Faculty Bibliography

HYPOTHESIS: Damage control laparotomy (DCL) has beneficial effects on the long-term morbidity and survival of trauma patients. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Level I trauma center. PATIENTS: Eighty-eight trauma patients who were admitted during a 3-year period (January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2003) underwent damage control laparotomy and were subsequently followed up (January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2008). INTERVENTION: Damage control laparotomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Major and long-term complications, lengths of stay, mortality, readmissions, subsequent surgical procedures, activities of daily living, and return to work. RESULTS: On admission, the mean age and Injury Severity Score were 33 years and 34, respectively. Of the 88 patients, 66 (75%) were male; 46 patients had blunt injuries and 42 had penetrating injuries. Liver was the most common injury (63 patients), followed by bowel (34), spleen (33), major vessel (19), and pancreas (10). The mean admission pH and temperature were 7.19 and 34.4 degrees C, respectively, with 21.5 U of packed red blood cells transfused. The mean (SD) number of initial abdominal operations was 4.6 (2.5) per patient, with an overall mortality of 28% (25 patients). Intensive care unit and hospital lengths of stay were 18 (15) and 32 (20) days, respectively. Of the 63 patients who survived, 58 underwent intra-abdominal closure with polyglactin mesh. During the study, 44 intra-abdominal infections and 18 enterocutaneous fistulas were diagnosed. All 63 survivors were readmitted at least once. There were a total of 186 readmissions and 92 subsequent surgical procedures. Ventral hernia repair (66 readmissions) was the most common reason for readmission, followed by infection (41) and fistula management (29). There was 0% mortality for patients who survived the preliminary hospitalization. Of the 63 surviving patients, 51 (81%) reported that they had gone back to work and resumed normal daily activities. CONCLUSION: Although damage control laparotomy is associated with a significant complication and readmission rate, its overall benefit is indisputable.

BACKGROUND: The authors sought to review the various types of patients with psychological abnormalities who may present to the plastic surgeon and the psychological impact of various plastic surgery procedures on these patients. METHODS: After systematically searching the Embase and PubMed databases and following further refinement (based on the authors' inclusion and exclusion criteria), the authors identified 65 studies. In addition, the authors felt that important information was contained in four textbooks, two press releases, and one Internet database. The inclusion criteria were studies that investigated the psychological outcomes, background, and personality types of patients seeking specific plastic surgery procedures. In addition, studies that addressed the impact of plastic surgery on patients' psychological status and quality of life were also included. The authors excluded studies with fewer than 30 patients, studies that did not pertain to the particular plastic surgery procedures, and studies that addressed psychological sequelae of revision operations. RESULTS: Narcissistic and histrionic personality disorders and body dysmorphic disorder are the three most common psychiatric conditions encountered in patients seeking cosmetic surgery. Overall, plastic surgery not only restores the appearance and function of the disfigured body unit but also alleviates psychological distress. CONCLUSION: Identifying the psychologically challenging patient before surgical intervention will allow the patient to obtain the appropriate psychological assistance and may result in a healthier individual with or without associated plastic surgery procedures.

Complications and undesired outcomes happen to some patients of virtually all physicians, at all stages in their careers. Bad outcomes can be a consequence of disease processes, the premorbid condition of the patient, or the errors that occur in the process of health care. These errors include, but are by no means confined to, surgeon error. Regardless of the reason for the bad outcome, the surgeon is obligated to discuss the event with the patient and the family. This article reviews the benefits, barriers, and legal implications of the discussion and describes the disclosure process.

BACKGROUND: Acute postoperative pain following craniofacial or esthetic surgery, or trauma is readily treated with medicinal regimens. Facial pain persisting for more than six months is defined as chronic and must be distinguished from nontraumatic atypical facial pain or "tic-douloureaux." Our surgical experience managing chronic facial (trigeminal) pain is reviewed to provide insight into the success of our current algorithm for managing patients with chronic facial pain. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of nine consecutive patients operated for post-traumatic chronic trigeminal nerve pain. Most patients were women (mean age 41 years). Data evaluated included mechanism of nerve injury, physical exam, CT scans, computer-aided neurosensory testing, and diagnostic nerve blocks. Surgical management included hardware removal, neurolysis, and/or neuroma resection with nerve grafting when indicated. Primary outcome measurement included Likert pain scale score (range 0-10). Secondary outcome measurements included sensory exam, medication requirement, and return to work. Based on these outcome measures, results were defined as excellent, good, fair, or poor. RESULTS: Five of the nine patients had excellent outcomes, one was good, two were fair, and one was poor. The one patient with a poor result had temporary improvements, but later returned to baseline. No patient was made symptomatically worse or had operative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Successful treatment of chronic, post-traumatic trigeminal nerve pain can be expected using an algorithm that measures sensory function of the involved trigeminal nerve branch. Then either preserves that function through neurolysis or reconstruction with a nerve graft, or eliminates that function through neuroma resection.

PURPOSE: Diagnosis and treatment of frontal sinus fractures (FSFs) have progressed over the previous 30 years. Despite advances in computed tomography, there is no current diagnostic uniformity with regard to classification and treatment. We developed a statistically valid treatment protocol for FSFs based on injury pattern, nasofrontal outflow tract (NFOT) injury, and complication(s). These data outlined predictable injury patterns based on specific computed tomographic findings critical to the diagnosis and ultimate treatment of this potentially fatal injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on patients with FSF from 1979 to 2005 under institutional review board approval. All computed tomographic scans were reviewed by the authors and fractures categorized by location, displacement, comminution, and degree of NFOT injury. RESULTS: One thousand ninety-seven patients with FSF were identified, 87 expired and 153 had inadequate data, leaving a group of 857 patients. Simultaneous displacement of anterior-posterior tables constituted the largest group (38.4%). NFOT injury occurred in most patients (70.7%) and was strongly associated with anterior (92%) and posterior (88%) table involvement (comminuted 98%). Sixty-seven percent of patients with NFOT injury had obstruction. Five hundred four patients (59.6%) had surgery with 10.4% complications and 353 patients were observed with 3.1% complications. All but 1 patient with complications had NFOT injury (98.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Predictable patterns of injury based on specific computed tomographic data play a pivotal role in classification and surgical management of potentially fatal frontal sinus injuries. Radiologic diagnosis of NFOT injury in FSFs, particularly obstruction, plays a decisive role in surgical planning.

BACKGROUND: Since 2005, seven facial composite tissue allotransplantations have been performed in five different centers in three countries. Four teams have reported their outcomes in separate publications. The authors sought to review the first four global experiences and compare several factors. This review facilitates discussion of indications and future implications for facial composite tissue allotransplantation. METHODS: A thorough review of five publications by the four transplantation groups was conducted. Additional information gathered from official press releases or surgeon presentations was also included. Summary of data and comparative analysis were performed. RESULTS: Patient selection is of utmost importance; specifically, patient compliance with the immunosuppressive and postoperative regimen. Functional and aesthetic improvement must be achieved by composite tissue allotransplantation reconstruction to justify lifelong immunosuppression; therefore, patients with loss of perioral and/or periorbital structures have priority. Objective measures are required to monitor this functional restoration. The importance of viral mismatch was demonstrated by the severe cytomegalovirus viremia observed in the third facial transplant patient. Finally, the mucosa appears to be a predictor of rejection and is more antigenic than skin. Histopathologic diagnosis of mucosal rejection may allow early treatment and prevention of subsequent diffuse composite tissue allotransplant rejection. CONCLUSIONS: The pioneering teams that ventured into facial composite tissue allotransplantation offered their patients improved aesthetic, functional, and social outcomes not possible with conventional measures in a single procedure. In addition, these innovative facial composite tissue allografts have provided early data on important factors related to patient selection, donor/recipient matching, immunosuppressive protocols, objective measures of functional recovery, and monitoring of acute graft rejection.

Soft-tissue reconstruction of traumatic patella and proximal tibial defects is challenging. Pedicled perforator-based adipocutaneous rotation flaps are a versatile local option as they have axial perfusion and greater freedom of transposition compared with random-pattern flaps, and replace the ideal tissue properties of this anatomic region.Experimental: Anatomic dissections were performed on 15 fresh cadaver legs and location of the dominant perforator measured. Clinical: A retrospective review was conducted at the University of Maryland/R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center evaluating patients over a 3-year period.Experimental: Cadaver dissections confirmed a principal perforator at 11.4 +/- 1.6 cm inferior to the patella. This vessel is consistently suitable in length and caliber for large rotation flap design. Clinical: Anterior tibial artery perforator flaps were performed on 4 patients following Gustilo IIIB wounds to the patella and tibial plateau. Two patients had rotation flap reconstructions to salvage failed gastrocnemius muscle flaps. All flaps were successful, however, one patient had overwhelming hardware infection several months later despite successfully healed flap.Local anterior tibial artery perforator flaps based on predictable perforators provide reliable coverage of patella and knee defects, bestowing versatility and flexibility to the reconstructive surgeon's armamentarium.

High velocity injuries have traditionally been covered with free muscle flaps. We sought to evaluate the utility of the anterolateral thigh flap (ALT) flap as a primary choice in reconstructing traumatic injuries in Western patients.A retrospective chart review was conducted of 122 patients treated at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center and at the Louisiana State University Trauma Center. Data collected included defect size, donor site location, flap composition and size, number of anastamoses, number of perforators, donor site closure, and complications.A total of 127 ALT flap reconstructions were performed. About 74% involved the lower extremity, 12% head and neck, 11% upper extremity, 2% abdomen, <1% chest, and <1% pelvis. The success rate was 96% with 3 total flap failures and 2 partial flap failures. Average follow-up was 9.3 months.The results of this review confirm that the ALT flap is a reliable, versatile tool for managing composite traumatic injuries.

In the last two decades, the anterolateral thigh flap has emerged as one of the most popular reconstructive options for multiple body sites. Based on a perforator flap harvest concept, the flap encompasses the advantages of versatility, pliability, and potential for composite tissue replacement. Although numerous anatomical variations exist, these are well-described, and flap safety remains uncompromised if certain anatomical boundaries are respected. Careful preoperative planning and identification of perforators remain the cornerstone of successful flap harvest. Once perforators are identified, variations in skin paddle design allow for multiple skin paddle configurations, central or eccentric orientations, and custom-made flaps tailored to fit almost any defect. A suprafascial dissection allows for "ultra-thin" flaps ideal for folding, tubing, or packing purposes. The versatility of the lateral circumflex femoral artery branches can be exploited to include muscle, iliac bone, tendon, fascia, or nerve in extended designs. The anterolateral thigh flap is currently the frontline choice for head and neck reconstruction, including intraoral, mandibular-maxillary, tongue, and facial defects, and is gaining popularity in abdominal and pelvis reconstruction. It can also be used as a pedicled flap in phallus or perineum reconstruction. More recently, the flap has proved to be extremely useful in skin resurfacing and even functional reconstruction in traumatic wounds. This review summarizes the anatomy, planning, flap harvest, donor morbidity, and clinical applications of the anterolateral thigh flap. An algorithm is proposed that facilitates a clear, problem-based approach for the use of this versatile reconstructive option.

BACKGROUND: Composite tissue allotransplantation may have different immunosuppressive requirements and manifest different complications compared with solid organ transplantation. We developed a non-human primate facial composite tissue allotransplantation model to investigate strategies to achieve prolonged graft survival and immunologic responses unique to these allografts. METHODS: Composite facial subunits consisting of skin, muscle, and bone were heterotopically transplanted to mixed lymphocyte reaction-mismatched Cynomolgus macaques. Tacrolimus monotherapy was administered via continuous intravenous infusion for 28 days then tapered to daily intramuscular doses. RESULTS: Five of the six animals treated with tacrolimus monotherapy demonstrated rejection-free graft survival up to 177 days (mean, 113 days). All animals with prolonged graft survival developed posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD). Three animals converted to rapamycin after 28 days of rejection of their allografts, but did not develop PTLD. Genotypic analysis of PTLD tumors demonstrated donor origin in three of the five analyzed by short-tandem repeats. Sustained alloantibodies were detected in rejecting grafts and absent in nonrejecting grafts. CONCLUSIONS: Tacrolimus monotherapy provided prolonged rejection-free survival of composite facial allografts in a non-human primate model but was associated with the development of a high frequency of donor-derived PTLD tumors. The transplantation of a large volume of vascularized bone marrow in composite tissue allografts may be a risk factor for PTLD development.