No abstract

From December 2001 to September 2005, the technique of total penile reconstruction with a reinnervated free latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap was used in 22 patients (24-38 years old) with gender dysphoria. These patients were followed up for at least 11 months (range, 11-44 months). All flaps survived. Complications include hematoma (7 cases), vascular thrombosis (2 cases), partial necrosis (1 case), excessive swelling of the neophallus (3 cases), and skin graft loss at the donor site (1 case). Of the 19 patients included in the final evaluation, the transplanted muscle was able to obtain contraction in 18 (95%) cases and 8 patients (42%) had sexual intercourse by contracting the muscle to stiffen and move the neopenis. The described technique of neophalloplasty proved to be a reliable technique and the muscle movement in the neophallus can be expected in almost all cases. The muscle contraction in the neophallus leads to "paradox" erection-stiffening, widening, and shortening of the neopenis, which allows for sexual intercourse in some patients. Subsequent reconstruction of the urethra is possible.

Out of 262 hands with total finger amputations treated by replantation of finger/fingers from January 2001 until January 2006, there were only 6 cases of type III ring avulsion injuries, all of which were replanted. Radical resection of the damaged part of the artery with primary vein grafting was used in each case; only 1 artery and 2 veins were anastomosed for each finger. The survival rate was 100%. Mean total active motion was 195 degrees (ranging from 175 degrees to 220 degrees ). Mean 2-point discrimination was 8.6 mm static (ranging from 4 to 11 mm) and 6.2 mm moving (ranging from 3 to 9 mm), and mean grip strength was 37.4 kg. We believe that liberal resection of the "zone of contusion" of vessels and primary vein grafting for arterial repair can improve the overall survival rate of replantation in type III ring avulsion injuries, and replantation can be attempted in majority of the cases; good hand function can be expected.

We report a case of a 17-year-old patient who sustained multiple finger contusions on the left hand. After thorough debridement, the volar and dorsal defects of the middle finger were covered simultaneously with bilobed arterialized venous free flap from the left forearm. The flap was composed of 2 paddles, which were connected by a subcutaneous bridge containing a subcutaneous venous network. The subdermal plexus in the bridge was interrupted with no impairment of blood supply to the second cutaneous paddle. The flap survived completely with only temporary mild venous congestion. Excellent functional and cosmetic result was reached. We consider bilobed arterialized venous free flap as a useful option for coverage of concomitant volar and dorsal digital defects.

Rationale: The first successful ear replantation was performed by Pennigton in 1980 in Sydney. At least 84 ear replantations have been described in the literature over a period of 37 years since the first case. The authors have not found any previous case of frozen ear replantation in the literature. Patient concerns: We report the case of a 38-year-old man, who had an injury to the head while working with a machine. Diagnosis: The patient suffered total traumatic avulsion of the left ear. The ear was wrapped in moistened, sterile gauze and was transported on dry ice. At the time of admission to our department, the amputated ear was frozen to stiff, solid nonelastic matter. Interventions: We attempted replantation. Despite repeated arterial thrombosis during surgery, the ear was successfully replanted with arterial and venous anastomosis. Outcomes: Venous congestion occurred within 9 h of surgery and was treated using leeches. Freezing cold injury developed during reattachment. The radix and proximal parts of the helix exhibited necrosis and so were reconstructed by contralateral conchal cartilage graft, which was wrapped with a local subauricular skin flap. On completion of treatment, a satisfactory shape was achieved, although the replanted and reconstructed left auricle slightly was smaller than the contralateral auricle. Lessons learned: Our report confirms that the replantation of a frozen, amputated ear is possible, and we suggest that ear replantation should be the method of choice for the treatment of ear loss even under these conditions.