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A unifying perspective of basic research findings and clinical observations may be obtained by considering the mechanoreceptor-related events in scar management. Moreover, a precise understanding of the roles that cellular mechanoreceptors and mechanosensitive nociceptors play in proliferative scarring may lead to the development of innovative treatment strategies and new pharmacologic therapies targeting cellular mechanoreceptors and mechanosensitive nociceptors in fibroproliferative diseases.

Free-tissue transfer is the reconstruction of choice for most head and neck defects. However, pedicled flaps are also used, especially in high-risk patients and after failure of a free flap. The aim of this study was to compare transaxillary-subclavian pedicled latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous (PLDMC) flap, pectoralis major musculocutaneous flap, and free-tissue transfer for head and neck reconstruction in American Society of Anesthesiologists grades II and III patients. During the last 4 years, PLDMC flap with a modified transaxillary-subclavian route for transfer to the neck was used in 8 patients, pectoralis major musculocutaneous flap was used in 7 patients, and free flaps were used in 12 patients for head and neck reconstructions. These 3 methods were compared regarding the flap dimensions, complications, flap outcome scores, hospitalization time, and cost of the treatment. Mean age of the patients, mean American Society of Anesthesiologists scores, mean dimensions of the flaps, and mean hospitalization time did not differ significantly among the 3 groups. Regarding the operation time, flap complications, outcomes, and cost of total treatment, although statistically not significant, PLDMC group offered the fastest reconstruction with highest flap outcome scores and minimum cost. Free-tissue transfer is the procedure of choice especially for functional reconstruction of head and neck region. Occasionally, there exist cases in whom a pedicled flap could offer a safer option. The PLDMC flap transferred via the transaxillary-subclavian route may be preferred than, with advantages including increased arc of rotation, safer pedicle location, shorter duration of the procedure, and reduced complication rates and costs.

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BACKGROUND: Electrical burns are the third most common cause of burn injuries, after scald and flame burns. In spite of decreasing mortality rates as advancements are made in treatment modalities and medical equipment, significant complications and socioeconomic consequences still accompany electrical burns. Analyzed in the present study were data from patients hospitalized for electrical burns between 2008 and 2012 in the Samsun Training and Research Hospital, the only burn care center in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

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This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

We present a new surgical modification to allow propeller perforator flaps to cover pressure sores at various locations. We used a propeller perforator flap concept based on the detection of newly formed perforator vessels located 1 cm from the wound margin and stimulated by the chronic inflammation process. Between January 2009 and January 2017, 33 wound edge-based propeller perforator flaps were used to cover pressure sores at various locations in 28 patients. In four cases more than one flap was used on the same patient. The patients comprised 18 males and 10 females with a mean age of 41·25 (range, 16-70) years. All patients underwent follow-up for 0-12 months. The mean follow-up duration was 5·03 months. Venous congestion was observed in three flaps that were rotated by 180° (9·1%). However, there was a significant difference between flaps rotated by 90° and 180° according to the complication rate (P = 0·034). Out of 33 flaps, 29 flaps healed uneventfully. Patients were able to sit and lie on their flaps three weeks after surgery. In our study, we were able to obtain satisfying final results using these novel flaps.