Journal Reviews
Postoperative delirium
This is a retrospective study from Japan analysing 102 patients who underwent oral cancer resection and free flap reconstruction. Postoperative delirium occurred in a third of these patients. An increased risk was identified in those with high preoperative albumin, postoperative...
Total lower lip reconstruction: a review
Total or near total defects of the lower lip may result from trauma, cancer ablation or congenital causes. Defects usually involve the full thickness and include skin, muscle and mucosa. There are a number of techniques for the one stage...
One anastomosis or two
This is a cumulative meta-analysis from Hong Kong reviewing 27 articles and a total of 7389 flaps. The authors, at the outset, acknowledge that the number of anastomoses is not the only factor of venous compromise and flap failure. Nonetheless...
Effect of skin expansion on acellular dermis
Acellular dermis is widely used in prosthesis based breast reconstruction, however, there is a lack of data concerning its expandability and related skin changes. This experimental study in rats aimed to determine whether acellular dermis could be expanded and whether...
Modified reversed superficial peroneal artery flap in reconstruction of ankle and foot defects following severe burns
Deep burns involving the foot and ankle represent a significant reconstructive challenge. This paper serves as a clinical review of the modified reversed superficial artery flap. The authors describe key anatomy, surgical steps and clinical outcomes in a small series....
Outcomes of heavily pre-treated oral squamous cell carcinomas
Oral squamous cell carcinoma is one of the more common cancers worldwide. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment and often these patients have had adjuvant therapies. In spite of improving five year survival rates, local recurrent progressive disease is still...
Bioengineered human tissue
This is a literature review of the current status of tissue engineering related to ocular and oculoplastic reconstructive surgery. The authors describe the process of bioengineering for tissue reconstruction. The aim is to reproduce functional tissue by the use of...
Tissue engineered flaps
This article provides a thorough summary of the current techniques available in head and neck reconstruction. It details the challenge of restoration of form and function posed by the shape of the craniofacial skeleton and soft tissue. The introduction on...
Another paper advocating resection templates
Resection in the head and neck region leads to complex defects with significant impairment in function. Reconstruction is even more difficult and to improve the accuracy of both resection and reconstruction a number of aids are used. With the improved...
Do implants assist rehabilitation following mandibular reconstruction?
The gold standard for the reconstruction of the mandible is a free bony flap, the fibula being commonly used. Following reconstruction optimal function and aesthetic rehabilitation is the goal. There is no doubt that patients consider chewing, swallowing and speech...
Money saving using CAD-CAM in mandibular reconstruction
Computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) are an exciting dimension in the functional and accurate reconstruction of the oral cavity. The fibula is commonly used for mandibular reconstruction as a free flap. This straight bone needs to be...
Contralateral breast symmetrisation in unilateral DIEP flap breast reconstruction
This paper is focused on whether an immediate breast symmetrisation procedure is beneficial when a patient undergoes contralateral breast resection plus an immediate free flap reconstruction for breast cancer. Free abdominal perforator flaps (DIEP) generally offer the highest postoperative satisfaction...
