Stefan Cacior

Stefan Cacior

Therapeutic Strategies in Flexor Tendon Lesions: A One-Year Retrospective Study to Guide Rehabilitation Protocol Standardization

Flexor tendon injuries of the hand are a common yet complex clinical challenge in reconstructive surgery, predominantly affecting young, working-age individuals and often resulting in significant functional impairment. Successful management requires a precise surgical approach combined with a structured, zone-specific rehabilitation protocol to restore optimal hand function. A one-year retrospective study was conducted in the Clinic of Plastic Surgery and Reconstructive Microsurgery at the Clinical Emergency Hospital Bucharest, reviewing the medical records of all patients admitted with traumatic flexor tendon injuries of the upper limb. A total of 58 patients with surgically confirmed flexor tendon injuries were included. Collected data encompassed demographic information, injury mechanism and anatomical location, zone classification, associated neurovascular injuries, timing and type of surgical intervention, and the rehabilitation protocols applied. All patients underwent operative treatment, followed by individualized rehabilitation programs tailored to the anatomical zone and severity of the injury. The data were analysed to identify patterns in injury aetiology, characteristics, and treatment strategies. These findings were compared with current literature and formed the basis for the development of a comprehensive, standardized rehabilitation protocol for flexor tendon injuries of the upper limb.

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Optimizing Non-living Models for Effective Microsurgical Training

Microsurgery, a pivotal surgical field that changed medical perspectives in the 20th century, presents numerous technical challenges due to the precision it requires from the surgeon. To acquire the requisite skills, comprehensive training is imperative. Initiation into microsurgical training on experimental models is a prerequisite before translating these skills to clinical applications. The employment of non-living models in medical training offers a myriad of advantages, notably characterized by their accessibility and cost-effectiveness. Non-living models, such as latex gloves, leaves, flower petals, silicon tubes and chicken legs, provide aspiring microsurgeons an opportunity to train the essential technical skills required in microsurgical practice. Such models significantly alleviate ethical concern associated with the use of live specimens and human cadaveric models. Furthermore, they exhibit a satisfactory emulation of human vascular properties, providing a realistic context for medical practice. Although the primary focus of this paper is on non-living models, it is important to highlight the transition to living models, specifically small animal models, as a mandatory and advanced phase in microsurgical training, before translating to clinical practice.

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Surgical Therapeutic Algorithm in Facial Paralysis

Facial nerve paralysis is a debilitating condition with multiple etiologies, with aesthetic, functional, psychological and social impact. Given the complex multitude of causes that may generate such condition, a therapeutic algorithm is mandatory when attempting reconstruction. Severity, timing, patient adherence to a rehabilitation program, status of ipsilateral and contralateral facial nerves and particularities of each patient are all criteria which should be accounted when choosing a treatment option. After initial assessment, a variable treatment panel is available based on condition type include medicamentous therapy, rehabilitation program, dynamic and static procedures surgical procedures, having as primary aim functional restoration achieving aesthetic balanced facial features. This paper summarizes current knowledge in facial paralysis reconstruction and presents an algorithmic approach that eases decision making and therapeutic strategy.

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