Plastic and reconstructive surgery
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Plast. Reconstr. Surg. · Feb 2006
Case ReportsSuprascapular nerve reconstruction in 118 cases of adult posttraumatic brachial plexus.
Shoulder stabilization is of utmost importance in upper extremity reanimation following paralysis from devastating brachial plexus injuries. The purpose of this report is to present the authors' experience with suprascapular nerve reconstruction in 118 cases of adult brachial plexus lesions. Outcomes were analyzed in relation to various factors, including patient age, denervation time, donor nerve used, and functional restoration achieved in the supraspinatus versus the infraspinatus muscles. ⋯ Suprascapular nerve neurotization is a high priority in upper limb reanimation for restoration of glenohumeral joint stability, shoulder abduction, and external rotation. Concomitant neurotization of the axillary nerve yields improved outcomes in shoulder abduction function. The best results are seen when direct neurotization of the suprascapular nerve is performed within 6 months from the injury.
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Plast. Reconstr. Surg. · Feb 2006
Comparative StudyComparison of elongations provided by subcutaneous pedicle rhomboid flap and Z-plasty in rat inguinal skin.
The most commonly used technique in the treatment of contracture bands is Z-plasty. The subcutaneous pedicle rhomboid flap is a relatively new flap whose efficiency in the treatment of wide or linear contractures with two or more contracture bands has been demonstrated. This experimental study was planned to compare the lengthening provided by the subcutaneous pedicle rhomboid flap with that provided by the Z-plasty. ⋯ The subcutaneous pedicle rhomboid flap technique is a more effective than Z-plasty in lengthening the tension lines in rat inguinal skin.
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Plast. Reconstr. Surg. · Feb 2006
A supermicrosurgical flap model in the rat: a free true abdominal perforator flap with a short pedicle.
Perforator flaps have recently gained considerable popularity in reconstructive surgery, and their importance and advantages over conventional flaps have been widely accepted. Given the improvements in microsurgical techniques, researchers have encouraged the search for further perforator flap sources, such as a perforator flap with a short pedicle only. The purpose of this study was to describe a true perforator flap model with a short vascular pedicle in the abdominal region in the rat. ⋯ Not only is the free abdominal perforator flap a reliable and true perforator flap model for future physiological, biological, and pharmacological studies, it is also an excellent self-controlled supermicrosurgical training model for learning proper techniques, meticulous intramuscular dissection of true perforator flaps, and anastomosis of small-caliber vessels.