Use of rectal tissue for reconstruction of an anogenital cleft in a juvenile dog with recurrent rectal prolapse

CASE DESCRIPTION A 4-month-old 4.2 kg sexually intact female mixed-breed dog was evaluated for rectal and vesicular tenesmus, intermittent rectal prolapse, fecal incontinence, and an anogenital cleft. CLINICAL FINDINGS Rectal prolapse and an anogenital cleft were confirmed on physical examination. Results of a CBC and serum biochemical analysis were within respective reference ranges, and abdominal ultrasonography revealed no abnormalities. Urinalysis revealed evidence of a urinary tract infection. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME An H-perineoplasty was performed and the prolapse was reduced. The repair partially dehisced and was repaired (with concurrent reduction of a recurrent rectal prolapse) but dehisced again. There was limited tissue available for additional reconstruction. In another surgical procedure, the rectum was allowed to prolapse, the most dorsal 40% of the prolapsed rectal tissue was resected, and the rectal tissue margin and skin in this region were apposed. The remaining rectal tissue flap was folded ventrally, and the lateral margins of the aborad aspect were sutured to the dorsolateral vestibular mucosa. In a subsequent surgery, 2.5 to 3 cm of the rectal tissue flap was excised. The remainder was used to create ventral margins for the rectum and vestibular mucosa. The perineal skin between the anus and dorsal vulvar commissure was closed. The patient experienced mild cutaneous partial dehiscence of the repair that healed by second intention. Over an 18-month follow-up period, some fecal incontinence persisted, but straining resolved and urinary tract infection did not recur. CLINICAL RELEVANCE For the dog of this report, the use of rectal mucosa in surgical repair of an anogenital cleft provided an acceptable clinical outcome.

Post-traumatic rectourethral fistula in an adolescent managed via a transperineal approach using a local gluteal tissue interposition flap: a case report

Background Rectourethral fistula is a rare disease with a wide variety of etiologies and clinical presentations. A definitive surgical procedure for rectourethral fistula repair has not been established. Case presentation A 13-year-old boy sustained a penetrating injury to the perineum, and developed a symptomatic rectourethral fistula thereafter. Conservative management through urinary diversion and transanal repair was unsuccessful. Fecal diversion with loop colostomy was performed, and three months later, a fistula repair was performed via a transperineal approach with interposition of a local gluteal tissue flap. There were no postoperative complications, and magnetic resonance imaging studies confirmed the successful closure of the fistula. The urinary and fecal diversions were reverted 1 and 6 months after the fistula repair, respectively, and postoperative excretory system complications did not occur. Conclusions The transperineal approach with interposition of a local gluteal tissue flap provides a viable surgical option for adolescent patients with rectourethral fistulas who are unresponsive to conservative management.

Masquelet Technique Combined with Tissue Flap Transplantation in The Treatment of Infectious Complex Tissue Defect: A Clinical Analysis

Background: Infectious complex tissue defects have been described as injuries with composite infectious bone defects and extensive soft tissue damage, which are still austere challenges for orthopedists all around the world. The study retrospectively evaluated the Masquelet technique combined with the tissue flap transplantation for the treatment of infectious complex tissue defects and assess key factors of success in this technique.Methods: From December 2016 to December 2019, 22 patients of infectious complex tissue defects were recruited for the study. All the cases experienced a two-stages treatment. Thorough debridement, stabilization of fracture by external fixation and implantation of a cement spacer mixed with antibiotics in the first stage. Simultaneously, suitable tissue flaps were designed and transplanted for the soft tissue defect. 6-8 weeks later, after the elimination of the infection, the cement spacer was removed carefully from the induced membrane and cancellous bone was grafted into the site of bone defect. The average duration of follow-up was 21 months.Results: Infection was eliminated after the first stage intervention without recurrence. All the transplanted tissue flaps were survived. Bone union was achieved in all patients in a period of 16-31 weeks following the second stage surgery. According to the Paley fracture healing score, 17 patients showed excellent results and 5 patients displayed good results regarding bone outcomes. When considering functional outcomes, 14 patients exhibited excellent results and 8 patients displayed good results.Conclusions: This study showed evidences that Masquelet technique combined with tissue flap transplantation was an effective method to repair the infectious complex tissue defects. We also demonstrate that a complete soft-tissue envelope plays an important role in the formation of the induced membrane which promote bone union and in the anti-infection treatment.

Art, craft and science of limb amputation Part 2. Сraft of amputation: from Ambroise Pare to Pierre Dionis (late XVI century – early XVIII century)

Since the XVI century until the beginning of the XVII century an operation of limb amputation has undergone changes and improvements that have affected all its aspects: preparation for carrying out, the technique of performing and postoperative treatment of patients. The invention of the ligature (1552) and the tourniquet (1674) became revolutionary. Wet and dry gangrene, extensive trauma to soft tissues and bones, traumatic limb amputation and osteomyelitis were considered of indications for amputation. The deontological and legal framework for amputation was developed, including the patient’s consent to the operation and the awareness of relatives about its outcomes. The article presents an instrumental and dressing apparatus of the XVII century for the operation; medicines used for general and local treatment of the patient before and after truncation of the stump; sedation and pain relief issues; technique of circular and one soft tissue flap (1679) amputation; the choice of tissue dissection level; methods of stopping bleeding (astringents, pressure bandage, cauterization, ligation and stitching of blood vessels); a method of stitching a stump wound, applying a bandage on it and strengthening it; postoperative management (regimen and diet, dressing change, staged wound treatment, complications); the phenomenon and causes of “phantom limbs”.

Do-It-Yourself Preoperative High-Resolution Ultrasound-Guided Flap Design of the Superficial Circumflex Iliac Artery Perforator Flap (SCIP)

The superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator (SCIP) flap is a well-documented, thin, free tissue flap with a minimal donor site morbidity, and has the potential to become the new method for resurfacing moderate-size skin defects. The aim of this study is to describe an easy, reliable, systematic, and standardized approach for preoperative SCIP flap design and perforator characterization, using color-coded duplex sonography (CCDS). A list of customized settings and a straightforward algorithm are presented, which are easily applied by an operator with minimal experience. Specific settings for SCIP flap perforator evaluation were investigated and tested on 12 patients. Deep and superficial superficial circumflex iliac artery (SCIA) branches, along with their corresponding perforators and cutaneous veins, were marked individually with a permanent marker and the anatomy was verified intraoperatively. From this, a simplified procedure for preoperative flap design of the SCIP flap was developed. Branches could be localized and evaluated in all patients. A preoperative structured procedure for ultrasonically guided flap design of the SCIP flap is described. A 100% correlation between the number and emergence points of the branches detected by preoperative CCDS mapping and the intraoperative anatomy was found.

Retrosigmoid Craniectomy with a Layered Soft Tissue Dissection and Hydroxyapatite Reconstruction: Technical Note, Surgical Video, Regional Anatomy, and Outcomes

Background There are many reported modifications to the retrosigmoid approach including variations in skin incisions, soft tissue dissection, bone removal/replacement, and closure. Objective The aim of this study was to report the technical nuances developed by two senior skull base surgeons for retrosigmoid craniectomy with reconstruction and provide anatomic dissections, surgical video, and outcomes. Methods The regional soft tissue and bony anatomy as well as the steps for our retrosigmoid craniectomy were recorded with photographs, anatomic dissections, and video. Records from 2017 to 2019 were reviewed to determine the incidence of complications after the authors began using the described approach. Results Dissections of the relevant soft tissue, vascular, and bony structures were performed. Key surgical steps are (1) a retroauricular C-shaped skin incision, (2) developing a skin and subgaleal tissue flap of equal thickness above the fascia over the temporalis and sub-occipital muscles, (3) creation of subperiosteal soft tissue planes over the top of the mastoid and along the superior nuchal line to expose the suboccipital region, (4) closure of the craniectomy defect with in-lay titanium mesh and overlay hydroxyapatite cranioplasty, and (5) reapproximation of the soft tissue edges during closure. Complications in 40 cases were pseudomeningocele requiring shunt (n = 3, 7.5%), wound infection (n = 1, 2.5%), and aseptic meningitis (n = 1, 2.5%). There were no incisional cerebrospinal fluid leaks. Conclusions The relevant regional anatomy and a revised technique for retrosigmoid craniectomy with reconstruction have been presented with acceptable results. Readers can consider this technique when using the retrosigmoid approach for pathology in the cerebellopontine angle.

Congenital Curved Nail of the Fourth Toe with Subungual Hyperkeratosis

Congenital curved nail of the fourth toe (CNFT) is a rare nail deformity. We report a case of CNFT with thickening and hyperkeratosis at the hyponychium and peripheral nail bed that was successfully treated using a novel surgical technique. A 7-year-old Japanese boy had a clawed nail with thickening and hyperkeratosis at the hyponychium and peripheral nail bed on his bilateral fourth toes. His chief complaint was pain. The nails of the bilateral fourth toes curved plantarly and exhibited thickening and hyperkeratosis of the hyponychium and peripheral nail bed. A surgical approach was planned to improve the condition. The distal phalanges that deviated and formed a point toward the nail bed were partially shaved, and a soft tissue flap was created in the finger pad and shifted to cover the distal phalanges. The dorsal side of the distal phalanges was covered by the nail bed flap. Recurrence has not been observed for 3 years after surgery. There is limited evidence supporting surgical approaches for CNFT. This approach may be an effective treatment option for CNFT with thickening of the nail bed.