposuction cannula.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed among patients with deep hand burns requiring a modified Colson flap between 2018 and 2021. Outcomes included functional and cosmetic assessment of the hand through a quality-of-life questionnaire, a sensitivity scale and a scar assessment scale.

RESULTS

During this period, 7 patients were operated on using our technique. One patient was lost to follow-up; 7 patients with a median age of 44 years were included, with a total of 10 burned hands. The burns were thermal in 5 out of 7 cases and the coverage concerned the whole hand in 50% of the cases. The flaps all received cannula defatting. The median time to flap weaning was 23 days (20 to 30 days). The median follow-up was 16 months. One case required remote flap weaning. The median POSAS (Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale) per patient was 4 and 2 per observer. The median BMRCSS (British Medical Research Council Sensory Scale) was 122. One case had recovered S2 sensitivity, the other cases had S3 or S4 sensitivity.

CONCLUSION

Immediate defatting is one of the factors in tegumental quality allowing rapid functional recovery of the hand. The cannula defatting technique does not appear to require additional defatting time. The use of the liposuction cannula allows a one-step, homogeneous, and easier defatting, with a lower risk of devascularization.

Application of fibrin glue for hematoma prophylaxis in selective aponeurectomy in Dupuytren's disease

INTRODUCTION

Fibrin glue (FG) can be applied in several surgical procedures at wound closure to reduce postoperative complications such as hematoma formation and wound impairment. The purpose of this study is to assess these preventive surgical benefits in Dupuytren's disease of the hand.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed a monocentric retrospective cohort study. All patients who underwent selective aponeurectomy for Dupuytren's disease between 2010 and 2020 were included. Patients were divided into two groups: either receiving or not receiving FG. The primary outcome variables were postoperative bleeding, wound healing impairment, and further pooled postoperative complications.

RESULTS

One hundred and thirty-three patients were included in the analysis of which 108 patients were treated with FG, while 24 did not. There was no statistically significant difference in outcomes regarding postoperative bleeding, infections, or revision surgery. However, in the group receiving FG, there was a tendency toward higher wound healing impairment (13%, p = 0.07). The FG group showed a significantly higher pooled complication rate (18.5%, p < 0.02). Complication in general increased with higher Tubiana classification and number of resected cords. Smoking tripled the risk of impaired wound, while cardiovascular comorbidities increased postoperative bleeding by the factor of 11.

CONCLUSION

FG did not show a preventive outcome regarding bleeding. The FG group had a tendency for a higher wound healing incidence. Smoking and arterial hypertension correlated with a higher postoperative complication rate. The overall incidence of complications was higher in the FG group. The quality of the surgical intervention as well as accurate hemostasis cannot be corrected by the application of FG.

Concepts in soft-tissue reconstruction of the contracted hand and upper extremity after burn injury

Burns and their subsequent contracture result in devastating functional and aesthetic consequences which disproportionally affect the upper extremity. By focusing on reconstruction with analogous tissue and utilizing the reconstructive elevator, function can be restored concomitantly with form and aesthetic appearance. General concepts for soft-tissue reconstruction after burn contracture are presented for different sub-units and joints.

Implementation and Validation of Free Flaps in Acute and Reconstructive Burn Care

Microsurgical free flap reconstruction in acute burn care offers the option of reconstructing even challenging defects in a single stage procedure. Due to altered rheological and hemodynamic conditions in severely burned patients, it bears the risk of a higher complication rate compared to microsurgical reconstruction in other patients. To avoid failure, appropriate indications for free flap reconstruction should be reviewed thoroughly. Several aspects concerning timing of the procedure, individual flap choice, selection and preparation of the recipient vessels, and perioperative measures must be considered. Respecting these specific conditions, a low complication rate, comparable to those seen in microsurgical reconstruction of other traumatic limb defects, can be observed. Hence, the free flap procedure in acute burn care is a relatively safe and reliable tool in the armamentarium of acute burn surgery. In reconstructive burn care, microsurgical tissue transfer is routinely used to treat scar contractures. Due to the more robust perioperative condition of patients, even lower rates of complication are seen in microsurgical reconstruction.

Cesarean Delivery in the Management of Pregnancy Complicated by Burn Injuries

ABSTRACT

Two cases of cesarean delivery in the management of burn injuries in 2 pregnant patients are presented to illustrate current utilization of cesarean delivery for infant rescue in maternal burn care.