Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38854368›Full record

ArticleJournal of hand and microsurgery2024

The Future of Microsurgery: Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation and Engineering Vascularized Tissue.

Francesco M Egro, Benjamin K Schilling, James D Fisher, Rakan Saadoun, J Peter Rubin, Kacey G Marra, Mario G Solari

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of hand and microsurgery, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Francesco M EgroDepartment of Plastic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.
Benjamin K SchillingDepartment of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.
James D FisherDepartment of Plastic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.
Rakan SaadounDepartment of Plastic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.
J Peter RubinDepartment of Plastic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.
Kacey G MarraDepartment of Plastic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.
Mario G SolariDepartment of Plastic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Microsurgical techniques have revolutionized the field of reconstructive surgery and are the mainstay for complex soft tissue reconstruction. However, their limitations have promoted the development of viable alternatives. This article seeks to explore technologies that have the potential of revolutionizing microsurgical reconstruction as it is currently known, reflect on current and future vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) practices, as well as describe the basic science within emerging technologies and their potential translational applications. Methods: A literature review was performed of the technologies that may represent the future of microsurgery: vascularized tissue engineering (VCA) and flap-specific tissue engineering. Results: VCA has shown great promise and has already been employed in the clinical setting (especially in face and limb transplantation). Immunosuppression, logistics, cost, and regulatory pathways remain barriers to overcome to make it freely available. Vascularized and flap-specific tissue engineering remain a laboratory reality but have the potential to supersede VCA. The capability of creating an off-the-shelf free flap matching the required tissue, size, and shape is a significant advantage. However, these technologies are still at the early stage and require significant advancement before they can be translated into the clinical setting. Conclusion: VCA, vascularized tissue engineering, and flap-specific bioengineering represent possible avenues for the evolution of current microsurgical techniques. The next decade will elucidate which of these three strategies will evolve into a tangible translational option and hopefully bring a paradigm shift of reconstructive surgery.

Indexed as

composite tissue transplantationtissue engineeringvascularized composite allotransplantation

Identifiers

PMID38854368
PMCPMC11127549

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.