Leech therapy in reconstructive maxillofacial surgery
Retrospective study published in J Oral Maxillofac Surg (2011)
Abstract
PURPOSE: Corrective plastic surgery is indicated after accidents, burns, cancer surgery, or postoperative wound healing disorders with large tissue defects. The range of reconstructive techniques includes local skin flaps, pedicle grafts, and microvascular anastomosed flaps in the case of large defects. Main complications such as arterial and venous insufficiency caused by a vessel collapse or a vascular spasm are reported regularly in the area of anastomosed vessels and are the concern of any surgeon. Today, leeches are used if wound healing is at risk because of hemodynamic imbalance or a venous insufficiency. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective evaluation of 148 patients who underwent medical leech therapy in the case of local or pedicaled flaps and some patients who had undergone reconstruction with microvascular flaps from 2005 and 2010 was conducted. Our sample had the typical symptoms of venous congestions of their flaps, despite suture removal, relief of pressure on the flap, and the elimination of a hematoma beyond the flap after surgery. Medical leech therapy was used in these cases. RESULTS: Our series has confirmed the excellent and predictable healing after medical leech therapy for local and microsurgical anastomosed flaps in the case of venous congestion. CONCLUSION: Leech therapy should be considered as a reliable additional procedure and an advantage in maxillofacial and plastic reconstructive surgery to remedy complications resulting from a hemodynamic imbalance or venous insufficiency in the immediate postoperative period.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Retrospective evaluation of 148 patients with venous congestion after maxillofacial reconstruction managed with leech therapy showing excellent and predictable healing outcomes.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
This retrospective study evaluated 148 patients who received medical leech therapy for venous congestion in local, pedicled, and microvascular anastomosed flaps in maxillofacial reconstructive surgery between 2005 and 2010. The authors report excellent and predictable healing after leech therapy and recommend it as a reliable adjunctive procedure for venous insufficiency in the immediate postoperative period. This study is directly relevant to ASH, providing a large clinical series supporting leech therapy in maxillofacial reconstruction. However, the abstract lacks specific quantitative outcome metrics (e.g., salvage rates, complications), and as a retrospective evaluation without a comparison group, the strength of evidence is limited.
Citación
Leech therapy in reconstructive maxillofacial surgery.
Grobe A et al. · Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery, 2011
Contexto clínico relacionado
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: June 18, 2026