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Professor Malin Malmsjö, MD, PhD. Photo.

Malin Malmsjö

Professor

Professor Malin Malmsjö, MD, PhD. Photo.

Reperfusion of Free Full-Thickness Skin Grafts in Periocular Reconstructive Surgery Monitored Using Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging

Author

  • Johanna Berggren
  • Nazia Castelo
  • Kajsa Tenland
  • Ulf Dahlstrand
  • Karl Engelsberg
  • Sandra Lindstedt
  • Rafi Sheikh
  • Malin Malmsjö

Summary, in English

PURPOSE: Free skin grafts are frequently used in reconstructive surgery. However, little is known about the course of reperfusion due to the previous lack of reliable perfusion monitoring techniques. The aim of this study was to use state-of-the-art laser speckle contrast imaging to monitor free skin grafts in the periocular area.

METHODS: Seven patients needing surgery due to tumor removal or cicatricial ectropion in the periocular region underwent reconstructive surgery using free skin grafts from either the contralateral upper eyelid or the upper inner arm. The free skin grafts measured 10-30 mm horizontally and 9-30 mm vertically. Blood perfusion was monitored using laser speckle contrast imaging immediately postoperatively (0 weeks) and at follow-up after 1, 3, and 7 weeks.

RESULTS: All grafts were reperfused gradually during healing, the median value being 46% in the central part of the graft after 1 week and 79% after 3 weeks. The grafts were completely reperfused after 7 weeks. No difference was observed in the rate of reperfusion between the center and periphery of the grafts (p = not significant). The cosmetic and functional outcome was excellent in all but 1 patient, who developed ectropion that had to be surgically corrected.

CONCLUSIONS: Skin grafts in the periorbital area are fully reperfused after 7 weeks. The periocular area is known to be well-vascularized and thus forgiving to reconstructive surgery. Future investigations of the reperfusion of free skin grafts in other parts of the body or in higher-risk populations should be carried out.

Department/s

  • Ophthalmology Imaging Research Group
  • Ophthalmology, Lund
  • Clinical Sciences, Helsingborg
  • Clinical and experimental lung transplantation
  • LUCC: Lund University Cancer Centre
  • WCMM-Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine
  • StemTherapy: National Initiative on Stem Cells for Regenerative Therapy
  • Lung Bioengineering and Regeneration
  • NPWT technology
  • DCD transplantation of lungs
  • Thoracic Surgery

Publishing year

2021

Language

English

Pages

324-328

Publication/Series

Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Volume

37

Issue

4

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Topic

  • Ophthalmology

Status

Published

Research group

  • Ophthalmology Imaging Research Group
  • Clinical and experimental lung transplantation
  • Lung Bioengineering and Regeneration
  • NPWT technology
  • DCD transplantation of lungs

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1537-2677