Background: Abdominal incisional hernia is a complication of the rectus abdominis myocutaneous (RAMC) flap harvest. This study aimed to compare the incidence of abdominal incisional hernia and donor-site closure time between absorbable barbed continuous (ABC) and non-absorbable non-barbed interrupted (nAnBI) methods. Methods: This study included 145 patients who underwent free RAMC flap reconstruction after head and neck cancer surgery at Kobe University Hospital between January 2012 and March 2020. The nAnBI method was selected between January 2012 and August 2016, and the ABC method was selected between September 2016 and March 2020. The incidence of abdominal incisional hernia and the average time required for donor-site closure were compared between the two groups. Results: Of the 145 patients surveyed, 116 (57 and 59 in the nAnBI and ABC groups, respectively) were followed-up for at least 90 days after the surgery. The incidence rates of abdominal incisional hernia were 0% and 5.1% (n = 3) in the nAnBI and ABC groups, respectively, with no significant differences (p = 0.244). The average donor-site closure times were 127.6 and 111.3 minutes in the nAnBI and ABC groups, respectively, with no significant differences (p = 0.122). Conclusions: No significant differences in the incidence of abdominal incisional hernia and donor-site closure time were observed between the nAnBI and ABC groups. However, there was a tendency for increased hernia occurrence and shorter wound closure time in the ABC group. A randomized prospective multicenter study is warranted to validate our findings of the ABC method.
Introduction: Incisional negative pressure wound therapy (iNPWT) is a preventive measure for postoperative wound dehiscence in which negative pressure is applied to the suture wound. Indeed, insufficient drainage in the deep layer is associated with an increased risk of developing subcutaneous hematoma and wound complications. Here, we report two cases of lower limb degloving injury successfully managed by iNPWT, with the reinforcement of subcutaneous drainage (hybrid-iNPWT). Case presentation: Case 1 was that of an 87-year-old man who sustained a deep, dissecting hematoma of the left lower leg associated with the sensation of severe tightness and pain. After emergency incision and removal of the hematoma in the deep fascia, we performed a primary closure of the flap wound. A negative pressure of 80 mmHg was applied to the sutured wound via foam dressing (iNPWT). Concurrently, we connected the negative pressure device with a subcutaneous drainage tube inserted under the flap (hybrid-iNPWT). The flap survived without recurrence of hematoma. Case 2 was that of an 89-year-old woman with a right lower leg degloving injury. The skin and subcutaneous tissues were detached from the underlying fascia. After primary closure of the flap, hybrid-iNPWT was performed at a subatmospheric pressure of 80 mmHg. The patient was discharged without any complications related to wound healing. Discussion: The aim of using hybrid-iNPWT was to apply negative pressure not only to the surface of the sutured wound but also to the posterior portion of the flap. The intensity of the negative pressure provided by the iNPWT device was higher than that of the conventional suction drainage tube system. Hybrid-iNPWT can be an alternative solution for hematoma prevention and may allow early ambulation in the management of lower limb degloving injuries in elderly patients.
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