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Objective To describe the infrapubic approach to penile prosthesis insertion in transmen after phalloplasty. Materials and Methods After verifying phalloplasty vascular pedicle anatomy and reliable micturition, patients may be considered for implant surgery. Specific modifications of the infrapubic approach to penile prosthesis insertion as well as individualization of commercially available implants are performed intraoperatively to help reduce the risk of postoperative complications. Results In our single surgeon series (MLC) using the infrapubic approach with these specific implants after phalloplasty, 17/107 (16%) patients from October 2017 to November 2020 required revision surgery after mean follow-up of 79.8 weeks. Conclusion Our infrapubic prosthesis insertion after phalloplasty technique with modifications to commercially available implants may help reduce the risk of postoperative complications.

SUMMARY The creation of a sensate, aesthetic, and functional phallus for transmasculine individuals has high reported complication rates. Neourethra reconstruction is the most challenging aspect of this surgery, with widely varying techniques and staging between providers. In an operation of this complexity, surgeons should not be expected to offer all the options, but rather the specific variation that works in their given setting. For some, it is single-stage phalloplasty with full-length urethroplasty. For others, staged phalloplasty with separation of perineal masculinization from phallus reconstruction works better. In this expert opinion article, the authors strive to give an overview of the principles behind, and a detailed explanation of, the technical details of creating the penile and bulbar urethra during phalloplasty. The authors focus on the three most common strategies: single-stage phalloplasty; two-stage phalloplasty with a metoidioplasty-first approach; and two-stage phalloplasty with a phalloplasty-first (Big Ben method) approach. It is not the authors' intent to establish the "best" or "only" way, but rather to compile different options with their respective pros and cons.

Labia majora, the embryologic homologs of the scrotum, are ideal donor tissue for transgender scrotoplasty. The technique is detailed, and surgical outcomes are assessed for scrotoplasty using labia majora rotational advancement flaps.We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of phalloplasty patients who underwent either primary or secondary labia majora flap scrotoplasty and perineal reconstruction from October 1, 2017, to December 1, 2019. Bilateral elevation and rotational flap advancement from the posterior to anterior position formed a pouch-like scrotum. Perineal reconstruction involved multilayered closure with apposition of the inner thigh skin.The mean follow-up was 12.5 months (0.5-26 months). One hundred forty-seven scrotoplasties were performed. Of the 147 total scrotoplasty patients, 133 had labia majora flap scrotoplasty and perineal reconstruction with single-stage phalloplasty. Distal flap necrosis occurred in 6 patients (4.1%); 5 were ipsilateral to the groin dissection required for phalloplasty. Large (1 cm diameter) perineoscrotal junction dehiscence occurred in 7 patients (4.7%). All wounds were managed conservatively except for 3 patients who developed urethrocutaneous fistulas at the perineoscrotal junction. All 3 patients required fistula repair. Two (1.4%) scrotal hematomas and 3 (2.0%) perineal hematomas were seen; all required operative intervention.Labia majora flap scrotoplasty via the bilateral rotational advancement technique and perineal reconstruction can be safely performed during phalloplasty. Minor wound complications are common and frequently heal with conservative management. Wounds that do not heal may be associated with urethral complications. Hematomas are rare but usually require operative intervention.

After reading this article and viewing the video, the participant should be able to: 1. Discuss appropriate treatment guidelines, including preoperative mental health and hormonal treatment before gender-affirmation surgery. 2. Name various surgical options for facial, chest, and genital feminization. 3. Recognize key steps and anatomy during facial feminization, feminizing mammaplasty, and vaginoplasty. 4. Discuss major risks and complications of vaginoplasty.Transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals may experience conflict between their gender identity and their gender assigned at birth. With recent advances in health care and societal support, appropriate treatment has become newly accessible and has generated increased demand for gender-affirming care, which is globally guided by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. This CME article reviews key terminology and standards of care, and provides an overview of various feminizing gender-affirming surgical procedures.

Background Vascular injuries resulting in limb ischemia are traditionally treated acutely with autologous or prosthetic bypass grafts. Traumatic contaminated injuries with soft tissue and vascular segmental loss are challenging as prosthetic bypasses are at risk of erosion, infection, and occlusion; and autologous bypasses are at risk of desiccation, blow-out, infection, and clotting. We propose a novel approach to these injuries by using arterialized saphenous vein venous flow-through free flaps (S-VFTF) as an autologous bypass, and present the results of its application in a series of cases. Methods Spanning 2008 to 2015, four patients presenting with large contaminated crush/avulsion wounds with vascular injury underwent hand revascularization with S-VFTF, allowing the contaminated wounds to be serially debrided. Definitive soft tissue reconstruction was performed once the wound was considered clean. The S-VFTF skin paddle was de-epithelialized and the soft tissue defect covered with a free latissimus dorsi flap or a rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap. Results All ischemic limbs were successfully reperfused and there were no take backs for perfusion issues. All S-VFTF remained patent at discharge and final follow-up. No partial or complete finger/hand amputations were required. All definitive coverage free flap survived with no complications. Conclusion The two-stage reconstruction presented may help reconstructive and vascular surgeons consider alternatives to traditional vascular reconstruction methods. This technique avoids an exposed vascular graft in an extensively contaminated open wound. It allows the surgeon to perform thorough and sufficient debridement of the wound, preventing definitive reconstruction in a not yet declared zone of injury.

Processed nerve allografts (PNAs) have been demonstrated to have improved clinical results compared with hollow conduits for reconstruction of digital nerve gaps less than 25 mm; however, the use of PNAs for longer gaps warrants further clinical investigation. Long nerve gaps have been traditionally hard to study because of low incidence. The advent of the RANGER registry, a large, institutional review board-approved, active database for PNA (Avance Nerve Graft; AxoGen, Inc, Alachua, FL) has allowed evaluation of lower incidence subsets. The RANGER database was queried for digital nerve repairs of 25 mm or greater. Demographics, injury, treatment, and functional outcomes were recorded on standardized forms. Patients younger than 18 and those lacking quantitative follow-up data were excluded. Recovery was graded according to the Medical Research Council Classification for sensory function, with meaningful recovery defined as S3 or greater level. Fifty digital nerve injuries in 28 subjects were included. There were 22 male and 6 female subjects, and the mean age was 45. Three patients gave a previous history of diabetes, and there were 6 active smokers. The most commonly reported mechanisms of injury were saw injuries (n = 13), crushing injuries (n = 9), resection of neuroma (n = 9), amputation/avulsions (n = 8), sharp lacerations (n = 7), and blast/gunshots (n = 4). The average gap length was 35 ± 8 mm (range, 25-50 mm). Recovery to the S3 or greater level was reported in 86% of repairs. Static 2-point discrimination (s2PD) and Semmes-Weinstein monofilament (SWF) were the most common completed assessments. Mean s2PD in 24 repairs reporting 2PD data was 9 ± 4 mm. For the 38 repairs with SWF data, protective sensation was reported in 33 repairs, deep pressure in 2, and no recovery in 3. These data compared favorably with historical data for nerve autograft repairs, with reported levels of meaningful recovery of 60% to 88%. There were no reported adverse effects. Processed nerve allograft can be used to reconstruct long gap nerve defects in the hand with consistently high rates of meaningful recovery. Results for PNA repairs of digital nerve injuries with gaps longer than 25 mm compare favorably with historical reports for nerve autograft repair but without donor site morbidity.

Single-stage phalloplasty may be accomplished by having both the microsurgical and the reconstructive urology team operate simultaneously. Phalloplasty with pars pendulans urethroplasty is completed by the microsurgeons, and pars fixa urethroplasty, vaginectomy, scrotoplasty, and perineal reconstruction are performed by the reconstructive urologist. Some surgeons prefer separating phalloplasty from the urologic portions of the procedure. The single-staged approach is favored in patients whose ultimate goal is to have an aesthetic, sensate, and functional phallus and scrotum. Complications remain high but are predictably lower in higher-volume centers. Reconstructive urologists manage the urethral complications that develop.

Learning objectives After reading this article and viewing the video, the participant should be able to: 1. Discuss appropriate treatment guidelines, including preoperative mental health and hormonal treatment before gender-affirmation surgery. 2. Name various surgical options for facial, chest, and genital masculinization. 3. Recognize key steps and anatomy during chest-wall contouring and phalloplasty reconstruction. 4. Discuss major risks and complications of chest-wall contouring and phalloplasty reconstruction. Summary Transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals may experience conflict between their gender identity and their gender assigned at birth. With recent advances in health care and societal support, appropriate treatment has become newly accessible and has generated increased demand for gender-affirming care, which is globally guided by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. This CME article reviews key terminology and standards of care, and provides an overview of various masculinizing gender-affirming surgical procedures.

Background: Cabled sensory nerve autografts are the historical gold standard for overcoming gaps in larger diameter nerves as repair utilizing large-diameter autograft risks central graft necrosis. Commercially available processed nerve allograft (PNA) is available in diameters up to 5 mm but represents an acellular 3-dimensional matrix as opposed to viable tissue. The purpose of this study is to specifically evaluate whether similar concerns regarding the use of large-caliber PNA are warranted. Methods: The RANGER Registry is an active database designed to collect injury, repair, safety, and outcomes data for PNAs (Avance® Nerve Graft; AxoGen, Inc, Alachua, Florida) according to an institutional review board–approved protocol. The database was queried for patients presenting with large-caliber nerve allograft repairs in the upper extremity. Identified patients reporting quantitative outcomes with a minimum of 9-month follow-up were included in the data set. Results: The large-caliber PNA subgroup included 13 patients with 15 injuries. The mean ± SD age was 36 ± 22 years. Large-caliber single-stranded repairs included twelve 4- to 5-mm-diameter grafts. Large-caliber cabled repairs included the combined use of 3- to 4-mm and 4- to 5-mm-diameter nerve allografts in 3 repairs. The mean nerve gap was 33 ± 10 mm with a mean follow-up time of 13 months. Available quantitative data reported meaningful recovery of sensory and motor function in 67% and 85% of the repairs, respectively. Conclusion: Although based on a small subset of patients, PNAs of up to 5 mm in diameter appear capable of supporting successful nerve regeneration.

Phalloplasty represents the most complete genitoperineal transformation. Because it requires complex, staged procedures as well as the use of tissue from remote sites, patients must be well informed as to the nature of surgery. Surgical techniques for phalloplasty continue to evolve. Although many surgeons prefer the radial forearm free flap technique, a visible flap donor site makes this procedure less desirable for some patients. Other surgical options are available and include the anterolateral thigh flap, sometimes in conjunction with secondary flaps, and the musculocutaneous latissimus dorsi flap.

Scientific publications are the cornerstone of scholarly activities. The importance of appropriately assigned authorship cannot be overstated. Hence, we felt it prudent to examine the perception of plastic surgery trainees regarding authorship. We hypothesized that plastic surgery trainees would not be in compliance with International Committee of Medical Journal Editors guidelines when determining what constitutes an authorship justifying contribution.An online survey describing 4 distinct scenarios was distributed to plastic surgery trainees at 2 academic institutions using the Qualtrics research software (Provo, UT). Additional parameters queried included level of training and number of publications. Linear regression models were used to test correlation between responses and level of training and number of publications.Thirty-three of 48 trainees responded (response rate, 68.8%). All respondents had previously authored publications, with the majority (54.5%) having at least 10 publications. Although none of the scenarios presented justified authorship based on international guidelines, 33.3% of respondents believed that authorship was warranted in at least 3 of the 4 presented scenarios. Linear regression comparing for demographic variables to number of perceived authorship scenarios found a mild-moderate positive correlation with level of training (R = 0.34, P = 0.05) and number of publications (R = 0.32, P = 0.07).Plastic surgery trainees do not seem to be familiar with guidelines regarding authorship justifying contributions. It is important to raise awareness regarding criteria that warrant authorship and to educate our residents and fellows in matters of appropriate scholarly conduct because nothing short of the credibility of our scientific endeavors is otherwise in question.

Background Short-gap digital nerve injuries are a common surgical problem, but the optimal treatment modality is unknown. A multicenter database was queried and analyzed to determine the outcomes of nerve gap reconstructions between 5 and 15 mm with processed nerve allograft. Methods The current RANGER registry is designed to continuously monitor and compile injury, repair, safety, and outcomes data. Centers followed their own standard of care for treatment and follow-up. The database was queried for digital nerve injuries with a gap between 5 and 15 mm reporting sufficient follow-up data to complete outcomes analysis. Available quantitative outcome measures were reviewed and reported. Meaningful recovery was defined by the Medical Research Council Classification (MRCC) scale at S3-S4 for sensory function. Results Sufficient follow-up data were available for 24 subjects (37 repairs) in the prescribed gap range. Mean age was 43 years (range, 23–81). Mean gap was 11 ± 3 (5–15) mm. Time to repair was 13 ± 42 (0–215) days. There were 25 lacerations, 8 avulsion/amputations, 2 gunshots, 1 crush injury, and 1 injury of unknown mechanism. Meaningful recovery, defined as S3-S4 on the MRCC scales, was reported in 92% of repairs. Sensory recovery of S3+ or S4 was observed in 84% of repairs. Static 2PD was 7.1 ± 2.9 mm ( n = 19). Return to light touch was observed in 23 out of 32 repairs reporting Semmes-Weinstein monofilament outcomes (SWMF). There were no reported nerve adverse events. Conclusion Sensory outcomes for processed nerve allografts were equivalent to historical controls for nerve autograft and exceed those of conduit. Processed nerve allografts provide an effective solution for short-gap digital nerve reconstructions.

Peripheral nerve repair can be very rewarding for both surgeon and patient when expected outcomes are achieved. In many cases, however, the results are suboptimal due to number of possible objective and technical reasons. Although we cannot influence patent's comorbidities, the extent or mechanism of the nerve injury, we may help optimize technical details when aiming towards improved outcomes. While the suture coaptation for primary nerve repair or nerve reconstruction with grafting served as the reconstructive standard for many decades, technical imperfections remain threats to reconstructive goals. Tension, fascicular misalignment generated by over tightening suture coaptation, deeply placed sutures, reactive scarring to foreign material at anastomosis site, may all negatively affect axonal regeneration. As the goal of every nerve repair is to have ideally opposed tension free nerve fascicles, protected from the deleterious effects of the wound bed. The utilization of coaptation aids to overcome the challenges of nerve repair has been suggested as an alternative to the classical suture repair. A review of clinical literature was performed to assess the evidence for this technique and the critical success factors to consider when implementing this technique. Twelve clinical studies met criteria, majority suggesting improved outcomes by the utilization of a coaptation aid. Most commonly reported improvements were improved sensory outcomes, reduced tenderness or pain at the coaptation site and reduced operative time. The current clinical evidence data suggests that utilization of a coaptation aid is a technical innovation to help provide better nerve repair and reconstructive functional outcomes.

Improved techniques in microvascular surgery over the last several decades have led to the increased use of free tissue transfers as a mode of reconstructing difficult problems with a high success rate. However, undiagnosed thrombophilias have been associated with microsurgery free flap failures. We present a case of successful free tissue transfer in a patient with lupus anticoagulant and review the literature.

Purpose: As alternatives to autograft become more conventional, clinical outcomes data on their effectiveness in restoring meaningful function is essential. In this study we report on the outcomes from a multicenter study on processed nerve allografts (Avance 1 Nerve Graft, AxoGen, Inc). Patients and Methods: Twelve sites with 25 surgeons contributed data from 132 individual nerve injuries. Data was analyzed to determine the safety and efficacy of the nerve allograft. Sufficient data for efficacy analysis were reported in 76 injuries (49 sensory, 18 mixed, and 9 motor nerves). The mean age was 41 6 17 (18–86) years. The mean graft length was 22 6 11 (5–50) mm. Subgroup analysis was performed to determine the relationship to factors known to influence outcomes of nerve repair such as nerve type, gap length, patient age, time to repair, age of injury, and mechanism of injury. Results: Meaningful recovery was reported in 87% of the repairs reporting quantitative data. Subgroup analysis demonstrated consistency, showing no significant differences with regard to recovery outcomes between the groups (P > 0.05 Fisher’s Exact Test). No graft related adverse experiences were reported and a 5% revision rate was observed. Conclusion: Processed nerve allografts performed well and were found to be safe and effective in sensory, mixed and motor nerve defects between 5 and 50 mm. The outcomes for safety and meaningful recovery observed in this study compare favorably to those reported in the literature for nerve autograft and are higher than those reported for nerve conduits. V V C 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 00:000–000, 2011.