Annals of plastic surgery
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Annals of plastic surgery · Mar 2014
Case ReportsDistally based perforator propeller sural flap for foot and ankle reconstruction: a modified flap dissection technique.
Distally based perforator propeller sural flaps that pedicled on an isolated perforator from the peroneal artery or posterior tibial artery are a versatile local reconstructive option for defects of the foot and ankle region. However, flap venous congestion is yet a difficult problem after operation. We hypothesize that containing some adipofascial tissues around the axial perforator can preserve some tiny venous return routes, improve venous drainage, and ultimately enhance flap safety in distally based sural flaps. ⋯ Keeping a quadrant adipofascial tissue around the distal pivot perforator to form a perforator-adipofascial-pedicle can preserve more venous return routes and relieve flap swelling. This technique should be recommended in distally perforator-pedicled propeller flaps because it enhances flap safety yet does not increase the difficulty of 180-degree rotation.
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Annals of plastic surgery · Mar 2014
To heal and restore broken bodies: a retrospective, descriptive study of the role and impact of pastoral care in the treatment of patients with burn injury.
Despite advances in resuscitation, resurfacing, and reconstruction, recovery in burn patients often depends upon emotional, psychosocial, and spiritual healing. We characterized the spiritual needs of burn patients to help identify resources necessary to optimize recovery. ⋯ In burn patients, utilization of pastoral care appears to be linked to size of burn, financial charges, and length of stay, with religious affiliation serving as a possible marker for improved survival. Plastic surgeons and burn providers should consider and address the spiritual needs of burn patients, as a component of recovery.
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Annals of plastic surgery · Mar 2014
The course of the intercostobrachial nerve in the axillary region and as it is related to transaxillary breast augmentation.
The aim of this study was to precisely determine the course of the intercostobrachial nerve (ICBN) in the axillary region and as it is related to bony landmarks, and all of this might be of use for transaxillary breast augmentation. ⋯ When performing mammary augmentation, care should be taken not to dissect the undersurface of the P minor at the second intercostal space to avoid injury to the ICBN.
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Annals of plastic surgery · Mar 2014
Plastic surgery residency websites: a critical analysis of accessibility and content.
Medical students applying for plastic surgery residency utilize the Internet to manage their residency applications. Applicants often apply to many programs and rely on advice from colleagues, mentors, and information gathered from plastic surgery residency websites (PSRWs). The purpose of the present study was to evaluate integrated and combined PSRWs with respect to accessibility, resident recruitment, and education. ⋯ PSRWs are often not readily accessible and do not provide basic information that allow residency applicants to use this recruitment tool effectively. The paucity of online content suggests PSRWs are underutilized as an educational and recruitment tool. These findings have implications for applicants and plastic surgery residency programs, and there may be future opportunity to utilize this tool more effectively.
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Annals of plastic surgery · Feb 2014
Tissue expander complications in the pediatric burn patient: a 10-year follow-up.
This study is a 10-year follow-up to our previous publication reviewing the complication rates of tissue expansion in the pediatric burn population. The purpose of this study was to determine if our institutional experience with tissue expanders had remained stable during the subsequent 10 years. ⋯ After changing our tissue expander protocol, the complication rates at our institution have remained stable during the 10-year follow-up period. Tissue expansion in the pediatric burn population continues to be a safe and effective reconstructive option with acceptable complication rates.