Background:Cranial reconstruction surgery is a procedure used as an attempt to reestablish the cranial bone anatomy. This study evaluates the symptomatic and aesthetic improvement of patients with cranial defects secondary to decompressive craniectomies after cranial reconstruction with customized polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) prostheses. Secondly, we aim to divide our experience in the production of these prostheses with a low-cost method.Methods:A prospective study was carried out with patients submitted to cranioplasty at the Hospital da Restauração between 2014 and 2017. A total of 63 cranioplasties were performed using customized PMMA prosthesis produced by 3D impression molds. All patients underwent a functional and aesthetic evaluation questionnaire in the preoperative period and in the sixth postoperative month.Results:Sixty-three patients underwent cranioplasty with a mean age of 33 years, ranging from 13 to 58 years, 55 males and 8 females. The mean area of the defect was 147 cm2. The mean postoperative follow-up of the patients was 21 months, ranging from 6 to 33 months. Fifty-five patients attended the 6-month postoperative consultation. All patients presented symptomatic improvement after reconstruction of the skull. The infection rate was 3.2%, 4.8% of extrusion, 1.6% of prosthesis fracture, 7.9% of extradural hematoma, 17.4% of reoperation, 5% of wound dehiscence, and 4.8% of removal of the prosthesis.Conclusion:Cranioplasty, with a customized PMMA prosthesis, improved the symptoms and aesthetic appearance of all operated patients. The use of prototypes to customize cranial prostheses facilitated the operative technique and allowed the recovery of a cranial contour very close to normal.

Background:Cranial reconstruction with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) prosthesis is used for calvarial defects secondary to decompressive craniectomies. Seroma is one of the most frequent complications of this procedure and can lead to the dehiscence, extrusion, infection, and loss of the prosthesis. The objective of the study is to analyze the effectiveness of the tacking sutures between the prosthesis and the scalp flap in reducing the seroma.Methods:This is a prospective study with 63 patients submitted to cranioplasty between 2014 and 2017 for defects resulting from decompressive craniectomies. All patients were followed up postoperatively for at least 3 months and the diagnosis of seroma was made clinically. In the first 22 patients, the conventional technique was applied and, in the following 41, the technique with tacking sutures was used. The incidence of seroma was collected for both groups.Results:The overall incidence of seroma was 65.1%. Compared to the conventional technique, the use of tacking sutures was associated with a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of seroma from 90.9% to 51.2% (P = 0.002).Conclusion:The use of the tacking sutures in cranioplasties with PMMA prosthesis reduced the incidence of seroma postoperatively.

O paciente cirúrgico portador de abdome aberto é de difícil manuseio devido as perdas de água e eletrólitos, a difícil reposição volêmica, o grande número de curativos diários e o risco de infecção. A utilização do sistema VAC permite medir rigorosamente as perdas por um período de 48 horas, que pode ser renovado, facilita a reposição volêmica, diminue o risco de contaminação e de infecção e cria um ambiente úmido que facilita o processo de cicatrização. Quando comparado o custo com processos tradicionais além da vantagem verificada com o sistema VAC. Ocorre também uma redução do risco e do período de permanência hospitalar. Os autores relatam o tratamento de um paciente do no HC-UFPE que documenta essas vantagens.

Background Autologous fat graft is often employed to treat body contour defects. There is currently increased interest in the regenerative properties of fat grafting. Objectives The authors evaluated the histological changes of fat grafting in a blinded randomized controlled trial of staged fat grafting-abdominoplasty. Methods Ten women between 24 and 55 years of age with a body mass index <30 kg/m2 and previous cesarean scar were submitted to fat grafting followed by staged abdominoplasty. The C-section scar served as a landmark for standardization of fat grafting site and control. One side of the abdomen was fat grafted and the other was left intact (control). At the time of abdominoplasty, 4 months later, a full-thickness skin sample from each hemi abdomen (fat-grafted area and control) was collected and sent to histological analysis. Results All of the fat-grafted samples showed extracellular lipids and signs of fat graft viability, whereas no such changes occurred in the control group. There were no statistically significant differences in fat-grafted vs control samples regarding skin inflammatory infiltrate (P = 0.582), dermis thickness (P = 0.973), vascular density (P = 0.326), and amount of elastic fibers (P = 1). Conclusions The histological evaluation of women’s abdominoplasty surgical site skin after 4 months of fat grafting showed signs of fat graft in 100% of the grafted sides but no change in skin inflammatory infiltrate, dermis thickness, vascularity density, or elastic fiber quantity.

Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is an urgent neurosurgical procedure, effective in the reduction of intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with elevated ICP and in complications of brain infarction that do not respond to clinical treatment; traumatic brain injury (TBI); intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) and aneurysmal intracerebral haemorrhage. Symptomatic hydrocephalus is present in 2 to 29% of patients who undergo craniectomy. They may require a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS). The literature does not yet show standard management of cranioplasty in patients who have previously undergone a shunt, showing evidence of sinking skin flap syndrome. This case shows parenchymal expansion after VPS occlusion and cranioplasty in the patient’s profile. The 23-year-old male patient, right-handed, went to the hospital in January 2017 due to severe traumatic brain injury following multiple traumas. The patient underwent urgent DC surgery for the management of elevated ICP. The patient developed hydrocephalus. hydrocephalus. It was decided to perform the VPS implant. After 2 years, and with quite a sunken flap, the patient was submitted to cranioplasty procedure after shunt occlusion was performed. The patient left the hospital receiving outpatient care with no more complaints. In spite of the favourable outcome, new studies are fundamental to decide upon the best approach.