Ahmed M. S. Ibrahim

A plastic surgery application in evolution: three-dimensional printing.

Background: Three-dimensional printing represents an evolving technology still in its infancy. Currently, individuals and small business entities have the ability to manufacture physical objects from digital renderings, computer-aided design, and open source files. Design modifications and improvements in extrusion methods have made this technology much more affordable. This article explores the potential uses of three-dimensional printing in plastic surgery. Methods: A review was performed detailing the known uses of three-dimensional printing in medicine. The potential applications of three-dimensional printing in plastic surgery are discussed. Results: Various applications for three-dimensional printing technology have emerged in medicine, including printing organs, printing body parts, bio-printing, and computer-aided tissue engineering. In plastic surgery, these tools offer various prospective applications for surgical planning, resident education, and the development of custom prosthetics. Conclusions: Numerous applications exist in medicine, including the printing of devices, implants, tissue replacements, and even whole organs. Plastic surgeons may likely find this technology indispensable in surgical planning, education, and prosthetic device design and development in the near future.

The use of silk-based devices for fracture fixation

Metallic fixation systems are currently the gold standard for fracture fixation but have problems including stress shielding, palpability and temperature sensitivity. Recently, resorbable systems have gained interest because they avoid removal and may improve bone remodelling due to the lack of stress shielding. However, their use is limited to paediatric craniofacial procedures mainly due to the laborious implantation requirements. Here we prepare and characterize a new family of resorbable screws prepared from silk fibroin for craniofacial fracture repair. In vivo assessment in rat femurs shows the screws to be self-tapping, remain fixed in the bone for 4 and 8 weeks, exhibit biocompatibility and promote bone remodelling. The silk-based devices compare favourably with current poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid fixation systems, however, silk-based devices offer numerous advantages including ease of implantation, conformal fit to the repair site, sterilization by autoclaving and minimal inflammatory response.

Acellular dermal matrices in breast surgery: a comprehensive review.

IntroductionAcellular dermal matrices (ADMs) have become increasingly popular for use in plastic surgery. There has been an increase in the number of products that have paralleled their usage in various clinical settings and specifically breast surgery. MethodsA direct comparison of the most common ADMs used in breast surgery was performed including physical characteristics, level of sterility, maximum load sustained (N), stiffness (N/mm), and tensile strength (N/cm). A comprehensive review of the literature was also performed, detailing known results and complications. ResultsThe direct comparison of most common ADMs is detailed along with a review of 26 series of breast reconstruction manuscripts involving the usage of ADMs. Specifically, Strattice and Permacol had the highest values of maximum loads sustained, stiffness, and tensile strength. ConclusionsADMs have a role in breast surgery that continues to be defined. Future long-term follow-up remains crucial to the identification of the optimal biologic mesh.

Patient selection optimization following combined abdominal procedures: analysis of 4925 patients undergoing panniculectomy/abdominoplasty with or without concurrent hernia repair.

Background: Massive weight loss following bariatric surgery causes unwanted excess skin and subcutaneous tissue. Intraoperative abdominal wall exposure during abdominal contouring surgery provides the possibility for concurrent ventral, umbilical, or inguinal hernia repair. The authors evaluated the incidence of postoperative complications following abdominal contouring surgery with or without concurrent hernia repair and the impact of surgical specialty. Methods: Analysis of patients undergoing abdominal contouring surgery with or without concurrent hernia repair was performed using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program from 2005 to 2011. The incidence of postoperative complications was determined. Logistic regression assessed influence of demographics and comorbidities on postoperative outcomes. Control group (body mass index > 27.5) and high-risk group (body mass index > 40) undergoing a hernia repair were also included for comparison. Results: Among 4925 patients, 63.7 percent underwent abdominoplasty and/or panniculectomy only; 36.3 percent underwent a simultaneous hernia repair. The abdominal contouring surgery with simultaneous hernia repair group had a higher complication rate than the abdominal contouring surgery group (18.3 percent versus 9.8 percent, p < 0.001). Body mass index was associated with increased wound complications and major complications in both groups. Diabetes, smoking, chronic steroid use, and hypertension increased wound complications in the abdominal contouring surgery/hernia repair group. Conclusions: Patients undergoing hernia repair with abdominal contouring surgery may have higher postoperative complication rates than after abdominal contouring surgery alone. Hypertension, smoking, and chronic steroid use were predictors for negative outcomes. Furthermore, surgical specialty is associated with significantly different complication rates. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Non-invasive transdermal two-dimensional mapping of cutaneous oxygenation with a rapid-drying liquid bandage.

Oxygen plays an important role in wound healing, as it is essential to biological functions such as cell proliferation, immune responses and collagen synthesis. Poor oxygenation is directly associated with the development of chronic ischemic wounds, which affect more than 6 million people each year in the United States alone at an estimated cost of

Insufficient antibody validation challenges oestrogen receptor beta research

25 billion. Knowledge of oxygenation status is also important in the management of burns and skin grafts, as well as in a wide range of skin conditions. Despite the importance of the clinical determination of tissue oxygenation, there is a lack of rapid, user-friendly and quantitative diagnostic tools that allow for non-disruptive, continuous monitoring of oxygen content across large areas of skin and wounds to guide care and therapeutic decisions. In this work, we describe a sensitive, colorimetric, oxygen-sensing paint-on bandage for two-dimensional mapping of tissue oxygenation in skin, burns, and skin grafts. By embedding both an oxygen-sensing porphyrin-dendrimer phosphor and a reference dye in a liquid bandage matrix, we have created a liquid bandage that can be painted onto the skin surface and dries into a thin film that adheres tightly to the skin or wound topology. When captured by a camera-based imaging device, the oxygen-dependent phosphorescence emission of the bandage can be used to quantify and map both the pO2 and oxygen consumption of the underlying tissue. In this proof-of-principle study, we first demonstrate our system on a rat ischemic limb model to show its capabilities in sensing tissue ischemia. It is then tested on both ex vivo and in vivo porcine burn models to monitor the progression of burn injuries. Lastly, the bandage is applied to an in vivo porcine graft model for monitoring the integration of full- and partial-thickness skin grafts.

The Current Role of Three-Dimensional Printing in Plastic Surgery

The discovery of oestrogen receptor β (ERβ/ESR2) was a landmark discovery. Its reported expression and homology with breast cancer pharmacological target ERα (ESR1) raised hopes for improved endocrine therapies. After 20 years of intense research, this has not materialized. We here perform a rigorous validation of 13 anti-ERβ antibodies, using well-characterized controls and a panel of validation methods. We conclude that only one antibody, the rarely used monoclonal PPZ0506, specifically targets ERβ in immunohistochemistry. Applying this antibody for protein expression profiling in 44 normal and 21 malignant human tissues, we detect ERβ protein in testis, ovary, lymphoid cells, granulosa cell tumours, and a subset of malignant melanoma and thyroid cancers. We do not find evidence of expression in normal or cancerous human breast. This expression pattern aligns well with RNA-seq data, but contradicts a multitude of studies. Our study highlights how inadequately validated antibodies can lead an exciting field astray.

Acellular Dermal Matrix in Reconstructive Breast Surgery: Survey of Current Practice among Plastic Surgeons

Summary: Since the advent of three-dimensional printing in the 1980s, it has become possible to produce physical objects from digital files and create three-dimensional objects by adding one layer at a time following a predetermined pattern. Because of the continued development of inexpensive and easy-to-use three-dimensional printers and bioprinting, this technique has gained more momentum over time, especially in the field of medicine. This article reviews the current and possible future application of three-dimensional printing technology within the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Risk factors associated with complications in lower-extremity reconstruction with the distally based sural flap: A systematic review and pooled analysis

Background: Acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) in plastic surgery have become increasingly popular particularly for breast reconstruction. Despite their advantages, questions exist regarding their association with a possible increased incidence of complications. We describe a collective experience of plastic surgeons’ use of ADMs in reconstructive breast surgery using an internet-based survey. Methods: Members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons were recruited through voluntary, anonymous participation in an online survey. The web-based survey garnered information about participant demographics and their experience with ADM use in breast reconstruction procedures. After responses were collected, all data were anonymously processed. Results: Data were ascertained through 365 physician responses of which 99% (n = 361) completed the survey. The majority of participants were men (84.5%) between 51 and 60 years (37.4%); 84.2% used ADM in breast reconstruction, including radiated patients (79.7%). ADM use was not favored for nipple reconstruction (81.5%); 94.6% of participants used drains, and 87.8% administered antibiotics postoperatively. The most common complications were seroma (70.9%) and infection (16%), although 57.4% claimed anecdotally that overall complication rate was unchanged after incorporating ADM into their practice. High cost was a deterrent for ADM use (37.5%). Conclusions: Plastic surgeons currently use ADM in breast reconstruction for both immediate and staged procedures. Of those responding, a majority of plastic surgeons will incorporate drains and use postoperative antibiotics for more than 48 hours.

Bone flap perfusion assessment using near-infrared fluorescence imaging

The distally based sural fasciocutaneous flap is one of the few options available for local flap reconstruction of soft-tissue defects in the lower one-third of the leg. Few studies have assessed risk factors associated with poor outcomes in this flap. A literature search was performed of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library for articles evaluating the use of sural artery fasciocutaneous flaps for soft-tissue reconstruction of the leg. Data were pooled and a univariate analysis was performed to identify characteristics associated with increased morbidity. A logistic regression model was created, and odds ratios and p values associated with the development of complications were calculated. Sixty-one papers were identified which included data on 907 patients. The majority of sural flaps were used to cover defects of the heel (28.2%), foot (14.4%) or ankle (25.8%). Trauma was the most common indication, followed by ulcers and open fractures. Flap complications were recorded in 26.4% of cases with a flap loss rate of 3.2%. With multivariate analysis, venous insufficiency and increasing age were independent risk factors for complications. Patients with venous insufficiency had nine times the risk of developing a complication compared to patients without venous insufficiency.