Correlation Between Body Mass Index and Anterolateral Thigh Flap Thickness: A Retrospective Study From a Single Center in China

Background: During repair of oral and maxillofacial soft tissue defects, organ function is largely related to the amount of thickness of the flap. However, there are few studies on the influencing factors of the thickness of the flap. In this retrospective study, we aim to explore the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap thickness by computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound and provide guidance for evaluating the ALT flap thickness before surgery.Methods: We selected three points A, B, and C on ALT flap and two skilled clinicians measured the thickness of these points. Age and gender as covariates and evaluated by the Chi-square analysis. Inter-group differences between the two BMI groups were examined by the student t test. Intra-group differences within each BMI group were tested by ANOVA. Linear regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between BMI and ALT flap thickness.Results: One hundred sixty patients measured by CT were included in this study, and the ALT flap thickness measured by CT were 8.96 mm and 11.00 mm (P < 0.0001, t test) at point B in groups with BMI<24.0 and BMI≥24.0, respectively. The thicknesses at points A, B, and C were significantly correlated with the BMI (P < 0.001, correlation analysis, r = 0.462, 0.372, and 0.349 at the points A, B, and C, retrospectively, Pearson test).Conclusion: There was a significant correlation between the ALT flap thickness and BMI. A higher BMI was correlated with a thicker ALT flap.

Effectiveness of Different Modalities of Lip Repositioning Surgery for Management of Patients Complaining of Excessive Gingival Display: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Purpose. This study is aimed at synthesizing the available evidence regarding effectiveness of various modalities (combinations of LRS tasks) and comparison between each two modalities in terms of gingival display reduction, success rate, stability of the results, patient’s satisfaction, and postoperative morbidity. Materials and Methods. The electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science Cochrane Library, Google Scholar databases, ClinicalTrials.gov, and WHO International Clinical Trial Registry Platform were searched up to 27th June 2020 regarding lip repositioning surgery. The modalities were defined as the combinations of the following tasks: frenectomy (yes/no), flap thickness (full/partial), and myotomy (yes/no). Meta-analyses were performed on gingival display change from baseline to months 3, 6, and 12 in each modalities using Stata (v.16). Results. 38 studies (including three clinical trials, two quasiexperimental studies, seven case series, and 26 case reports) met the criteria for final inclusion. The mean gingival display reduced from baseline to 6 months ( WMD = − 2.90 , 95% CI: -4.85 to -0.95) in the patients undergoing the “frenectomy + full-thickness flap + myotomy” modality. This parameter decreased from baseline to 6 and 12 months, respectively ( WMD = − 2.68 , 95% CI: -3.49 to -1.86; WMD = − 2.52 , 95% CI: -4.40 to -0.64), in patients undergoing the “frenectomy + partial-thickness flap + without myotomy” modality. In patients who undergone the “without frenectomy + partial-thickness flap + without myotomy” modality, gingival display reduced from baseline to 6 months ( WMD = − 3.22 , 95% CI: -5.61 to -0.84). Almost 83% of patients with modality 1 had satisfaction. Conclusions. Gingival display within the 6 months after LRS could be reduced with all modalities. Descriptively, the greatest reduction was observed in patients with the modality not including the frenulum.

Flap Thickness and the Risk of Complications in Mechanical Microkeratome and Femtosecond Laser in Situ Keratomileusis: A Literature Review and Statistical Analysis

Introduction: A recent Cochrane review found no difference in visual acuity outcomes between femtosecond-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and LASIK using mechanical microkeratomes (MMKs). This study compares the flap thickness and risk of complications related to flap creation using femtosecond lasers and MMKs. Methods: PubMed and the Web of Science are used to search the medical literature. An extensive search is performed to identify the flap thickness and complications of LASIK as reported up to Jul 15, 2021. The following keywords are used in various combinations: Corneal flap, femtosecond laser, laser in situ keratomileusis, laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, LASIK, mechanical microkeratome. Results: After removing duplicates and irrelevant studies, 122 articles were included for review. Pooled differences for intended vs. postoperative flap thickness using MMKs and femtosecond laser were −4.07 μm (95% CI: −19.55, 3.24 μm) in studies on the MMK and 5.43 μm (95% CI: 2.30, 7.84 μm; p < 0.001), respectively. After removing the studies evaluating outcomes of the old generation Hansatome MMKs (which had a significantly greater variation of flap thickness), the pooled difference for newer MMKs was 4.97 μm (95% CI: 0.35, 9.58 μm; p < 0.001), but the results still favored the femtosecond laser. Uncommon and mild complications unique for the femtosecond LASIK are epithelial gas breakthrough, opaque bubble layer, transient light sensitivity syndrome, and rainbow glare. A single study reported a very low, but stastically different risk of postoperative flap slippage (0.033% for MMK LASIK, and 0.003% for femtosecond LASIK, respectively). Conclusion: In both manual microkeratome and femtosecond LASIK, intra- and postoperative complications were uncommon. The evidence of the superiority of one technique in terms of complications over another cannot be indisputably stated.

Obesity and the Latissimus Dorsi Flap: A Radiologic Study

Introduction: The increasing prevalence of obesity in patients with breast cancer has prompted a reappraisal of the role of the latissimus dorsi flap (LDF) in breast reconstruction. Although the reliability of this flap in obese patients is well-documented, it is unclear whether sufficient volume can be achieved through a purely autologous reconstruction (eg, extended harvest of the subfascial fat layer). Additionally, the traditional combined autologous and prosthetic approach (LDF + expander/implant) is subject to increased implant-related complication rates related to flap thickness in obese patients. The purpose of this study is to provide data on the thicknesses of the various components of the latissimus flap and discuss the implications for breast reconstruction in patients with increasing body mass index (BMI). Methods: Measurements of back thickness in the usual donor site area of an LDF were obtained in 518 patients undergoing prone computed tomography–guided lung biopsies. Thicknesses of the soft tissue overall and of individual layers (e.g., muscle, subfascial fat) were obtained. Patient, demographics including age, gender, and BMI were obtained. Results: A range of BMI from 15.7 to 65.7 was observed. In females, total back thickness (skin, fat, muscle) ranged from 0.6 to 9.4 cm. Every 1-point increase in BMI resulted in an increase of flap thickness by 1.11 mm (adjusted R 2 of 0.682, P < .001) and an increase in the thickness of the subfascial fat layer by 0.513 mm (adjusted R 2 of 0.553, P < .001). Mean total thicknesses for each weight category were 1.0, 1.7, 2.4, 3.0, 3.6, and 4.5 cm in underweight, normal weight, overweight, and class I, II, III obese individuals, respectively. The average contribution of the subfascial fat layer to flap thickness was 8.2 mm (32%) overall and 3.4 mm (21%), 6.7 mm (29%), 9.0 mm (30%), 11.1 mm (32%), and 15.6 mm (35%) in normal weight, overweight, class I, II, III obese individuals, respectively. Conclusion: The above findings demonstrate that the thickness of the LDF overall and of the subfascial layer closely correlated with BMI. The contribution of the subfascial layer to overall flap thickness tends to increase as a percentage of overall flap thickness with increasing BMI, which is favourable for extended LDF harvests. Because this layer cannot be separated from overall thickness on examination, these results are useful in estimating the amount of additional volume obtained from an extended latissimus harvest technique.

Outcome of Free Medial Sural Artery Perforator Flap (MSAP) for Head and Neck Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Met Analysis

Introduction: Since first described by Cadavas, A free medial sural artery perforator flap (MSAP) is getting popularity day by day. Specially, where the micro surgeons are desired to have thin, pliable flap with long pedicle and less donor site morbidities. For its above-mentioned characteristics and good outcome, it is now considered as one of the workhorse flaps for head and neck reconstruction. Aims and Objectives: The aim was to find out the feasibilities and versatilities of this flap as workhorse in head and neck reconstruction. As well as taking into consideration of its low donor site morbidities. Methods: A literature search has been performed in July 2020 in various data base including Pub Med, Trip database, Medline and Google Scholler to find out the outcome of head and neck reconstruction with free MSAP Flap. Data then were tabulated and analysed using Microsoft Excel datasheet. Results: The results were promising. Overall, flap survival rate was 95%. Mean flap dimension was 9.3 cm x5.5 cm. Average pedicle length was 10.5 cm. Mean flap thickness was 6mm. Overall complication rate was 16% including 6% wound related and 2% donor site complication. Most of the cases donor site have closed directly (87%). Conclusion: Free MSAP Flap is an ideal workhorse flap for head and neck reconstruction. However, as most of the literatures were case series or personal experiences of surgeons, a multicentre trial with large sample can give us more information.

The perforator-centralizing technique for super-thin anterolateral thigh perforator flaps: Minimizing the partial necrosis rate

Background Despite the wide demand for thin flaps for various types of extremity reconstruction, the thin elevation technique for anterolateral thigh (ALT) flaps is not very popular because of its technical difficulty and safety concerns. This study proposes a novel perforatorcentralizing technique for super-thin ALT flaps and analyzes its effects in comparison with a skewed-perforator group.Methods From June 2018 to January 2020, 41 patients who required coverage of various types of defects with a single perforator-based super-thin ALT free flap were enrolled. The incidence of partial necrosis and proportion of the necrotic area were analyzed on postoperative day 20 according to the location of superficial penetrating perforators along the flap. The centralized-perforator group was defined as having a perforator anchored to the middle third of the x- and y-axes of the flap, while the skewed-perforator group was defined as having a perforator anchored outside of the middle third of the x- and y-axes of the flap.Results No statistically significant difference in flap thickness and dimension was found between the two groups. The arterial and venous anastomosis patterns of patients in both groups were not significantly different. Only the mean partial necrotic area showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups (centralized-perforator group, 3.4%±2.2%; skewed-perforator group, 15.8%±8.6%; P=0.022).Conclusions The present study demonstrated that super-thin ALT perforator flaps can be elevated safely, with minimal partial necrosis, using the perforator-centralizing technique.

Post-LASIK keratectasia in the context of a thicker than intended flap detected by anterior segment optical coherence tomography

The corneal flap created in LASIK is responsible for most of its advantages in comparison with surface ablation. However, lamellar dissection of the corneal layers in LASIK can also result in serious complications such as corneal ectasia. A 23-year-old man underwent LASIK for correction of −4.75 −2.00@15 in the right eye and −4.50 −2.00@160 in the left eye with a preoperative thinnest corneal thickness of 518 µm/right eye and 513 µm/left eye in 2009. An intended flap thickness and ablation depth in both eyes were 160 µm and 94 µm, respectively, and subsequently, residual stromal bed thickness was 264 µm/right eye and 259 µm/left eye. Several years after surgery, he was referred for the decreased vision. His corrected-distance visual acuity was 0.50 in both eyes. A scissoring reflex was found in retinoscopy. Orbscan imaging was compatible with keratoconus. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography was performed to measure the LASIK flap. It was much thicker (200 µm) than intended (160 µm), and therefore, the residual stromal bed thickness was much thinner. In summary, keratectasia may develop in cases where thicker than expected flaps result in excessive thinning of the residual stromal bed. The obtained results from this case emphasize and remind the importance of intraoperative measurement of flap thickness and using femtosecond and new criteria for patient selection to avoid post-LASIK keratectasia.

Decompressive Cranial Vault Remodeling in Osteosclerotic Robinow Syndrome

We present a novel application of endocranial burr contouring for cranial vault expansion as a surgical adjunct during decompressive craniectomy in patients with cranial osteosclerosis. A 16-year-old female with osteosclerotic Robinow syndrome complicated by slit ventricle syndrome presented with refractory intracranial hypertension following external ventricular drain placement. Symptoms included severe headaches and altered mental status. Given the severe intracranial volume restriction secondary to massive calvarial thickening (2.5 cm), the patient was taken to the operating room for urgent surgical decompression. After frontal and parietal craniectomy, burr and osteotome contouring were used to remove two-thirds of the endocranial calvarial bone flap thickness resulting in a 9% cranial vault expansion while preserving an overall normal head size. There were no immediate postoperative complications. At over 3 years postoperatively, the patient had reduced headaches, maintained adequate shunt function, and has not required further vault reconstruction.