Neuromas and Persistent Postoperative Pain Following Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Purpose: Persistent postoperative knee pain after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is often an indication for revision surgery and has a multifactorial etiology. Periarticular neuromas of nerves innervating the joint, ligaments, or overlying skin are important but misdiagnosed causes of persistent knee pain following knee surgery. This study aimed to characterize the incidence and sequelae of peripheral neuromas in TKA patients.

The Highs and Lows of Fracture Fixation: Complications After Wrist Fracture Fixation for Users of Cannabis, Tobacco, or Neither Substance.

Background: We investigated associations of cannabis and tobacco use with complications after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of wrist fractures.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed PearlDiver data from 337 538 patients who underwent ORIF for wrist fractures from 2010 to 2022. We identified 5587 patients with a history of cannabis use disorder ("cannabis group"); 12 806 patients with a history of tobacco use and no history of cannabis use disorder ("tobacco group"), and 310 108 patients with no history of cannabis use disorder or tobacco use ("control group").

Testosterone Promotes Nerve Tethering and Acellular Biomaterial Perineural Fibrosis in a Rat Wound Repair Model.

Nerve scarring after traumatic or iatrogenic exposure can lead to impaired function and pain. Nerve-adjacent biomaterials promoting a regenerative tissue response may help reduce perineural fibrosis. Our prior work suggests that testosterone may promote fibrotic skin scarring, but it is unknown how testosterone alters nerve fibrosis or shifts the response to biomaterials.

Interposing Rectus and Gracilis Muscle Flaps for Pelvic Reconstruction in Bladder Exstrophy after Bladder Neck Closure.

Background: The exstrophy-epispadias complex is a spectrum of ventral wall malformations including classic bladder exstrophy and cloacal exstrophy (CE). Patients undergo multiple soft-tissue procedures to achieve urinary continence. If unsuccessful bladder neck closure (BNC) is performed, muscle flaps may be used to reinforce BNC or afterward for fistula reconstruction.

Optical absorption spectra and corresponding photoacoustic visualization of exposed peripheral nerves.

Significance: Multispectral photoacoustic imaging has the potential to identify lipid-rich, myelinated nerve tissue in an interventional or surgical setting (e.g., to guide intraoperative decisions when exposing a nerve during reconstructive surgery by limiting operations to nerves needing repair, with no impact to healthy or regenerating nerves).

Selective Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint Denervation Versus Trapeziectomy and Ligament Reconstruction With Tendon Interposition for Painful Arthritis: A Prospective Study With 2 Years of Follow-Up.

Purpose: Thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint denervation is a relatively novel method for the management of osteoarthritis-associated pain by selective transection of articular nerve branches of the CMC joint. This study compared functional/patient-reported outcomes after CMC denervation with those after trapeziectomy and ligament reconstruction with tendon interposition (T + LRTI) over a 2-year follow-up period. We hypothesized that the outcomes of denervation and T + LRTI would be similar over the course of the study and at the final 2-year follow-up.

Skull and Scalp En-Bloc Harvest Protects Calvarial Perfusion: A Cadaveric Study.

Background:  Calvarial defects are severe injuries that can result from a wide array of etiologies. Reconstructive modalities for these clinical challenges include autologous bone grafting or cranioplasty with biocompatible alloplastic materials. Unfortunately, both approaches are limited by factors such as donor site morbidly, tissue availability, and infection.

Skull and Scalp En-Bloc Harvest Protects Calvarial Perfusion: A Cadaveric Study.

Background:  Calvarial defects are severe injuries that can result from a wide array of etiologies. Reconstructive modalities for these clinical challenges include autologous bone grafting or cranioplasty with biocompatible alloplastic materials. Unfortunately, both approaches are limited by factors such as donor site morbidly, tissue availability, and infection.

Use of Vascularized, Denervated Muscle Targets for Prevention and Treatment of Upper-Extremity Neuromas.

Purpose: Neuroma formation following upper-extremity peripheral nerve injury often results in persistent, debilitating neuropathic pain with a limited response to medical management. Vascularized, denervated muscle targets (VDMTs) offer a newly described surgical approach to address this challenging problem. Like targeted muscle reinnervation and regenerative peripheral nerve targets, VDMTs are used to redirect regenerating axons from an injured nerve into denervated muscle to prevent neuroma formation.

Selective Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint Denervation for Painful Arthritis: Follow-Up of Long-Term Clinical Outcomes.

Purpose: Thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint osteoarthritis is a common problem affecting up to 85% of patients over the age of 70. The most common presenting symptom for patients with CMC arthritis is pain with joint loading. Loss of function due to subluxation or joint destruction is comparatively rare.

Radiographic imaging modalities for perinatal brachial plexus palsy: a systematic review.

Purpose: Perinatal brachial plexus palsy (PBPP) has a wide spectrum of clinical symptoms that can range from incomplete paresis of the affected extremity to flaccid arm paralysis. Although there is a high rate of spontaneous recovery within the first two years of life, it remains challenging to determine which patients will benefit most from surgical intervention. The diagnostic and predictive use of various imaging modalities has been described in the literature, but there is little consensus on approach or algorithm.

The utility of initial staging PET-CT as a baseline scan for surveillance imaging in stage II and III melanoma.

Background: This study evaluates the utility of whole-body PET-CT for the initial staging and subsequent surveillance imaging of patients with completely resected stage II and stage III melanoma.

Methods: A single-center, retrospective review of patients who received perioperative whole-body PET-CT from January 1, 2005 to December 1, 2019 within three months of initial melanoma diagnosis was performed.

Results: Of 258 total patients with completely resected melanoma who had a PET-CT within 3 months after their melanoma diagnosis, 113 had stage II and 145 had stage III melanoma.

Volumetric Symmetry after Unilateral Autologous Breast Reconstruction: A Reasonable Goal.

Unlabelled: With growing concerns about the overuse of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy, optimizing unilateral mastectomy reconstruction outcomes becomes a priority. However, there remains a paucity of objective data that describe volumetric symmetry between a natural and autologous-reconstructed breast.

Methods: We evaluated patients who underwent unilateral mastectomy reconstruction with free-flap abdominal tissue transfer from 04/2006 to 01/2015, and had at least 2 postoperative magnetic resonance images (MRIs; n = 28).

The Hybrid Arch Bar Is a Cost-Beneficial Alternative in the Open Treatment of Mandibular Fractures.

Obtaining maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) to achieve fracture reduction and functional occlusion is essential in the management of maxillofacial trauma. The aims of this retrospective review were to compare the total time spent in the operating room (OR) when using the Erich arch bar (EAB) versus the bone anchored hybrid arch bar (HAB) as well as performing a cost-benefit analysis (CBA). The study sample comprised patients older than 18 years who underwent open reduction internal fixation of mandible fractures at two separate institutions over a 5-year period.

The Utilization of Video Technology in Surgical Education: A Systematic Review.

Background: The use of surgical video has great potential to enhance surgical education, but there exists limited information about how to effectively use surgical videos. We performed a systematic review of video technology in surgical training and provided evidence-based recommendations for its effective use.

Materials And Methods: A systematic review of literature on surgical video in residency education was conducted.

Validation of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Risk Model for Patients Undergoing Panniculectomy.

Unlabelled: Panniculectomy procedures have been reported to significantly improve quality of life, increase mobility, and improve hygiene in patients with a significant pannus formation. The primary aims of this study were to determine which preoperative risk factors may be used to differentiate postoperative complication rate among patient cohorts and to validate utilization of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) risk calculator in patients undergoing panniculectomies.

Methods: This retrospective study included all patients who underwent a panniculectomy procedure at our institution from 2005 to 2016.

Outcomes of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Patients Supported with a Left Ventricular Assist Device.

Background: An increasing number of end-stage heart failure patients are supported with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation and must be maintained on consistent anticoagulation. These patients are experiencing prolonged survival and, in some, there is development of new biliary disease. However, safety and outcomes of this procedure in this unique patient group is not well reported.

A Novel Approach for the Management and Prevention of Self-Induced Masticatory Lingual Trauma in the Neurologically Injured Patient.

Self-induced masticatory trauma is an unfortunate complication of a variety of neurologic disorders, including epileptic seizures, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, psychiatric disease, and brain trauma, in addition to other described etiologies. While single or occasional occurrences of tongue biting are relatively benign, recurrent self-injury can pose major issues and predispose a patient to chronic, severe complications. To prevent the complications associated with ongoing trauma to the tongue, steps must be taken to protect individuals from chronic self-injurious behavior.

The Utility of Polyether-Ether-Ketone Implants Adjacent to Sinus Cavities After Craniofacial Trauma.

Purpose: Polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) implants have become increasingly popular for use in reconstructive procedures. It is imperative to understand the consequences of using this biomaterial in anatomic sites that can pose a risk of infection. Specifically, the use of PEEK in paranasal sinus cavity reconstruction is not well documented.

The Role of Reconstructive Surgery After Skeletal and Soft Tissue Sarcoma Resection.

Background: Skeletal and soft tissue reconstruction after sarcoma resection remains challenging. The use of advanced reconstructive techniques has been shown to improve function and increase rates of limb salvage. This study aims to analyze the utilization of plastic surgery within a multidisciplinary team approach after sarcoma resection at Duke University Medical Center from 2001 to 2014.