Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) is an option for patients with localized breast recurrences after previous external-beam radiotherapy

Background  

For patients suffering of recurrent breast cancer within the irradiated breast, generally mastectomy is recommended. The normal tissue tolerance does not permit a second full-dose course of radiotherapy to the entire breast after a second breast-conserving surgery (BCS). A novel option is to treat these patients with partial breast irradiation (PBI). This approach is based on the hypothesis that re-irradiation of a limited volume will be effective and result in an acceptable frequency of side effects. The following report presents a single center experience with intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) during excision of recurrent breast cancer in the previously irradiated breast.     

The laterally extended medial hemisoleus flap for reconstruction of a tibial wound in the distal third of the leg

A soleus flap as a local reconstructive option for soft-tissue coverage of a tibial wound in the distal third of the leg has never been well recognized. In a 2-year period, seven patients underwent reconstruction of a less extensive tibial wound (4 × 3 to 10 × 4 cm) in the distal third of the leg after orthopedic trauma with the laterally extended medial hemisoleus flap. The flap was elevated with emphasis on the preservation of the most distal perforators from the posterior tibial vessels to the flap as possible while allowing adequate rotation of the flap to cover the exposed tibia and/or hardware and on the possible preservation of foot planter flexion by reconstruction of the proximal Achilles’ tendon. In this series, there was no total or partial flap loss. All patients healed their tibial wounds primarily with reliable soft-tissue coverage, evidenced fracture healing, and good cosmetic outcome during follow-up. Thus, the laterally extended medial hemisoleus flap described by the author can be a reliable option for soft-tissue coverage of a less extensive tibial wound in the distal third of the leg. It offers a more cost-effective approach for managing this unique problem and can be performed by most reconstructive surgeons without microsurgical expertise.     

The effect of sucralfate,an agent for gastroprotection on the healing of split thickness skin graft donor sites

Skin is the most commonly used tissue for the transplantation. A meticulous care of the donor site is needed to prevent scarring, delayed healing, and pain. Various agents and dressing materials have been reported to help healing of skin graft donor sites. Sucralfate is an extensively used agent, which provides acute gastroprotection and acceleration of chronic ulcer healing. In this study, we assessed the effects of topical sucralfate on the healing of the split thickness skin graft donor sites in a prospective comparative way. The study was carried out on 32 randomly chosen patients undergoing surgery for various causes and requiring split thickness skin graft resurfacing. The upper halves of the skin graft donor sites on the thighs were simply covered with paraffin gauze and the lower half was covered with sucralfate-soaked paraffin gauzes. The day of full epithelization varied from 6 to 9 days and 8–12 days on the sucralfate-applied areas and on the control sites, respectively. The mean value of the healing was 7.01 days in the studied lower halves and 10.8 days in the upper halves. The healing rate was strikingly faster and less painful on the sucralfate-applied areas. We were able to discharge patients earlier than usual, and patients’ comfort increased. It seems that sucralfate is a promising topical agent to increase the healing rate and decrease the incidence of associated problems such as pain and hypertrophic scar.     

New wound protection for rabbits

Rabbits are the experimental animals of choice in many studies including flaps, wounds, and topical trials for new pharmacological agents. Because the topical drugs and other materials used for dressing are irritating to the animal, they tend to remove dressings, bandages, drapes, insensate flaps, and also topical drugs by scratching, licking, and biting if they are within the reach of the animal. In this study, we report an easy to prepare, user-friendly, comfortable, and cheap dressing protector called a dressing shield to prevent these problems.     

Open rhinoplasty for treatment of nasal tip haemangioma

Haemangiomas are the most common tumours of infancy. They typically proliferate then involute with considerable variation as regards to their rates of proliferation and involution. Haemangioma of the nasal tip is a lesion of special characteristics. During proliferation, it expands, contracts and deviates the nasal cartilages. Particularly, it regresses slowly and frequently involutes incompletely. That is why excision of the lesion is frequently suggested. The present study was conducted to evaluate open rhinoplasty after initial non-excision treatment modalities namely, intra-lesional corticosteroid injections and laser treatment, as a protocol of treatment for nasal tip haemangiomas. Twelve patients with nasal tip haemangiomas were included in the present study. Patients of both sexes, of different ages, with deep and mixed haemangiomas were studied. Disfigurement was the constant presenting symptom. Initial non-excision treatment reported different responses as denoted by the regression of the lesions’ size. Haemangiomas constantly extended between the medial crura of the alar cartilages as noted by the constant widening of the columella pre-operatively and the obvious separation of the nasal cartilages intra-operatively. This separation was constantly found to require approximation by sutures. The results of the present study concluded that whenever an early presentation with nasal tip haemangioma could be established, initial non-excision treatment followed by open rhinoplasty could be a useful protocol of treatment. Within the limitations of the present study, this protocol could achieve an early, safe and effective treatment for nasal tip haemangiomas with provisionally acceptable cosmetic outcomes so far.     

The spring-back phenomenon: does the final position of the nipple areola complex correspond to the pre-operative markings in reduction mammoplasty?

This study investigates whether tissue recoil or patient intrinsic factors influence the final position of the nipple areola complex (NAC) after reduction mammoplasty. The age, pre-operative ptosis, BMI and weight of the tissue resected were recorded as patient intrinsic factors in 37 patients undergoing reduction mammoplasty. The “spring-back” value was defined as the distance from the sternal notch to a nipple landmark on the breast meridian with the patient sitting up, minus the same measurement repeated with the patient recumbent to eliminate the pull of gravity on the breast. Spring back was measured pre-operatively for the nipple and nipple mark then post-operative for the nipple. The difference in centimeters between the final post-operative distance from the sternal notch to the nipple and the level intended by the pre-operative nipple mark was termed the “judgment error.” The final position of the post-operative nipple and the judgment error was compared to the spring-back values and patient intrinsic factors. Pre-operative ptosis was statistically related to increasing patient BMI and mass of tissue resected per breast. Pre-operative spring-back values for the nipple increased with increasing ptosis, BMI and decreasing age. Spring-back values were greater in the lower pole of the breast than in the upper pole. The final position of the nipple was higher than the pre-operative mark in 65% of cases, lower in 8% and as marked in 27% of cases. The post-operative NAC was, on average, 0.6 cm higher than planned pre-operatively. The post-operative distance from the sternal notch to the nipple increased with increasing pre-operative ptosis, mass of breast tissue resected per breast and all three spring-back values. The difference between the level of the pre-operative mark and the final nipple position showed a weak correlation with post-operative spring-back values. The parameters of ptosis, BMI, weight of tissue resected per breast and pre-operative nipple spring back reflect body habitus and breast size. Spring-back values vary between the upper and lower pole of the breast. The final NAC position was higher than that intended at pre-operative marking in the majority of cases. The surgeon instinctively marks the nipple lower in patients with greater pre-operative ptosis and in whom a larger resection is anticipated. Judgment error did not relate to intrinsic factors nor to pre-operative spring-back values; hence, these parameters cannot be applied as predictive tools for more accurate pre-operative marking of the nipple position. This study suggests that the pre-operative nipple mark should be placed, with the patient sitting up, at least 23 cm from the sternal notch and 0.6 cm lower than the final position estimated using the inframammary crease as a landmark. An invited commentary on this paper is available at .