The gracilis muscle, based on the dominant pedicle, has been used extensively for free tissue transfer. Recent studies have described the constant anatomy, ease of dissection, and low donor-site morbidity of the distal segmental gracilis free muscle flap. We present three cases of free distal segmental gracilis muscle transfer. In one case, the gracilis muscle was divided transversely into one proximally based and one distally based free flap and used for coverage of two separate wounds in a patient with bilateral open calcaneal fractures. In two cases, the preserved proximal gracilis was used as a reoperative free flap after failure of the initial distal segmental gracilis free muscle. With recent advances in microsurgery and ever-growing demands for low donor-site morbidity, it is important to ensure each free muscle flap harvested is used efficiently. Use of the free distal segmental gracilis muscle flap maximally uses one muscle while minimizing donor site morbidity and retaining the proximal muscle for future uses.

No abstract

Objectives: To perform a radio-anatomical evaluation of the nasal cavity floor free mucosal graft (endonasal extended mucoplasty, EEM) to repair mucosal defects after an extended ethmoid-sphenoidotomy. Methods: A human cadaveric study (radiological and anatomical dissection) and an in vivo study in surgical patients with CRSwNP were performed. The EEM areas were compared between 3D reconstruction from CT scans and anatomical/surgical dissections, both in cadaver specimens and in patients. Feasibility was assessed by correlation between the EEM area on CT scans and when harvested in cadavers and when grafted in patients. Usefulness was assessed by the degree of coverage of the EEM in the surface exposed after an extended ethmoid-sphenoidotomy. Both feasibility and usefulness were assessed in cadaveric specimens (n = 15) and patients (n = 4). Results: Fifteen cadaveric specimens and 4 patients with bilateral CRSwNP were included. The mean (SD) areas obtained in the cadaveric radiological and anatomical studies were 9.44 (2.07) cm 2 and 8.03 (1.36) cm 2 , respectively (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.59, moderate correlation), and in 3D reconstruction for operated patients were 10.32 (0.98) cm 2 and 11.27 (2.44) cm 2 , respectively. The coverage of the ethmoidal roof in the cadaveric dissection study was 100%, from the anterior ethmoidal artery to the posterior ethmoidal artery, covering the planun sphenoidale up to 75% in the case series. In 87.5% of the cases, up to 50% of the papiracea lamina was covered. Jaime González-García and Ramón Moreno-Luna contributed equally as first authors.

No abstract

No abstract