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Free functional muscle transfers restore voluntary motion in extremities following the loss of local muscle-tendon units. Surgeons, at various levels of expertise, need to consider several technical aspects when performing this procedure. Successful and consistent outcomes can be attained by applying a combination of basic principles, drawing from techniques developed for successful tendon transfers and microsurgical free tissue transfers. Patient preparation through counseling and intensive rehabilitation is essential to achieve the optimal conditions before the transfer., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors declare that there are no relevant financial or nonfinancial competing interests to report., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) is a relatively recent surgical innovation that involves the coaptation of major peripheral nerves to a recipient motor branch that innervates an expendable muscle target. The original indication for TMR was augmentation and optimization of myoelectric signals in the amputated limb for use of myoelectric prosthetics. Incidentally, surgeons and patients discovered that the technique also could treat and prevent phantom and residual limb pain. TMR is performed at the time of amputation or delayed any time after the amputation, and TMR can also be performed at any level of amputation. In the upper extremity, studies have detailed the various techniques and coaptations possible at each amputation level to create intuitive myoelectric signals and treat neurogenic pain. Treatment of peripheral nerves in the amputee with TMR should be a consideration for all patients with major upper extremity amputations, especially at large institutions able to support multidisciplinary limb salvage teams. This review article summarizes the current literature and authors' techniques and recommendations surrounding TMR in the upper extremity amputee including techniques relevant to each level of upper extremity amputation., (© 2023. This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.)

Purpose of Review: This review highlights recent advances in facial reanimation surgery particularly related to muscle transposition and free functional muscle transfer (FFMT)., Recent Findings: FFMT and muscle transposition are mainstays in the treatment of chronic facial paralysis. Recent literature evaluates single versus dual innervated FFMT, reanimation of the periocular region and lower lip depressors, and indications for such methods over gold standard FFMT techniques. New donor sites for muscle transposition and FFMT are also described., Summary: Gracilis FFMT (GFMT) continues to be the gold standard in dynamic facial reanimation for patients with chronic facial paralysis. Muscle transposition should be considered in older patients, those medically unfit for long operative procedures, and individuals who prefer more immediate results. With respect to FFMT, described nerve coaptation patterns, surgical stages, and donor muscle choice vary. Standardization of data reporting and outcome measures is needed in future studies., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Incisional complications of groin after inflow or infrainguinal bypasses with prosthetic conduits can result in major morbidities that require reoperation, infected graft removal, and limb loss. Muscle flaps are typically performed to treat groin wound complications, but they are also done prophylactically at the time of index procedures in certain high-risk-for-poor-healing patients to mitigate anticipated groin wound complications. We used a nationwide multi-institutional database to investigate outcomes of prophylactic muscle flaps in high-risk patients who underwent prosthetic bypasses involving femoral anastomosis., Methods: We utilized ACS-NSQIP database 2005-2021 to identify all elective inflow and infrainguinal bypasses that involve femoral anastomoses. Only high-risk patients for poor incisional healing who underwent prosthetic conduit bypasses were selected. A 1:3 propensity-matching was performed to obtain two comparable studied groups between those with (FLAP) and without prophylactic muscle flaps (NOFLAP) based on demographics and comorbidities. 30-day postoperative outcomes were compared., Results: Among 35,011 NOFLAP, 990 of them were propensity-matched to 330 FLAP. There was no significant difference in 30-day mortality, MACE, pulmonary, or renal complications. FLAP was associated with higher bleeding requiring transfusion, longer operative time, and longer hospital stay. FLAP also had higher overall wound complications (15.2% vs. 10.6%; p = 0.03), especially deep incisional infection (4.9% vs. 2.4%; p = 0.04)., Conclusion: Prophylactic muscle flap for prosthetic bypasses involving femoral anastomosis in high-risk-for-poor-healing patients does not appear to mitigate 30-day wound complications. Caution should be exercised with this practice and more long-term data should be obtained to determine whether prophylactic flaps decrease the incidence of graft infection., (© 2024 International Society of Surgery/Société Internationale de Chirurgie (ISS/SIC).)

Case: A 40-year-old man sustained a traumatic elbow disarticulation without any fracture, accompanied by severe damage of the biceps and brachialis. After replantation, passive elbow motion was used with a hinged external fixator to facilitate elbow joint reduction and mobility. Eight months after the injury, a functional latissimus dorsi transfer for elbow flexion restoration was performed. Ten years postoperatively, he achieved antigravity elbow flexion and 120° of flexion and -15° extension of the elbow., Conclusion: This reconstruction technique was useful for reconstructing elbow flexion after traumatic elbow disarticulation., Competing Interests: Disclosure: The Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest forms are provided with the online version of the article (http://links.lww.com/JBJSCC/C465)., (Copyright © 2024 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated.)

Purpose: Blind tunneling of subfascial femoropopliteal bypass grafts may result in inadvertent graft passage through the sartorius. The purpose of this study was to determine whether intramuscular passage of femoropopliteal bypass grafts affects primary patency., Methods: Patients undergoing femoropopliteal bypass at a Veterans Administration hospital and associated university medical center over a recent 13-year period who also had postoperative cross-sectional imaging adequate to determine graft location were examined. Five-year primary patency of grafts circumferentially enveloped by the muscle was compared with that of both extramuscular subfascial grafts and subcutaneous grafts., Results: 370 femoropopliteal grafts were identified, among which 258 (70%) were subfascial. Vein grafts comprised 51% of the subfascial grafts, and 53% were inserted above the knee. Available postoperative imaging in 110 subfascial grafts demonstrated 74 (67%) to lie completely within the muscle at some point. Among imaged subfascial grafts, primary patency at five years for intramuscular grafts was not significantly worse than extramuscular grafts (P = 0.31). This remained true whether grafts were vein (P = 0.39) or prosthetic (P = 0.31) and whether grafts inserted to the above-knee (P = 0.43) or below-knee (P = 0.21) popliteal artery. Multivariable Cox regression revealed a significant relationship between use of vein grafts (P = 0.013), active smoking (P = 0.01), and hypertension (P = 0.041) and primary patency, but not intramuscular graft location (P = 0.31)., Conclusion: This study failed to demonstrate significantly inferior primary patency among subfascial femoropopliteal grafts tunneled intramuscularly. Larger studies may be required to adequately detect any differences in patency by muscular entrapment, especially among subgroups., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Case: An overall healthy 48-year-old man suffered a left foot mangled crush injury resulting in a post-transmetatarsal amputation and subsequently developing a painful neuroma on the plantar surface of the foot. To avoid the zone of injury, targeted muscle reinnervation was used to treat the neuroma by coapting the tibial nerve to the motor point of the flexor hallucis longus (FHL) muscle. At 1-year follow-up, the patient reported no pain at rest, returned to work, and could ambulate with an orthosis for 30 minutes., Conclusion: Rare tibial nerve coaptations to the FHL could serve as a treatment option for patients with neuromas in traumatic postmetatarsal amputation., Competing Interests: Disclosure: The Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest forms are provided with the online version of the article (http://links.lww.com/JBJSCC/C418)., (Copyright © 2024 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated.)

Introduction: There are many suitable techniques for the treatment of soft tissue defects of the lower limb. Older subjects often with multiple comorbidities, presenting with a laterally located and complex defect, can be challenging to treat. This cohort are often unsuited to long procedures or multi-stage reconstruction and so one is faced with a paucity of options. In such instances, we use the peroneus brevis (PB) muscle flap as a single stage procedure., Methods: We performed a retrospective study evaluating the use of PB flaps in lower limb injury. Subjects were collated using a database and multiple variables were assessed including: patient demographics, comorbidities, defect size, peri-operative timings, time in theatre, use of inotropes / blood transfusion, mean hospital stay, patient morbidity / mortality, flap survival., Results: During 2015-2023, 49 patients underwent lower limb reconstruction using PB muscle flaps. 42 cases involved PB and skin graft alone whilst seven were more complex requiring additional local and free tissue techniques. The most common indication (n = 28) was infection after closed fracture fixation, followed by open trauma (n = 21). Median patient age was 59 (20-93 years), and ASA grade 3. Median defect size was 4 × 7 cm (2-18 cm) and time from admission to definitive closure 4 days (0-21 days) with median time in theatre 120 min (45-520 min). 17 patients required inotropes and 13 had blood transfusion. Median length of hospital stay was 12 days (0-58 days), one patient (aged 90) died. 100 % of flaps survived and median Enneking score was 65. Heterotopic ossification was not identified in the post-operative imaging within the first year., Discussion: Our experience highlights the benefits and risks of using the PB flap and advocates it as a reliable, cost-effective, 1-stage technique for reconstructing small lateral defects in the distal third of the lower limb., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Managing wounds of the lateral malleolus is challenging owing to limited nearby tissues and possibly injured or inadequate vessels for free flaps, especially in case of underlying infections. Moreover, free flaps require specialized skills and are not suitable for every patient. Therefore, identifying reliable local alternatives is crucial. This retrospective study investigated the efficacy and safety of the distally based peroneus brevis muscle flap in treating complex and infected soft-tissue defects of the lateral malleolus., Materials and Methods: A retrospective medical chart review of all patients who underwent a distally based peroneus brevis muscle flap reconstruction in the context of an infected lateral malleolus defect at Geneva University Hospitals between October 2020 and January 2024 was performed., Results: Ten patients underwent lateral malleolus reconstruction using a distally based peroneus brevis muscle flap primarily to address post-traumatic infections. Flap coverage was performed within 4 weeks of infection onset for post-traumatic cases, alongside antibiotic treatment. The defects were moderate in size, with a median width of 2.5 cm and length of 5.5 cm. There were no complete or partial flap failures. All patients regained the ability to walk within 5 days after surgery., Conclusions: The distally based peroneus brevis muscle flap was efficient in managing complex and infected soft-tissue defects of the lateral malleolus, with control of infection in all patients and minimal donor-site morbidity., (Copyright © 2024 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) and regenerative peripheral nerve interface (RPNI) are used to prevent or treat neuromas in amputees. TMR for above-the-knee amputation (AKA) is most commonly performed through a posterior incision rather than the stump wound because recipient motor nerves are primarily located in the proximal third of the thigh. When preventative TMR is performed with concurrent AKA, a posterior approach requires intraoperative repositioning and an additional incision. The purpose of this study was to evaluate feasibility of TMR and operative times for nerve management performed through the wound compared to a posterior approach in AKA patients to guide surgical decision-making. Patients who underwent AKA with TMR between 2018-2023 were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups: TMR performed through the wound (Group I) and TMR performed through a posterior approach (Group II). If a nerve was unable to undergo coaptation for TMR due to the lack of suitable donor motor nerves, RPNI was performed. Eighteen patients underwent AKA with nerve management were included from Group I (8 patients) and Group II (10 patients). TMR coaptations performed on distinct nerves was 1.5 ± 0.5 in Group I compared to 2.6 ± 0.5 in Group II (p = 0.001). Operative time for Group I was 200.7 ± 33.4 min compared to 326.5 ± 37.1 min in Group II (p = 0.001). TMR performed through the wound following AKA requires less operative time than a posterior approach. However, since recipient motor nerves are not consistently found near the stump, RPNI may be required with TMR whereas the posterior approach allows for more TMR coaptations., (Copyright © 2024 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: High-energy injuries to the knee may lead to extensive soft tissue loss, fractures, and potential loss of extensor function. The gastrocnemius flap is a prominent reconstructive option for patients with injuries involving the knee and proximal third of the lower extremity. To the best of our knowledge, there has not been an informative review that has evaluated outcomes of patients who have undergone post-traumatic knee reconstruction with a pedicled medial or lateral gastrocnemius flap. The goal of this study is to assess outcomes in patients who have undergone gastrocnemius flap reconstruction after traumatic injuries to the knee., Methods: The review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) methodology. Four databases were utilized including PubMed, Cochrane Reviews, Embase, and CINAHL. Our search criteria consisted of the following keywords: gastrocnemius, flap, knee, and traum*., Results: A total of 204 studies were imported for screening, from which five papers met our final inclusion/exclusion criteria. The most common studies utilized in this review were case series followed by retrospective chart reviews. In total, 43 patients with traumatic soft tissue knee defects were included with an average patient age of 27.28 years. All patients had successful and clinical viable flaps post-operatively, and there were a total of five patients who had complications., Conclusion: The gastrocnemius flap has demonstrated to be an effective option for individuals undergoing post-traumatic knee reconstruction. Infection rates, loss of mobility, and scarring represent a minority of complications that may be seen when this reconstructive technique is utilized. Still, additional randomized controlled trials and retrospective studies are required in order to further evaluate for other potential complications that may occur in this patient population., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Robotic microsurgery is an emerging field in reconstructive surgery, which provides benefits such as improved precision, optimal ergonomics, and reduced tremors. However, only a few robotic platforms are available for performing microsurgical procedures, and successful nerve coaptation is still a challenge. Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) is an innovative reconstructive procedure that rewires multiple nerves to remnant stump muscles, thereby reducing neuroma and phantom limb pain and improving the control of bionic prostheses. The precision of surgical techniques is critical in reducing axonal sprouting around the coaptation site to minimise the potential for neuroma formation. This study reports the first use of a microsurgical robotic platform for multiple nerve transfers in a patient undergoing TMR for bionic extremity reconstruction. The Symani robotic platform, combined with external microscope magnification, was successfully used, and precise handling of nerve tissue and coaptation was easily feasible even in anatomically challenging environments. While the precision and stability offered by robotic assistance may be especially useful for nerve surgery, the high economic costs of robotic microsurgery remain a major challenge for current healthcare systems. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the feasibility of using a robotic microsurgical platform for nerve surgery and transfers, where precise handling of tissue is crucial and limited space is available. Future studies will explore the full potential of robotic microsurgery in the future., Competing Interests: Die Autorinnen/Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Selective nerve transfers are used in the setting of upper limb amputation to improve myoelectric prosthesis control. This surgical concept is referred to as targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) and describes the rerouting of the major nerves of the arm onto the motor branches of the residual limb musculature. Aside from providing additional myosignals for prosthetic control, TMR can treat and prevent neuroma pain and possibly also phantom limb pain. This article reviews the history and current applications of TMR in upper limb amputation, with a focus on practical considerations. It further explores and identifies technological innovations to improve the man-machine interface in amputation care, particularly regarding implantable interfaces, such as muscle electrodes and osseointegration. Finally, future clinical directions and possible scientific avenues in this field are presented and critically discussed., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background and Aims: Chronic pancreatitis may cause intractable abdominal pain, with total pancreatectomy sometimes being the last resort. To mitigate the subsequent diabetes, total pancreatectomy can be followed by islet autotransplantation (TP-IAT). The primary aim of this study was to assess the outcomes in patients undergoing TP-IAT at Karolinska University Hospital with respect to safety, postoperative complications, and islet graft function. A secondary aim was to compare liver to skeletal muscle as autotransplantation sites., Methods: Single-center observational cohort study on patients undergoing TP-IAT. Islets were transplanted either into the liver or skeletal muscle. Data on baseline characteristics and pretransplantory conditions were collected. Outcome measures included mortality and major postoperative complications as well as the glycemic measures: insulin use, fasting C-peptide, and HbA1c., Results: Between 2004 and 2020, 24 patients underwent TP-IAT. Islets were transplanted into the liver in 9 patients and into skeletal muscle in 15 patients. There was no 90-day mortality, and major complications (Clavien-Dindo ⩾IIIa) occurred in 26.7%, all related to the procedure of total pancreatectomy. Fasting C-peptide could be detected postoperatively, with higher levels in patients receiving islet autotransplantation into the liver (p = 0.006). Insulin independence was not achieved, although insulin doses at last follow-up were significantly lower in patients receiving islet autotransplantation into the liver compared to skeletal muscle (p = 0.036)., Conclusion: TP-IAT is safe and associated with tolerable risk, the component of islet autotransplantation being seemingly harmless. Although islet grafts maintain some endocrine function, insulin independence should not be expected. Regarding islet autotransplantation sites, the liver seems superior to skeletal muscle., Clinical Trial Registration: Not applicable., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: J.M.L.: Abbott (lecture fee), Mylan (lecture fee) and M.V.: Abbott (lecture fee), Mylan (lecture fee).

Introduction: We conducted an anatomic feasibility study of a sartorius myocutaneous flap with a distally based pedicle and proximal skin paddle to cover soft tissue defects of the knee region., Hypothesis: A recent anatomic study by Mojalla showed that the sartorius muscle had 2 distinct pedicles, making it possible to isolate this muscle on its distal pedicle and harvest it with a skin paddle., Materials and Methods: This anatomic study was conducted on 10 lower limbs. The 2 criteria assessed were (1) the viability of our proximal skin paddle and (2) the arc of rotation and coverage obtained with this myocutaneous flap., Results: We identified 7 proximal skin paddles after the injection of India ink into the distal pedicle of the sartorius muscle. In all cases, the arc of rotation of the flap allowed coverage of the knee region. The mean distance between the inferior edge of the skin paddle and the proximal border of the patella (DBAP) was measured at 13cm, and the mean distance between the superior edge of the flap paddle and the anterior superior iliac spine (DASIS) at 16cm. The average skin paddle size was 14 by 7cm., Discussion: Our anatomic study demonstrated the feasibility of our sartorius flap with a distally based pedicle and proximal skin paddle. This technique may be a viable alternative when using gastrocnemius flaps is not feasible, or the surgeon lacks the microsurgical skills to perform free flaps., Level of Evidence: IV; descriptive anatomic study., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The conventional approach to harvest of the gracilis muscle flap necessitates a medial thigh incision that is often related to several donor site complications. In this report we describe the robotic harvest of the free gracilis muscle flap in order to reduce the morbidity associated with the open incision. Through three ports, the robotic system (Da Vinci Xi, Intuitive Surgical) enables precise dissection of the gracilis muscle, the vascular pedicle, and the obturator nerve; thus, enhancing surgical control, optimizing visualization through magnification, aiding in detailed vascular pedicle dissection and minimizing human error. We believe that the technique of totally robotic harvest of the free gracilis muscle flap, herein introduced, is a feasible and effective approach, and confers specific advantages over traditional harvest technique., (Copyright © 2024 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: A chronic Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) is defined as an ATR that has been left untreated for more than four weeks following rupture. This systematic review aims to summarize the outcomes of chronic ATR treated using either a gastrocnemius aponeurosis flap or semitendinosus tendon graft., Methods: A systematic search was conducted in three databases (PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane), for studies describing outcomes after surgical treatment of chronic ATR using gastrocnemius aponeurosis flaps or semitendinosus tendon grafts with more than 10 patients included. The studies were assessed for quality and risk of bias using the Methodological Items used to assess risk of bias in Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS)., Results: Out of the 818 studies identified with the initial search, a total of 36 studies with 763 individual patients were included in this systematic review. Gastrocnemius aponeurosis flap was used in 21 and semitendinosus tendon graft was used in 13 of the studies. The mean (SD) postoperative Achilles tendon Total Rupture Score (ATRS) for patients treated with a gastrocnemius aponeurosis flap was 83 (14) points and the mean (SD) American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS) was 96 (1.7) points compared with ATRS 88 (6.9) points and AOFAS 92 (5.6) points for patients treated with a semitendinosus tendon graft. The included studies generally had low-quality according to MINORS, with a median of 8 (range 2-13) for all studies., Conclusion: Both gastrocnemius aponeurosis flaps and semitendinosus tendon grafts give acceptable results with minimal complications and are valid methods for treating chronic ATR. The main difference is more wound healing complications in patients treated with a gastrocnemius aponeurosis flap and more sural nerve injuries in patients treated with a semitendinosus grafts. The current literature on the subject is of mainly low quality and the absence of a patient-related outcome measure validated for chronic ATR makes comparisons between studies difficult., Level of Evidence: Level IV., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Purpose: To introduce the clinical outcomes of adductor longus and sartorius muscle transfer alone and combined application for reconstruction of the inguinal region., Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients between January 2019 and December 2022 who underwent adductor longus flap transfer, sartorius muscle flap transfer, and combined transfer of adductor longus and sartorius muscle. The demographic data and surgical details were recorded., Results: Sixteen patients were included, with a mean age of 57.5 years. Nine patients performed adductor longus flap transfers, three patients performed sartorius muscle flap transfers, and four patients performed combined transfers. The average operation time was 238 min. The average length of stay was 6.7 days. The average follow-up period was 9.6 months (range 6-16). The overall early postoperative complication rate was 12.5% (one patient had excessive wound exudation and one patient had a wound infection). No delayed postoperative complications occurred during the follow-up., Conclusion: The sartorius muscle flap, the adductor longus flap, and the combined application are suitable techniques for inguinal region reconstruction under different conditions. The combined application of the two flaps can fill the dead space and cover the neurovascular bundle efficaciously., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no competing interest., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Soft tissue defects or periprosthetic infections after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are severe complications that may lead to loss of the arthroplasty or the limb. Reconstructions with medial gastrocnemius flaps (MGF) are occasionally used to provide soft tissue coverage around the knee., Aims: The study aimed to establish the rate of implant survivorship after MGF reconstruction for soft tissue coverage in the treatment of exposed or infected TKA and to establish functional outcome., Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on all patients who received soft tissue coverage with an MGF of an exposed or infected TKA between 2000 and 2017 at the Department of Hand and Plastic Surgery at Umeå University Hospital. The outcomes were implant survivorship and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) using the five-level EQ-5D version and The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score., Results: Forty-seven patients (mean age = 67 years, 30 women) were included. The mean time between flap coverage and follow-up was 6.7 (±3.4) years. Implant survivorship was observed in 28 of 47 (59.6%) patients at follow-up. Flap failure was rare, with only 3 of 47 (6.4%) cases. Of the 20 patients who answered the PROMs, 10 of 20 experienced moderate to severe pain or discomfort., Conclusions: Due to unfavorable underlying conditions, MGF reconstruction after TKA is often associated with a compromised functional outcome. Because donor site morbidity is limited and flap failure is unusual, the procedure can be considered prophylactically in a small subset of patients with risk factors to prevent soft tissue defects and periprosthetic joint infection.

Free functional gracilis transfer is a technique for restoration of upper extremity function following brachial plexus injury, as well as muscle loss from traumatic, oncologic, and congenital causes. However, when used for the latter applications, a functional muscle as well as large skin paddle can be required. Historically, skin paddle size was limited by venous outflow of the gracilis flap, using 1 or 2 venae comitantes, and large unreliable skin paddles resulting in partial necrosis. Therefore, to restore form and function, we herein present a technique of free functional gracilis muscle harvest with inclusion of adjacent greater saphenous vein for inclusion of a large skin paddle with 2 venous drainage systems., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest and Source of Funding: The authors report no conflicts of interest and no source of funding., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: In this study, facial symmetry was compared between the masseter-innervated and dual-innervated free multivector serratus anterior muscle transfer (FMSAMT) methods., Methods: Eighteen patients with unilateral complete facial paralysis underwent facial reanimation surgery between April 2006 and July 2019. The masseter-innervated FMSAMT group (Group M, n = 8) underwent end-to-end coaptation with the ipsilateral masseter nerve in one stage. The dual-innervated FMSAMT group (Group D, n = 10) underwent end-to-end coaptation with the masseter nerve and end-to-side coaptation with the contralateral facial nerve via cross-face nerve graft. They were further divided into the one-stage (Group D1, n = 5) and two-stage (Group D2, n = 5) subgroups. The durations of periods until the first visible muscle contraction with clenching, first spontaneous smile, and the completion of resting tone were evaluated. The possibility of a spontaneous smile and symmetry of the midline and horizontal deviation at rest and during voluntary smiling were compared between each group., Results: Groups M and D differed significantly in the possibility of a spontaneous smile and improvement rate of midline deviation and horizontal deviation at rest (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.001, respectively) but not in the improvement rate of midline and horizontal deviation during voluntary smiling. The duration of the period until the completion of resting tone was significantly shorter in Group D1 than in Group D2 (p = 0.048); however, the possibility of a spontaneous smile and the improvement rate of midline and horizontal deviation were not significantly different., Conclusions: Dual-innervated FMSAMT was effective in guaranteeing a symmetrical resting tone, voluntary smiling, and reproducing a spontaneous smile., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest None., (Copyright © 2023 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Wide hard palate defects include congenital and acquired defects that are six square centimeters or larger in size. Obturator prostheses and autologous soft tissue transfers have been used to reconstruct palatal defects. This study aims to repair wide, hard palatal defects by using a pronator quadratus musculo-osseous free flap to achieve subtotal reconstruction. Seventeen formalin-fixed cadavers were dissected. Free musculo-osseous pronator quadratus flaps were prepared after a 12 cm curvilinear volar skin incision. Standard 30 × 23 mm (690 ± 52.12 mm 2 ) hard palate defects were made by chisels and saws. A subcutaneous tunnel was created between the mandibular edge cross point of the facial vessels and the retromolar trigone through the subcutaneous to the superficial musculoaponeurotic system by dissection. Area measurements of the pedicle and palate defects were performed by the ImageJ program (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA) on drawings over an acetate layer of materials. Mandibular distances of gonion-facial vessel cross point (a), gonion-gnathion (m), and facial vessels' cross point-retromolar entrance point (h) were measured. Ratios of h/m and a/m were calculated. The mean pronator quadratus area was 2349.39 ± 444.05 mm 2 , and the arterial pedicle pronator quadratus diameter was 2.32 ± 0.34 mm. The mean pedicle length of the pronator quadratus was 117.13 ± 8.10 mm. Study results showed that musculo-osseous pronator quadratus flaps' bone and muscle parts perfectly fit on the defects in all cadavers. Pronator quadratus musculo-osseous flap is a feasible surgical option for wide, hard palatal defect reconstruction strategies., (Copyright © 2023 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of this retrospective study was to introduce our successful use of tensor fascia lata allograft to reconstruct various soft tissue defects. Since May 2021, we have applied tensor fascia lata allografts in eight cases. A frozen type of fascia of 0.6 mm thickness was used in all cases, and allografts were covered by vascularized soft tissue. We used tensor fascia lata allograft in eight cases to cover the infected wounds, donor site closure, and pedicle protections. These were abdominal wall and back reconstructions following rectus muscle and latissimus dorsi muscle harvest, coverage of infected spine wound after posterior fusion, pressure ulcer reconstruction, and pedicle protection of free and pedicle flaps. The follow-up periods were from one to 14 months. None of the cases showed wound problems after initial reconstruction using tensor fascia lata allografts. Tensor fascia lata allograft could be an excellent cost-effective surgical option comparable to autologous tissue grafts. Level of evidence: IV., (© 2022 The Author. International Wound Journal published by Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Groin dehiscence following vascular procedures results in morbidity for patients with peripheral vascular disease. Controversy exists around the indications for flap coverage. We present an institutional experience with flap reconstruction of groin wounds after vascular procedures to identify predictors of beneficial outcomes., Patients and Methods: A retrospective review of patients who had flap coverage for infected/nonhealing groin wounds following a vascular procedure between 1998 and 2021 was performed. Demographics and clinical characteristics, including flap and vascular graft type, were collected along with major complications. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the associations between procedures and major complications., Results: A total of 270 flaps were transferred to 237 patients. Thirty-three patients had bilateral wounds. The mean age and BMI were 67 ± 11 years and 27.9 ± 6.3 kg/m 2 , respectively. Flaps included rectus femoris (n = 142), sartorius (n = 118), rectus abdominis (n = 7), and gracilis (n = 3). Covered vascular grafts included prosthetic materials (n = 200) and autografts (n = 70). The median length of hospital stay after surgery was 10 days (interquartile range=12), and the mean follow-up was 29.1 ± 39.2 months. The major complication rate was 38.5% with wound infection being the most common. Flaps successfully prevented the infection-related removal of the grafts in 98.9% of cases. Multivariable analysis revealed no significant associations between variables and having a major complication., Conclusions: Flap coverage of the inguinal vessels can be performed safely with favorable limb salvage. Wound complications were high, but graft salvage was excellent. Rectus femoris and sartorius muscle flaps were the most common flaps, yielding comparable outcomes., (Copyright © 2023 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The knee region represents a challenging area of soft tissue reconstruction. Specifically, in the context of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or following high-energy trauma with fractures and hardware fixation, soft tissue defects can expose critical structures such as joint, bone or tendon, besides the implant/plates themselves, with dramatic consequences in terms of postoperative infection and hardware contamination., Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on a prospectively maintained database from January 2016 to February 2021. Inclusion criteria involved all patients who underwent an implant-associated infection of the knee and upper third of the leg coupled with a soft tissue reconstruction (STR) using the traditional gastrocnemius muscle (GM) pedicled flap or the chimeric GM-MSAP (medial sural artery perforator) flap., Results: Thirty-eight patients were included (group A, GM flap, 22 patients; group B, chimeric GM-MSAP flap, 16 patients). No statistically significant differences were detected in terms of age, comorbidities, defect size, follow-up, and flap complications. A statistically significant difference was seen among the groups in terms of successful flap re-raise (required because of a persistent infection of the implant or in a two-stage procedure setting, including the use of a cemented spacer) in favour of the GM-MSAP group., Conclusion: The chimeric GM-MSAP, being safer to reraise if required, can be a significantly more powerful tool in those cases in which a two-stage procedure is planned or when there is a high probability for secondary intervention need, reducing the need to convert to either free flap coverage or amputation., (Copyright © 2022 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Soleus muscle flap can be used in different modifications to reconstruct lower limb defects. It can be proximally based, distally based, island or reversed flow flap. The first description of the soleus muscle as an island flap supplied by one distal perforator was reported by Yajima et al (Plast Reconstr Surg. 1995;96:1162-1168). However, its use as a propeller flap supplied by the distal perforators and rotated for more than 90 degrees was not described yet., Obejectives: The aims of the study are to study the detailed vascular anatomy of the distal perforators of the soleus muscle flap and to demonstrate the applicability of using it as a propeller flap., Patients and Methods: A total number of 42 patients were included in this study. These patients had various distal leg and foot defects. All patients were assessed preoperatively by Doppler study and computed tomography angiography to define the vascular status of the leg. The muscle was raised as a reversed flow flap, based on 1 or more distal perforators and its feeding vessel (posterior tibial artery) after being dissected and divided proximally. The muscle was rotated for more than 90 degrees to reach distal leg defects and approximately 180 degrees to reach the foot defects., Results: All flaps survived completely with good and durable coverage. The vascularity of the limb was not affected in all patients. There was no functional donor site morbidity., Conclusions: The reversed flow hemisoleus muscle flap supplied by the distal perforators and the posterior tibial artery has a great arc of rotation that can cover all distal leg, ankle, and foot defects. Therefore, it can be used as alternative to free flap in lower extremity reconstruction. A new nomenclature is suggested for this flap which is the propeller hemisoleus muscle flap., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest and sources of funding: none declared., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

The authors present an anatomical study and clinical experience with radial forearm flap (RFF) and pronator quadratus muscle (PQM) application in the reconstruction of various body areas. The aim was to describe the anatomical placement and proportions of the PQM, the anatomical location of the major arterial branch of the radial artery supplying the PQM, and the application of this knowledge in clinical practice. The anatomical study was based upon an analysis of 13 fresh adult cadaver upper extremities, of which nine were female and four male; both arms from the same donors were used in four cases. The study of the PQM was performed using a dye-containing intraarterial injection, standard macro- and micro-preparation techniques, and chemical digestion. The data on the PQM size in males and females, thickness of the radial artery branch (the principal artery nourishing the muscle), and its position were analysed. The radial artery branch nourishing the PQM was identified in all cadaveric specimens of the anatomical study. In addition, 12 patients underwent reconstructions of soft and bony tissue defects using a RFF + PQM (pedicled or free flap). The radial artery branch perfusing the PQM was identified in all cases. The flap was used for the management of defects of the head (seven cases), arm (three cases) and lower leg (two cases). The harvest site healed well in all cases and, with the exception of one case in which a partial necrosis of the flap was observed, all flaps remained viable, which demonstrated the safety of the method., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Abstract: Reconstruction of the thumb is among the most complex challenges faced by hand surgeons. Meaningful functional recovery of the thumb is dependent mainly on thumb opposition and palmar abduction. Free functional muscle transfer provides neurotized, robust soft tissue coverage that can achieve dynamic reconstruction of thenar musculature in a single stage.We present a case of a free neurotized segmental gracilis muscle transfer for thenar reconstruction and a systematic review of thenar reconstruction with free functional muscle transfer in the literature. A teenage male patient with a gunshot-induced thenar defect was reconstructed using a free neurotized gracilis muscle measuring 5 × 11 cm. The obturator nerve was coapted to the recurrent motor branch of the median nerve. The patient reached M4 strength at 10 months with functional use of his thumb. A systematic review of options for functional thenar reconstruction revealed 14 studies describing functional thenar reconstruction in 44 patients. Successful functional flaps described included gracilis muscle, pronator quadratus muscle, pectoralis minor muscle, abductor hallucis muscle, extensor digitorum brevis muscle, and serratus anterior muscle. Microsurgical transfer of a functional muscle is an excellent option for single-stage thenar reconstruction of both form and function. There are a number of available donor sites with equivalent size and bulk to that of native thenar musculature., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest and sources of funding: none declared., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Pronator quadratus (PQ) is a quadrilateral muscle on a volar distal side of the forearm. The purpose of this study was to establish a novel surgical technique for reanimation of the upper eyelid for severe ptosis using PQ functional free muscle flap., Methods: The current study is a cadaveric study, designed to assess a PQ free flap transfer that lies between the frontalis muscle and the upper eyelid. Fourteen PQ from fourteen embalmed cadavers were dissected, and their neurovascular pedicles were isolated. Then they were transferred to the area on the contralateral side between the frontalis muscle and upper eyelid tarsal cartilage. Measurements of the PQ flap, antebrachial region, orbitofrontal region, recipient vessels, and motor nerve were performed using a caliper. The extendibility of neurovascular pedicles was evaluated by measurements of lengths. In addition, the diameter of PQ flap vascular pedicle vessels was compared with recipient vessels., Results: The mean width of the proximal border of PQ was 41.92 ± 2.05 mm and the distal border of the PQ was 42.84 ± 4.04 mm. The mean PQ artery (type II, Mathes-Nahai flap classification) length was found to be 117.72 ± 7.77 mm. The mean diameter of the anterior interosseous nerve was 1.89 ± 0.08 mm. The mean diameter of the uppermost branch of the frontal branch of the facial nerve was 1.18 ± 0.25 mm. The length and diameter of neurovascular pedicles of muscle flaps were adequate for microvascular anastomoses and neurorrhaphy., Conclusions: The results of this anatomical study demonstrate that the PQ free flap transfer has anatomical features that are suitable and compatible with the surgical treatment of blepharoptosis., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Deep periprosthetic infection after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a serious and challenging complication for the orthopedic surgeon. Muscular flaps may represent a valid management option for the treatment of this condition. We present a systematic literature review about the use of muscular flaps for the treatment of hip prosthetic joint infection., Methods: The review is reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Seventy-seven articles, out of 279 titles, were considered eligible for the full-text analysis. Finally 15 studies that met inclusion criteria were included in this review., Results: Overall, 210 patients (49% males, 48.6% females and 2.4% not reported) suffering from THA infection treated with muscular flaps were collected. The mean age was 69.6 years. Mean follow-up, reported in all studies, was 3.3 years. The results presented by the different authors, highlight the effectiveness of muscular flaps for the treatment of periprosthetic infection, in terms of function, limb salvage, prevention of the recurrences, cost-effectiveness, and quality of life postoperatively., Conclusions: Muscle flaps provide an excellent management option for patients with persistent infection after total hip arthroplasty., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Soft tissue defect coverage has always been a challenge for the orthopaedic surgeon. Over the last decades the surgery of flaps has completely changed the prognosis for large defects. The purpose of this study is to retrospectively review our experience with the gastrocnemius muscle as pedicled local flaps for reconstruction of knee and upper third of the tibia soft tissue defects. Twenty-seven patients underwent reconstruction of soft tissue defects around the knee using pedicled gastrocnemius muscle flaps. There were eighteen men and nine women ranged in with a mean age of 50.3 years. Medial gastrocnemius was used in 21 cases, and lateral gastrocnemius in 5 cases. In one patient, soleus and medial gastrocnemius were transferred simultaneously. All but one had at the same time split thickness skin graft for coverage of the muscle. All muscle flaps transferred were successful. There were no complications and all flaps survived completely without vascular compromise, satisfactory coverage of the defect, and good primary wound healing. There has been no recurrence of osteomyelitis. The donor sites healed perfectly with no remarkable resultant functional disability. A mean follow-up of 4.4 years revealed acceptable cosmetic results with high patient satisfaction. Our results indicate that the gastrocnemius muscle transfer is a useful technique for coverage of soft tissue defects in the upper tibia and around the knee in our orthopaedic practice. It is a reliable option for the coverage of exposed bone, the filling up of deep cavities and the treatment of bone infection. The principal advantage of a muscle flap is to bring a real blood supply to the recipient site and to improve the trophicity of the surrounding tissues. The pedicled muscle flap is our preference for the management of soft tissue defects around the knee, when no other procedure, apart from free flap is suitable. The pedicle flap is easier, quicker and with less complications than a free flap. Orthopaedic surgery has gained much from the use of island flap, however, it requires knowledge of the vascular anatomy and its variations promoted through cadaveric dissections and flap dissection courses., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All the authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Defects on the dorsum of the foot remain a reconstructive challenge for plastic surgeons. There are very few pedicled flaps that have a reach up to the distal foot and those too with a threat of poor perfusion. Very often distal foot has to be resurfaced with free flap even with small defects. This study describes our experience with the reverse extensor digitorum brevis muscle (EDB) flap for small- to medium-sized defects on the dorsum of the foot., Methods: The study was conducted on 12 patients between February 2018 and March 2020 who presented with defects on the dorsum of the foot. The mean age of the patients was 30.8 years and the mean defect size was 20.17 cm 2 . The EDB was applied on 10 male and 2 female subjects and resurfaced with a split thickness skin graft. The donor site was closed primarily., Results: All flaps survived well. Two patients had small graft loss and 2 partial wound dehiscence of donor site, all of which healed on conservative treatment. Three patients had temporary sensory disturbance which resolved in few weeks., Conclusion: The reverse EDB flap is a reliable flap for the coverage of small- to medium-sized dorsal foot defects. The flap has the advantage of robust vascularity, expendable muscle with little donor site morbidity, an easy to learn technique, short operating time, and acceptable esthetic outcome, and it can be used as the primary option in cases of small to medium dorsal foot defects., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Loss of knee extension causes significant impairment. Though nerve-based reconstruction is preferable in cases of femoral nerve palsy or injury, these surgeries are not always appropriate if the pathology involves the quadriceps muscles or presentation too late for muscle reinnervation. Muscle transfers are another option that has been underutilized in the lower extremity. We describe the successful restoration of knee extension by adductor magnus muscle transfer without functional donor morbidity, along with anatomical considerations., Methods: Ten fresh frozen cadaveric lower limbs were dissected at the groin and thigh. In addition, three patients presented with femoral nerve palsy for which nerve-based reconstruction was not appropriate because of late presentation. In these patients, adductor magnus muscle transfers were performed, along with sartorius, gracilis, and tensor fasciae latae transfers if available and healthy., Results: In cadavers, the pedicle for the adductor magnus is at the level of the gracilis and adequate for muscle transfer, with sufficient weavable tendon length. The only major structure at risk is the femoral neurovascular bundle, which is in a reliable anatomic position. Two patients recovered 4/5 active knee extension and ambulation without assistive devices. A third required reoperation for a loosened tendon weave, after which the noted improved stability and strength with ambulation but did not regain strong active knee extension and continued to require a cane., Conclusions: We present a novel reconstructive approach for loss of quadriceps function in patients, which yields good clinical outcomes, with anatomic and technical details to demonstrate the utility of this technique. Ongoing evaluation of optimal technique and rehabilitation to maximize functional outcomes is still needed., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The medial sural artery perforator free flap (MSAP) has gained increasing popularity in head and neck reconstruction. Its slightly bulkier nature than the radial forearm flap, combined with negligible donor site morbidity, makes it an ideal candidate for the reconstruction of partial glossectomy defects. The ability to harvest the MSAP as a chimeric flap with a portion of the medial gastrocnemius muscle gives it greater flexibility in soft tissue reconstruction., Methods: A retrospective study of patients with partial glossectomy defects reconstructed using the MSAP by a single surgeon was performed. Perioperative data, donor and recipient site characteristics, complications, and outcomes were analyzed. A video is included to show technical points for the harvest of the flap., Results: A total of 10 patients were included. The average age was 59.1 years, with a mean of 43.5% of the tongue resected. All flaps survived, with no major complications. At follow-up, the patients had regained an average of 86.5% of original speech, with none requiring NG feeding. The average MSAP skin flap thickness was 7.8 mm, with 6 flaps being harvested as chimeric fasciocutaneous muscle flaps. Five flaps incorporated 2 perforators. Two case examples are presented., Conclusion: The chimeric MSAP perforator allows for more robust partial glossectomy reconstruction with improved postoperative functional outcomes. It should be considered as the workhorse flap for partial tongue reconstruction., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Pediatric facial palsy represents a rare multifactorial entity. Facial reanimation restores smiling, thus boosting self-confidence and social integration of the affected children. The purpose of this paper is to present a systematic review of microsurgical workhorse free functional muscle transfer procedures with emphasis on the long-term functional, aesthetic, and psychosocial outcomes., Materials and Methods: We performed a literature search of the PubMed database from 1995 to 2019 using the following search strategy: "facial paralysis"[Title/Abstract] OR "facial palsy"[Title]. We used as limits: full text, English language, age younger than 18 years, and humans. Two independent reviewers performed the online screening process using Covidence. Forty articles met the inclusion criteria. The protocol was aligned with the PRISMA statement (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) and was registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO, CRD42019150112) of the National Institute for Health Research., Results: Free functional muscle transfer procedures include mainly segmental gracilis, latissimus dorsi, and pectoralis minor muscle transfer. Facial reanimation procedures with the use of the cross-face nerve graft (CFNG) or masseteric nerve result in almost symmetric smiles. The transplanted muscle grows harmoniously along with the craniofacial skeleton. Muscle function and aesthetic outcomes improve over time. All children presented improved self-esteem, oral commissure opening, facial animation, and speech., Conclusions: A two-stage CFNG plus an FFMT may restore a spontaneous emotive smile in pediatric facial palsy patients. Superior results of children FFMT compared to adults FFMT are probably attributed to greater brain plasticity., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest There are no conflicts of interest to declare. The authors have no commercial associations or financial disclosures that might pose or create a conflict of interest with any of the information presented in the article., (Copyright © 2021 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To investigate the clinical effect of gastrocnemius muscle flaps combined with vancomycin/gentamicin-calcium sulfate combined and autologous iliac bone graft in the phase I treatment of traumatic focal osteomyelitis (Cierny-Mader type III) after tibial plateau fracture surgery., Methods: From July 2009 to January 2018, 35 patients with localized osteomyelitis (Cierny-Mader type III) who met the inclusion criteria were followed up and treated. All patients were infected after undergoing internal fracture fixation surgery. Among them, 18 cases were plate-exposed, 14 cases were due to sinus tracts, two were due to skin necrosis, and one was bone-exposed. We treated patients with several measures. All cases were then followed up. The follow-up indicators included Hospital for Special Surgery knee scores (HSS), the time of laying drainage pipe, bone healing time, infection control rate, and the incidence of nonunion and other complications., Results: All patients were followed up for 24-60 months. None of them underwent amputation. For repairing soft tissue defects, 17 cases were covered with a muscle flap using the medial head of gastrocnemius alone, 15 cases were treated with the lateral head of gastrocnemius muscle, and three cases were covered with the combination of the two heads. Compared to the preoperative score, we found that the average HSS improved at the 1-year and 2-year follow-up (54 vs. 86 vs. 87)., Conclusion: Using a gastrocnemius muscle flap combined with vancomycin/gentamicin-calcium sulfate and autogenous iliac bone was an effective method for the phase I treatment of osteomyelitis (Cierny-Mader type III) after tibial plateau fracture surgery. In the primary treatment of focal traumatic osteomyelitis, it can decrease the treatment time, number of surgeries, pain of patients, time of bone healing, postoperative exudation, and infection recurrence rate and increase the healing bone's strength.

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a major problem in health care and more than 400 million people worldwide suffer from involuntary loss of urine. With an increase in the aging population, UI is likely to become even more prominent over the next decades and the economic burden is substantial. Among the different subtypes of UI, stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is the most prevalent and focus of this review. The main underlying causes for SUI are pregnancy and childbirth, accidents with direct trauma to the pelvis or medical treatments that affect the pelvic floor, such as surgery or irradiation. Conservative approaches for the treatment of SUI are pelvic physiotherapy, behavioral and lifestyle changes, and the use of pessaries. Current surgical treatment options include slings, colposuspensions, bulking agents and artificial urinary sphincters. These treatments have limitations with effectiveness and bear the risk of long-term side effects. Furthermore, surgical options do not treat the underlying pathophysiological causes of SUI. Thus, there is an urgent need for alternative treatments, which are effective, minimally invasive and have only a limited risk for adverse effects. Regenerative medicine is an emerging field, focusing on the repair, replacement or regeneration of human tissues and organs using precursor cells and their components. This article critically reviews recent advances in the therapeutic strategies for the management of SUI and outlines future possibilities and challenges.

Background: Regenerative peripheral nerve interfaces (RPNIs) transduce neural signals to provide high-fidelity control of neuroprosthetic devices. Traditionally, rat RPNIs are constructed with ~150 mg of free skeletal muscle grafts. It is unknown whether larger free muscle grafts allow RPNIs to transduce greater signal., Methods: RPNIs were constructed by securing skeletal muscle grafts of various masses (150, 300, 600, or 1200 mg) to the divided peroneal nerve. In the control group, the peroneal nerve was transected without repair. Endpoint assessments were conducted 3 mo postoperatively., Results: Compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs), maximum tetanic isometric force, and specific muscle force were significantly higher for both the 150 and 300 mg RPNI groups compared to the 600 and 1200 mg RPNIs. Larger RPNI muscle groups contained central areas lacking regenerated muscle fibers., Conclusions: Electrical signaling and tissue viability are optimal in smaller as opposed to larger RPNI constructs in a rat model., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: The role of internal fixation and local muscle flaps for open tibial fractures is still not specifically determined. We describe the integration of internal fixation and soleus muscle flap for open fractures complicated with soft tissue loss of the tibial shaft., Methods: Twenty-seven patients with Gustilo IIIB open fractures of the tibial shaft were operated on by internal fixation and soft tissue coverage by soleus muscle flaps and variances. Data were collected on types of implants, types of flaps, union time, postoperative complications, and objective clinical measurement., Results: Regarding implants for fixation, plates and screws were selected in 22 patients, and intramedullary nails in 5. Proximally based soleus flap was used in 17 patients, hemisoleus in 6, and reversed hemisoleus in 4. All flaps survived and all fractures were united with a mean union time of 21.8 weeks (range 14-30). One patient had unplanned reoperations due to delayed union and equinus deformity of the ankle. All patients had good-to-excellent Puno functional score results., Conclusion: Internal fixation and soft tissue coverage, frequently referred to as 'fix and flap', by a local soleus muscle flap is safe and effective for open fractures accompanied with small-to-medium size soft tissue defect of the tibial shaft.

Primary mandibular reconstruction after tumor removal or osteoradionecrosis treatment is a standard procedure. The most common reconstruction techniques are fibula, scapula, and iliac crest free flaps. Nevertheless, all patients are not eligible for microsurgery. In this study, we assess 12 years of mandibular reconstruction using an osteo-muscular dorsal scapular pedicled flap (OMDS). We included 40 patients operated on using an OMDS flap. We collected parameters such as length of hospital stay, recurrence risk, and need for secondary flap for oral cutaneous fistula (OCF) treatment. Flap bone volume was assessed by segmenting the scapula on postoperative CT-scans using dedicated software. Forty patients were included. Indications for OMDS flaps were severe cardiovascular history (27%), preoperative radiotherapy with a radiation neck and potentially unreliable blood vessel sutures (20%), previous fibula free flap failure (15%), and patient refusing free tissue transfer (8%). Aside from these medical indications, OMDS flaps were performed in 30% of cases due to organizational concerns. The mean flap length was 73±16 mm, with a maximum of 109 mm. Flap bone volume was stable over time, with negligible resorption (p = 0.761). Secondary pedicled flaps were used to treat OCF in 5 patients (12%). Secondary esthetic procedures were performed in 9 patients (22%). None of the 40 flaps were removed. None of the patients had long-term scarring complications in donor sites. OMDS flaps merit consideration for mandibular reconstruction when free tissue transfer is contraindicated or impossible due to organizational issues., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2020 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The microsurgical reconstruction of complex lower limb defects has become a routine procedure with high success rates. The emphasis has changed from ensuring flap 'success' to providing a reconstruction, which is also aesthetically pleasing. The aim of this study was to compare patients' satisfaction with aesthetic outcomes, following muscle or fasciocutaneous free flap reconstruction to the lower limb., Methods: Data were collected retrospectively between July, 2013 and May, 2018 at a single institution. The inclusion criteria were adult patients who had successful free tissue transfers to the lower limb following any aetiology. A Likert Scale questionnaire was sent to all patients who met these criteria. The questionnaire included questions related to the reconstruction and donor site., Results: Questionnaires were sent to 83 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Forty-seven (57%) patients responded, of which 22 (47%) underwent reconstruction with muscular flap and 25 (53%) with fasciocutaneous flap. A statistically significant difference between the two groups was found in relation to flap texture (p = 0.003). Patients with fasciocutaneous flap reconstruction being more satisfied. No significant difference was observed for contour, similarity to the contralateral side, bulkiness of flap, colour match, scar, or overall appearance. The comparison of donor site results revealed no significant difference between the two groups CONCLUSIONS: Despite increase in success in lower extremity reconstruction, many patients still find aesthetic results suboptimal and this affects an individual's global sense of well-being. Aesthetic restoration should be viewed as an integral part of lower limb reconstruction., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic, III., (Crown Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Wound complications following arterial surgery in the groin are relatively common and can result in significant morbidity and mortality. Vascularised muscle flaps (VMF) may be used as an adjunct to aid healing, either to manage complications or prophylactically. This series describes 46 patients who received sartorius or gracilis muscle flaps, of which 70% were performed as a salvage procedure to treat complications ranging from wound breakdown to vascular graft infection. The remaining 30% were performed at the time of the arterial surgery in patients with risk factors such as re-do surgery or immunosuppression. The peri-operative mortality rate was 9% and the major amputation rate was 26%, reflecting the complexity of patients that require intervention. Overall, 85% achieved successful healing in the groin without the need for further treatment following VMF. Only one case of flap necrosis occurred. Wound healing complications occurred more commonly after sartorius muscle flaps. The gracilis muscle offers a bulkier mass and greater mobility and so may be preferable, particularly for larger groin defects. This series has shown that VMF offer a safe and reliable option for selected cases to achieve wound healing in the groin in patients with often significant co-morbidities., (© 2020 The Authors. International Wound Journal published by Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

We report the case of a 40 year-old male with Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis of the proximal humerus after open reduction and internal fixation of a fracture from motor vehicle accident. Removal of the osteosynthesis, extensive debridement and intravenous antibiotics administration was done followed by external fixation stabilization and reconstruction with a combined pedicled flap using the serratus anterior reversed flap and the 6th rib. At the last follow-up, healing of the bone flap was observed; the patient experienced useful motion of his upper extremity without any evidence of recurrent infection., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Importance: Conventional reconstruction techniques for superficial parotidectomy have been criticized for their ability to provide long-term volumetric correction and to prevent Frey's syndrome. Objective: To demonstrate the long-term effectiveness of a pedicled and innervated sternocleidomastoid muscle flap (PISCMMF) to reconstruct superficial parotidectomy defects. Design, Setting, and Participants: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients treated by a single surgeon in a tertiary care center from July 2012 to March 2018. Seventeen of a possible 34 eligible adults having undergone reconstruction with a PISCMMF for benign parotid disease with at least 1 year of follow-up were included through convenience sampling. Patients with revision parotid surgery, malignant parotid tumors, neck dissections, or prior spinal accessory nerve dysfunction were excluded. Intervention: A PISCMMF was used to immediately reconstruct superficial parotidectomy defects. Main Outcomes and Measures: Participants underwent three-dimensional facial imaging, starch-iodine testing for Frey's syndrome, and completed a validated satisfaction questionnaire. The surface area of the positive starch-iodine tests was calculated. An average model was generated from participant images, allowing the calculation of surface millimeter differences comparing the operative with nonoperative sides. Results: Seventeen patients [7 male (41.2%), mean age 50.82 ± 12.37 years] underwent a PISCMMF to reconstruct excision (mean specimen weight = 21.45 ± 12.22 g) of benign lesions [9 pleomorphic adenomas (52.9%), 5 Warthin's tumors (29.4%), 2 cysts (11.8%), 1 chronic parotitis (5.9%)], with a mean follow-up time of 35.41 ± 12.30 months. Rates of objective and subjective Frey's syndrome were 29.4% and 11.8%, respectively. The average surface area affected was 2.32 cm 2 [standard deviation (SD) = 1.95 cm 2 ] compared with the average surface area of 16.35 cm 2 (SD = 9.20 cm 2 ) of the excised specimens. Facial symmetry analysis revealed an average millimeter difference of -1.57 ± 2.55 mm that was not significant at a threshold of 2 mm [ t (16) = 0.69, p  = 0.50]. No participants had postoperative shoulder or neck dysfunction. Overall satisfaction was 95.4%. Age ( β  = -0.51, p  = 0.02) and case number ( β  = 0.44, p  = 0.04) were significant predictors of smaller millimeter difference ( R 2  = 0.48, F (2,14) = 6.41, p  = 0.01). The specimen mass ( β  = -0.05, p  = 0.35) did not predict millimeter difference ( R 2  = 0.11, F (1,8) = 0.10, p  = 0.35). Conclusions and Relevance: A PISCMMF immediately reconstructing parotidectomy defects successfully restores facial symmetry, prevents clinically significant Frey's syndrome, and results in high patient satisfaction in the long term without significant morbidity.

Objective: To obtain real-life data on the most common practices used for management of incidental durotomy (ID) in France., Methods: Data were collected from spinal surgeons using a practice-based online questionnaire. The survey comprised 31 questions on the current management of ID in France. The primary outcome was the identification of areas of consensus and uncertainty on ID follow-up., Results: A total of 217 surgeons (mainly orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons) completed the questionnaire and were included in the analysis. There was a consensus on ID repair with 94.5% of the surgeons considering that an ID should always be repaired, if repairable, and 97.2% performing a repair if an ID occurred. The most popular techniques were simple suture or locked continuous suture (48.3% vs. 57.8% of surgeons). Nonrepairable IDs were more likely to be treated with surgical sealants than with an endogenous graft (84.9% vs. 75.5%). Almost two thirds of surgeons (71.6%) who adapted their standard postoperative protocol after an ID recommended bed rest in the supine position. Among these, 48.8% recommended 24 hours of bed rest, while 53.5% recommended 48 hours of bed rest. The surgeons considered that the main risk factors for ID were revision surgery (98.6%), patient's age (46.8%), surgeon's exhaustion (46.3%), and patient's weight (21.3%)., Conclusions: This nationwide survey reflects the lack of a standardized management protocol for ID. Practices among surgeons remain very heterogeneous. Further consensus studies are required to develop a standard management protocol for ID., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)