Hugo Alberto Nakamoto

TISSUE EXPANDER COMPLICATIONS IN PLASTIC SURGERY. A 10-YEAR EXPERIENCE

INTRODUCTION Tissue expanders have been of great value in plastic surgery. Tissue expansion was developed for a specific indication; however, within a very short time, the concept of tissue expansion found wide applicability. From 1990 to 1999, 315 expanders in 164 patients were utilized. A retrospective analysis of complications and prognostic factors for complications were done. METHODS The indications for tissue expansion were burns (50%), trauma (32%), and sequelae of previous surgery (8.8%). The expanders were inserted most frequently in the scalp, trunk and neck. RESULTS There were 22.2% of complications and the most common were expander exposure (50%), infection (24%) and bad function of the expander (12.8%). The present study revealed an increased rate of minor complications in the group of 0 to 10 years of age and an increased rate of major complications for face and neck expansions compared to trunk expansion. There were no increased complication rates for the other age and anatomic site groups, previous expansion, concomitant expansion and type of expander used. CONCLUSIONS The outcomes from tissue expansion procedures done in our hospital are similar to those reported in the literature. Tissue expansion is a good and safe technique.

Tensor fasciae latae perforator flap: minimizing donor-site morbidity in the treatment of trochanteric pressure sores.

Background: To report a new technique with less morbidity for coverage of trochanteric defects, an anatomical and clinical study was performed. Methods: Twenty-four fresh cadavers were dissected. The following parameters were measured: origin, location, number, and length of the perforating vessels. In addition, a clinical study was performed on 21 patients with trochanteric pressure sores. Results: The anatomical study of 24 fresh cadavers revealed the constant presence of perforator pedicles anterior to the greater trochanter, which provides an adequate arc of rotation arc for flap harvest without sacrificing the underlying muscles. The mean length of the pedicles was 9.59 ± 2.16 cm. This flap is nourished by perforator vessels arising from the ascending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery, which arises from the deep femoral artery and runs through the intermuscular septum, tensor fasciae latae, and rectus femoralis muscles. In this study, flaps were raised based on perforators located preoperatively using a unidirectional Doppler probe. Good results were obtained with primary closure of the donor site, with only two donor-site dehiscences. Conclusions: This flap is an alternative to myocutaneous flaps, as it preserves local musculature without functional sequelae in patients who walk. It also preserves the local musculature in the event of recurrence, as is usually seen in paralytic patients with pressure sores.

Atuação da cirurgia plástica no tratamento de feridas complexas

OBJECTIVE: To report the performance of plastic surgery in the treatment of complex wounds in a tertiary hospital, analyzing its characteristics, types of injuries and approaches adopted, with emphasis on surgical treatment. METHODS: We conducted a etrospective analysis of patients with complex wounds treated by plastic surgery in a tertiary hospital in a period of five years (2006 to 2010). Data collection was obtained from visits made, serial assessments and records of the medical charts. RESULTS: There were 1927 patients treated (32 queries / month), mean age 46.3 years, predominantly male (62%). The surgical specialties requested 1076 consultations (56%), and the clinical, 851 (44%). The distribution by type of wound showed predominance of pressure ulcers (635/33%), traumatic wounds (570/30%), complicated surgical wounds (305/16%) and necrotizing wounds (196/10%), with the remainder represented by vasculitis (83 / 4%), venous ulcers (79 / 4%), diabetes (41 / 2%) and post-radiation (18 / 1%). The treatment was surgical in 1382 patients (72%) and non-operative in 545 cases (28%). There were 3029 operations, predominantly debridement (1988/65%) and skin grafting (619/21%) associated or not with negative pressure therapy (vacuum), followed by pedicle flaps (237 / 8 %), digital reimplantation (81 / 3%), microsurgical flaps (66 / 2%) and other (38 / 1%). CONCLUSION: The plastic surgeon played an important role in the treatment of complex wounds by adopting early surgical treatment, contributing to the effective resolution of cases.

Tratamento cirúrgico de ferimentos descolantes nos membros inferiores: proposta de protocolo de atendimento

OBJECTIVE: Degloving injuries on the lowerextremities are often serious injuries. It is difficult to decide on the most appropriate treatment, whether flap repositioning and suturing or converting the avulsed flap tosplit-thickness skingrafting. METHODS: This study assessed patients with degloving injuries in lower extremities, reviewing the epidemiological profile and treatment performed. It is proposed a treatment protocol for management of those lower extremity avulsion injuries. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients were evaluated. The cause of trauma was running over in 11 patients (52,4%) and motorcycle accident in 10 (47,6%). All twenty-one patients had treatment with washing, debridement, resection of avulsed flap and converting the flap to split-thickness graft, in according with the following treatment protocol for management of those lower extremity avulsion injuries that came to our Emergency Unit: Patients were initially classified as unstable or stable (hemodynamically). In the unstable group (two patients),due to the patient condition, flap resection was performed and the skin kept in the tissue bank for later grafting. In the stable group (19 patients), flap viability was assessed using clinical parameters and fluorescein. If deemed viable the flap was sutured to its original position. If deemed unviable (all 19 patients), it was resected and converted to split-thickness skin and mesh grafting with vacuum-assisted device over the graft. CONCLUSION: In order to avoid flap necrosis and to add a new skin donor area is important to recognize the problem in the Emergency Room and to manage properly those injuries.

Influência da imunossupressão na regeneração nervosa com utilização de aloenxertos: Estudo experimental em ratos

PURPOSE: This paper was aimed to study nerve regeneration after allografting using conventional point counting technique. INTRODUCTION:The interest towards nerve allografting has been growing since the recent development of better immunosuppressant drugs. METHODS: Three groups were studied: Group A - Lewis rats receiving nerve grafts from isogenic donors; Group B - Lewis rats receiving nerve grafts from Brown-Norway donor rats and treated with saline solution; Group C - Lewis rats receiving nerve grafts from Brown-Norway donor rats and treated with cyclosporine. Nerve regeneration was evaluated by histological analysis and by histomorphometric studies after 6 and 12 weeks. RESULTS: At 6 weeks, nerve fiber density and the percentage of neural tissue in the immunosupressed allograft group (C) were significantly higher than in group B. Allograft groups (B and C) showed significantly lower nerve fibers density and percentage of neural tissue when compared to the autograft group A at 6 or 12 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the point counting method was simpler to use than the computerized model, and yielded accurate and reproducible results.

Terapia por pressão negativa na ferida traumática complexa do períneo

OBJECTIVE To review the experience (2011 and 2012) of Wound Center of Plastic Surgery Service, Clinics Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, with treatment of complex traumatic wounds in the perineal region with the association of negative pressure wound therapy followed by a surgical skin coverage procedure. METHODS This was retrospective analysis of ten patients with complex wound in the perineum resulting from trauma assisted by the Department of Plastic Surgery in HC-USP. Negative pressure was used as an alternative for improving local conditions, seeking definitive treatment with skin grafts or flaps. RESULTS Negative pressure was used to prepare the wound bed. In patients, the mean time of use of negative pressure system was 25.9 days, with dressing changes every 4.6 days. After negative pressure therapy, 11 local flaps were performed in nine patients, with fasciocutaneous anterolateral thigh flap used in four of these. Mean hospital stay was 58.2 days and accompaniment in Plastic Surgery was 40.5 days. CONCLUSION The use of negative pressure therapy led to improvement of local wound conditions faster than traditional dressings, without significant complications, proving to be the current best alternative as an adjunct for the treatment of this type of injury, always followed by surgical reconstruction with grafts and flaps.

Study of warm ischemia followed by reperfusion on a lower limb model in rats: effect of allopurinol and streptokinase

UNLABELLED Prolonged tissue ischemia leads to changes in microcirculation and production of oxygen free radicals. The event eventually responsible for tissue death is the no-reflow phenomenon and its management is a challenge for the surgeon dealing with replantation or transplantation. We introduce a model of warm ischemia and reperfusion of the lower limb of rats with which we studied the effect of allopurinol and streptokinase. METHOD Section of the lower limb with preservation of vessels and nerves was performed in 110 rats. Femoral vessels clamped for periods of 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours of ischemia were allowed to reperfuse (groups M0, M2, M4, M6, and M8 respectively). Other groups, E1, E2, and E3, received streptokinase, allopurinol, or a combination of the two drugs after 6 hours of ischemia. RESULTS Viability rates of the ischemic limbs after 7 days were 100% (M0), 80% (M2), 63.6% (M4), 50% (M6), and 20% (M8). In the experimental groups, E1, E2, and E3, viability rates were 67% (E1), 70% (E2), and 70% (E3). Groups M0, M2, M4, M6, and M8 differed among themselves except for groups M4 and M6. Group E1 had a higher rate of limb viability than M6 (control group) but not than M4. Groups E1, E2 and E3 had higher rates of limb viability than M6 but not than M2 or M4. DISCUSSION The results suggest that increased viability of limbs after 6 hours of ischemia occurs when allopurinol or streptokinase is used. The combination of the two drugs does not appear to produce any additional effect.

Coverage of Deep Cutaneous Wounds Using Dermal Template in Combination with Negative-pressure Therapy and Subsequent Skin Graft

Background: We consider the use of dermal matrix associated with a skin graft to cover deep wounds in the extremities when tendon and bone are exposed. The objective of this article was to evaluate the efficacy of covering acute deep wounds through the use of a dermal regeneration template (Integra) associated with vacuum therapy and subsequent skin grafting. Methods: Twenty patients were evaluated prospectively. All of them had acute (up to 3 weeks) deep wounds in the limbs. We consider a deep wound to be that with exposure of bone, tendon, or joint. Results: The average area of integration of the dermal regeneration template was 86.5%. There was complete integration of the skin graft over the dermal matrix in 14 patients (70%), partial integration in 5 patients (25%), and total loss in 1 case (5%). The wound has completely closed in 95% of patients. Conclusions: The use of Integra dermal template associated with negative-pressure therapy and skin grafting showed an adequate rate of resolution of deep wounds with low morbidity.

Prognostic factors on survival rate of fingers replantation.

Objective: To evaluate the factors that influence the survival rate of replantation and revascularization of the thumb and/or fingers. Methods: We included fifty cases treated in our department from May 2012 to October 2013 with total or partial finger amputations, which had blood perfusion deficit and underwent vascular anastomosis. The parameters evaluated were: age, gender, comorbidities, trauma, time and type of ischemia, mechanism, the injured area, number of anastomosed vessels and use of vein grafts. The results were statistically analyzed and type I error value was set at p <0.05 . Results: Fifty four percent of the 50 performed replantation survived. Of 15 revascularizations performed, the survival rate was 93.3%. The only factor that affected the survival of the amputated limb was the necessity of venous anastomosis. Conclusion: We could not establish contraindications or absolute indications for the replantation and revascularization of finger amputations in this study. Level of Evidence III, Retropective Study.

Uso da terapia por pressão subatmosférica em feridas traumáticas agudas

OBJETIVO: avaliar a experiencia com o emprego de terapia por pressao subatmosferica no tratamento das lesoes traumaticas agudas das partes moles, em especial nos membros. METODOS: cento e setenta e oito pacientes com feridas traumaticas foram tratados pelo Centro de Feridas Complexas no periodo de janeiro de 2010 a dezembro de 2011 e, submetidos a terapia por pressao subatmosferica. RESULTADOS: dos 178 pacientes submetidos a terapia por pressao subatmosferica, 129 (72,5%) eram do sexo masculino e 49 (27,5%) apresentavam idade entre 18 e 40 anos. Os ferimentos descolantes nos membros foram o tipo de ferida traumatica mais comum, sendo responsaveis pela internacao de 83 (46,6%) pacientes. O tempo medio de internacao hospitalar foi 17,5 dias. Foram realizados 509 procedimentos cirurgicos (media de 2,9 por paciente). A terapia por pressao subatmosferica foi utilizada em 287 procedimentos, sendo 209 (72,8%) sobre feridas traumaticas e 78 (27,2%) sobre enxertos de pele. O numero de trocas de terapia por pressao negativa por paciente foi 1,6 e o tempo medio de utilizacao foi 8,5 dias por paciente. CONCLUSAO: os resultados foram considerados satisfatorios, diminuindo consideravelmente a morbidade e o tempo de cicatrizacao dessas lesoes em comparacao com tratamentos anteriormente executados como curativos. A terapia por pressao subatmosferica e um metodo util no tratamento de feridas agudas traumaticas, atuando como ponte entre o tratamento de urgencia e a cobertura cutânea definitiva destas lesoes, em comparacao com metodos mais tradicionais da cirurgia plastica.