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Development of human-compatible tissues is an active field of research that is leading to the production of optimized biological scaffolds to support regenerative medicine. Xenogenic acellular matrices are known to have strongly influenced the field of breast surgery, playing an integral role in wound healing and in preventing the foreign body reaction to silicone implants. Here, we present our experience in using a biological matrix for aesthetic revision surgery with malposition and severe capsular contracture. Revisions were performed using the new MASQUE equine acellular-pericardium-matrix (APM) as an anterior cover for the synthetic prosthesis. Acting as an internal support, the thin APM layer provides a biological and biocompatible interface between the synthetic implant and living tissues, exerting a protective function against fibrotic responses and capsular contracture. The role of an APM in matrix-assisted mammoplasty has yet to be fully established. Our early experience of APM-assisted aesthetic revision surgery shows promising results, laying the foundations for equine biological matrices as a valid tool for the management of capsular contracture-susceptible patients., Competing Interests: The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Background: The popularity of the profunda femoris artery perforator (PAP) flap is increasing; however, knowledge concerning the standardization of radiological findings and their clinical implications is limited. We evaluated the radiological architecture of posterior thigh perforators using Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) to identify landmarks to facilitate flap dissection., Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 35 patients who underwent unilateral breast reconstruction with a PAP flap. The preoperative CTA scans were analyzed, and the perforator characteristics were evaluated. The perforators were mapped using a Cartesian coordinate system. Data were normalized by anatomical landmarks and overlapped. Perioperative and postoperative results were analyzed. Radiological and intraoperative were compared., Results: Two CTA scans were excluded; 66 thighs were examined. The mean perforator number was 3.2. The mean diameter of chosen perforators was 2.7 mm (DS ± 0.6 mm) at the origin, 2.2 mm (DS ± 0.4 mm) at the adductor space midpoint, and 1.7 mm (DS ± 0.3 mm) at the deep fascia. The mean adipose tissue thickness was 3.35 cm (DS ± 0.94) at the deep fascia and 3.59 cm (DS ± 1.19) at the adductor space midpoint. Intraoperatively, the perforator was located 3.22 cm (DS ± 0.87) from the posterior border of the gracilis muscle and 8.98 cm (DS ± 1.44) from the inferior gluteal crease. A radiological area located 9.33 cm (DS ± 4.81) from the y-axis and 7.48 cm (DS ± 1.88) from the x-axis was identified., Conclusions: CTA using the volume-rendering technique is a valuable method to study in vivo the radiological anatomy of the posterior thigh perforators., (Copyright © 2023 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Lumbrical muscles originate in the palm from the 4 tendons of the flexor digitorum profundus and course distally along the radial side of the corresponding metacarpophalangeal joints, in front of the deep transverse metacarpal ligament. The first and second lumbrical muscles are typically innervated by the median nerve, and third and fourth by the ulnar nerve. A plethora of lumbrical muscle variants has been described, ranging from muscles' absence to reduction in their number or presence of accessory slips. The current cadaveric study highlights typical and variable neural supply of lumbrical muscles., Materials: Eight (3 right and 5 left) fresh frozen cadaveric hands of 3 males and 5 females of unknown age were dissected. From the palmar wrist crease, the median and ulnar nerve followed distally to their terminal branches. The ulnar nerve deep branch was dissected and lumbrical muscle innervation patterns were noted., Results: The frequency of typical innervations of lumbrical muscles is confirmed. The second lumbrical nerve had a double composition from both the median and ulnar nerves, in 12.5% of the hands. The thickest branch (1.38 mm) originated from the ulnar nerve and supplied the third lumbrical muscle, and the thinnest one (0.67 mm) from the ulnar nerve and supplied the fourth lumbrical muscle. In 54.5%, lumbrical nerve bifurcation was identified., Conclusion: The complex innervation pattern and the peculiar anatomy of branching to different thirds of the muscle bellies are pointed out. These findings are important in dealing with complex and deep injuries in the palmar region, including transmetacarpal amputations.

Background: Although hand and upper limb malformations are quite frequent, up to now very few reports have been published on epidemiology. The aim of this study is to evaluate the number of infants who presented with hand and upper limb malformations from 2010 to 2015 in Italy. Methods: A retrospective analysis of a pediatric population presenting with hand and upper extremity malformations was carried out, gathering reports achieved from eight Italian Centers of pediatric hand surgery. Other factors such as gender, date and region of birth, family distribution of malformations and associated syndromes, were analysed. Results: Out of 3,100,421 live births, 765 children presented with hand and upper limb malformations. The incidence was 2,5/10,000 live births with a predominance of males and the right side. Radial polydactyly was the anomaly with the highest percentage, closely followed by simple syndactyly, simbrachidactyly and complex syndactyly. Less common conditions were the triphalangic thumb, thumb in palm, proximal radioulnar synostosis and Sprengel deformity. Inheritance of and familial predisposition to those malformations was recorded in 25 cases, while 84 children presented with syndromes related to hand anomalies. Conclusions: In conclusion the incidence of hand and upper extremity malformations in Italy is lower than that registered in other countries. The retrospective nature of the study combined with the fact that some defects frequently evade pediatric hand surgeon consultations are some possible limitations of the study. However, our data confirmed that, in spite of the decrease in the birth rate in Italy, the trend of congenital hand disorders maintained a stable trend. We aim to integrate this study with a prospective analysis and to involve the institutional health authorities in other countries so as to register the correct incidence of hand and upper extremity defects.

Defects of the Achilles tendon that include the surrounding soft tissue represent a challenge due to complex functionality and biomechanics., Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional and physical functioning score out-comes of patients following microsurgical reconstruction of the yarrow region, using a combination of objective, subjective, and semi-subjective measurements., Methods: Between 2007 and 2018, 15 patients underwent delayed Achilles tendon region reconstruction with different anterolateral thigh flap types. Seven (7) patients underwent tendon and soft tissue re-construction with a chimeric anterolateral thigh flap (ALT) and rolled-up fascia lata, and 8 patients underwent soft tissue reconstruction and only tendon coverage with fascia lata. Follow-up assessments included maximal range of motion (MROM) (plantarflexion and dorsiflexion), the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot Scale score, and the Med-ical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey physical functioning subscore., Results: A total of 15 patients (11 males and 4 females with a mean age of 39.86 years) were evaluated during a mean follow-up time of 23 months (SD = 7.12). The MROM for plantarflexion and dorsiflexion was 42.71 degrees (SD = 2.9) and 24.8 degrees (SD = 4.29), respectively, in patients who underwent composite ALT with a rolled-up fascia lata. The MROM for plantarflexion and dorsiflexion was 43 degrees (SD = 5.37) and 27.37 degrees (SD = 3.2), respectively, in patients who underwent fasciocutaneous ALT. The mean American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot Scale score was 82 for the first group and 86.87 for the second, whereas the mean Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey scores were 82.57 and 81.5, respectively, for the 2 groups. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference between the 2 groups., Conclusions: The results of this case series suggest that the single-stage composite reconstruction with a fasciocutaneous flap with or without a strip of fascia lata is a safe and reliable strategy for composite reconstruction of the Achilles tendon region. Additional studies to evaluate these outcomes and instruments to evaluate functioning are necessary.

Background: Cancer, trauma, infection, or radiation can cause perineal defects. Fasciocutaneous flaps based on perforator vessels (PV) from the internal pudendal artery (IPA) provide an ideal reconstructive option for moderate defects. We hypothesized that, due to gender differences in the pelvic-perineal region, the anatomical distribution of PV differs between genders., Methods: Computed tomography angiographies from male and female patients without pelvic-perineal pathologies were retrospectively analyzed to study the vascular anatomy of the IPA. The number, size, type, and distribution of PV were recorded and compared between genders. Four anatomical regions were defined to describe the distribution of PV on each perineal side: anterior (A), anterior-central (AC), central-posterior (CP), and posterior (P)., Results: A total of 63 computed tomography angiographies were analyzed (men, 31; women, 32). Each IPA provides 2 ± 1 PV and 5 ± 2 terminal (cutaneous) branches: in both genders, 85% of PV are septocutaneous (15% musculocutaneous). In women, 70.5% of PV are located in AC, 28.2% in CP, 1.2% in A, and 0% in P: average diameter of the PV is 2.4 ± 0.3 mm. In men, 53.7% of PV are located in CP, 43.1% in AC, 3.3% in A, and 0% in P: average diameter of the PV is 2.8 ± 0.5 mm. Gender-specific differences in anatomical distribution of PV are significant ( P < 0.001)., Conclusions: Number, size, and type of terminal branches of PV of the IPA are consistent between genders, but their distribution is different, with women having an anterior predominance. Knowledge of gender-specific anatomy can guide preoperative planning and intraoperative dissection in flap-based perineal reconstruction., Competing Interests: Disclosure: The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Several methods are used to evaluate the functional outcome of tumour resections and reconstructions in the lower limb. However, one of their most common limitations is that they are specifically developed to evaluate only oncological patients. We introduced the Lower Limb Core Scale (LLCS) to overcome this limitation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional and subjective results in the lower limb and to evaluate the use of the LLCS. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using various tools to investigate the outcomes. The results of the LLCS were correlated with the results of other functional tests. A total of 44 patients were included in the study. None of the demographic variables correlated with the functional or health-related quality of life (QoL) scores except for gender, whereby male patients had an increased functional score. The correlation between LLCS and other scores was positive (r (2) = 0.77). The satisfactory QoL scores, and functional outcomes scores indicated the LLCS to be a reliable option for general and specific evaluation of lower limb reconstructions. We suggest using the LLCS for comparisons of oncological reconstructions with lower limb reconstructions in different disciplines.