Jessica B. Chang

Determining the Safety and Efficacy of Gluteal Augmentation: A Systematic Review of Outcomes and Complications.

Background: Augmentation gluteoplasty has been performed more frequently in the past decade, with over 21,000 procedures performed in the past year alone. The most popular methods for buttock augmentation involve silicone prostheses and autologous fat grafting. A comparison of complications of these two techniques does not exist in our literature. Methods: The PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane databases were searched through April of 2015 for studies that achieved buttock augmentation through the use of silicone implant placement or autologous lipoinjection. Complication outcomes of interest included wound dehiscence, infection, seroma, hematoma, asymmetry, and capsular contracture. Results: Forty-four articles met inclusion criteria. The most commonly reported complications in 2375 patients receiving silicone implants were wound dehiscence (9.6 percent), seroma (4.6 percent), infection (1.9 percent), and transient sciatic paresthesias (1.0 percent), with an overall complication rate of 21.6 percent (n = 512). The most commonly reported complications in 3567 patients receiving autologous fat injection were seroma (3.5 percent), undercorrection (2.2 percent), infection (2.0 percent), and pain or sciatalgia (1.7 percent), with an overall complication rate of 9.9 percent (n = 353). Patient satisfaction after surgery was assessed differently among studies and could not be compared quantitatively. Conclusions: Although gluteal augmentation was once reported to have complication rates as high as 38.1 percent, a systematic review of the two most popular techniques demonstrated substantially lower overall complication rates. The overall complication rate with autologous fat grafting (9.9 percent) is lower than that with silicone buttock implants (21.6 percent). A standardized method of measuring patient satisfaction is necessary to fully understand outcomes of these increasingly popular procedures.

Reply: Three-Dimensional Surface Imaging in Plastic Surgery: Foundation, Practical Applications, and Beyond.

Summary: Three-dimensional surface imaging has gained clinical acceptance in plastic and reconstructive surgery. In contrast to computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging, three-dimensional surface imaging relies on triangulation in stereophotography to measure surface x, y, and z coordinates. This study reviews the past, present, and future directions of three-dimensional topographic imaging in plastic surgery. Historically, three-dimensional imaging technology was first used in a clinical setting in 1944 to diagnose orthodontologic conditions. Karlan established its use in the field of plastic surgery in 1979, analyzing contours and documenting facial asymmetries. Present use of three-dimensional surface imaging has focused on standardizing patient topographic measurements to enhance preoperative planning and to improve postoperative outcomes. Various measurements (e.g., volume, surface area, vector distance, curvature) have been applied to breast, body, and facial topography to augment patient analysis. Despite the rapid progression of the clinical applications of three-dimensional imaging, current use of this technology is focused on the surgeon’s perspective and secondarily the patient’s perspective. Advancements in patient simulation may improve patient-physician communication, education, and satisfaction. However, a communal database of three-dimensional surface images integrated with emerging three-dimensional printing and portable information technology will validate measurements and strengthen preoperative planning and postoperative outcomes. Three-dimensional surface imaging is a useful adjunct to plastic and reconstructive surgery practices and standardizes measurements to create objectivity in a subjective field. Key improvements in three-dimensional imaging technology may significantly enhance the quality of plastic and reconstructive surgery in the near future.

Precision in Otoplasty: Combining Reduction Otoplasty with Traditional Otoplasty

Background: Otoplasty for prominent ears is a routine procedure that is generally met with satisfaction by patients and family members. A significant percentage of patients requesting otoplasty, however, have some degree of macrotia in addition to protruding ears. Combining ear reduction with traditional otoplasty allows correction of these deformities. There are few studies in the literature that describe ear reduction, and those that do, describe small subsets of patients. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of the senior author’s (C.H.T.) otoplasty procedures from 2010 to 2013. Charts were reviewed for patient demographics, preoperative assessment, surgical technique used, complications, and need for revision. All otoplasty procedures, primary or secondary, were included in the series. Results: Over a 3-year period, 84 total otoplasty procedures were performed. Of these, 30 patients had some degree of scaphal reduction as a component of the procedure. Five patients (6 percent) also had shortening of the earlobes in addition to the scaphal reduction. Nineteen of the patients (23 percent) had an otoplasty previously (none performed by the senior author) but were not completely satisfied. Complications of reduction otoplasty were limited to a single patient with a suture protrusion behind the ear. None of the patients in this series have required reoperation. Conclusions: Scaphal reduction to modify the contour of the upper auricle and/or decrease the overall size of the ear can be a valuable adjunct to otoplasty and may be indicated in a larger than expected percentage of patients presenting for otoplasty. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

Autologous blood use for free flap breast reconstruction: a comparative evaluation of a preoperative blood donation program.

BackgroundNew insights into potential adverse effects of banked blood and improved infectious surveillance have led to questions regarding the utility of preoperative autologous blood donation. MethodsA retrospective chart review of 153 patients undergoing abdominal free flap breast reconstruction was performed with the goal of determining the effect of an autologous blood donation program on clinical outcomes. Demographic and premorbid conditions were evaluated along with outcome variables including complication and transfusion rates. ResultsAs expected, the autologous blood donor group (n = 96) was more likely to receive a blood transfusion of any kind compared with the nondonors (98% vs. 18%, P < 0.0001). Surprisingly, the mean number of allogeneic transfusions was not decreased (0.26 vs. 0.84, P = 0.066). The mean number of complications between groups were comparable (0.53 vs. 0.57, P = 0.687). ConclusionWe found neither significant benefit nor adverse effect from the practice of autologous blood banking for free flap breast reconstruction. The practice should be considered safe but not routinely recommended for free flap breast surgery.

Surgical management of burn flexion and extension contractures of the toes

Burn contracture of the toes is a devastating sequela of thermal injury to the foot. Without proper treatment of toe burn contractures, patients suffer from significant functional and social limitations, including difficulties with activities of daily living. The authors classify the severity of toe burn scar contractures (TBSCs) by considering important characteristics of the deformity and tailor definitive surgical treatment based on the individual needs of the patient’s condition. A retrospective review was performed on 20 patients who underwent a total of 32 reconstructive operations involving 275 TBSC procedures from 2000 to 2010. Multiple clinical, functional, and anatomic criteria were used to describe each patient’s contracture as mild, moderate, or severe. Mild TBSC involved scarring of the superficial tissues only with no functional impairment; these were treated with scar release or local tissue rearrangement. Moderate TBSC involved soft tissue shortages requiring skin grafts and occasional closed joint capsulotomy. Severe TBSC caused the greatest impairment in function and involved burn injury to deeper structures. For these difficult contractures, a patient-specific technique was paramount to optimal reconstruction. There were six, three, and 11 patients with mild, moderate, and severe TBSC, respectively. The mean number of primary procedures per toe increased with increasing burn complexity from 1.1 procedures for mild, 1.5 for moderate, and 1.8 for severe groups, with severe TBSC undergoing more primary procedures overall (13.7 in severe vs 2.8 in mild TBSC). Complication rates per toe were highest for severe TBSC (59.0%). Only severe TBSC received secondary operations, and overall contracture recurrence was 35%. An individualized surgical approach based on TBSC severity is recommended for addressing burn contracture of the toes. Careful analysis of the clinical, functional, and anatomic characteristics of the burned foot determines the severity of each toe contracture and dictates the interventions necessary for reconstruction.

Acute Marjolin's ulcers: a nebulous diagnosis.

AbstractMarjolin’s ulcers are rare cutaneous malignancies that most commonly present as squamous cell carcinomas in previously injured, chronically inflamed, or scarred skin. Acute and chronic types have been distinguished by the length of latency; by definition, the acute type occurs within 12 months of injury whereas the chronic type appears over 12 months after injury. In this report, 3 cases of acute Marjolin’s ulcers are described and questions are raised about the diagnosis of acute Marjolin’s ulcer. Other than a discrepancy in lag time, it is unclear if there is any difference in clinical or histological characteristics or even prognosis between acute and chronic Marjolin’s ulcers. In fact, the acute type may simply be a preemptive diagnosis that conveniently describes a carcinoma associated with a nonhealing wound and discovered within a short time span. Moreover, the rarity of the diagnosis and the relatively rapid rate of malignant degeneration from the inciting injury lead one to question whether the injury may have simply revealed or accelerated a previously existing occult cutaneous malignancy. With no definitive clinical, histological, or prognostic distinction between acute and chronic Marjolin’s ulcers, the use of such terminology may not benefit a clinician’s understanding or practice. In fact, it merely supports the clinical guideline that any nonhealing wound, acute or chronic, should be biopsied and sent for pathologic examination to ensure that it does not represent a Marjolin’s ulcer.

Abstract 103: primed mesenchymal stem cells prevent endothelial activation and improve allograft perfusion following transplantation.

PurPose: Endothelial activation following ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in transplantation triggers the inflammatory cascade, compromising allograft perfusion. Additionally, IRI is a critical factor that contributes to the incidence and severity of both acute and chronic rejection. We have previously demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be seeded into allografts ex vivo where they take up residence in the perivascular space. While conventional expansion of MSCs produces an innate immunomodulatory phenotype, conditions that enhance this phenotype may be utilized to attenuate endothelial failure following ischemic insult during transplantation. We hypothesized that expansion under hypoxic conditions or with inflammatory cytokines primes the immunosuppressive functions of MSCs and improves allograft perfusion subsequent to ex vivo delivery.

Ex Vivo Primed Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy Prevents Endothelial Failure and Enhances Allograft Perfusion

Endothelial failure following ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in transplantation triggers the inflammatory cascade, compromising allograft perfusion and contributing to acute rejection. Culture conditions that activate the innate immunomodulatory phenotype of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may attenuate IRI-mediated endothelial failure. We hypothesized that expansion in hypoxia or with inflammatory cytokines primes immunosuppressive functions of MSCs and improves allograft perfusion after ex-vivo delivery.

Abstract 129: Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibition Enhances The Angiogenic Profile Of Adipose-derived Stem Cells.

ConClusion: Our findings suggest that incorporating paclitaxel in fat grafts for breast reconstruction following primary breast surgery is a viable option for decreasing the risk of local recurrence. 4OH tamoxifen can also be incorporated in fat grafting with ER-positive breast cancer patients. An in-vivo model employing lipoaspirate and cancer cells to test encapsulated chemotherapeutics is currently being developed with encouraging results. Taken together, incorporating encapsulated chemotherapeutic drugs in autologous fat grafts for breast reconstruction procedures is a feasible therapeutic option for breast cancer survivors. 129 Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibition enhances the angiogenic Profile of adipose-derived Stem cells