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Biomedical subjects

P L Tonnard

Publications and source records attributed to P L Tonnard.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

The superior gluteal artery perforator flap: an additional tool in the treatment of sacral pressure sores.

We describe the use of a large skin-subcutaneous tissue flap based on one perforator of the superior gluteal artery (SGA) to reconstruct large midline posterior defects in one stage. The integrity of the gluteus muscles is preserved and we feel this is particularly important in non-paralysed patients. Donor sites were always closed primarily. Use of the superior gluteal artery perforator (SGAP) flap preserves the entire contralateral side as a future donor site. On the ipsilateral side, the gluteal muscle itself is preserved and all flaps based on the inferior gluteal artery are still possible. We recommend this flap in an area where reconstructive possibilities are limited, as it preserves other reconstructive flap options, both on the ipsilateral and contralateral sides.

Adult↗

A simple mathematical formula for custom-made croissant tissue expanders.

The popularity of croissant-type tissue expanders has increased steadily during the past 5 years. Croissant-shaped expansion offers the advantage of creating a tailored skin flap that is advanced easily into an elliptical skin defect without the formation of dog-ears or without the need for backcuts in the expanded flap. Because the majority of lesions can be considered elliptical in shape, surgical removal is performed easily with an adapted croissant expander. We present a simple mathematical formula for calculating the exact dimensions of the required croissant expander. A good clinical result was obtained using this formula to design large custom-made croissant tissue expanders in a patient with a giant nevus.

Child↗

A universal incision for tissue expander insertion.

A new type of V- or W-shaped intralesional incision for tissue expander insertion is presented. The experience with 50 of these incisions in 36 consecutive patients in the period 1990-93 without any complication has proved the safety of this approach and the advantages of V- or W-shaped incisions over tangential or radial incisions.

Adult↗

Scar-length reduction by ring-shaped expansion.

Conventional tissue expansion with rectangular or round expanders often results in considerable dog-ear formation and, after resection, in lengthening of the final scar. The resulting scar is, always much longer than the maximal diameter of the skin lesion. These disadvantages are partially avoided by the use of croissant-shaped expanders. Taking the idea of the croissant-shaped expander and thinking further in terms of differential expansion, a new expander has been designed. It consists of a ring-shaped expander that is placed under the normal skin around the lesion. When the appropriate expansion is reached, the skin lesion is excised and the defect is closed with a running subcuticular suture, pulling as much skin as possible centripetally. The resulting scar is shorter than the maximal diameter of the skin lesion. The new expander has been tested in two patients in regions that are reputed for poor scar quality (the back and the upper arm). The results are encouraging.

Adult↗