Hideaki Rikimaru

A method that preserves circulation during preparation of the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in head and neck reconstruction

&NA; The present article describes a method that preserves circulation during” the preparation of the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap used in head and neck reconstruction. The major disadvantage of this flap is its poor circulation and consequent partial necrosis. To solve this problem, we analyzed the circulation and hemodynamics of the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap (the perforator of the anterior intercostal branch located about 1 to 2 cm medial to the areola in the fourth intercostal space is important), evaluated the safe donor sites in the chest wall for a skin island (the perforator is included on the skin islands central axis), improved the surgical procedure for elevating flaps (for preventing perforator injuries), and devised a means to transfer flaps, thereby increasing the range of the flaps (the transfer route is under the clavicle). Using this technique, head and neck reconstruction was performed on 62 patients. The diagnosis included oral cancer (21), oropharyngeal carcinoma (10), parotid carcinoma (10), hypopharyngeal carcinoma (9), and other head and neck malignant tumors (12). Of these, partial or marginal necrosis of the flap caused by circulatory problems was detected in three patients (5 percent). Using our method, the problems associated with inadequate circulation in the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap were greatly alleviated, thus reconfirming the usefulness of this flap in head and neck reconstruction. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 102: 2336, 1998.)

New continuous negative-pressure and irrigation treatment for infected wounds and intractable ulcers.

Background: Continuous irrigation and the vacuum-assisted closure system are effective methods for the treatment of infected wounds and intractable ulcers. The objective of this study was to simultaneously use both of the above methods as a new approach for obtaining more satisfactory, accelerated wound healing. Methods: After debridement of the wound, indwelling irrigation and aspiration tubes are placed in the wounds that have been sutured closed. With open wounds, a sponge with the same shape as the wound is placed directly onto the wound surface, and after the two tubes are inserted in the sponge, the wound is covered with film dressing to make the wound completely airtight. A bottle of physiologic saline solution is then attached to the irrigation tube, and a continuous aspirator (Mera Sacume) is attached to the aspiration tube. The bottle of physiologic saline solution is placed at the same height as the wound, and with a pressure gradient between the two of 0, continuous aspiration is applied. Results: All nine cases treated as closed air cavity wounds with this method healed after 2 to 3 weeks. In eight cases of open wound, recurrence of infection was observed in only one case. Conclusions: The two treatments of continuous irrigation and negative pressure were observed to have an additive and synergistic effect for earlier wound healing. Furthermore, the present method can dramatically reduce the number of dressing changes required, patient pain, psychological stress, and treatment cost.

New method of preparing a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap with a skin paddle that includes the third intercostal perforating branch of the internal thoracic artery.

Background: Although the use of free flaps has become a major option for head and neck reconstruction, the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap still plays an important role because of its advantages and its convenience as a pedicle flap located adjacent to head and neck lesions. However, there remain two problems with the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap, namely, the difficulty in preparing a small, thin skin paddle with stable blood circulation for small defects and, particularly for female cases, sacrifice of the breast. The authors report a new method of preparing a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap to solve these problems. Methods: A skin paddle is designed just above the third intercostal perforating branch of the internal thoracic artery. The pectoralis major myocutaneous flap, including the muscular branch of the third intercostal perforating branch in its muscle, is elevated. The pectoralis major myocutaneous flap is moved to the reconstruction site through the subclavian route. Results: This method was used for 11 cases with small defects in the head and neck caused by lesions. Slight marginal necrosis was observed in one case, but the other skin paddles took completely. There was no infection or fistula formation, and almost satisfactory functional results were obtained in all cases. Deformity in donor sites that included a breast was also minimal. Conclusions: With this method, it was possible to prepare the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap using a small, thin skin paddle with stable blood circulation. Breast deformation, particularly in female cases, was also kept to a minimum.

An ipsilateral superdrainaged transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap for breast reconstruction

A conventional single pedicled TRAM (transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous) flap is a musculocutaneous flap widely used for breast reconstruction. However, complications such as partial flap necrosis, fat necrosis, and fatty induration may occur as a result of unstable blood flow circulation to the flap. One major factor is venous congestion in the flap. In an effort to obtain more stable TRAM flap blood circulation, we anastomosed the ipsilateral deep inferior epigastric vein of a pedicled TRAM flap to the thoracodorsal vein. This procedure provides superdrainage by means of enhanced venous perfusion. This flap with superdrainage augmentation is referred to as a superdrainaged TRAM flap (12 patients). Changes in cutaneous blood flow were also assessed by measurement of cutaneous blood flow in zone IV using a laser blood flow meter (8 patients). The patients who underwent breast reconstructive surgery using this technique showed no evidence of postoperative complications such as flap necrosis, fat necrosis, or fatty induration. Satisfactory results were obtained during breast reconstruction in patients who had previously undergone a radical mastectomy with resultant large areas of tissue defects. In addition, the two patient groups, 12 patients with superdrainaged TRAM flap and 20 patients with single pedicled TRAM flap, were compared to assess differences in complications. The incidence of partial flap necrosis, fat necrosis, and fatty induration was lower among patients with superdrainaged flap than those with single pedicled flap.

A surgical treatment of severe late posttraumatic enophthalmos using sliced costal cartilage chip grafts.

The efficacy of sliced costal cartilage chip grafts for the treatment of late posttraumatic enophthalmos was investigated. Surgery was conducted based on the method reported by Matsuo et al. in 1989. After making an incision in the lower eyelid, dissecting the subperiosteum of the medial orbital wall, orbital floor and lateral orbital wall was performed to the posterior of the orbit, and then costal cartilage chips were gradually grafted in a step-like configuration to the subperiosteum from a location posterior to the equatorial plane of the eyeball. At this time, as well as to the area of concave depression in the orbital bone caused by the fracture, grafts were made to the subperiosteum of the non-deformed medial and lateral orbital wall, to move all of the orbital tissue, including the eyeball, forward. This was performed for five cases of severe late posttraumatic enophthalmos. Among the five cases, there were four cases of severe orbital fracture and one case for which malignant orbital tumor extirpation and radiation therapy had been performed. Following surgery, although mild enophthalmos remained in three of the five cases, esthetically satisfactory results were obtained for all cases. Costal cartilage chip grafts were shown to be an effective method for the treatment of late posttraumatic enophthalmos.

Anatomical study of latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap vascular distribution

BACKGROUND The objective of the current study is to elucidate the three-dimensional vascular distribution as far as the peripheral areas of a latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap and to establish a safe procedure for creating it. METHODS A lead oxide with gelatin-contrast agent was injected into fresh cadavers and the angiosomes in the muscle and skin were examined in detail. RESULTS In the muscle, three vascular territories were observed. The first vascular territory was formed by the thoracodorsal artery, the perforating branches of the ninth intercostal artery and those of the tenth intercostal artery located in the lateral part of the muscle. The second vascular territory was formed by the perforating branches of the tenth intercostal artery located in the medial part of the muscle, those of the 11th intercostal artery and the subcostal artery. The third vascular territory was formed by perforating branches of the first and second lumbar arteries. In the dorsal skin above the muscle, two vascular territories were observed. The first vascular territory was formed by perforating cutaneous branches of the thoracodorsal artery, perforating branches of the ninth through 11th intercostal arteries and the scapular circumflex artery. The second vascular territory was formed by perforating branches of the subcostal artery and the first and second lumbar arteries. CONCLUSIONS When using a latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap with the thoracodorsal artery as a pedicle, the flap can be safely elevated as far as the inferior border of the 12th rib where perforating branches of the subcostal artery are distributed. At the same time, skin above the muscle can be safely harvested up to the iliac crest. It is essential, however, that the skin paddle includes perforating branches of the ninth intercostal artery or perforating branches of the 10th intercostal artery in the lateral part of the muscle.

Reliable, Minimally Invasive Oromandibular Reconstruction Using Metal Plate Rolled with Pectoralis Major Myocutaneous Flap

The purpose of this study was to minimize the surgical invasiveness to the donor site and the amount of the primary reconstruction time after oromandibular tumor resection. Oromandibular reconstruction was performed only using a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap and a metal plate. The pectoralis major myocutaneous flap was grafted to the oral cavity defect by rolling and wrapping around the metal plate with the muscle of the flap. No early postoperative complications have been noted in all seven patients. An average of 2 years and 1 month has past since surgery, and to date no infections, plate exposure, or plate breakage have been observed in any of the patients. The safety of the oromandibular reconstruction using a metal plate was improved by rolling the muscle of the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap around the metal plate. The present method was shown to be a rational technique that allowed primary reconstruction of the oral cavity and mandible in a minimally invasive manner in a short time.

A new modified forked flap with subcutaneous pedicles for adult cases of bilateral cleft lip nasal deformity: from normalization to aesthetic improvement.

In adult cases of bilateral cleft lip nasal deformity, an esthetically satisfying result can not be obtained only by manipulation inside the nose with the nasal tip pointing upward. The nasal tip should be made in a more anterior direction for nasal esthetic improvement. Additional tissue beyond the nose is needed, and the forked flap is a useful method in such cases. However, the blood circulation of long and narrow flaps containing the scar, especially after open rhinoplasty, is unstable. We have developed a new long and narrow forked flap that has a more stable blood circulation. The forked flap was made using two subcutaneous pedicles attached to the periphery of the each flap. We applied this flap to five adult cases of bilateral cleft lip nasal deformity. Four of the cases had the scar associated with the flying bird incision, and one case required no treatment after the primary repair. All the flaps took without signs of partial necrosis. In all cases, the nasal tip was projected forward with adequate columella elongation, and the profile was esthetically improved. In the final stage of correction for adult cases of bilateral cleft lip nasal deformity, this method, making maximum use of the tissue containing the scar in not only the white lip but also the vermilion, is very effective. It is very important to obtain nasal esthetic improvement for the adult patient with bilateral cleft lip nasal deformity.

Development of the pectoral perforator flap and the deltopectoral perforator flap pedicled with the pectoralis major muscle flap.

PurposeBecause thinning of the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap is impossible due to blood circulation, it is difficult to produce thin flaps. Although the pectoral flap and the deltopectoral flap are the best flaps that provide a highly desirable color-texture match to facial skin, their reach is restricted and they require resection in 2 stages. The purpose of this paper is to develop a new method of elevating a flap and to resolve these problems. MethodsFirst, include the third intercostal perforating branch of the internal thoracic artery in the skin paddle and, outward therefrom, design a skin paddle of the pectoral flap in accordance with the shape of the defect. After a skin incision along the design, elevate the pectoral flap pedicled with the third intercostal perforating branch. Then, after cutting the third intercostal perforating branch at the lower surface of the pectoralis major muscle, harvest the approximately 5- to 6-cm-wide pectoralis major muscle in the lateral direction. In doing so, it is important to include in the harvested muscle body of the pectoralis major muscle the muscular branch of the third intercostal perforating branch, the branch of thoracoacromial artery, as well as the true anastomosis of both. Thereafter, elevate the entire flap, with the thoracoacromial artery for vascularization, and move it to the head and neck region via the subclavian route. In this way, the pectoral perforator flap pedicled with the pectoralis major muscle flap (PP flap) is elevated. As for the deltopectoral perforator flap with the pectoralis major muscle flap (DPP flap), after elevating the deltopectoral flap pedicled with both the second and third intercostal perforating branches of the internal thoracic artery, carry out the same flap elevation operations. ResultsThe PP flap was used in 4 cases and the DPP flap was used in 1 case. In all cases, the flaps were completely grafted and quite satisfactory, functional, as well as demonstrating good cosmetic results. DiscussionUnlike the conventional pectoralis major myocutaneous flap, the PP flap does not contain in its skin paddle the pectoralis major muscle and the mammary gland, making it possible to produce a thin flap. In addition, the development of this method has now substantially extended the reach of the flap, thereby making it possible for the PP flap to reach the oropharyngeal region and for the DPP flap to reach the frontal region at a single time. Originally, the skin over the precordium is relatively thin and flexible and provides a desirable color-texture match to facial and neck skin; therefore, it is believed that this method may serve as an extremely useful means in the future in the functional and cosmetic reconstruction of the head and neck region.

An investigation of the fixation materials for cartilage frames in microtia

UNLABELLED When performing auriculoplasty for microtia surgery, wires are typically used to fix the costal cartilage frames. However, cases in which such wires become exposed during a long-term follow-up were frequently observed at our facility. Hence, using various materials, we conducted an investigation of the materials most suitable for fixation. METHOD The subjects consisted of 122 cases in which auriculoplasty by costal cartilage graft surgery was performed and the postoperative course was traceable, within approximately 24 years from January 1984 to March 2007. Regarding the fixation materials used in the 84 cases in which wire was used, 5 cases used monofilament non-absorbable sutures (Nylon(®)), 5 cases used monofilament absorbable sutures (PDS(®)), and 28 cases used braided absorbable sutures(VICRYL(®)).Their postoperative course was investigated, and the presence of auricular deformities caused by a loosening of the fixation materials and the exposure of the fixation materials was examined. RESULTS An exposure of the wire was observed in 19 cases (22.6%) of the 84 cases that used wires. An exposure of nylon was observed in 2 (40%) of 5 the cases that used nylon, and of those, a mild deformation was observed in the lower helix in one case that was suspected to have been caused by a loosening of the surgical suture. Regarding the 33 cases in which absorbable sutures were used (5 cases used monofilament absorbable sutures and 28 cases used braided absorbable sutures), neither any auricular deformities nor exposure of the fixation materials was observed in any of the cases. CONCLUSION Whether using monofilament or braided sutures, absorbable sutures are therefore believed to be the most suitable material for the fixation of cartilage.