Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

French

Background

Flap necrosis following facial rhytidectomy constitutes a vexing and grievous complication to the patient and the surgeon. Treatment modalities that can expedite wound healing and re-epithelialization rates are highly desired.

Objectives

To assess wound healing and re-epithelialization rates of open wounds following postrhytidectomy flap necrosis treated with commercially available charged polystyrene microspheres (Polyheal-1, Polyheal Ltd, Israel).

Methods

Flap necrosis following rhytidectomy with open wounds in three female patients were treated using dressings soaked with Polyheal-1. Wound closure rates were documented.

Results

The wounds demonstrated both accelerated granulation tissue formation and rapid re-epithelialization rates. No complications or side effects were encountered.

Conclusions

Charged polystyrene microspheres may offer a new and efficacious way to treat open wounds due to flap necrosis following facial rhytidectomy. Further research with larger patient numbers is still needed to verify these findings.

Keywords

Charged polystyrene microspheres Facelift complications Flap necrosis Open wound

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

American Society of Plastic Surgeons. 2011 Plastic Surgery Procedural Statistics. <www.plasticsurgery.org/News-and-Resources/2011-Statistics-.html (Accessed July 25, 2012).

Griffin

. Complications after superficial plane cervicofacial rhytidectomy: A retrospective analysis of 178 consecutive facelifts and review of the literature. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2007; 65: 2227–34.

Jones

Grover

. Avoiding hematoma in cervicofacial rhytidectomy: A personal 8-year old quest. Reviewing 910 patients. Plast Reconstr Surg 2004; 113: 381–7.

Brink

. Auricular displacement with rhytidectomy. Plast Reconstr Surg 2002; 109: 408–9.

Daane

Owsley

. Incidence of cervical branch injury with “marginal mandibular nerve pseudo paralysis” in patients undergoing face lift. Plast Reconstr Surg 2003; 111: 2414–8.

Newman

Koch

Goode

Brennan

. Distortion of the auriculocephalic angle following rhytidectomy. Recognition and prevention. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1997; 123: 818–20.

Araco

Gravante

Araco

Delogu

Cervelli

. Conservative management of flap necrosis after expanding hematoma for face lifting surgery. Dermatol Surg 2006; 32: 878–9; author reply 879-80.

Personelle

Bolivar de Souza Pinto

Ruiz

. Injection of vitamin A acid, vitamin E, and vitamin C for treatment of tissue necrosis. Aesthetic Plast Surg 1998; 22: 58–64.

Jurczak

Dugre

Johnstone

Offori

Vujovic

Hollander

. Randomised clinical trial of hydrofiber dressing with silver versus povidone-iodine gauze in the management of open surgical and traumatic wounds. Int Wound J 2007; 4: 66–76.

10.

Mockros

Casperson

. Effects of electrically charged particles in enhancement of rat wound healing. J Surg Res 1999; 85: 43–50.

11.

Sasaki

Mueller

Sipe

Buck

Hollinger

. Mast cells: An unexpected finding in the modulation of cutaneous wound repair by charged beads. Plast Reconstr Surg 2003; 111: 1446–53.

12.

Nemmar

Delaunois

Nemery

. Inflammatory effect of intratracheal instillation of ultrafine particles in the rabbit: Role of C-fiber and mast cells. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 1999; 160: 250–61.

13.

Rees

Liverett

Guy

. The effect of cigarette smoking on skin flap survival in the facelift patient. Plast Reconstr Surg 1984; 73: 911.

14.

Webster

Kazda

Hamden

. Cigarette smoking and facelift: Conservative versus wide undermining. Plast Reconstr Surg 1986; 77: 596.

15.

Govrin

Kogan

Luger

Tamir

Zeilig

Shafir

. New method for treating hard-to-heal wounds: Clinical experience with charged polystyrene microspheres. Wounds UK 2010; 6: 52–61.

Post-facelift flap necrosis treatment using charged polystyrene microspheres