Objective To study the method and effect of free rectusabdominis muscle flaps with intermediate split thickness skin graft in repairing defects on legs and ankles.Methods From May 1998 to December 2002, 11 cases of defects on legs(2 cases) and on ankles( 9 cases) were repaired by use of unilateral free rectus abdominis flap with skin graft. The soft tissue defects were accompanied by osteomyelitis or the exposure of bone or tendon.The disease course was 1 month to 10 years. The defect size ranged 3 cm×4 cm to 8 cm×14 cm. The area ofrectus abdominis muscle flaps was 4 cm×6 cm to 8 cm×15 cm. Results All patients were followed up 6 months to 4 years after operation. All rectusabdominis flaps survived with good appearances and functions.The primary healing was achieved in 8 cases, intermediate split thickness skin graft necrosed in 3 cases and the wound healed after skin re-graft.Conclusion Free rectus abdominis flap is a proper option for repair of the soft tissue defects or irregular woundson legs and ankles. It has the advantages of abundant blood supply, b anti-infection ability, good compliance and satisfied appearance.
A study was carried out to observe the application of microsurgical technique in the repair defects of soft tissue and infected wounds of extremities. Eighty-three patients with soft tissue defects and infected wounds of extremities were treated by either transferring of vascularized cutaneous flap or transplantation of myocutaneous flap with vascular anastomosis. The result showed that eighty-three patients had gained success after a follow-up of 6 months to 4 years. It was concluded that soft tissue defects and infected wounds of extremities should be repaired as early as possible. Selecting the donor flap near the recipient site was of first choice. The method used for repair should be simple and easily applicable rather these very complicated one. The success depended on the correct treatment of local conditions, resonable design of donor flap and close monitoring after operation.
Objective To report the methods and clinical effect of the lateral crural flaps in repairing anterior tibal, dorsal and calcaneal softtissue defects. Methods From August 1999 to December 2004, 18cases of defects were repaired with lateral crural flap, including 15 cases of anterior tibal, dorsal and calcaneal softtissue defects with vascular pedicled island lateral crural flaps and 3 cases of dorsal pedal soft-tissue defects with free vascular lateral crural flaps.〖WTHZ〗Results All flaps survived after operation.Insufficient arterial supply of the flap occurred in 2 cases after operation, the pedicled incision sewing thread was removed and lidocain was injected around vascular pedicle, then the flap ischemia was released. Inadequate venous return and venous hyperemia occurred in 1 case because peroneal vein was injured duringoperation.The flap edge skin was cut and heparin was locally dripped for one week, the flap vascular cycle was resumed. All patients were followed up two months to one year, the flaps were not fat, and the elasticity was good. Conclusion It is safe and reliable to use lateral crural flap to repair anterior tibial, dorsal pedal and calcaneal soft-tissue defects.
Soft tissue expander has been improved to perfection in recent ten years. Many excellent works have been accomplished for the patients who suffered from either soft tissue malformation or defects following traumatism, infection or benign tumors. But the reconstruction of soft tissue defects cause by malignant tumor hasbeen less studied.Four patients suffering from malignant tumour localized in the scalp and face, 1women and 3 men ranging from 65 to 75 years of age, have been operated on since1986. Their major deficits have been reconstructed with radican tissue expander, by the flap of the same colour and texture and also, similar thickness and sensation. There is no relapse in all the patients operated on reported until today.The surgical technique was discribed. The clinical results and the indication of tissue expander in the surgical treatment of malignant tumour are discussed.
OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinical result in repair of soft tissue defect with combined skin flap vascularized by pedicle on the one end and vascular anastomosis on the other end. METHODS From October 1990 to August 1995, 5 cases with soft tissue defect at the extremities and 1 cases with sacral bed sore were repaired by the combined skin flaps transfer, ranged from 15 cm x 30 cm to 16 cm x 70 cm in defect, among them, 5 cases with myocutaneous flap and 1 case with skin flap, and the size of the combined skin flaps was 15 cm x 40 cm to 12 cm x 80 cm. RESULTS All the flaps were survived with satisfactory effect. Followed up 3 to 6 years, there was no obvious complication. CONCLUSION Transfer of combined skin flaps vascularized by pedicle and vascular anastomosis is suitable to repair the soft tissue defect, especially in large area defect.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of retrograde island neurocutaneous flap pedicled with lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve in the treatment of soft tissue defect of the hand. MethodsBetween October 2011 and December 2013, 17 cases of skin and soft tissue defects of the hands were treated. There were 8 males and 9 females, aged 23-62 years (mean, 44 years). Of them, defect was caused by trauma in 13 cases, by postoperative wound after degloving injury in 2 cases, and by resection of contracture of the first web in 2 cases; 13 cases of traumas had a disease duration of 2-6 hours (mean, 3.5 hours). The defect sites located at the back of the hand in 5 cases, at the radial side of the palm in 4 cases, at the first web in 2 cases, at the palmar side of the thumb in 4 cases, and at the radial dorsal side of the thumb in 2 cases. The bone, tendons, and other deep tissue were exposed in 15 cases. The defect size varied from 3 cm×3 cm to 12 cm×8 cm. The size of the flaps ranged from 3.6 cm×3.6 cm to 13.2 cm×8.8 cm. The lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm was anastomosed with the cutaneous nerve of the reci pient sites in 9 cases. The donor sites were repaired by free skin graft or were sutured directly. ResultsThe other flaps survived, and obtained healing by first intention except 2 flaps which had partial necrosis with healing by second intention at 1 month after dressing change. The skin graft at donor site survived, and incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 5-30 months (mean, 12 months). The flaps had good color and texture. Flap sensory recovery of S2-S3+ was obtained; in 9 cases undergoing cutaneous nerve flap anastomosis, the sensation of the flaps recovered to S3-S3+ and was better than that of 8 cases that the nerves were disconnected (S2-S3). The patients achieved satisfactory recovery of hand function. Only 2 cases had extended limitation of the proximal interphalangeal joint. At last follow-up, according to the Chinese Medical Society of Hand Surgery function evaluation standards, the results were excellent in 15 cases and good in 2 cases. ConclusionRetrograde island neurocutaneous flap pedicled with lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve is an effective way to repair skin defects of the hand, with the advantages of rel iable blood supply and simple surgical procedure.
Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of transcatheter angiographic embol ization (AE) in the control of massive haemorrhage from large wound due to crush syndrome after Wenchuan earthquake. Methods From May 12 to May 26, 2008, 11 injured persons in Wenchuan earthquake with massive haemorrhage from large wound due to crush syndrome were treated, including 6 males and 5 females aged 16-36 years old (average 21 years old). All 19 wounds were infected.The hemorrhage was from the hip in 7 cases, the thigh stump in 3 cases, and the shoulder in 1 case. Six patients had hemorrhagic shock. All patients underwent arteriography to locate the bleeding artery, and transcatheter AE was performed according to the result of arteriography. Contrast-enhanced spiral CT scan and three-dimensional angiography were performed 48 hours after AE to evaluate leakage of contrast media and collapse of distal artery of embol ism site. Results Angiography for 11 injured persons after AE showed no occurrence of contrast media leakage, faint shadow to the distal branch artery of embol ic level, and significant increase of blood pressure of the bleeding artery, indicating the embol ization was successful. No active hemorrhage was evident in the wounds 48 hours after AE. For the 6 patients with hemorrhagic shock, obvious decrease of hemorrhage was observed after AE, gradual recovery of blood pressure and vital signs, and stabil ity of their condition were evident after supportive therapy. During the first 24 hours after AE, total volume of infusion was 6 750-19 600 mL (average 8 740 mL), and total volume of blood and plasma transfusion was 1 800-6 400 mL (average 3 500 mL). In 6 cases, contrast-enhanced spiral CT scan demonstrated faint shadow of the distal artery without contrast media leakage, and three-dimensional CT angiography showed collapse of the distal artery; in the rest 5 cases, contrast-enhanced spiral CT scan demonstrated shadow of the distal artery without contrast media leakage, and three-dimensional CT angiography displayed the full-fill ing of distal artery with obviously decreased vascular cavity. No severe compl ications such as muscle necrosis in the buttock and hip, bladder necrosis,dysuria, fecal incontinence, and impotence occurred. Conclusion The transcatheter AE is a safe, fast, effective and miniinvasive method of controll ing massive haemorrhage from large wound caused by crush syndrome after Wenchuan earthquake.
OBJECTIVE To investigate the repairing method of soft tissue defect of heel, pedicled island myocutaneous flap of flexor digitorum brevis was designed. METHODS From 1984 to 1997, 26 cases with soft tissue defect of heel were adopted in the clinical trial. Among them, the were 18 males, 8 females and the age ranged from 15 to 60 years old. The area of wound ranged from 2.5 cm x 1.5 cm to 8.0 cm x 6.0 cm. RESULTS After operation, all of the flaps survived. They were followed up for 9 to 72 months. All of the flaps had primary healing except in one there was infection of peripheral of the flap. The contour of heel was satisfactory the sensation of flap was good and the weight-bearing function was also successful. CONCLUSION It was concluded that the myocutaneous flap of flexor digitorum brevis could be used to repair the soft tissue defect of heel because of its nearby position, hidden location, good recovery of skin sensation and weight-bearing function, Besides, the procedure of this operation was simple and the anti-inflammatory potential of the flap was high. However, Because of the limited donor area, the pre-operative design was important.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of pre-fabricated free skin flap in reconstruction and repair of skin defect of foot in weight-bearing area. METHODS: Eight cases of skin defect of foot in weight-bearing area, due to trauma, were repaired by such an approach; free skin flap was designed and pre-fabricated at the contralateral plantar center, and 3 weeks later the free skin flap, with sensory nerve was transplanted to the site of skin defect, fixed by stitches through drilled holes in the calcaneous bone. All of 8 cases were followed up for 15 to 23 months before clinical evaluation. RESULTS: The wound healed well with no ulcer or deformity. According to American AOFAS scoring standard, it was more than 80 in 5 cases, more than 75 in 2 cases and 70 in one case. CONCLUSION: The pre-fabricated free skin flap from the contralateral plantar center is a good option to reconstruct and repair the skin defect of foot in weight-bearing area, with low ulcer occurrence and good contour.
Objective To explore the clinical value of repairing extensive gluteal-sacral defects with the posterior femoral cutaneous neurovascular island flap. Methods From July 2002 to May 2005, the posterior femoral cutaneous neurovascular flap was applied to repairing extensive gluteal-sacral defects in 6 patients (3 males, 3 females; aged 31-59 years). Threepatients had a skin defect in the gluteal-sacral region caused by squamous cell carcinoma, 1 patient had the defect in the same region caused by malignant fibrohistiocytoma, and 2 patients had the defect caused by bedsores of grade Ⅲ. The area of defects ranged from 15 cm×8 cm to 16 cm×10 cm.The flaps rangedin area from 15 cm×8 cm to 18 cm×10 cm. Results In all the 6 patients had their flaps survived well and the wounds gainedthe primary healing. The follow-up for 2.5-12 months revealed that, flaps were satisfactory in their appearance, texture, and sensory functions. Conclusion The repair of extensive gluteal-sacral defects with the posterior femoral cutaneous neurovascular island flap has advantages of the unchangedanatomic structures, reliable blood supply, easy dissection for extensive defects, good sensory recovery, and sacrificing no major vessels; therefore, this kind of repair is an optimal approach to repairing extensive glutealsacral defects.