Precise breast implant placement using percutaneous chest wall markings

Background: Traditionally, pre-operative breast markings are usually made using an indelible marker. These markings are at risk of being removed by pre-operative cleaning, positional changes and parenchymal changes post-incision. We present our approach to breast surgery with rib or intercostal markings using methylene blue. Methods: Using an indelible marker, markings are made on the breast and the inframammary crease. A blue needle (23 G) mounted on a 1 ml syringe is prepared, and aliquots of 0.1 ml of methylene blue are injected. Excessive infiltration and pre-operative local anaesthetic infiltration result in diffusion of the dye and difficulty with accuracy. Dye is injected directly over the bony periosteum closest to the inframammary fold. Results: We achieved good symmetry of bilateral breast implants. Photographs were taken pre-operative and 3 months post-operative and were evaluated independently by medical officers. All results were rated as good or very good. We had 39 patients and follow-up was between 3 and 24 months. There were no implant-related complications. Conclusions: For accurate implant placement, a fixed position must be found. Our technique utilises the relative immobility of the ribs for accurate implant placement. Disadvantages to our method were few, and we had two cases of dizziness or patients feeling faint due to pain. There is also a potential allergic or anaphylaxis reaction, but we did not experience any allergic reaction

Reduction mammoplasty as a treatment for symptomatic central venous stenosis

Central venous stenosis is a rare cause of unilateral breast edema occurring in hemodialysis patients that needs to be differentiated from other differential diagnoses, including, but not limited to, inflammatory breast carcinoma, mastitis, lymphedema, and congestive heart failure. All reports of similar cases in the available literature have described improvement or resolution of the edema after treatment. Herein, we report and discuss the pathophysiology of breast edema formation in a patient who presented with massive left-sided breast edema 7 years after being diagnosed with central venous stenosis. Medical and minimally invasive therapy had not been successful, so she underwent reduction mammoplasty to relieve the symptoms

Sternoclavicular Joint Infection: Classification of Resection Defects and Reconstructive Algorithm

BackgroundAggressive treatment of sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) infection involves systemic antibiotics, surgical drainage and resection if indicated. The purpose of this paper is to describe a classification of post resectional SCJ defects and highlight our reconstructive algorithm. Defects were classified into A, where closure was possible often with the aid of topical negative pressure dressing; B, where parts of the manubrium, calvicular head, and first rib were excised; and C, where both clavicular, first ribs and most of the manubrium were resected.MethodsTwelve patients (age range, 42 to 72 years) over the last 8 years underwent reconstruction after SCJ infection. There was 1 case of a type A defect, 10 type B defects, and 1 type C defect. Reconstruction was performed using the pectoralis major flap in 6 cases (50%), the latissimus dorsi flap in 4 cases (33%), secondary closure in 1 case and; the latissimus and the rectus flap in 1 case.ResultsAll wounds healed uneventfully with no flap failure. Nine patients had good shoulder motion. Three patients with extensive clavicular resection had restricted shoulder abduction and were unable to abduct their arm past 90°. Internal and external rotation were not affected.ConclusionsWe highlight our reconstructive algorithm which is summarised as follows: for an isolated type B SCJ defect we recommend the ipsilateral pectoralis major muscle for closure. For a type C bilateral defect, we suggest the latissimum dorsi flap. In cases of extensive infection where the thoracoacromial and internal mammary vessels are thrombosed, the pectoralis major and rectus abdominus cannot be used; and the latissimus dorsi flap is chosen

Initial impression of the CelluTome™ Epidermal Harvesting System in burns management

Small surface area burns are common. Deep burns may require excision and autologous skin grafting. This typically requires general anaesthesia, an operating theatre, inpatient treatment and donor site morbidity. Epidermal skin grafting is a viable alternative that up until recently has mainly been used in chronic wounds. We illustrate the first reported use of epidermal skin grafting with the CelluTome™ Epidermal Harvesting System on burn wounds.A series of four patients with burn wounds were collated from our institution. Each of these patients have presented with burn wounds of different chronicity and aetiology, with most requiring excision. Epidermal grafts were harvested and applied using the CelluTome™ Epidermal Harvesting System. Photographs were collected at various stages of healing.All wounds healed well with an inconspicuous donor site. There are appreciable benefits of the CelluTome™ system, and our observations with its use in burn wounds have been encouraging. Keywords: CelluTome, Epidermal grafts, Donor site, Skin grafting, Burn

A multi-staged approach to the reconstruction of a burnt Asian face

This article describes the management of chemical burns to the Asian face with resultant full thickness loss to the right side of the face including the eyelid and nose. We detail the techniques used to reconstruct the face which include skin grafting according to the aesthetic units of the face, accurate placement of junction lines, use of a chondrocutaneous graft to reconstruct the alar grove and scalp strip grafting for eyebrow reconstruction. We obtained a successful result that minimised scar formation in the burnt Asian face