Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open (Jan 2020)

The “Needle-splint” Technique: A Method of Accurate Apposition and Eversion during Microvascular Anastomosis

  • Georgios Pafitanis, MD,
  • Gurjinderpal Singh Pahal, FRCS(Plast),
  • Simon Myers, PhD, FRCS(Plast),
  • Venkat Ramakrishnan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000002611
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 1
p. e2611

Abstract

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Summary:. We present the “needle-splint” technique, a microsurgical suturing technique that enhances micro-suturing technique, while ensures finer apposition and vessels walls eversion during the placement of sutures in microvascular anastomosis. This report demonstrates the usefulness of this technique in simple interrupted, continuous-interrupted, or multi-loops microsurgical suturing. It further allows direct visualization of the intra-wall-edges space and intimal sutures surface and could be utilized as a safety stabilizer to errors as it allows optimal vessels alignment while the needle curvature is acting as a “pusher” to separate the posterior wall during knot tying.