BackgroundA thin perforator flap is one of the best methods for covering defects. This study aimed to revisit and further test the rapidly advancing field of flap thinning techniques.MethodsWe performed two cadaveric studies to test the known flap thinning methods, and then applied these methods to a clinical series. In the first study, five cadavers were used to observe the anatomical relation of the perforator with the subdermal plexuses and the subcutaneous fat layer by injecting a colored latex solution. The second study was done on four cadavers independently from the first study. Last, a clinical series was performed on 15 patients.ResultsThe areolar fat lobules of 10 anterolateral thigh perforator (ALT), seven deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEAP), and six thoracodorsal artery perforator (TAP) flaps were dissected to reduce the flap thickness guided by the colored vascular pattern. On average, the ALT, DIEAP, and TAP flaps were reduced to 32.76%±9.76%, 37.01%±9.21%, and 35.42%±9.41%, respectively. In the second study, the areolar fat lobules were directly dissected in six ALT, six TAP, and four MSAP flaps, and an average reduction in flap thickness of 53.41%±5.64%, 52.30%±2.88%, and 47.87%±6.41%, respectively, was found. In the clinical series, 13 out of the 15 cases yielded satisfactory outcomes with an average thickness reduction of 37.91%±7.15%.ConclusionsThese multiple studies showed that the deep fat layer could be safely removed to obtain a thin yet viable perforator flap. This evidence suggests that the macroscopic flap thinning technique can achieve thin flaps. Surgeons should consider this technique before embracing the latest technique of supermicrosurgery.

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Introduction: According to data from Perhimpunan Dokter Bedah Plastik Rekonstruksi dan Estetik Indonesia (PERAPI), there are only 193 plastic surgeons throughout Indonesia. There is no sufcient data that described pattern of incidence, workload, and role of Plastic Surgery in trauma cases at Indonesian Referral Center Hospital, especially in the Province of North Sumatra. Methods: This research is a descriptive study with a retrospective approach. Sample of this study was medical records of trauma patients who required Plastic Surgery who came to the H. Adam Malik General Hospital Medan Emergency Room (1 January 2016-31 December 2018). This study used total sampling method. Results: This study involved 536 patients and 40.85% included in the adult age range. Men vs women ratio is 3:1 (405 vs 131). Based on type of injury, the most common injury is facial trauma, followed by burns and soft tissue injuries (291, 178 and 66). The most common etiology is trafc accidents (90 cases). Most of facial bone fractures located at mandibular bone (segmental fracture). Inhalation trauma due to burns only occurred in 6 cases (3.24%). Most of soft tissue injuries occurred at lower extremities (upper limbs). Conclusion: Trafc accidents are the most common etiology for trauma in Plastic Surgery. Most of the patients are men and included in the adult age range. Facial trauma is the most common injury in Plastic Surgery. Most facial bone fractures located at mandible (symphysis and parasymphysis). Most of burns injury are re burns. Most soft tissue injuries are located at lower extremities (upper limbs).

Background: Cleft lip and/or palate (CL&/P) is the most common congenital craniofacial abnormality, affecting approximately 1 in every 700 newborns. Patients with cleft lip and/or palate (CL&/P) generally display poor oral hygiene and a higher prevalence of caries. This may be due to the difficulty in achieving adequate plaque control associated with dental anomalies and defects from the lips and/or palate. Palatal fistula is a significant complication following cleft palate repair. It is the aim of this research to find correlation between palatal fistula and dental caries. Patient and Method: Patients with unilateral complete cleft palates admitted to the Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital, Adam Malik hospital within the period July 2012 till March 2013 were included in this study. All cases underwent modified two flap palatoplasty leaving lateral periosteum technique and follow-up were done in two weeks to see if there are any palatal fistula. Result: Thirty eight patients with unilateral cleft palate were enrolled in the study. Fifteen (39.5%) of them are boys and 23 (60.5%) are girls. Fifteen of the patients (41.7%) had dental caries, with six patients (40%) had palatal fistula in the follow up after palatoplasty, while there was none (0%) of the 21 (58.3%) patients that were found negative for dental caries developed a fistula. Conclusion: Dental caries is one of the important predisposing factors of palatal fistula in patients who undergo palatoplasty.