Plastic and reconstructive surgery
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Plast. Reconstr. Surg. · Sep 2004
Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialEfficacy of the pain pump catheter in immediate autologous breast reconstruction.
The purpose of the investigation was to evaluate the efficacy of a slow bupivacaine infusion at postoperative surgical sites in immediate breast reconstruction patients. This prospective study included 16 patients who underwent autologous breast reconstruction with a latissimus dorsi pedicled flap immediately after mastectomy. A two-site infusion kit with dual split-flow catheters was secured at the operative sites before skin closure. ⋯ No complications occurred with the use of the pain pump catheter. A 48-hour infusion of 0.25% bupivacaine significantly decreases the need for postoperative narcotics and the over-all pain experience in immediate breast reconstruction patients. This effective form of pain control may alleviate patient concerns of postoperative pain and may safely downstage many plastic surgery procedures, such as immediate breast reconstruction, and many cosmetic procedures to same-day status when the primary indication for admission is pain management.
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Plast. Reconstr. Surg. · Sep 2004
Letter Case ReportsMeralgia paresthetica in a policeman: the belt or the gun.
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Plast. Reconstr. Surg. · Sep 2004
The position of crossing branches of the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve during cubital tunnel surgery in humans.
The posterior branch of the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve courses in proximity to the cubital tunnel and is particularly prone to injury during ulnar nerve release at the elbow. Inadvertent injury to medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve branches during surgery can result in the formation of painful neuromas that can be misdiagnosed as recurrent disease. It is important to understand the relevant anatomy of the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve branches during cubital tunnel surgery to avoid significant postoperative morbidity. ⋯ Medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve branches were noted to cross at or proximal to the medial humeral epicondyle 61 percent of the time at an average proximal distance of 1.8 cm. Medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve branches were noted to cross distal to the medial humeral epicondyle 100 percent of the time at an average distal distance of 3.1 cm. Understanding the general position of crossing medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve branches during ulnar nerve release at the elbow may help to prevent iatrogenic injury to this cutaneous nerve.
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Recent evidence supports the use of end-to-side neurorrhaphy for the treatment of certain peripheral nerve disorders. However, the mechanism by which nerves regenerate following this procedure is still unclear. To address this question, the authors designed a new end-to-side coaptation model in rats in which the donor nerves were uninjured. ⋯ Fluorescent dye staining revealed the presence of regenerated nerve fibers beyond the coaptation site. In group III, the regenerating nerves were observed within the whole section of the coaptation site and collateral sprouting was found to occur even at a site distal to the suture. From these results, the authors conclude that in end-to-side neurorrhaphy, nerve regeneration occurs by collateral sprouting from the donor nerve.