Daghan Isik

Effects of abdominoplasty on respiratory functions: a prospective study.

The short-term and the long-term effects of abdominoplasty on the respiratory function of healthy adults are not known because of a lack of studies on this subject. Theoretically one might suggest that abdominoplasty can cause respiratory decompensation resulting from musculofascial plication, which reduces the respiratory reserve by decreasing intra-abdominal volume and diaphragmatic excursion. This prospective study was performed to evaluate the short-term effects of abdominoplasty on the pulmonary function of 14 consecutive otherwise healthy subjects. Calculation of the body mass index, measurement of the waist circumference, and the distance from xiphoid to umbilicus, and spirometry were performed for each subject preoperatively, and they were repeated at 10 and 30 days after the operation. The mean values of body mass index (p < 0.001), waist circumference (p < 0.05), and the distance from xiphoid to umbilicus (p < 0.001) were all decreased significantly by postoperative day 10. Comparison of the spirometric measurements showed a significant improvement in the mean forced vital capacity (p < 0.01) on day 30 postoperatively, whereas the mean forced expiratory volume in first second did not change throughout the study period. The authors conclude that abdominoplasty could improve pulmonary function in healthy subjects by increasing the forced vital capacity.

Comparison of the rate of palatal fistulation after two-flap and four-flap palatoplasty

We studied 73 repairs of cleft palate (48 cleft lip and palate and 25 isolated cleft palate) done during a 7-year period (January 1996–October 2002) by the same plastic reconstructive surgeon. Two-flap or four-flap palatoplasty techniques were used to provide tension-free, three-layer repairs for patients with cleft palate. Their ages ranged from 10–244 months (mean 27). The postoperative follow-up period ranged from 6 to 60 months (mean 21). There was a palatal fistulation rate of 7% (5/73). There were two fistulas after two-flap palatoplasty (5%, 2/39), and three fistulas after four-flap palatoplasty (9%, 3/34). The mean diameter was 7.8 mm (range 5.1 to 13). There was no significant difference between the two techniques.

The association between silicone implants and both antibodies and autoimmune diseases

Silicones are widely used materials in many fields of medicine and largely are believed to be biologically inert. However, some investigators have reported that silicone implants are associated with an increased incidence of autoimmune disorders. In this study, we evaluated the capsular tissue of silicone implants and the sera of implant patients and controls for antisilicone antibodies and nonspecific immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE). Our study group included 15 patients (eight men and seven women) undergoing reconstructive procedures for burn scars, in whom we used silicone implants, and 15 sex-matched controls undergoing reconstructive surgery for burn scars without using silicone implants. By immunofluorescence, we discovered strong capsular binding of IgG and weak capsular binding of IgM; antisilicone antibody levels were significantly higher in capsular tissue than elsewhere. Serum IgE also was higher in patient vs control subject sera. In conclusion, silicone materials do lead to an immune response consisting of antisilicone antibodies most evident immediately adjacent to the implant itself.

Closure of large myelomeningocele defects using dorsal intercostal artery perforator flap.

Small meningomylocele defects can be closed primarily. Other repair techniques are required for closure of meningomyelocele defects of >5 cm. In this anomaly, in which random or musculocutaneous flaps are usually used, the technique for skin defect closure should have the following criteria: a safely harvested flap with good blood supply; minimal morbidity in the donor site; closure with adequate thickness to protect the underlying neural structure; and a repair to prevent leakage of cerebrospinal fluid. The dorsal intercostal artery perforator flap is a new perforator flap with a large skin island that can be used safely in the dorsal region. In this article, repair of large skin defects due to myelomeningocele has been attempted using a dorsal intercostal artery perforator flap, and the results are discussed.

Comparison of classification systems for congenital melanocytic nevi.

BACKGROUND Congenital melanocytic nevi (CMNs) are found in approximately 1% of newborn infants, but these represent only a small proportion of the total population of nevi. They vary widely in size, from a small spot to a large area. Later in childhood, these lesions become thickened, verrucous, and hairy. Giant CMNs predispose to malignant melanoma, with a reported incidence of 2% to 31%. OBJECTIVE To compare three different classification methods of the CMNs to determine which is most accurate. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS Sixty patients were included in the study (34 male, 26 female), with an average age of 17.4 (range 3–32). The nevi were evaluated using three different classification methods: total area of the nevus (in cm2), greatest nevus dimension, and percentage of nevus surface area to total patient body surface area. An appropriate treatment procedure for each case was applied, and participants were followed from 1997 to 2007. RESULTS Malignant transformation was noted in 15.4% of participants with congenital nevi, which was confirmed histopathologically after excision. CONCLUSION We recommend the calculation of total nevus area as the most useful method for assessment of the risk of developing melanoma in a CMN. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.

Clinical outcomes of suture delay in forehead flap.

Abstract The delay phenomenon is a surgical procedure performed to raise a wider skin flap and to improve the survival of skin flaps. Surgery, chemicals, sutures, and lasers can be used for the delay procedure. In this study, delayed forehead flaps created by suturing were used for coverage of nasal skin defects in eleven patients. In 7 patients, the cross-paramedian forehead flap was used to increase the extent of flap lengthening. In the first session, suture delay was performed on both sides of the forehead flap margin. In the second session, the flap was elevated and sutured to its new position, 7 to 10 days after the initial surgery. All flaps were completely viable, and patient satisfaction was optimal in all cases. The positive effect of surgical delay on flap survival has been shown in experimental and clinical studies. However, experimentally, suture delay or chemical delay procedures have been shown to be beneficial in flap survival only. Suture delay seems to be an inexpensive, effective, easily performed, atraumatic, and safe technique, especially among patients with systemic diseases such as diabetes or cardiovascular diseases, smoking patients who may lose the flap, or patients who need very wide and long flaps.

Island volar advancement flap for reconstruction of thumb defects.

Background:The volar advancement flap of the thumb described by Moberg has been used for pulp defects up to 1 to 1.5 cm since its mobility is quite limited due to the stiff nature and fibrous connections of the regional skin with underlying structures. There have been several attempts to increase the mobility of this useful flap by adding V-Y and Z-plasty concepts into the technique. These modifications could provide a slight increase in the flap advancement and achieve closure of defects up to 2 cm in length at best. Methods:In this study, we describe the island volar advancement flap of the thumb in which all attachments, except the neurovascular pedicle of the flap, were divided to provide maximum mobility and advancement. This technique was used in 12 patients for reconstruction of traumatic defects of the distal thumb up to 3 to 3.5 cm in length. Results:The flaps healed uneventfully in all patients. There was no patient with flap failure. All patients were followed up for 2 to 6 years (4 years on an average). Our results revealed sensible and durable skin coverage with maximum preservation of the thumb length. Conclusions:The island volar advancement flap seems to be a safe and useful procedure for thumb reconstruction. Providing a 1.5 cm of extra flap advancement, this new procedure enables us 1-stage closure of considerably large defects and is a critical achievement in thumb reconstruction.

Use of rotation flap in repair of cleft palate and velopharyngeal insufficiency.

Although cleft palate anomaly is frequent, the criterion standards in surgical treatment have not been determined yet. There are a few techniques described for cleft palate repair owing to the limited tissue in the palatal mucosa, the rigid structure of the palatal mucosa, and the limited vascularity of the hard palate. In this study, a novel cleft palate repair technique based on separating the soft palate from the hard palate as a musculomucosal flap and using it as a rotation flap has been described. The operation is evaluated individually for each anomaly because variations occur in the surgical technique according to the extension of the cleft toward the teeth in the palate. This operation was performed on a total of 28 patients (17 girls and 11 boys) aged between 1.5 and 16 years and presented to our clinic. Patients were assessed for speech analysis outcomes, tympanogram values, hearing functions, magnitude of palatal lengthening during the operation, and rate of fistulae. Statistically significant differences in values of the speech analysis and the audiometric assessment were determined between before and 6 months after surgery. Complete recovery of otitis was observed 1 month after surgery without another treatment in 9 (42.8%) of 21 patients who were detected to have serous otitis media preoperatively. Tension-free closure, lower risk of fistula, good restoration of velopharyngeal functions, ability to be performed on all types of cleft palate, ability to provide a good intraoperative exposure, and being a single stage seem to be the most important advantages of this technique.

Comparison of the Fistula Risk Associated With Rotation Palatoplasty and Conventional Palatoplasty for Cleft Palate Repair

Objectives The aims of the cleft palate repair techniques are to reduce the velopharyngeal insufficiency risk and oronasal fistula development to minimal levels without affecting the maxillofacial development. In this article, we present a retrospective study comparing the conventional palatoplasty techniques with the new technique of rotation palatoplasty for the risk of development of oronasal fistula. Materials and Methods Of the 100 patients who were operated on because of cleft palate between the years 2002 and 2008, 12 patients had Furlow palatoplasty, and 88 patients received the Veau-Wardill-Kilner (V–Y pushback) operation (group C). A total of 67 patients who were operated on between 2008 and 2011 had rotation palatoplasty (group R). Results One hundred patients were men, and 67 were women. Among all the patient groups, 22.8% were classified as Veau 1, 24.6% were classified as Veau 2, 37.1% were classified as Veau 3, and 15.6% were classified as Veau 4. The rate of fistula was found to be 17.7% in all patients. Fistula development was found in 6% of the patients in group R (4/67) and in 18% of the patients in group C (18/100). The difference between group R and group C regarding the number of patients who developed fistula was statistically significant (P = 0.011). Conclusions The Veau classification of the cleft palate affects the risk of fistula development, and the risk for fistula after rotation palatoplasty is lower than that associated with the V–Y pushback technique.

Platelet-Rich Fibrin Improves the Viability of Diced Cartilage Grafts in a Rabbit Model.

BACKGROUND Diced cartilage may be wrapped with synthetic or biological materials before grafting to a recipient site. These materials have unique advantages and disadvantages, and a gold standard is not available. OBJECTIVES The authors investigated the effects of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) on the survival of cartilage grafts in a rabbit model. METHODS In this experimental study, diced cartilage pieces from the ears of 9 male rabbits were left unwrapped or were wrapped with PRF, oxidized regenerated cellulose, or fascia. Specimens then were placed into subcutaneous pockets prepared on the backs of the rabbits. The animals were sacrificed 2 months after the procedure, and the grafts were excised for macroscopic and histopathologic examination. RESULTS The cartilage graft wrapped with PRF showed superior viability compared with the cartilage graft wrapped with oxidized regenerated cellulose. No significant differences were found among the other groups. The groups were not significantly different in terms of rates of inflammation, fibrosis, or vascularization. CONCLUSIONS PRF enhances the viability of diced cartilage grafts and should be considered an appropriate biological wrapping material for cartilage grafting.