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Summary: Lower extremity reconstruction, particularly in the setting of trauma, remains one of the most challenging tasks for the plastic surgeon. Advances in wound management and microsurgical techniques in conjunction with long-term outcomes studies have expanded possibilities for limb salvage, but many aspects of management have continued to rely on principles set forth by Gustilo and Godina in the 1980s. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive update on the various management aspects of traumatic lower extremity microvascular reconstruction based on the latest evidence, with an examination of recent publications., (Copyright © 2023 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Abstract: Venous congestion accounts for most microvascular free tissue flaps failures. Given the lack of consensus on the use of single versus dual venous outflow, the authors present our institutional experience with 1 versus 2 vein anastomoses in microvascular free flap for head and neck reconstruction. A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients undergoing free flaps for head and neck reconstruction at our institution between 2008 and 2020. The authors included patients who underwent anterolateral thigh, radial forearm free flap, or fibula free flaps. The authors classified patients based on the number of venous anastomoses used and compared complication rates. A total of 279 patients with a mean age of 55.11 years (standard deviation 19.31) were included. One hundred sixty-eight patients (60.2%) underwent fibula free flaps, 59 (21.1%) anterolateral thigh, and 52 (18.6%) radial forearm free flap. The majority of patients were American Society of Anesthesiologists classification III or higher (N = 158, 56.6%) and had history of radiation (N = 156, 55.9%). Most flaps were performed using a single venous anastomosis (83.8%). Univariate analysis of postoperative outcomes demonstrated no significant differences in overall complications (P = 0.788), flap failure (P = 1.0), return to the Operating Room (OR) (P = 1.0), hematoma (P = 0.225), length of hospital stay (P = 0.725), or venous congestion (P = 0.479). In our cohort, the rate of venous congestion was not statistically different between flaps with 1 and 2 venous anastomoses. Decision to perform a second venous anastomoses should be guided by anatomical location, vessel lie, flap size, and intraoperative visual assessment., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.)

Background: Previous studies have provided recommendations for increasing female leadership in academic plastic surgery. This study quantifies the extent to which these recommendations have been met in plastic surgery residency programs and identifies remaining institutional barriers to the advancement of women in academic plastic surgery., Methods: An electronic survey was designed to quantify select recommendations for promoting female leadership in academic plastic surgery. The survey was distributed to either a female faculty member or a male program director at each academic plastic surgery program. An optional phone interview discussing current barriers to women's advancement followed the survey., Results: Forty-nine of 92 survey recipients participated (52.7 percent response rate). Women constituted 25 percent of faculty, 22 percent of program directors, and 20 percent of program leaders of participating programs. Programs on average provided three of 11 resources. Programs with female leaders provided 6.20 resources versus 2.28 resources at departments with male chairs (p = 0.015). Programs with female program directors provided 5.50 resources versus 2.18 resources at programs with male program directors (p = 0.008). Of the 49 survey respondents, nine completed the interview (18.4 percent completion rate). The most frequently identified barriers to aspiring women leaders were opaque promotion criteria (cited by 77.8 percent of interviewees), motherhood bias (77.8 percent), and unequal recruitment practices (55.6 percent)., Conclusions: The presence of a female chair or program director is associated with a greater quantity of resources for promoting female leaders. Remaining barriers to women seeking academic leadership positions include compensation and promotion disparities, motherhood bias, and unequal recruitment practices.

Osteocutaneous reconstruction can be challenging because of concomitant injuries and limited donor sites. There is a paucity of data on limb salvage outcomes following combined soft-tissue reconstruction and bone transport or Masquelet procedures. The authors reviewed a consecutive series of open tibia fracture patients undergoing soft-tissue reconstruction with either distraction osteogenesis or Masquelet technique. Endpoints were perioperative flap complications and bone union. Fourteen patients with Gustilo type IIIB open tibia fractures were included. Half of the group received muscle flaps and the remaining half received fasciocutaneous flaps. Ten patients (71.4 percent) underwent distraction osteogenesis and the remaining patients underwent Masquelet technique. Average bone gap length was 65.7 ± 31.3 mm (range, 20 to 120 mm). In the bone transport group, the average external fixation duration was 245 days (range, 47 to 686 days). In the Masquelet group, the average duration of the first stage of this two-stage procedure (i.e., time from cement spacer placement to bone grafting) was 95 days (range, 42 to 181 days). Bone union rate, as determined by radiographic evidence, was 85.7 percent. There was one complete flap failure (7.1 percent). One patient underwent below-knee amputation after failing bone transport and developing chronic osteomyelitis and subsequent infected nonunion. Our case series demonstrates that nonosteocutaneous flap methods of limb reconstruction are a viable option in patients with segmental long bone defects, with a bone union rate of 85 percent and a limb salvage rate over 90 percent in patients with Gustilo type IIIB fractures. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:: Therapeutic, IV.

Background: Marko Godina, in his landmark paper in 1986, established the principle of early flap coverage for reconstruction of traumatic lower extremity injuries. The aim of this study was to determine how timing influences outcomes in lower extremity traumatic free flap reconstruction based on Godina's original findings., Methods: A retrospective review identified 358 soft-tissue free flaps from 1979 to 2016 for below knee trauma performed within 1 year of injury. Patients were stratified based on timing of coverage: 3 days or less (early), 4 to 90 days (delayed), and more than 90 days (late). The delayed group was further divided into two groups: 4 to 9 days and 10 to 90 days. Flap outcomes were examined based on timing of reconstruction., Results: Flaps performed within 3 days after injury compared with between 4 to 90 days had decreased risk of major complications (OR, 0.40, p = 0.04). A receiver operating curve demonstrated day 10 to be the optimal day for predicting flap success. Flaps performed less than or equal to 3 days versus 4 to 9 days had no differences in any flap outcomes. In contrast, flaps performed within 4 to 9 days of injury compared to within 10 to 90 days were associated with significantly lower total flap failure rates (relative risk, 0.29, p = 0.025) and major complications (relative risk, 0.37, p = 0.002)., Conclusions: Early free flap reconstruction performed within 3 days of injury had superior outcomes compared with the delayed (4 to 90 day) group, consistent with Godina's original findings. However, as an update to his paradigm, this ideal early period of reconstruction can be safely extended to within 10 days of injury without an adverse effect on outcomes., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, III.

Background: The incidence of nipple-sparing mastectomy is rising, but no single incision type has been proven to be superior. This study systematically evaluated the rate and efficacy of various nipple-sparing mastectomy incision locations, focusing on nipple-areola complex necrosis and reconstructive method., Methods: A systematic literature review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines identifying studies on nipple-sparing mastectomy where incision type was described. Pooled descriptive statistics meta-analysis of overall (nipple-areola complex) necrosis rate and nipple-areola complex necrosis by incision type was performed., Results: Fifty-one studies (9975 nipple-sparing mastectomies) were included. Thirty-two incision variations were identified and categorized into one of six groups: inframammary fold, radial, periareolar, mastopexy/prior scar/reduction, endoscopic, and other. The most common incision types were inframammary fold [3634 nipple-sparing mastectomies (37.8 percent)] and radial [3575 nipple-sparing mastectomies (37.2 percent)]. Meta-analysis revealed an overall partial nipple-areola complex necrosis rate of 4.62 percent (95 percent CI, 3.14 to 6.37 percent) and a total nipple-areola complex necrosis rate of 2.49 percent (95 percent CI, 1.87 to 3.21 percent). Information on overall nipple-areola complex necrosis rate by incision type was available for 30 of 51 studies (4645 nipple-sparing mastectomies). Periareolar incision had the highest nipple-areola complex necrosis rate (18.10 percent). Endoscopic and mastopexy/prior scar/reduction incisions had the lowest rates of necrosis at 4.90 percent and 5.79 percent, respectively, followed by the inframammary fold incision (6.82 percent). The rate of single-stage implant reconstruction increased during this period., Conclusions: For nipple-sparing mastectomy, the periareolar incision maintains the highest necrosis rate because of disruption of the nipple-areola complex blood supply. The inframammary fold incision has become the most popular incision, demonstrating an acceptable complication profile.

Background: Two mainstay surgical options for salvage in scapholunate advanced collapse and scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse are proximal row carpectomy and four-corner arthrodesis. This study evaluates the cost-utility of proximal row carpectomy versus three methods of four-corner arthrodesis for the treatment of scapholunate advanced collapse/scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse wrist., Methods: A cost-utility analysis was performed in accordance with the Second Panel on Cost-Effectiveness in Health and Medicine. A comprehensive literature review was performed to obtain the probability of potential complications. Costs were derived using both societal and health care sector perspectives. A visual analogue scale survey of expert hand surgeons estimated utilities. Overall cost, probabilities, and quality-adjusted life-years were used to complete a decision tree analysis. Both deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed., Results: Forty studies yielding 1730 scapholunate advanced collapse/scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse wrists were identified. Decision tree analysis determined that both four-corner arthrodesis with screw fixation and proximal row carpectomy were cost-effective options, but four-corner arthrodesis with screw was the optimal treatment strategy. Four-corner arthrodesis with Kirschner-wire fixation and four-corner arthrodesis with plate fixation were dominated (inferior) strategies and therefore not cost-effective. One-way sensitivity analysis demonstrated that when the quality-adjusted life-years for a successful four-corner arthrodesis with screw fixation are lower than 26.36, proximal row carpectomy becomes the optimal strategy. However, multivariate probabilistic sensitivity analysis confirmed the results of our model., Conclusions: Four-corner arthrodesis with screw fixation and proximal row carpectomy are both cost-effective treatment options for scapholunate advanced collapse/scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse wrist because of their lower complication profile and high efficacy, with four-corner arthrodesis with screw as the most cost-effective treatment. Four-corner arthrodesis with plate and Kirschner-wire fixation should be avoided from a cost-effectiveness standpoint.

Background: Interpositional grafts can be used to reconstruct the digital artery during revascularization and replantation when primary repair is not possible. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of using interpositional grafts on the rate of digit survival., Methods: A retrospective review of all patients from 2007 to 2016 that required revascularization and/or replantation of one or more digits was performed., Results: One hundred twenty-seven patients were identified with 171 affected digits (118 digital revascularizations and 53 digital replantations). A graft was used to repair the digital artery in 50 percent of revascularizations (59 of 118) and in 49 percent of replantations (26 of 53). There was no difference in digit survival with use of an interpositional graft for arterial repair versus primary repair in revascularization (91.5 percent in both groups) or replantation (48.1 percent versus 46.2 percent; p = 0.88). Regression analysis demonstrated no association between the use of interpositional grafts and digit survival. Interpositional grafting was more likely to be used in crush (62.5 percent) and avulsion injuries (72.2 percent) compared with sharp laceration injuries (11.1 percent), with a relative risk of 5.6 (p = 0.01) and 6.5 (p = 0.006), respectively., Conclusions: There was no difference in the survival rate of amputated digits that required interpositional grafting for arterial repair. The need for an interpositional graft in a large zone of injury should not be considered a contraindication to performing revascularization or replantation. Furthermore, hand surgeons should have a low threshold for using interpositional grafts, especially in crush or avulsion injuries., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, III.

Background: Mandibular fractures are the most common isolated facial fractures in the United States. Various risk factors have been associated with increased rates of postoperative complications. However, national outcome reports are limited and data are conflicting. Using a national multi-institutional database, the authors sought to analyze 30-day outcomes after mandibular fracture repair and determine risk factors for complications, readmission, and reoperation., Methods: Retrospective review of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement database was performed to identify patients undergoing surgical treatment of mandibular fractures between 2010 and 2015 using current procedural terminology codes. Primary outcomes included: wound complications, overall complications, as well as readmission and reoperation rates. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to adjust for confounders., Results: A total of 953 patients were eligible for analysis. Mean patient age was 34.5 years, 84% were males, and 50% were active smokers. Wound complications, overall complications, 30-day reoperation, and readmission occurred in 4.0%, 7.9%, 2.2%, and 33% of patients, respectively. Age was a significant risk factor for 30-day readmission (odds ratio [OR] = 1.06, P = 0.01), reoperation (OR = 1.05, P = 0.01), and overall complications (OR = 1.03, P = 0.02) on multivariate analysis, and smoking was a significant risk factor for 30-day reoperation (OR = 4.86, P = 0.03)., Conclusion: The analysis identified age as an independent risk factor for readmission, reoperation, and overall complications. Smokers were also nearly 5 times as likely to undergo additional surgery. This is particularly important given that over half of patients were active smokers, highlighting the importance of perioperative patient education and smoking cessation within this population.

Background: The medial sural artery perforator flap offers thin, pliable tissue with a relatively long pedicle and low donor-site morbidity. This study explores the characteristics and uses of the medial sural artery perforator flap along with postoperative outcomes and complications., Methods: A systematic literature review was performed using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to identify all cases of medial sural artery perforator flap reconstruction. Descriptive and meta-analyses were performed on pooled outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression identified factors associated with increased complication rates., Results: Thirty-five studies encompassing 526 medial sural artery perforator flaps were included for analysis. The most common reasons for surgery were oncologic (47.6 percent) and traumatic injuries (31.8 percent). The oral cavity was the most common recipient location (45.5 percent). Average flap dimensions were 6.0 ± 2.3 cm × 9.8 ± 3.6 cm, with an average pedicle length of 10.1 ± 6.6 cm. Meta-analysis revealed an overall complication rate of 14.3 percent (Q value = 22.16; p = 0.877; I(2)= -39.9). Use of chimeric medial sural artery perforator flaps was associated with significantly higher rates of complications (OR, 3.92; p = 0.039; 95 percent CI, 1.10 to 13.89). The majority of flap donor sites were closed primarily (68 percent) versus 32 percent that were covered with split-thickness skin grafts. A flap width greater than 5.75 cm had an odds ratio of 5.3 (95 percent CI, 1.3 to 21.8; p = 0.014) of having a donor-site complication if closed primarily., Conclusions: The medial sural artery perforator flap offers thin, pliable tissue with a relatively long pedicle and has minimal donor-site morbidity when the donor site is managed appropriately. As such, it should be considered a workhorse flap for both head and neck and extremity reconstruction.