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Also: Suture sizes summarised, the Sunday quiz, & arterial anastomosis guide.
Suturing choice depends on wound type. Simple interrupted sutures give strength and versatility, mattress sutures evert edges and spread tension, and deep dermal ones relieve surface stress. Subcuticular sutures improve appearance, while vertical mattress and secure knots prevent dehiscence.
Transposition flaps are essential in reconstructive surgery. An ideal option for redirecting tissue into adjacent defects, with superior cosmetic outcomes compared to simple rotation or advancement flaps.
Surgical instruments improve efficiency and minimize trauma. Scalpels suit different incisions, forceps may be toothed or atraumatic, retractors provide exposure, scissors vary by tissue, & electrosurgery offers cutting & coagulation. Proper selection, handling, & set preparation enhance outcomes.
A summary of the classification of sutures, common materials used in plastic surgery, the USP sizing system, needle designs, and practical guidelines for choosing and removing sutures.
Local flaps move adjacent, vascularized tissue. Classified by perfusion (random/axial/perforator), composition (cutaneous→osseomyocutaneous), and movement (advancement/rotation/transposition/interpolation). Selection hinges on defect, tension vectors, and aesthetic subunits.
The reconstructive ladder guides wound closure from simple to complex: secondary intention, primary closure, skin grafts, local flaps, pedicled flaps, & free tissue transfer. Choice is defect- and patient-specific, evidence-based, with “elevator” jumps when higher rungs optimize outcomes.
This article summarises observational and experimental study designs, RCTs, systematic reviews/meta-analyses, PROMs, qualitative methods, and bias-appraisal tools; highlights registries, collaborative networks, and priority-setting to boost evidence quality in plastic surgery.
Also: Angiosome classic study, the Sunday quiz, & additional reading on perforators.
Also: FDP avulsion injury classification, fixing a zone 1 FDP & 3 recommended reads.
Also: Building a team of experts, evidence on SCIP flaps, & 3 recommended reads.
Also: Final round of the Sunday quiz, evidence on tendon grafts, & 3 recommended reads.
Also: A finger plating guide worth bookmarking, the Sunday quiz, & 3 finger fracture must-reads.
Also: The Sunday quiz, upcoming events by P'Fella, & 3 recommended reads.
Also: Spotlight on Elicit, the Sunday quiz, & experience as a textbook reviewer.
Also: Trapdoor flap, antia-buch flap, & the fellows' corner.
Also: Upper lid marking for bleph, the Sunday quiz, & 3 articles to bookmark.
Also: New round of Sunday quiz, Foundations update, & recap of live event
Also: Lejour’s marking method, new journal club article, & 3 recommended reads.
This systematic review analysed early vs late oral feeding following mucosal free flap reconstruction. Early feeding was associated with reduced fistula formation, pneumonia, and hospital stay. No increase in flap failure or dehiscence. Study heterogeneity and bias limit generalisability.
Mastopexy and breast reduction are reshaping procedures involving skin excision and NAC repositioning. Mastopexy restores shape without volume loss, while reduction also removes tissue to ease symptoms. Technique depends on ptosis grade, volume, and patient goals.
Also: Why journals are falling behind, the Sunday quiz, & journal club feature.
Advancement flaps slide adjacent skin on a single vector to seal small–moderate defects, exploiting subdermal plexus flow and RSTLs. Best for nasal, lip, cheek, & limb gaps with adequate laxity. Plan parallel cuts, Burow triangles, & layered closure. U, H, V-Y, cervicofacial variants expand reach.
