Jane Lim

The Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator and Pedicled Transverse Rectus Abdominis Myocutaneous Flap in Breast Reconstruction: A Comparative Study

Background Our objective was to compare the complication rates of two common breast reconstruction techniques performed at our hospital and the cost-effectiveness for each test group. Methods All patients who underwent deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap and transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap by the same surgeon were selected and matched according to age and mastectomy with or without axillary clearance. Patients from each resultant group were selected, with the patients matched chronologically. The remainder were matched for by co-morbidities. Sixteen patients who underwent immediate breast reconstruction with pedicled TRAM flaps and 16 patients with DIEP flaps from 1999 to 2006 were accrued. The average total hospitalisation cost, length of hospitalisation, and complications in the 2 year duration after surgery for each group were compared. Results Complications arising from both the pedicled TRAM flaps and DIEP flaps included fat necrosis (TRAM, 3/16; DIEP, 4/16) and other minor complications (TRAM, 3/16; DIEP, 1/16). The mean hospital stay was 7.13 days (range, 4 to 12 days) for the pedicled TRAM group and 7.56 (range, 5 to 10 days) for the DIEP group. Neither the difference in complication rates nor in hospital stay duration were statistically significant. The total hospitalisation cost for the DIEP group was significantly higher than that of the pedicled TRAM group (P<0.001). Conclusions Based on our study, the pedicled TRAM flap remains a cost-effective technique in breast reconstruction when compared to the newer, more expensive and tedious DIEP flap.

Cervicofacial, Retropharyngeal and Mediastinal Emphysema: A Complication of Orbital Fracture

Retropharyngeal and mediastinal emphysema is associated with traumatic aerodigestive tract injury, and may be associated with potentially severe and even life-threatening complications. Retropharyngeal emphysema or pneumomediastinum, in the absence of severe trauma to the visceral organs, is rare following facial fractures. We report a case of extensive subcutaneous emphysema extending to the retropharyngeal space and mediastinum following an orbitozygomatic fracture.

Bio-Conjugated Polycaprolactone Membranes: A Novel Wound Dressing

Background The combination of polycaprolactone and hyaluronic acid creates an ideal environment for wound healing. Hyaluronic acid maintains a moist wound environment and accelerates the in-growth of granulation tissue. Polycaprolactone has excellent mechanical strength, limits inflammation and is biocompatible. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of bio-conjugated polycaprolactone membranes (BPM) as a wound dressing. Methods 16 New Zealand white rabbits were sedated and local anaesthesia was administered. Two 3.0×3.0 cm full-thickness wounds were created on the dorsum of each rabbit, between the lowest rib and the pelvic bone. The wounds were dressed with either BPM (n=12) or Mepitel (n=12) (control), a polyamide-silicon wound dressing. These were evaluated macroscopically on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th postoperative days for granulation, re-epithelialization, infection, and wound size, and histologically for epidermal and dermal regeneration. Results Both groups showed a comparable extent of granulation and re-epithelialization. No signs of infection were observed. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in wound size between the two groups. BPM (n=6): 8.33 cm2, 4.90 cm2, 3.12 cm2, 1.84 cm2; Mepitel (n=6): 10.29 cm2, 5.53 cm2, 3.63 cm2, 2.02 cm2; at the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th postoperative days. The extents of epidermal and dermal regeneration were comparable between the two groups. Conclusions BPM is comparable to Mepitel as a safe and efficacious wound dressing.

Creation of consistent burn wounds: a rat model.

Background Burn infliction techniques are poorly described in rat models. An accurate study can only be achieved with wounds that are uniform in size and depth. We describe a simple reproducible method for creating consistent burn wounds in rats. Methods Ten male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized and dorsum shaved. A 100 g cylindrical stainless-steel rod (1 cm diameter) was heated to 100℃ in boiling water. Temperature was monitored using a thermocouple. We performed two consecutive toe-pinch tests on different limbs to assess the depth of sedation. Burn infliction was limited to the loin. The skin was pulled upwards, away from the underlying viscera, creating a flat surface. The rod rested on its own weight for 5, 10, and 20 seconds at three different sites on each rat. Wounds were evaluated for size, morphology and depth. Results Average wound size was 0.9957 cm2 (standard deviation [SD] 0.1845) (n=30). Wounds created with duration of 5 seconds were pale, with an indistinct margin of erythema. Wounds of 10 and 20 seconds were well-defined, uniformly brown with a rim of erythema. Average depths of tissue damage were 1.30 mm (SD 0.424), 2.35 mm (SD 0.071), and 2.60 mm (SD 0.283) for duration of 5, 10, 20 seconds respectively. Burn duration of 5 seconds resulted in full-thickness damage. Burn duration of 10 seconds and 20 seconds resulted in full-thickness damage, involving subjacent skeletal muscle. Conclusions This is a simple reproducible method for creating burn wounds consistent in size and depth in a rat burn model.

Stabilization of Mobile Mandibular Segments in Mandibular Reconstruction: Use of Spanning Reconstruction Plate

The fibular free flap is the gold standard for mandibular reconstruction. Accurate 3-dimensional contouring and precise alignment of the fibula is critical for reestablishing native occlusion and facial symmetry. Following segmental mandibulectomy, the remaining mandibular fragments become freely mobile. Various stabilization methods including external fixation, intermaxillary fixation, and preplating with reconstruction plate have been used. We describe a modification to the preplating technique. After wide resection of buccal squamous cell carcinoma, our patient had an 11-cm mandibular defect from the angle of the left mandible to the right midparasymphyseal region. A single 2.0-mm Unilock® (Synthes, Singapore) plate was used to span the defect. This was placed on the vestibular aspect of the superior border of the mandibular remnants before resection. Segmental mandibulectomy was then performed with the plate removed. The spanning plate was then reattached to provide rigid fixation. The fibular bone was contoured with a single osteotomy and reattached. The conventional technique involves molding of the plate at the inferior border of the mandible. This is time-consuming and not possible in patients with distorted mandibular contour. It is also difficult to fit the osteotomized fibula to the contoured plate. In comparison, the superiorly positioned spanning plate achieve rigid fixation of the mandible while leaving the defect completely free and unhampered by hardware, allowing space for planning osteotomies and easier fixation of the neomandible. Using this modified technique, we are able to recreate the original mandibular profile with ease.

A novel technique with aesthetic considerations in female-to-male transsexuals nipple areola complex reconstruction

Transsexuality is a condition in which the person recognizes the innate need to be the opposite sex to which they were born as. The female-to-male transsexuals (FT) undergo a myriad of procedures in order to fulfil the above goals. FTs, compared to male-to-female transsexuals (MTs), are the ones who undergo the greater number of surgeries. The most common and foremost surgery is subcutaneous mastectomy. FTs define their masculinity by being able to expose their bare chest, without the stigma of having feminine breasts. There are many methods for this subcutaneous mastectomy and the aim is to create a small NAC that resembles a male chest characteristic.

Autoclaved autologous bone graft for orbital reconstruction for recurrent temporal bone orbital osteosarcoma.

Post-tumor excision and reconstruction of the craniofacial region is a complex and technically demanding process due to its proximity to numerous vital structures and irregularly shaped bony tissue. As such, novel methods are needed when reconstruction of irregularly shaped structures is necessary. Autoclaving of autologous bone grafts is an established practice in orthopedic and neurosurgical practice, but has only been described twice previously for orbital reconstruction. We performed grafting of an autoclaved autologous bone segment as part of surgery on a 30-year-old man to treat his recurrent temporal osteosarcoma with orbital involvement, which is rare. In addition, we went on to highlight key differences between bone autoclaving and pasteurization, an alternative heat treatment technique, for orbital reconstruction post-tumor excision. Although he suffered a second recurrence 8 months later, there was no evidence of recurrence in the autoclaved bone. To treat his second recurrence, he subsequently underwent a modified eyelid-conjunctiva sparing orbital exenteration, also an uncommonly performed procedure. Also, we subsequently examined the novel technique of a lid-sparing and conjunctiva-sparing orbital exenteration and its benefits. He continues to remain under follow-up.

A Monte Carlo simulation of B-site order–disorder transformation in Pb(Sc1/2Ta1/2)O3 triggered by mechanical activation

Order–disorder transformation triggered by mechanical activation in a perovskite structure was observed in Pb(Sc1/2Ta1/2)O3; it is simulated using a Monte Carlo algorithm, based on the competition between mechanical activation leading to disordering and the thermal diffusion recovering the ordering. The time evolution of the long-range order (LRO) from an initial ordered state shows a steady decrease at the initial stage and then becomes more or less stabilized over a prolonged period; while from the disordered initial state, LRO increases first and then stabilizes at a similar end value. Thermal diffusion is the dominant process at relatively high temperatures, leading to the disorder-to-order transformation. The effect of mechanical activation becomes significant and results in order-to-disorder transformation at relatively low temperatures. Both the mechanical activation intensity and the vacancy migration energy exert an impact on the degree of ordering and the order–disorder transformation temperature at low temperatures. Snapshot images of the simulation demonstrate the competition between thermal diffusion and mechanical activation, which refines the domain size.

Breast reconstruction rate and profile in a Singapore patient population: a National University Hospital experience

INTRODUCTION Breast reconstruction is an integral part of breast cancer management with the aim of restoring a breast to its natural form. There is increasing awareness among women that it is a safe procedure and its benefits extend beyond aesthetics. Our aim was to establish the rate of breast reconstruction and provide an overview of the patients who underwent breast reconstruction at National University Hospital (NUH), Singapore. METHODS We evaluated factors that impact a patients decision to proceed with breast reconstruction, such as ethnicity, age, time and type of implant. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of women who had breast cancer and underwent breast surgery at NUH between 2001 and 2010. RESULTS The breast reconstruction rate in this study was 24.3%. There were 241 patients who underwent breast reconstruction surgeries (including delayed and immediate procedures) among 993 patients for whom mastectomies were done for breast cancer. Chinese patients were the largest ethnic group who underwent breast reconstruction after mastectomy (74.3%). Within a single ethnic patient group, Malay women had the largest proportion of women undergoing breast reconstruction (60.0%). The youngest woman in whom cancer was detected in our study was aged 20 years. Malay women showed the greatest preference for autologous tissue breast reconstruction (92.3%). The median age at cancer diagnosis of our cohort was 46 years. CONCLUSION We noted increases in the age of patients undergoing breast reconstruction and the proportion of breast reconstruction cases over the ten-year study period.

Pneumocephalus Following Air Travel in a Patient With Preexisting Facial Fractures and Dural Tears.

AbstractChanges in cabin pressure can potentially cause expansion of any preexisting intracranial air resulting in tension pneumocephalus. The authors describe a 28-year-old man, who was involved in a motor vehicle accident complicated by multiple facial fractures and a dural tear while on his way to the airport. Instead of seeking medical attention after the accident, he proceeded with a 2-hour commercial flight. He did not suffer from any neurologic deterioration inflight, but upon presentation to our center, a computed tomography scan was done which revealed extensive pneumocephalus, for which he required intensive monitoring and subsequent surgery. Controversy still exists regarding whether it is safe to travel by air in patients with intracranial air. It is hoped that this patient will add to the discussion regarding the safety for air travel in patients with traumatic pneumocephalus.