Levin Ls

Treatment of Segmental Defects of the Humerus with an Osteoseptocutaneous Fibular Transplant

Background: There are limited reconstructive options for the treatment of segmental bone defects of the upper extremity that are >6 cm in length, especially those that are associated with soft-tissue defects. The purpose of the present review was to report on our experience with fifteen patients who received an osteoseptocutaneous fibular transplant for reconstruction of a humeral defect.Methods: The study cohort included eight male patients and seven female patients with an average age of forty-one years. The indications for the procedure included segmental nonunion (nine patients), a gunshot wound (three), a defect at the site of a tumor resection (two), and failure of an allograft-prosthesis reconstruction (one). The fibular graft was fixed by means of intramedullary impaction in eleven patients, was used as an onlay graft in three, and was used as a strut between the intact diaphysis and the humeral head in one.Results: The average length of the segmental humeral defect was 9.3 cm. The average length of the fibular graft was 16.1 cm, and the average length and width of the skin paddle were 8.1 and 4.5 cm. The average duration of follow-up was twenty-four months. Three patients had venous thrombosis and underwent a successful revision of the anastomosis. Four patients had early failure of graft fixation. Three patients had a fracture of the fibular graft within the first year postoperatively. All but one of these latter seven patients were successfully treated with open reduction, internal fixation, and additional bone-grafting. One patient with an infection at the site of a nonunion and signs of graft resorption required a second fibular transplant.Conclusions: The osteoseptocutaneous fibular transplant is an effective treatment for combined segmental osseous and soft-tissue defects of the arm. However, the application of this technique to the arm is more complex than application to the forearm and is associated with a higher rate of complications.

Perineal and lower extremity reconstruction.

Learning Objectives: After reading this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Perform a preoperative assessment of patients undergoing perineal and lower extremity reconstruction. 2. Describe the various tissue flaps used to perform these reconstructions and the advantages and disadvantages of each. 3. Provide appropriate postoperative care and interventions to maximize outcomes. Background: The lower extremity and perineum provide the foundation for upright posture and ambulation. These areas are made up of intricate contours with variable skin types and must withstand the functional demands of organ orifice support and weight-bearing forces. Successful reconstruction calls for careful preoperative planning and consideration of the site-specific demands. Methods: The authors reviewed literature regarding the most current treatment strategies for lower extremity and perineal reconstruction. Results: Perineal reconstruction is typically related to genitourinary or digestive tract abnormalities, mainly malignancies. Local and regional flaps are the mainstay of therapy, depending on their availability and the need for adjuvant therapy. Postoperatively, pressure reduction and closed-suction drainage are of major consideration. The lower extremities are prone to trauma, and these wounds often involve underlying and exposed bony abnormalities, and this must be considered in operative planning. Significant defects may be reconstructed with local or regional flaps and free-tissue transfer. The location of the wound and extent of surrounding tissue compromise are of major concern when determining flap coverage. Postoperatively, transition to ambulation and weight-bearing status is paramount. Conclusions: Reconstruction of the lower extremity and perineum requires recognition of the high functional demands of these areas. Local and regional flaps and free tissue transfer allow reconstruction of complex wounds in these areas. Selecting the correct flap and navigating the postoperative recovery to arrive at functional restoration remain a significant challenge.

Management of lawnmower injuries to the lower extremity in children and adolescents.

&NA; Lawnmower‐associated trauma remains a substantial source of extremity injury in the pediatric and adolescent patient populations, producing complex wounds that require a combined orthopedic and plastic surgical approach. The authors review their experience with 16 patients, 2 to 17 years of age (mean age, 6.2 years), who were admitted to Duke University Medical Center for lower extremity lawnmower trauma between January 1988 and December 1999. The average hospitalization time was 13.5 days, and an average of 2.9 surgical procedures per patient were performed. Early debridement and bony fixation were carried out in all patients; 8 patients sustained traumatic amputations. Fifteen of 20 nonamputation fractures involved the foot and were managed with either closed reduction or K‐wire fixation. Three of five long‐bone fractures underwent external fixation. Wound closure was achieved with direct closure or skin grafting in the majority of patients. However, five microsurgical free flap transfers were required for extensive defect reconstruction of the foot (N = 4) and knee (N = 1). Adequate immediate debridement, fracture reduction, and early primary or if necessary secondary wound coverage including microsurgical free tissue transfer to prevent further damage and long‐term disability in these type of devastating injuries is recommended. Erdmann D, Lee B, Roberts CD et al. Management of lawnmower injuries to the lower extremity in children and adolescents. Ann Plast Surg 2000;45: 595‐600

Increased Signs of Acute Rejection With Ischemic Time in a Rat Musculocutaneous Allotransplant Model

BACKGROUND Composite tissue allotransplantation (CTA) may restore a variety of tissue defects, but carries the potential risks of graft failure and/or immunosuppression-related complications. Ischemia-reperfusion injury has been documented in CTA is known to contribute to acute rejection of solid organ grafts. This study describes the influence of subcritical ischemic time (ie, ischemia sufficient to generate reversible cell damage) on signs of rejection of musculocutaneous allograft components of subcritical ischemic time, namely, ischemia sufficient to generate reversible cell injury. Although skin is considered the most antigenic component of a composite allograft and is currently used for rejection surveillance, muscle and adipose are more susceptible to ischemia-related injury. METHODS Vascularized epigastric flaps were transplanted from WKY to Fisher 344 rats after 1 or 3 hours of ischemia. Biopsies taken on postoperative day 6 were graded for signs of acute rejection according to criteria modified from previously published grading systems for CTA rejection. RESULTS Skin and muscle exposed to 3 hours of ischemia showed significantly higher rejection scores than after 1 hour of ischemia, as evidenced by a more aggressive diffuse lymphocytic infiltration with disruption of tissue architecture. The rejection score in skin with 3-hour ischemia was 5.0 +/- 0.1 versus 3.7 +/- 0.2 with 1-hour (Mann-Whitney U test; P < .05). The rejection score in muscle exposed to 3-hour ischemia was 3.6 +/- 0.3 versus 2.5 +/- 0.1 with 1-hour (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS Muscle and skin demonstrated increased acute rejection of allotransplants with increased subcritical ischemic time. This study supports the use of aggressive methods to reduce subcritical ischemic injury during allotransplantation of composite tissue and inclusion of muscle in postoperative biopsies in this early investigational period of CTA.

The effect of muscle flap transposition to the fracture site on TNFalpha levels during fracture healing.

The trauma and sepsis that follow open fractures and wounds may lead to the production of various cytokines. Understanding wound healing requires a direct knowledge of the specific cytokines and the respective wound fluid levels that are present at the wound site. An animal model was designed that mimics the open fracture and the clinical repair of the human, high-energy open fracture. Canine right tibiae were fractured with a penetrating, captive-bolt device, then repaired in a standard clinical fashion using an interlocking intramedullary nail. Before primary wound closure, microdialysis probes were placed at the fracture site and in a muscle located at a contralateral site. Canines received one of the following experimental protocols: (1) tibial fracture (n = 5); (2) tibial fracture plus Staphylococcus aureus inoculation at the fracture site (n = 5); and (3) tibial fracture, S. aureus inoculation, and a rotational gastrocnemius muscle flap (n = 5). Microdialysis fluid samples were collected intermittently for 7 days. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF&agr;) levels at the fracture site were significantly elevated 3- to 34-fold (p < 0.02), as compared with respective serum levels at all time points for all treatment groups. Fracture site TNF&agr; levels were elevated (p < 0.02) in days 1 through 6, as compared with the baseline and contralateral in all treatment groups. At days 1 through 6, the TNF&agr; levels of the muscle flap group fracture site were significantly decreased by approximately 50 percent (p < 0.05), as compared with the fractures without muscle flaps and regardless of additional S. aureus inoculation. On day 7, fracture site TNF&agr; levels in all animal groups were similar, yet remained well above those of baseline TNF&agr;. These results demonstrate that S. aureus does not further elevate TNF&agr; levels in the presence of an open fracture and that a muscle flap reduces pro-inflammatory TNF&agr; levels during early wound healing. This experimental model allows for the characterization of specific biological signals and cellular pathways that are influenced by bacterial infection and surgical closure. These data provide a scientific framework on which to judge or validate therapeutic regimens for open-fracture wound healing.

Use of the microvascular free fibula transfer as a salvage reconstruction for failed anterior spine surgery due to chronic osteomyelitis

Background: Several factors influence the osseous union of spinal fusions, including the substrate used for arthrodesis, the biology of the fusion bed, as well as local host factors. While cancellous bone grafting is useful in simple cases with no major bony defects, corticocancellous strut grafts are indicated in reconstructions requiring mechanical support. The size and location of the spinal defect to be reconstructed determine what type of vascularized bone graft is indicated. According to the literature, locations suitable for reconstruction using a microvascular free fibula graft include the cervical spine and, less frequently, the cervicothoracic, thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbar spine. Using the microvascular free vascularized fibula graft as a salvage procedure for failed anterior spine surgery due to bacterial spinal osteomyelitis has not been reported. Methods and Results: Four cases of spinal osteomyelitis after attempted spinal fusion are presented. In all cases, a microvascular free fibula graft was successfully used for secondary spinal fusion and clearance of documented bacterial osteomyelitis. The operative approach is described. Conclusions: Use of the vascularized free fibula graft for correction of primary and secondary spinal deformities, as well as for reconstruction after excision of malignant spine tumors, has been well documented. On the basis of their experience, the authors also recommend microvascular fibula transplantation as a salvage procedure for failed anterior spine surgery due to chronic osteomyelitis.

Anterolateral thigh flap technique in hand and upper extremity reconstruction.

The anterolateral thigh flap is an extremely versatile flap first described in 1984. The flap is based on either a septocutaneous or musculocutaneous perforator of the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral system. It can be designed as a skin and subcutaneous flap, fasciocutaneous, or musculocutaneous flap. Furthermore, it can be harvested as a sensate flap by taking the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh. Technique for harvesting the flap is described in detail. Complications include flap failure and donor site morbidity. Due to its versatility, the anterolateral thigh flap is particularly useful for upper extremity reconstruction.

Current Indications for Hand and Face Allotransplantation

There is growing excitement centered on the possibilities of composite tissue allotransplantation (CTA) in many medical centers around the United States. As CTA programs begin to form, criteria to guide patient selection for these highly complex procedures is warranted. At this time the contraindications for CTA are more easily defined than the indications. What is clear is that a thorough multidisciplinary evaluation of each individual patient will be needed to determine the global impact and complexity of the defect. The role of the surgeon is to identify the feasibility of the CTA reconstruction and balance this with a complete knowledge of conventional reconstructive techniques. Conventional treatments may be used in place of CTA or as salvage for CTA failure.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound combined with three-dimensional reconstruction in preoperative perforator flap planning.

Background: Along with technical advancements in perforator flap surgery, great interest has been recently focused on the accuracy of preoperative perforator location through the assessment of the donor-site vascular network. The goal of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of contrast-enhanced ultrasound combined with three-dimensional reconstruction in the planning of perforator flaps. Methods: The authors retrospectively analyzed the preoperative imaging vascular anatomy provided by contrast-enhanced ultrasound combined with three-dimensional reconstruction in 32 patients undergoing perforator flap reconstruction between 2009 and 2011. The static and dynamic features of any suitable perforator including number of branches, source vessel, running course, blood flow pattern and velocity (peak systolic velocity and resistance index), and its anatomical relationship were assessed preoperatively by the novel navigation imaging. Based on this information, the preferred perforator and the ideal donor site were selected for the flap harvesting. The accuracy of preoperative imaging data was checked during surgery. Result: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound provided a continuous blood flow signal and a clear and reliable image of perforators, and three-dimensional reconstruction displayed their spatial anatomical relationship and their roots. Consistent with the surgical findings, perforators were identified accurately in all 32 cases with high specificity (100 percent) and sensitivity. Conclusions: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound with three-dimensional image reconstruction provides valuable preoperative perforator navigation. It detects precisely the perforators location, its course, and the quality of its blood flow and allows the choice of the preferred perforator and the ideal donor site. Preoperative location of perforators using contrast-enhanced ultrasound with three-dimensional image reconstruction improves flap planning and eases flap harvesting. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic, IV.

Free flap reconstruction of the knee: an outcome study of 34 cases.

BackgroundOpen wounds around the knee joint can often be managed with local flaps; however, free tissue transfer may be required when local tissue options are unavailable or inadequate. Free tissue transfer around the knee can be challenging due to unique anatomic features of the joint. The outcomes of such procedures remain largely unreported. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 33 patients who underwent 34 free tissue transfer reconstructions to the knee from 1993 to 2010. Twenty-four flaps were composed of soft tissue only and 10 flaps included a bony component. Patient demographics, details of the defect, operative characteristics, and clinical outcomes were reviewed. Outcomes included rates of flap failure, flap reexploration, and limb salvage. ResultsThirty-three (97%) of 34 flaps survived. One flap failed secondary to arterial thrombosis. In total, 6/34 flaps (18%) required reexploration (2 arterial thromboses and 4 venous thromboses). A wide variety of donor and recipient vessels were used. Vessel selection did not affect vascular reexploration. Overall, 88% of lower extremities were salvaged. Four of 10 (40%) patients receiving bone free flap reconstruction experienced delayed union and 2 (20%) of these required amputation for eventual nonunion. ConclusionsFree flap reconstruction of the knee has a high flap survival and limb preservation rate in threatened extremities. Flap survival rates in the knee are similar to reported rates elsewhere in the lower extremity. Despite flap survival, infected nonunions that occur after bone free flap reconstruction result in a high limb amputation rate.