Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND: The application of aesthetic, craniofacial, and microsurgical principles in the execution of face transplantation may improve outcomes. Optimal soft-tissue face transplantation can be achieved by incorporating subunit facial skeletal replacement and subsequent tissue resuspension. The purpose of this study was to establish a reconstructive solution for a full face and scalp burn and to evaluate outcome precision and consistency. METHODS: Seven mock face transplants (14 cadavers) were completed in the span of 1 year. Components of the vascularized composite allograft included the eyelids, nose, lips, facial muscles, oral mucosa, total scalp, and ears; and skeletal subunits of the zygoma, nasal bone, and genial segment. Virtual surgical planning was used for osteotomy selection, and to evaluate postoperative precision of hard- and soft-tissue elements. RESULTS: Each transplant experience decreased each subsequent transplant surgical time. Prefabricated cutting guides facilitated a faster dissection of both donor and recipient tissue, requiring minimal alteration to the allograft for proper fixation of bony segments during inset. Regardless of donor-to-recipient size discrepancy, ample soft tissue was available to achieve tension-free allograft inset. Differences between virtual transplant simulation and posttransplant measurements were minimal or insignificant, supporting replicable and precise outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This facial transplant model was designed to optimize reconstruction of extensive soft-tissue defects of the craniofacial region representative of electrical, thermal, and chemical burns, by incorporating skeletal subunits within the allograft. The implementation of aesthetic, craniofacial, and microsurgical principles and computer-assisted technology improves surgical precision, decreases operative time, and may optimize function.

PURPOSE: There is considerable controversy over the treatment of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) and growing interest and debate related to the timing, type, technique, and goals of surgical intervention. The specific aim was to evaluate the predictive value of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) with computed tomography (CT) on healing outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for MRONJ of the mandible. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 31 patients with 33 MRONJ lesions of the mandible who had undergone surgery using FDG PET-CT was conducted. Data were collected on FDG uptake patterns, healing, follow-up, demographics, lesion characteristics, antiresorptive therapy, and adjunctive therapy. Panoramic and periapical radiographs were used to identify non-restorable teeth and PET-CT images were used to identify sequestra and FDG uptake. Above the mandibular canal, surgery consisted of marginal resection or debridement of clinically involved bone and exposure of clinically uninvolved bone identified by FDG uptake. Below the mandibular canal, mobile segments of bony sequestra were removed, but areas of clinically uninvolved bone with FDG uptake were not. Patients who did not heal underwent segmental resection and reconstruction with rigid fixation and a local or regional soft tissue flap or free fibular flap. The primary predictor variable was the FDG uptake pattern for each patient. The outcome variable was postoperative healing defined by mucosal closure without signs of infection or exposed bone at the time of evaluation. RESULTS: Two risk groups were identified based on FDG uptake pattern. The low-risk group, type A, included 22 patients with activity limited to the alveolus, torus, and basal bone superior to the mandibular canal. The high-risk group, type B, included 11 patients with type A FDG activity with extension inferior to the mandibular canal. Treatment of type A MRONJ lesions was more successful than treatment of type B MRONJ lesions (100 vs 27%; P < .001). Seven of the type B failures were successfully retreated by segmental resection and reconstruction (1 patient refused further treatment). CONCLUSION: These results showed that low-risk FDG PET-CT findings predicted successful healing with surgery above the mandibular canal. In contrast, high-risk FDG findings were associated with a greater than 50% risk of failure for treatment that extended below the mandibular canal. Although these failures suggest that FDG uptake indicates infected tissue, further research is needed to identify which high-risk patients are most likely to benefit from a conservative treatment protocol.

BACKGROUND: Virtual surgical planning (VSP) has contributed to a number of technical innovations in mandible reconstruction. We report on these innovations and the overall evolution of mandible reconstruction using free fibula flaps at our institution. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent virtually planned free fibula flap reconstruction of the mandible. Comparisons were made between cohorts based on distinct eras related to the virtual planning approach. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients underwent a total of 78 VSP-assisted mandible reconstructions with free fibula flaps. Significant differences were noted among the groups with regard to mean number of segments, percentage of flaps that had at least 3 segments, percentage of flaps that had double-barrel components, and innovations per flap. CONCLUSION: VSP-assisted mandible reconstruction has contributed to more complex surgeries at our institution. The technology ensures functional restoration, permitting an optimized aesthetic reconstruction that has not increased operative times or complications. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2016.

Background This study aims to characterize the evolution and trends in free flap breast reconstruction at our institution. Methods The authors reviewed and analyzed a registry of free flap breast reconstructions performed at a large urban academic center. Results Between 1979 and mid-2014, a total of 920 patients underwent breast reconstruction with 1,254 flaps. The mean age was 47.7 years (range, 16-79 years). Over the past 10 years, patients were older than all patients seen in the prior decade (average age 48.9 vs. 46.1 years, p = 0.002). Overall, 82% of flaps were performed at our university hospital, 17% at a major urban county hospital, and < 1% at other sites. A total of 99% patients received postmastectomy reconstruction for an existing cancer diagnosis or prophylaxis. There has been a significant increase in reconstructions, with 579 flaps performed over the past 5 years alone. There has been a fundamental shift in the predominant flap of choice over time. Perforator flaps have increased in popularity at our institution, with 74% of all reconstructions over this past 5 years being perforator based. Perforator flaps were more likely to be chosen over nonperforator flaps in older versus younger patients (p = 0.0008). There has been a steady increase in bilateral reconstructions since the first one was performed in 1987 (p = 0.002). Conclusions Over the past 35 years, our institution has seen a significant evolution in free flap-based breast reconstruction. Besides a massive increase in flap numbers we have seen a significant trend toward bilateral reconstructions and perforator-based flaps.

Background The internal mammary vessels are the most commonly used recipients for microsurgical breast reconstructions. Often, the costal cartilage is sacrificed to obtain improved vessel exposure. In an effort to reduce adverse effects associated with traditional rib sacrifice, recent studies have described less-invasive, rib-sparing strategies. Methods After obtaining institutional review board's approval, a retrospective review of all patients undergoing microsurgical breast reconstruction at a single institution between November 2007 and December 2013 was conducted. Patients were divided into two cohorts for comparison: rib-sacrificing and rib-sparing internal mammary vessel harvests. Results A total of 547 reconstructions (344 patients) met inclusion criteria for this study. A total of 64.9% (n = 355) underwent rib-sacrificing internal mammary vessel harvest. Cohorts were similar in baseline patient characteristics, indications for surgery, and cancer therapies. However, patients undergoing rib-sparing reconstructions had significantly shorter operative times (440 vs. 476 minutes; p < 0.01), and significantly less postoperative pain on postoperative day (POD) 1 (2.8/10 vs. 3.4/10; p = 0.033) and POD2 (2.4/10 vs. 3.0/10; p = 0.037). Furthermore, patients undergoing rib-sparing techniques had greater incidence of fat necrosis requiring excision (12.5 vs. 2.8%; p < 0.01) and a trend toward higher incidence of hematoma, venous thrombosis, and arterial thrombosis when compared with rib-sacrificing patients. Conclusions Rib-sparing harvest of internal mammary vessels is a feasible technique in microsurgical breast reconstruction. However, given the significant increase in fat necrosis requiring surgical excision, the trend toward increased postoperative complications, and no significant difference in postoperative revision rates, the purported benefits of this technique may fail to outweigh the possible risks.

Ionizing radiation is a common therapeutic modality and following irradiation dermal changes, including fibrosis and atrophy, may lead to permanent changes. We have previously demonstrated that occupancy of A2A receptor (A2AR) stimulates collagen production, so we determined whether blockade or deletion of A2AR could prevent radiation-induced fibrosis. After targeted irradiation (40 Gy) of the skin of wild-type (WT) or A2AR knockout (A2ARKO) mice, the A2AR antagonist ZM241385 was applied daily for 28 d. In irradiated WT mice treated with the A2AR antagonist, there was a marked reduction in collagen content and skin thickness, and ZM241385 treatment reduced the number of myofibroblasts and angiogenesis. After irradiation, there is an increase in loosely packed collagen fibrils, which is significantly diminished by ZM241385. Irradiation also induced an increase in epidermal thickness, prevented by ZM241385, by increasing the number of proliferating keratinocytes. Similarly, in A2ARKO mice, the changes in collagen alignment, skin thickness, myofibroblast content, angiogenesis, and epidermal hyperplasia were markedly reduced following irradiation. Radiation-induced changes in the dermis and epidermis were accompanied by an infiltrate of T cells, which was prevented in both ZM241385-treated and A2ARKO mice. Radiation therapy is administered to a significant number of patients with cancer, and radiation reactions may limit this therapeutic modality. Our findings suggest that topical application of an A2AR antagonist prevents radiation dermatitis and may be useful in the prevention or amelioration of radiation changes in the skin.-Perez-Aso, M., Mediero, A., Low, Y. C., Levine, J., Cronstein, B. N. Adenosine A2A receptor plays an important role in radiation-induced dermal injury.

We present a case of rapidly ascending left ventricular assist device driveline and tunnel infection in a patient with a long length of driveline buried beyond the distal velour coating. Device salvage with radical debridement, exit site relocation, and local tissue advancement is described. The findings in this case suggest that the interface between nonvelour covered driveline and subcutaneous tissue can become the nidus of a virulent ascending infection because of poor tissue ingrowth.