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Biomedical subjects

Serdar Gokrem

Publications and source records attributed to Serdar Gokrem.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Reconstruction of small to medium defects in the soft tissues of the nose with nasalis musculocutaneous V-Y advancement flaps.

Defects in the soft tissues of the nose are usually reconstructed with skin grafts or frontal flaps. However, skin grafts may cause scar tissue and changes in colour. Frontal flaps, however, may be thicker than normal skin and may give unsatisfactory results. Nasalis musculocutaneous V-Y advancement flaps avoid these disadvantages. We suggest an algorithmic approach for the use of these flaps in the reconstruction of small to medium defects in the soft tissues of various regions of the nose. The pedicles of these flaps are the dorsal and lateral nasal arteries. This approach provides a simple, safe, and reliable reconstruction for small and medium defects in the soft tissues of the nose.

Adult↗

The hatchet flap for reconstruction of fingertip amputations.

BACKGROUND: Emmett has described a single triangular flap that contains a partial skin bridge on one of its sides and called it the hatchet flap. It was successfully used for defects located on various body parts. The aim of this study was to present the authors' experience and results obtained with this flap in fingertip amputations. METHODS: Nine patients who have completed their 1-year follow-up period were included in the study. Two-point discrimination and stiffness were tested, and the patients were queried about the existence of cold intolerance, hypersensitivity, numbness, and pain in the early (3 months) and late (1 year) postoperative periods. RESULTS: The amputations were located on the thumb in three patients, index finger in one patient, middle finger in three patients, and ring finger in two patients. The average defect size was 2.1 x 1.5 cm. Partial wound dehiscence was observed in one patient. The flap has provided good protective padding and aesthetic contour for the fingers. All incisions healed with inconspicuous scars. Average two-point discrimination was 6.3 mm (range, 4 to 8 mm). Cold intolerance was observed in two (22.2 percent) and paresthesia in one patient (11.1 percent). Joint stiffness was not noted. Most patients could return to their normal routine in approximately 4 to 5 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The hatchet flap is a good alternative for transverse and lateral oblique fingertip amputations and valuable for volar oblique amputations (defects <2 cm) with more extensive flap designs. The technique is simple and safe and provides good protective padding and acceptable tactile gnosis.

Adult↗

Effects of 360-degree pedicle torsion on island skin flaps: experimental study in rats.

This study was carried out to observe the isolated effects of pedicle torsion on island skin flaps, without further damaging the pedicle. Twelve adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighting 240 to 300 gr, were used, and hexagonal flaps with edges measuring 1.5 cm and pedicles measuring 1 cm in length were raised in the inguinal region. The animals were divided into two groups. In Group A, flaps were re-sutured to the donor beds without any rotation. In Group B, flaps were rotated 360 degrees, applying the same degree of torsion to their pedicles before re-suturing. After 7 days, the percentage of surviving skin areas of the flaps was determined by planimetry, and transverse sections of the flaps and pedicles were taken and evaluated in terms of signs of arterial or venous insufficiency. Statistically significant differences between the groups were determined by analyses using the multiple comparisons test. Pedicle torsion in Group B did not affect flap viability, both macroscopically and microscopically. The presented study shows that 360-degree torsion applied to the pedicle of the flap in this model had no effect on flap viability.

Animals↗

Effect of full-thickness skin graft initial dimension on secondary wound contraction: experimental study in rats.

BACKGROUND: The size of a full-thickness skin graft (FTSG) is typically determined using a pattern of the defect usually obtained following excision of a skin lesion. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this experimental study is to investigate the effects of various graft sizes on secondary wound contraction. METHODS: Four 2.5 x 2.5 cm defects were created on the backs of 20 rats. Defect A was left to heal by secondary intention. The graft obtained from defect B (exact size graft) was sutured to its original bed. The wound of defect C (large graft) was patterned, and this was used to obtain a generous graft from the abdomen. A presized 1.5 x 1.5 graft obtained from defect D (small graft) was sutured to its original wound. Graft areas on days 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, 18, and 21 were calculated and converted into a percentage of the original wound size. Analysis of variance was used for statistical comparison. Open wounds reached a final wound size of 5% at day 21. Exact-size grafts showed the least secondary contraction rate (74.19 +/- 4.30 %) (p < .05). CONCLUSION: A graft in the size of a planned excision preserves its original area better than grafts larger or smaller in size in the rodent model. The size of a FTSG is an important factor in preventing secondary wound contraction. However, it should be stressed that the results of this study cannot necessarily be extrapolated to real clinical scenarios without further detailed studies.

Animals↗

Reappraisal of island modifications of lateral calcaneal artery skin flap.

Reconstruction of soft-tissue defects of the calcaneal region and the heel is very demanding and necessitates, as a rule, a sensate and thin flap. The ideal characteristics of a sensate and thin layer of flap should be combined with a reliable blood supply and minimal morbidity at the donor site. The authors report an updated review of their experience with the use of island modifications of the lateral calcaneal artery skin flap-the lateral calcaneal island flap, the lateral calcaneal V-Y advancement flap, and the bilobed-shaped lateral calcaneal island advancement flap-for the reconstruction of small and medium-sized tissue defects over the exposed calcaneal tendons and calcaneal bones of 18 patients. All of the procedures were performed under spinal or epidural anesthesia. There were no problems associated with flap viability, but the authors have seen necrosis of undermined skin between the lateral malleolus and calcaneal tendon in two cases and a partial loss of skin graft in one case. In this article, the authors discuss some advantages and disadvantages of the use of a lateral calcaneal island flap and its modifications.

Adult↗

The influence of sildenafil on random skin flap survival in rats: an experimental study.

Sildenafil (Viagra), a selective and specific inhibitor of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) phosphodiesterases (PDEs), is currently marketed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Sildenafil is a potent and highly selective PDE-V inhibitor and enhances smooth muscle relaxation in human. Systemic arterial and venous smooth muscle cells contain PDE-V and nitric oxide (NO) which is a major mediator of relaxation of the smooth muscle cell. The aim of the present study is to investigate, in a rat model, the potential effect of sildenafil on survival of random pattern skin flaps. For this purpose, 32 Sprague-Dawley rats were used and a McFarlane-type caudally based skin flap was designed on the dorsum of the rat (2.5 x 8 cm). Rats were divided into four groups: One control (Group D), and three treatment groups (Groups A, B, C). Sildenafil was administered orally to the experiment groups; Group A: 3 mg/kg/single dose a day, Group B: 10 mg/kg/single dose a day and Group C: 10 mg/kg/twice dose a day. The areas of flap necrosis were measured in each group. The extent of viable flap areas were expressed as a percentage of total flap area, and differences were studied by Completely Randomised Experimental design. The areas of necrosis of skin flaps decreased depending on sildenafil dose, but viability of the flaps treated with 3 mg/kg/day was not different than the control group. The flaps receiving 2 x 10 mg/kg/day sildenafil gave the highest (P < 0.01) survival rate. As a conclusion, sildenafil may have a dose dependent effect to increase flap survival in random skin flaps.

Animals↗