Background: Restoration of nasal lining is essential in reconstruction of subtotal/total nasal defects. When local flaps are inadequate, a microvascular flap should be used. The purpose of this scoping review is to map the literature and identify the described flap options for subtotal/total nasal reconstruction. Further to that, we will summarize the stated advantages and disadvantages, evaluate functional and esthetic outcomes, and appraise the current body of literature.
Methods: An electronic literature search was completed. Studies required adult patients with subtotal/total nasal defects and lining reconstruction with microvascular free flap. Two independent reviewers completed screening and data extraction. Flap characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, functional and esthetic outcomes were reviewed. Two independent reviewers evaluated study quality. Results: Of 305 initial articles, 22 studies were included (13 case reports, 9 case series) accounting for 65 flaps. Microvascular flaps varied by composition and anatomical location. For functional outcome, 13 studies used clinical exam by surgeon, 5 reported patient being satisfied, 3 studies used endoscopy, and 1 study used nasometry. Assessing esthetic outcome, 13 studies used clinical exam by surgeon, 5 studies reported patient being satisfied, 1 study used patientreported outcome measures, and 16 studies included photos. Study quality (modified CARE and PROCESS checklists) was deemed poor. Quality of available evidence was level IV.Conclusions: Microvascular free flaps for nasal reconstruction, confer an overall satisfactory functional and esthetic outcome. All studies lack a systematic and comprehensive approach to assessing and reporting these outcomes. Future research should provide objective assessment and utilize patient reported outcome measures.
Background:
Open carpal tunnel release is commonly performed with the use of a tourniquet. The combination of local anesthetic and epinephrine with a pneumatic tourniquet helps provide clear visualization during decompression of the median nerve. There has been a rapid expansion of literature challenging the use of tourniquets in open carpal tunnel release. Consequently, the local anesthesia/no tourniquet approach has become increasingly popular. The authors evaluated the outcomes of awake open carpal tunnel release with and without a tourniquet.
Methods:
The authors attempted to identify all relevant studies, regardless of language or publication status. A systematic database search for relevant studies was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, EBSCO, and CENTRAL. Included studies compared patients undergoing awake open carpal tunnel release with and without an arm or forearm tourniquet.
Results:
Eight studies evaluating 765 patients and 866 hands were included. Open carpal tunnel release with the wide awake, local anesthesia, no tourniquet approach resulted in a 2.14 point reduction on the visual analog scale (95% CI, 1.30 to 2.98; p < 0.001). The procedure was 1.82 minutes faster with the use of a tourniquet (95% CI, –3.26 to –0.39; p = 0.01). There were no significant differences between groups in intraoperative blood loss, surgeon perceived difficulty, and complications.
Conclusion:
This systematic review found that tourniquet use causes significantly more pain with no significant clinical benefit as compared with using a wide awake, no tourniquet approach in carpal tunnel decompression.
A number of tools exist to assess a range of plastic surgery skills, in both clinical and simulated settings. There is a need to determine the transferability of simulated assessments to clinical practice, as most available tools are simulation-based. Although additional psychometric testing of current assessment tools is required, particularly in the nontechnical domain, this review provides a base on which to build assessment frameworks that will support plastic surgery's transition to competency-based medical education.
Background
Comparative studies have shown little statistical difference in outcomes following rhinoplasty, demonstrating near equivalent results across all surgical techniques. Cross-study comparisons of these trials are difficult because variation in outcome reporting prevents statistical pooling and analysis.
Objectives
The authors sought to identify all outcomes and outcome measures used to evaluate postoperative results in rhinoplasty.
Methods
An extensive computerized database search of MEDLINE and EMBASE was performed; all trials involving n ≥ 20 patients, aged 18 years and older undergoing a primary, open rhinoplasty procedure, were included for review.
Results
Of the 3235 citations initially screened, 72 studies met the stated inclusion criteria. A total of 53 unique outcomes and 55 postoperative outcome measures were identified. Outcomes were divided into 6 unique domains: objective signs, subjective symptom severity, physical function related to activities of daily living, patient satisfaction, surgeon satisfaction, and quality of life. The identified outcome measures consisted of 5 nasal-specific, author-reported instruments; 5 nasal specific, patient-reported instruments; 5 patient-reported, generic instruments; and 40 author-generated instruments. Of the outcome measures identified, the Rhinoplasty Outcomes Evaluation, Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22, and FACE-Q were the only instruments to demonstrate adequate validity, reliability, and responsiveness to change in patients who underwent a rhinoplasty procedure.
Conclusions
There is heterogeneity in the outcomes and outcome measures employed to assess postsurgical outcomes following rhinoplasty. A standardized core outcome set is urgently needed to make it possible for future investigators to compare results of various techniques in rhinoplasty surgery.
Level of Evidence: 2
This is the largest case series evaluating functional outcomes of patients undergoing post-traumatic delayed enophthalmos repair. A multidisciplinary care approach resulted in improved globe position, eye movement, and improvement of diplopia. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to better understand and treat this important and challenging problem.
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