Distally-based Peroneus Brevis Turnover Muscle Flap in the Reconstruction of Soft Tissue Defects.

Reconstruction of the distal 3rd of the lower leg requires either local or free flap coverage if tendons or bones are exposed. The distally based, pedicled peroneus brevis (PB) flap has been shown to be a valid option in the management of distal 3rd lower limb injuries. Herein, we present 21 cases treated with distally-based PB muscle flaps between May 2017 and September 2019. The defect location varied, and included defects over the lateral and medial malleolar areas, distal tibia (middle and distal 3rd junction, and the distal 3rd), and Achilles tendon area. Methods The PB was dissected from the lateral fibula and intermuscular septa in a cephalic to caudal direction, to a point no lower than 7 cm proximal to the lateral malleolus tip. This preserved most distal vascular perforators to the muscle, and afforded sufficient mobilization to allow successful turn-over of the muscle, with transposition into the defect within 30 minutes of tourniquet time. A meshed skin graft completed the intervention. Results The metalwork was removed in all chronic cases (10/21), as bone union had occurred. All flaps survived completely. One patient partially lost the skin graft; the wound was healed by secondary intention. No major complications occurred and no significant patient discomfort was noted. All wounds healed completely by 9 weeks of follow-up. Conclusion The PB turnover muscle flap is a versatile flap, ideally suited to manage up to moderately sized defects of the distal 3rd of the lower leg, with negligible postoperative morbidity

Flap decisions and options in soft tissue coverage of the lower limb.

THE LOWER EXTREMITIES OF THE HUMAN BODY ARE MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE HUMAN LEGS, INCORPORATING: the foot, the lower or anatomical leg, the thigh and the hip or gluteal region. The human lower limb plays a simpler role than that of the upper limb. Whereas the arm allows interaction of the surrounding environment, the legs' primary goals are support and to allow upright ambulation. Essentially, this means that reconstruction of the leg is less complex than that required in restoring functionality of the upper limb. In terms of reconstruction, the primary goals are based on the preservation of life and limb, and the restoration of form and function. This paper aims to review current and past thoughts on reconstruction of the lower limb, discussing in particular the options in terms of soft tissue coverage. This paper does not aim to review the emergency management of open fractures, or the therapy alternatives to chronic wounds or malignancies of the lower limb, but purely assess the requirements that should be reviewed on reconstructing a defect of the lower limb. A summary of flap options are considered, with literature support, in regard to donor and recipient region, particularly as flap coverage is regarded as the cornerstone of soft tissue coverage of the lower limb

Antia-Buch versus Franssen-Frechner Technique.

We performed a retrospective study comparing 2 patient groups. Each cohort included 22 cases of skin cancer of the external ear. Each patient required resection of the affected part of the external ear, followed by flap reconstruction. Methods The patients in Cohort A underwent external ear reconstruction with a classic Antia-Buch flap, as described by Antia and Buch in 1967: The defect was closed by mobilizing an advancement flap from the root of the helix (upper ear), which was closed in a V-Y fashion, after a rim of healthy scaphal cartilage was resected to allow approximation of the skin. The patients in Cohort B underwent external ear reconstruction with a modified Antia-Buch flap, as presented by Franssen and Frechner in 2010. Here, a wedge of skin was removed from the ear lobe (lower ear), to allow mobilization of an advancement flap from the caudal end of the ear, to close the defect. Results Both techniques allowed tension-free closure. Cohort B, however, required less dissection of the ear. The entire cephalic ear remained unaffected and no scaphal cartilage was sacrificed, thus preserving ear width, with scars that were overall less visible. Also, the loss in ear height associated with Cohort B was easily symmetrized by contralateral ear lobe reduction. Conclusions Cohort B achieved closure with less ear dissection, achieving excellent morphological outcomes. The patients in Cohort B had superior levels of satisfaction with scars and ear symmetry than those in Cohort A

When Are Circular Lesions Square? A National Clinical Education Skin Lesion Audit and Study

Background Skin cancer is the most prevalent cancer by organ type and referral accuracy is vital for diagnosis and management. The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) and literature highlight the importance of accurate skin lesion examination, diagnosis and educationally-relevant studies. Methods We undertook a review of the relevant literature, a national audit of skin lesion description standards and a study of speciality training influences on these descriptions. Questionnaires (n=200), with pictures of a circular and an oval lesion, were distributed to UK dermatology/plastic surgery consultants and speciality trainees (ST), general practitioners (GP), and medical students (MS). The following variables were analysed against a pre-defined 95% inclusion accuracy standard: site, shape, size, skin/colour, and presence of associated scars. Results There were 250 lesion descriptions provided by 125 consultants, STs, GPs, and MSs. Inclusion accuracy was greatest for consultants over STs (80% vs. 68%; P<0.001), GPs (57%) and MSs (46%) (P<0.0001), for STs over GPs (P<0.010) and MSs (P<0.0001) and for GPs over MSs (P<0.010), all falling below audit standard. Size description accuracy sub-analysis according to circular/oval dimensions was as follows: consultants (94%), GPs (80%), STs (73%), MSs (37%), with the most common error implying a quadrilateral shape (66%). Addressing BAD guidelines and published requirements for more empirical performance data to improve teaching methods, we performed a national audit and studied skin lesion descriptions. To improve diagnostic and referral accuracy for patients, healthcare professionals must strive towards accuracy (a circle is not a square). Conclusions We provide supportive evidence that increased speciality training improves this process and propose that greater focus is placed on such training early on during medical training, and maintained throughout clinical practice

Extended Scalp Flaps for Extensive Soft Tissue Scalp Defects as a Day Surgery Procedure Under Local Anesthetic: A Single Centre Experience.

Cutaneous malignancies are on the rise, associated with an increased number in scalp cancers that require wide local excision (WLE) to ensure clearance; the inelastic nature of the scalp poses a particular challenge when dealing with such large defects.  A series of 68 cases with large scalp defects following WLE for the clearance of squamous cell carcinoma, atypical fibroxanthoma, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, and melanoma skin cancers are presented. These cases were treated in one center under local anesthesia and underwent extended scalp flaps to close the resulting defect primarily without the use of skin grafts for the flap donor site on the scalp.  Extended scalp flap is a safe and reproducible solution for extensive scalp defects, which results in quicker wound healing with cosmetically superior results, and can be performed safely and comfortably under local anesthesia in the day case setting

Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy and Prepectoral Implant/Acellular Dermal Matrix Wrap Reconstruction in Large Ptotic Breasts.

Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) with simultaneous prepectoral direct to implant reconstruction and acellular dermal matrix (ADM) is increasingly offered to patients opting for prophylactic or therapeutic mastectomies. The recent introduction of prepectoral implant/ADM in the armamentarium of breast reconstruction has proven to reduce pain and animation deformity. Despite this promising method, patients with macromastia and ptotic breasts remain a challenging group to treat. More often they would require secondary corrective procedures and can experience high failure rate and unsatisfactory outcomes. The authors present their experience in utilizing a bipedicled nipple-areola complex dermal flap through Wise pattern to achieve a successful NSM with prepectoral implant/ADM (Braxon) wrap (IBW) as a single stage in patients with large ptotic breasts. Patients seeking NSM with large ptotic breasts were included in the study in the period between 2016 and 2018. They were offered a single-stage Wise pattern NSM and immediate prepectoral IBW breast reconstruction. The technique and outcomes were recorded. Sixteen reconstructions were performed in 8 women with a median age of 32 years (range, 27-50 years) and a median body mass index of 32 kg/m (range, 29-39 kg/m). The resected breasts weight ranged from 750 to 1,600 g (median, 890 g). All procedures were completed successfully with no nipple-areola complex necrosis or failure experienced during the follow-up period (range, 3-24 months) with all patients reported excellent satisfaction. The authors' results demonstrate that this technique could be safely planned for NSM in large ptotic breasts with excellent durable outcomes

Pedicled local flaps: a reliable reconstructive tool for partial breast defects.

Background Breast conserving surgery (BCS) followed by radiotherapy has gained great popularity in the treatment of breast cancer over the past years. However, radiation therapy can lead to many unfavourable aesthetic outcomes including significant volume/skin deficiency, nipple areola complex distortion and skin contraction. We present our experience in using pedicled perforator flaps to tackle the resultant partial breast defects or deformities. Methods A retrospective data analysis study on Thirty patients with post breast conserving surgery (BCS) partial breast defects who were managed with pedicled per-forator flaps including muscle sparing latissimus dorsi muscle flap (MSLD), thoraco-dorsal artery perforator flap (TDAP) and intercostal artery perforator flap (ICAP) in the period between December 2008 and December 2018. Results Defects were in all quadrants apart from the upper inner quadrant. The reconstructive techniques included TDAP flap 6/30 (20%), MSLD flap 20/30 (66.7%), AICAP flap 4/30 (13.3%). Age ranges 22-35 (mean 29). All flaps showed complete survival, one nipple areola complex superficial epidermolysis was experienced, and one patient presented with fat necrosis. No resultant donor site morbidity apart from scar revision for excess skin at the axillary fold in one patient. The overall satisfaction reached 94% with only 8 patients who required lipofilling to maximize the cosmetic outcome. Conclusions The availability of a range of reliable techniques including thoracodorsal/intercostal artery perforator flap (TAP/ICAP) and muscle sparing lattissimus dorsi flap (MSLD) allow optimum results to be achieved in the treatment of partial breast defects following breast conserving surgery