[Evolution of surgical indications in upper limb functional surgery for tetraplegic patients: Retrospective study of 428 procedures]

INTRODUCTION

Regarding surgical strategy for upper limb functional rehabilitation in patients with traumatic tetraplegia, there are few publications and the case series are quite small.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

We reviewed all traumatic quadriplegic patients, operated one by one surgeon, professor Marc Revol, for functional surgery of the upper limb in the same department from 1989 to 2018. For each patient, we recorded their gender, their group according to the international classification, their age at the time of the first surgical procedure, the length of time between the accident and the first surgery and between two procedures, the average duration of the whole surgical program, and the surgical technique used for the elbow, the wrist, the long fingers and the thumb.

RESULTS

We reviewed 158 cases, representing 428 surgical procedures. Some surgical principles have remained unchanged through the years: the hand opening stage comes before the closing one, and systematically includes intrinsic active palliative procedures using lassos; and restoration of long fingers grasping is consistently associated with restoration of thumb gripping and with flexor tendons tenolysis in the lassos region. Other strategic points have evolved over time: restoration of active elbow extension now systematically uses the biceps over the deltoid transfer; brachio radialis (BR) to extensor digitorum communis (EDC) and to extensor pollicis longus (EPL) transfer has been replaced by tenodesis; in groups 2, 3, 4 and 5, the hand opening stage has been consistently associated with the biceps transfer, thus shortening the surgical program to two procedures instead of three for each upper limb; split distal flexor pollicis longus (FPL) tenodesis has replaced thumb arthrodesis; and, whenever it was possible, BR has been spared from group 3 and beyond.

CONCLUSION

In groups 2 to 5, the indications have evolved towards the following strategy. The first surgical step includes restoration of elbow extension using biceps transfer and hand opening reinforcement through four lassos, one split distal FPL tenodesis for the thumb, and EDC and EPL tenodesis to the retinaculum. The second surgical procedure consists of restoration of long fingers and thumb flexion using one unique motor (BR or extensor carpi radialis longus), and closed tenolysis of the flexor tendons in case of adhesions in the lassos area.

Are prostaglandins or calcium channel blockers efficient for free flap salvage? A review of the literature

The free flap failure rate is less than 5%. The responsible mechanisms of postoperative secondary ischemia are mostly vascular. The main postoperative complication leading to flap failure is thrombosis. Different strategies have been reported to improve the reliability of flaps and decrease the risk of partial or total necrosis: thus, pharmacologic agents have been studied to reduce the risk of microvascular thrombosis. The aim of this review was to evaluate the effect of calcium channel blockers and prostaglandins on free skin flap survival. A systematic review of the literature was performed to identify articles studying the efficacy of calcium channel blockers and prostaglandins on free flap survival. After full text reading, eleven articles were finally included. Eight articles investigated the role of prostaglandins in free tissue transfers, two in rats subjects, one in rabbits, five in humans. Two articles studied the effect of calcium channel blockers on free flaps, one in rats subjects, one in rabbits. One article studied in different groups the effect of calcium channel blockers and prostaglandins on free flaps in rabbits. Literature regarding the efficacy of calcium channel blockers and prostaglandins to salvage free flap is poor and mainly based on animal models. Nevertheless, studies on prostaglandins showed a slight efficiency of these molecules for free flap salvage. Results are less reliable for calcium channel blockers and dependent on the molecule used. In conclusion, there is a lack of evidence to use them in clinical practice.

Reconstruction of an anterior chest wall radionecrosis defect by a contralateral latissimus dorsi flap: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Soft tissue and bone radionecrosis are rare but serious complications may occur late after radiotherapy.

CASE REPORT

We report the case of an 86-year-old woman with a history an infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the left breast, treated by total mastectomy, left axillary dissection and adjuvant radiotherapy. Eighteen years later, the first radionecrosis lesions appeared and grew progressively in a 6-month period. These lesions are deep, involving the anterior aspect of the 4th to the 6th ribs and infiltrating the chest wall to the left cardio-thoracic space communicating largely with the pericardium. During axillary dissection, the neurovascular pedicle of the left latissimus dorsi muscle had been severed. The first part of the operation consisted of performing a left side parietectomy of the thoracic wall with a large resection of pericardial tissue and a small myocardial patch. The second step consisted of repairing the thoracic wall defect with a contralateral musculocutaneous latissimus dorsi flap.

CONCLUSION

Due to its significant axis of rotation, the latissimus dorsi muscle flap must be considered in the therapeutic algorithm for covering of contralateral anterior chest wall defects.

[Prosthetic genioplasty versus osseous genioplasty in aesthetic chin augmentation: Literature review and knowledge update]

Chin augmentation is commonly practiced, whether in microgenia treatment, in cases of orthognathic or cosmetic surgery. Located at the crossroads of many specialties, the technique choice still differs according to the surgeon specialiy. A large number of publications on the subject are available. A comparaison between different surgical methods is therefore possible concerning their indications and their complication. The purpose of this study was to carry out a literature review, with updating knowledge, as well as a synthesis indication regarding aesthetic osseous and alloplastic genioplasty. Despite the generalization of "modern" implants in France, prosthetic genioplasty remains more frequently the source of serious complications (infections, extrusions, bone erosions). Similarly, this technique has much more limited indications than osseous genioplasty, which has the advantage of a better longevity. In order to increase the aesthetic appearance of the chin, osseous genioplasty should be performed more easily and more frequently by surgeons on all sides.

Surgical approaches in neck dissection: Comparing functional, oncologic and aesthetic aspects of transverse cervicotomy to Paul André's approach

BACKGROUND

Surgical approaches in neck dissection: comparing functional, oncologic and aesthetic aspects of transverse cervicotomy to Paul André's approach.

METHODS

This single-center retrospective study compares a new transverse incision for cervicotomy to the classical approach described by Paul André in neck dissections. The evaluation criteria were: number of lymph nodes analyzed, operative time, complications, patient satisfaction and aesthetic aspects of the scar.

RESULTS

A total of 34 patients were included in this study, from September 2009 until January 2015. The number of lymph nodes analyzed is not affected by this new approach compared to the classical one (P=0.9). The scar has a significantly more discreet appearance in the transverse cervicotomy group (P=0.023) likewise; patient satisfaction is higher in this group (P=0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Aesthetic and functional impairment can be reduced using this new transverse cervical approach hidden in the natural creases of the neck described by Langer.

Nipple reconstruction after implant-based breast reconstruction in radiated patients: A new safe dermal flap

INTRODUCTION

After implant-based breast reconstruction, the nipple reconstruction technique must be carefully chosen, especially in patients with a history of radiotherapy. When the contralateral nipple is not available, using a classical dermal-fat local flap may lead to the implant exposure, and consequently, removal. We describe here a simple nipple reconstruction technique, using a strictly dermal local flap and evaluate its complication rate.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All patients who underwent our technique for nipple reconstruction between January 2012 and April 2015 were included in this retrospective study. We described our surgical technique and noted the occurrence of postoperative complications.

RESULTS

Forty-nine nipples, in 47 patients with a history of radiotherapy, were reconstructed with our technique. The mean age was 53 years old (range 27-78 years old). The average time between radiotherapy and nipple reconstruction was 42.5 months (range from 4.6 to 274.8 months). The mean follow-up was 30.9 months (range from 6 to 47 months). No implant exposure occurred. Regarding the nipple flap, two partial flap loss and one infection occurred, the whole complication rate was 6.1%. Regarding nipple projection, it was quite low (between 2 and 5 mm) after 6 months, but remained stable.

CONCLUSION

Our strictly dermal local flap technique for nipple reconstruction is a safe procedure and represents a good alternative to composite contralateral nipple graft in irradiated patients with an implant-based reconstructed breast.