Plastic and reconstructive surgery
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Plast. Reconstr. Surg. · Apr 2006
Clinical TrialNitrous oxide administered by the plastic surgeon for repair of facial lacerations in children in the emergency room.
The purpose of this study was to investigate a means of providing pain relief during repair of facial lacerations in children in the emergency room. ⋯ Nitrous oxide can be safely administered by plastic surgeons while suturing facial lacerations in the emergency room. The fast onset and rapid recovery characteristics of nitrous oxide provide a convenient environment for performing short surgical procedures. This safe method for provision of analgesia and anxiolysis may be appealing to plastic surgeons for ambulatory procedures (e.g., suture removal, expander inflation, Botox injection, injection of various fillers) in pediatric and adult populations.
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Plast. Reconstr. Surg. · Apr 2006
Case ReportsTreatment of recontracture with the subcutaneous pedicle rhomboid flap.
Treatment of recontractures that were previously skin grafted or treated with Z-plasty is a challenge. Application of a subsequent Z-plasty is risky because of the possibility of tip necrosis of the triangular flaps, whereas donor-site morbidity is undesirable if subsequent skin grafting is planned. The subcutaneous pedicle rhomboid flap is an effective technique for the treatment of every type of contracture. This article presents the clinical results of the rhomboid flap used in treatment of recontractures as an alternate technique to Z-plasty and skin grafting. ⋯ The subcutaneous pedicle rhomboid flap is an effective and reliable technique for the treatment of recontractures. Preoperative planning is simple and independent of previous scars. Because the rhomboid flap resurfaces the emerged defects generated by relaxation incisions, one should consider that the flexibility of a single flap may not be adequate in some cases, and multiple flaps should be used.
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Plast. Reconstr. Surg. · Apr 2006
Plasma free hemoglobin: a novel diagnostic test for assessment of the depth of burn injury.
Accurate determination of the depth of burn injury is difficult, even for experienced surgeons. The authors hypothesized that the level of plasma free hemoglobin following burn injury is correlated to the depth of burn injury, and they evaluated this hypothesis in a murine model. ⋯ The authors' data suggest that the level of plasma free hemoglobin after burn injury is related to the size and depth of burn injury. This test can potentially be a valuable diagnostic adjunct in the assessment of burns.
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Plast. Reconstr. Surg. · Apr 2006
Regenerating axons emerge far proximal to the coaptation site in end-to-side nerve coaptation without a perineurial window using a T-shaped chamber.
Considerable controversy exists concerning the mechanism of axonal regeneration in end-to-side neurorrhaphy. The authors studied the mode of axonal regeneration in end-to-side neurorrhaphy without a perineurial window using a rat sciatic nerve model. ⋯ The authors could not locate the site of axonal sprouting in end-to-side neurorrhaphy without a perineurial window; however, this study cast doubts on current hypothesis on the mode of axonal regeneration in end-to-side neurorrhaphy.