Postoperative cooling enhances composite graft survival in nasal-alar and fingertip reconstruction.
A simple method using ice-water and aluminium foil for enhancing composite graft survival is reported. Cooling the entire recipient site retards cellular degeneration in the graft until neovascularisation occurs. The success of this technique in nasal reconstruction using auricular chondrocutaneous tissue and nonmicrosurgical fingertip reattachment is presented. The potential application to thicker skin grafts is also discussed.
Hirasé
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Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
D000328:Adult; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000601:surgery*; D002056:Burns / Q000601:surgery; D002356:Cartilage / Q000637:transplantation; D017679:Cryotherapy; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose / Q000293:injuries*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000502:physiology