Corneal neurotisation for neurotrophic keratopathy with a sural nerve autograft: a case report

Neurotrophic keratopathy is a corneal disease characterised by reduced corneal sensation. Corneal neurotization is the transfer of healthy donor nerve tissue to the cornea to restore sensation. An 11-year-old male presented with reduced Mackie Stage 1 neurotrophic keratopathy from de-bulking of a cerebellopontine angle arachnoid cyst. He underwent minimally invasive indirect corneal neurotization with a sural nerve autograft to ipsilateral supratrochlear nerve and cornea. Close and objective post-operative monitoring of donor sites, the cornea, visual acuity, and tear production clearly demonstrate the efficacy of this technique, and the timeline of clinical improvement.

Surgeon-driven preoperative psychiatric evaluation of plastic surgery patients

Objectives: Dissatisfaction with body image is common in patients seeking corrective plastic surgery. However, surgery may not be suitable for every patient. Surgery can enhance quality of life in mentally healthy patients but those with psychopathology such as body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) tend to have poorer outcomes. For these patients, surgery is not always recommended and psychiatric care can have a useful role. This paper aimed to estimate the rates of psychopathology in a select group of elective plastic surgery candidates and discuss the role of preoperative psychoplastic referral in triaging these candidates. Method: A retrospective cohort study of patients considering elective surgery at Flinders Medical Centre in South Australia referred by their surgeon for psychoplastic evaluation from 2010 to 2016. Medical records were reviewed to determine compliance with psychiatric referral, the number and types of psychiatric diagnosis and rates of subsequent surgery. Results: We found 83 per cent (54/65) of surgical candidates assessed by our psychiatrist had a mental illness. Post-traumatic stress disorder (n=19, 34.5%) and major depressive disorder (n=19, 34.5%) were most common. Nine patients (13.6%) were diagnosed with BDD. A total of 57 (87.7%) patients were considered to need some kind of psychiatric care to improve potential surgery outcomes. Conclusions: In our study, the rate of psychopathology in patients referred for psychiatric evaluation suggests that careful screening is important for clinical decision making. A combined surgical /psychiatric approach is effective in ensuring vulnerable patients are identified and managed appropriately.

standardised system of photography to assess cosmetic facial surgery

Standardisation of image acquisition in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery is critical to accurately communicate changes from cosmetic surgical and non-surgical interventions. Depth of Field, Exposure, Perspective and point of view are the four factors that need to be replicated between photographic sessions to accurately represent these changes without the introduction of photographic bias. Despite many excellent articles on standardisation in plastic surgery photography, no paper fully discusses the four areas that lead to consistency in photographs taken at different times. Depth of field, exposure, perspective and point of view cover all the variables required. We have a system which locks many variables in place, leaving final composition matching to the photographer, the only area that needs intelligent input. There are also misunderstandings in the literature about some of these that need explanation, particularly exposure and perspective.

South Australian facial trauma: a population analysis of social economic deprivation and facial fractures

Background: Trauma remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Australia. The objective of this South Australian study was to analyse epidemiological trends in facial fractures and assess the relationship between socioeconomic disadvantage and clinical outcomes. Part one of this paper includes methods and results; part two includes discussion and conclusion. The two papers should be read together. Method: A retrospective analysis of the relationship was conducted between socioeconomic disadvantage and facial fractures. All paediatric and adult patients with facial fractures who attended the Royal Adelaide Hospital and the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Adelaide between January 2012 and January 2017 either as in- or outpatients. The medical records, progress notes, imaging and operative notes from plastics, craniofacial and oral maxillofacial surgery teams were retrospectively collated into a registry and reviewed. Ethics approval was granted from the RAH Human Research and Ethics Committee [HREC/17/RAH/402]. Results: A total of 2559 patients, 1976 males (77.2%) and 583 females (22.8%), sustained a facial fracture. The most disadvantaged group had the highest proportion of facial fractures (36.9%), with the highest incidence in the 25–34 age group (22.4%). Assaults were the most common injury with decreasing odds as socioeconomic advantage increased (p<0.05). Orbitozygomatic fractures were the most common type of facial fracture (27.7%). Indigenous patients were more likely (OR=2.8) to have surgery compared to non–indigenous patients (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in length of stay between socioeconomic groups (F(4,964.387)=2.091, p = 0.080). Conclusion: Socioeconomic status strongly influences the mechanisms on injury, types of fracture and likelihood of surgery with the most disadvantaged having higher rates compared to the least disadvantaged.

How to do lower limb reconstruction using the keystone perforator island flap

This guide summarises the keystone perforator island flap (KPIF) in lower limb reconstruction from the groin to the ankle.

Dynamic facial reanimation in the elderly using masseteric-to-facial nerve transfer

Background: Masseteric-to-facial nerve (MTF) transfer offers the advantages of primary nerve coaptation, a high density of motor axons, and the potential connectedness between facial and trigeminal central cortical centres. Despite these benefits, its use in individuals aged greater than 60 years has not been widely described. Methods: A PubMed literature review from 1 January 1978 through to 31 December 2018 was performed to identify individuals older than 60 years who underwent a masseteric-to-facial nerve transfer. In addition, a retrospective chart review of all elderly patients who underwent a masseteric-to-facial nerve transfer at a single institution was conducted. Details on patient demographics, surgical techniques, outcomes and complications were recorded. Ethics approval for the study was obtained through the Monash Health Human Research Ethics Committee (RES-18-0000-768Q). Results: For the literature review, 12 out of 506 articles met the study criteria, with 28 patients identified and analysed. The average time to first facial movement was 5.5 months. Average improvement on oral commissure excursion was 11 mm. Of the eleven patients included in the clinical series, 27 per cent of patients experienced postoperative complications and there were no reported mortalities. Conclusion: Masseteric-to-facial nerve transfer is a safe and viable option for midface and perioral reanimation in the elderly with short term facial nerve palsies.

On randomised trials of surgical timings for cleft palate repair

Background: In this article we review randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing palatal surgery at different ages to examine their design features and quantify their conclusions. Method: A literature search of RCTs comparing surgical timings for cleft palate and/or lip repair from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2013 was undertaken. This supplements an earlier systematic review of 62 RCTs in cleft lip and palate from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2013 in English using the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE® and EMBASE with key words ‘cleft lip’ or ‘cleft palate’. Results: Four RCTs were identified, each comparing palate surgery at different lower (six, nine and 12 months) and upper (12, 18 and 36 months) ages with velopharyngeal competence (VPC) also at different ages (three, four, more than four or five years). These surgical and assessment age differences prevent a synthesis using meta-analysis techniques. Nevertheless, three RCTs indicate that VP function is more impaired with later surgery. Two ask questions about the type of surgery; one suggests that VPC is greater with Furlow palatoplasty than von Langenbeck surgery and the other that one technique appears to have better VPC at six months and the other at 12 months. Conclusion: The role of the timing of palatal surgery with respect to VPC remains unclear. We propose an international strategy that is designed to establish the optimal age for palatal surgery in infants requiring palate and/or lip repair.

Targeted muscle reinnervation in quadruple amputees: self-reported outcomes

Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) reduces pain and physical and psychological disabilities in amputees. We present the first two cases reported globally of quadruple amputees that underwent acute TMR. Each patient completed our novel ‘The Alfred Hospital Osteointegration Survey’ (TAHOS) for each limb at six, 12 and 24 months post amputation which evaluated aspects of prosthesis wear, neuroma-related residual limb pain (RLP), phantom limb pain (PLP) and overall function. Our findings that TMR reduced or eliminated RLP and PLP by 12 months and clinically improved prosthetic function in both quadruple amputees reflects the current literature for single and multiple limb amputees.

The role of scar massage in cleft lip surgery

Introduction: Despite advances in surgical technique for cleft lip, minimal evidence exists for methods of scar management, particularly scar massage. Some parents express concern that lip massage creates pain and distress to their children. This study aims to determine whether scar massage has enough cosmetic advantage to justify its use. Method: We reviewed 33 unilateral complete cleft lip repairs performed at our institution. Information on repair technique, suture material and scar management were recorded. Parent questionnaires and clinical photography were used with a panel of eight trained blinded observers asked to assess photos taken 24 months postoperatively. Scars were graded using a scale of 1 (very poor) to 5 (excellent). Twenty patients were included. Ethics approval was obtained from The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne Research Ethics and Governance office with HREC reference number QA/60562/RCHM-2019. Results: Frequency of scar massage was not associated with a better scar score (p= 0.36). Both the technique of repair and type of suture material used had greater effect on scar grading than massage therapy. Discussion: Problematic scarring following cleft lip surgery is a challenging outcome. This is the first study aiming to explore the effect of scar massage following cleft lip surgery. Conclusion: We found no conclusive evidence to support the use of scar massage in the postoperative care of cleft lip patients. Limitations include the retrospective nature of the study, low patient numbers and heterogeneity of surgical techniques. Nevertheless, there was no correlation seen between the frequency of massage and scar quality. Lip scar massage can cause significant pain to patients and distress to their family, warranting further studies to justify its use.

Exploding power: a statewide review of lithium battery related burns

Introduction: With the increase of lithium battery devices, including electronic cigarettes and battery power banks, there has been a steady rise in burn injuries secondary to device malfunction. These devices may cause chemical or flame burns. Our aim was to identify and classify epidemiological trends of explosions from lithium battery devices across the state of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Methods: A review of the NSW Burn Injury Service (SBIS) database from January 2005–December2019, together with medical records from the burns units at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead (CHW), the Concord Repatriation General Hospital (CRGH) and the Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) was conducted. All patients who suffered a burn secondary from a lithium battery device were included and data was extracted on mechanism of injury, severity of injury and management. This study was approved by the ethics committees of CHW, RNSH and CRGH [2020/PID00179]. Results: Of the 24 patients identified, six were paediatric and 18 were adults. The majority were male (7:1) with a mean age of 29.0 (+/- 16.6 years). The mean total body surface area burnt was 2.5% (+/- 0.9) [range 0.1–21.0%]. The majority occurred after 2014 and involved spontaneous explosions. Their injuries ranged from partial to full thickness burns with flame being the most common type (n=15). Three quarters of the cases (n=18) occurred in a home setting. Conclusions: Lithium battery device explosions can result in a mix of burn depth injuries from flame, contact and electrical, or chemical burns. Consumers need to be made more aware of the potential risks associated with use of lithium battery powered devices.