Hayati Akbaş

Enhancement of nerve regeneration and orientation across a gap with a nerve graft within a vein conduit graft: a functional, stereological, and electrophysiological study.

In this study, the right sciatic nerves of 40 rats were used to determine whether a nerve graft within a vein graft might accelerate and facilitate axonal regeneration, compared with a nerve graft alone. The animals were separated into four groups, as follows: group 1, sham control; group 2 (control), segmental nerve resection and no repair; group 3, segmental nerve resection and nerve grafting; group 4, segmental nerve resection and reconstruction with a nerve graft within a vein conduit graft. For all groups, sciatic functional indices were calculated before the operation and on postoperative days 7 and 90. On postoperative day 90, the sciatic nerves were reexposed and nerve conduction velocities were recorded. The sciatic nerves were harvested from all groups for counting of the myelinated axons with a stereological method. No statistically significant differences with respect to return of gait function, axon count, or nerve conduction were noted between groups 3 and 4 (p > 0.05). However, functional recovery in group 4 on postoperative day 90 was significant, compared with group 2 (p < 0.05); the recovery difference between groups 2 and 3 was not significant (p > 0.05). This study was not able to demonstrate any functional benefits with the use of a nerve graft within a vein graft, compared with standard nerve grafting.

Natural-Looking Umbilicus as an Important Part of Abdominoplasty

The umbilicus is an important and essential aesthetic component of the abdomen. Many surgeons use different methods to relocate umbilicus during abdominoplasties. We prefer to use a simple combination of different well-known principles to form the neo-umbilicus. The main steps of the procedure are to make an elliptical vertical incision, to do vertical abdominal fascial plication, to embed the umbilical stalk in this plication by suturing the umbilical skin and the rectus fascia together to maintain the umbilical dimple, to place it at the vertical incision made in the abdominal skin at a predetermined point. Silk sutures are used for the abdominal fascial plication and neo-umbilical fixation. Liposuction from the neo-umbilicus to xiphoid along the midline of the upper abdomen creates a minimal superior sulcus. In each patient, a three-dimensional umbilicus with sufficient depression was obtained. All patients, including one case with complications, were pleased by the final aesthetic results.

Reconstruction of columella, membranous septum, and upper lip in a single stage operation

Reconstruction options for columellar defects together with membranous septum, nasal base, and upper lip are restricted. We present a case successfully treated with bilateral cheek advancement flaps with upper medial, perialar skin flaps to reconstruct the upper lip, columella, nasal base and membranous septum in a single session. This method provides adequate tissue with minimal cosmetic deformity in a single stage for repairing such compound defects.

Unilateral osteotomies for externally deviated noses.

Despite the many methods described for correction of the deviated nose, it still continues to be one of the most challenging problems in rhinoplasty. It is obvious from the literature that the deformities present in the deviated nose can be quite different from patient to patient and that there is no one method that should be used for every deviated nose. Although unilateral osteotomy technique is not a new concept, so far it has not received the interest of plastic surgeons. Shorter operation time, lessened surgical trauma to the nose, lessened intraoperative bleeding, lessened postoperative edema, and lessened recurrence of the deviation are distinct features of the unilateral osteotomy technique that should be considered when planning surgery on such a complex deformity. We present our experiences with unilateral osteotomy and recommend it for patients who have a deviation related to only one side of the nose.

CHIN AUGMENTATION USING DICED CARTILAGE

Abstract Eight patients with microgenia have undergone augmentation with diced nasal cartilage. Cartilage grafts were harvested from the nose during rhinoplasty. These grafts were cut into 0.5 to 1.0 mm pieces using a #11 blade and were wrapped in one layer of Surgicel (oxidized regenerated cellulose). This cartilage mass was inserted into the chin pocket. All patients underwent clinical evaluation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and photography. These investigations showed that diced cartilage grafts maintained 75% of their dimensions at six months after implantation. The follow-up period was 12 months, and the aesthetic results were satisfactory.

Use of longitudinal invaginating matrix sutures in microarterial sleeve anastomoses

A different approach to end in end anastomosis was tested to minimise the undesirable traits of classic and sleeve (telescoping) methods. Our approach aimed to maintain full contact at the level of the anastomosis by using longitudinal matrix sutures as a new invaginating suture technique in microarterial sleeve anastomosis. Classic end‐to‐end anastomosis with seven to eight stitches, Lauritzens end‐in‐end anastomosis with four stitches, and our modified end‐in‐end anastomosis with two horizontal matrix sutures were made in 10, 20, and 25 rat femoral arteries, respectively. Nine, 17, and 18, respectively were patent at early evaluation; and eight, 13, and 14 at the time of late evaluation. There was no significant difference in between the patency rates of the groups. Histopathological examination showed large strictures and the formation of intra‐luminal organised thrombus with thin intramural fibrin precipitation in occluded specimens. The longitudinal matrix sutures in the sleeve anastomoses, which passed through all layers of the vascular wall, injured the intima (a vertical rupture) and constricted the lumen.

Myiasis infestation: a rare complication of decubitus ulcer

Abstract. Myiasis infestation is a rare complication of decubitus ulcer which in the case described was caused by Sarcophaga spp. The 32-year-old debilitated woman, having previously been treated for decubitus ulcer on her left heel, had a recurrence on the same heel in which there was a myiasis infestation. After removal of the larvae, the wound was irrigated by ivermectin solution and further medical and surgical treatment of the wound was carried out.

The use of leeches in the management of a ring avulsion injury

Ring avulsion injury presents a spectrum of injury and the treatment varies accordingly from simple suture to amputation. In the current patient, we present a case that has a ring avulsion injury with intact bones, pulleys, flexor tendons, and one digital artery. The problems were venous insufficiency on nearly total avulsed skin and mallet type deformity due to extensor tendon laceration. The avulsed finger skin was sutured in place with interrupted skin sutures and leeches were applied to relieve venous congestion. The result was satisfactory.

Reconstruction of Large Lower Lip Defects: A New Method

Lower lip defects may be due to some congenital or acquired problems, such as congenital naevi, hemangiomas, tumors, traumas, or infectious disease. The degree of substance loss may be skin, muscle, or mucoso, or a combination of one or all layers. In large defects of the lower lip, the challenge is to accomplish a result that meets the criteria of successful reconstruction. We present 3 patients with large defects of the lower lip from tumor ablation who underwent satisfactory reconstruction with a new method not previously descried in the English-language literature.

A giant subungual exostosis perforating through skin of the toe

Subungual exostosis is typically an uncommon, benign, bony tumor of cartilaginous bone that usually occurs as a solitary, solid lesion under the nail of the first toe or the fingernail. It may be difficult to diagnose subungual exostosis from a clinical presentation and it should be confirmed by radiographic examination. The treatment is surgical excision. It is essential to see normally cancellous bone under the area of excision to ensure that the tumor does not recur. In this article, our goal is to present a subungual exostosis case of the first toe, detailing diagnosis, pathologic findings and surgical management.