ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical anatomy and application of free profunda femoral artery pedicled chimeric myocutaneous perforator flap in the defect reconstruction after radical resection of tongue carcinoma. MethodsBetween April 2011 and January 2016, 44 cases of tongue carcinoma underwent radical resection, and tongue defects were reconstructed by free profunda femoral artery pedicled chimeric myocutaneous perforator flaps at the same stage. There were 40 males and 4 females, with a mean age of 46.3 years (range, 32-71 years). The pathologic type was squamous cell carcinoma, which involved the lingual margin in 24 cases, the ventral tongue in 17 cases, and the mouth floor in 3 cases. According to Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) TNM staging, 16 cases were rated as T4N0M0, 11 cases as T4N1M0, 9 cases as T3N1M0, and 8 cases as T3N2M0. The course of disease ranged from 1 to 22 months (mean, 8.6 months). The size of perforator flap ranged from 8.5 cm×4.0 cm to 12.0 cm×6.5 cm, and the size of muscle flap ranged from 4.0 cm×3.0 cm to 7.5 cm×5.0 cm. The adductor magnus myocutaneous flap with a pedicle of (8.3±0.5) cm was used in 11 cases, and the gracilis muscle myocutaneous flap with a pedicle of (8.1±0.8) cm was used in 33 cases. The donor sites were sutured directly. ResultsAll 44 perforator flaps survived uneventfully, and the donor site healed well. The patients were followed up for 12 to 40 months (mean, 23.8 months). The reconstructed tongue had good appearance and function in swallowing and language. No local recurrence was found. Only linear scar was left at the donor sites. ConclusionThe free profunda femoral artery pedicled chimeric myocutaneous perforator flap can be harvested in various forms, and is an ideal choice to reconstruct defect after radical resection of tongue carcinoma.
Objective?To investigate the surgical method and clinical efficacy of repairing whole-hand destructive injury or hand degloving injury with the transplant of pedis compound free flap.?Methods?From February 2003 to June 2008, 21 patients with whole-hand destructive injury or hand degloving injury were treated, including 15 males and 6 females aged 18-45 years old (average 25 years old). The injury was caused by punching machine crush in 10 cases, roller crush in 7 cases, and imprinter crush in 4 cases. The time between injury and operation was 1-9 hours. Eleven cases had the skin-degloving injury of the whole hand, while the other 10 cases had the proximal palm injury combined with dorsal or palmar skin and soft tissue defect. After debridement, the size of wound was 9 cm × 7 cm - 15 cm × 10 cm in the dorsal aspect and 10 cm × 7 cm -16 cm × 10 cm in the palmar aspect. The defect was repaired by the thumbnail flap of dorsalis pedis flap and the second toenail flap of dorsalis pedis flap in 5 cases, the thumbnail flap of dorsalis pedis flap and the second toe with dorsalis pedis flap in 4 cases, and bilateral second toe with dorsalis pedis flap in 12 cases. The flap area harvested during operation ranged from 6 cm × 5 cm to 16 cm × 11 cm. Three fingers were constructed in 2 cases and two fingers in 19 cases. Distal interphalangeal joint toe amputation was conducted in the thumbnail flap donor site, metatarsophalangeal joint toe amputation was performed in the second toenail flap donor site, and full-thickness skin grafting was conducted in the abdomen.?Results?At 7 days after operation, the index finger in 1 case repaired by the second toenail flap suffered from necrosis and received amputation, 1 case suffered from partial necrosis of distal dorsalis pedis flap and recovered after dressing change, and the rest 42 tissue flaps survived. Forty-three out of 44 reconstructed fingers survived. All the wounds healed by first intention. At 2 weeks after operation, 2 cases had partial necrosis of the donor site flap and underwent secondary skin grafting after dressing change, the rest skin grafts survived, and all the wounds healed by first intention. Nineteen cases were followed up for 6-36 months (average 11 months). The flaps of palm and dorsum of hand showed no swelling, the reconstructed fingers had a satisfactory appearance and performed such functions as grabbing, grasping, and nipping. The sensory of the flaps and the reconstructed fingers recovered to S2-S4 grade. The donor site on the dorsum of the foot had no obvious scar contracture, without obvious influence on walking.?Conclusion?For the whole-hand destructive injury or hand degloving injury, the method of transplanting pedis compound free flap can repair the defect in the hand and reconstruct the function of the injured hand partially. It is an effective treatment method.
Objective To observe the survival rate of reversed-flow free flap after anastomosing one venous reverse flow and to explore the change of intravenous pressure and mechanism of venous reverse flow. Methods Thefree vascularized posterior tibial flap with reversed flow was successfully established in NewZealand white rabbits.Fifteen rabbits were randomly allocated into 3 groups of 30 flaps. In group A,two vena comitans were anastomosed.In groups B and C,only onevenae comitans was anastomosed. In groups A and B,intravenous pressure was measured immediately and 30,60 and 120 minutes after anastomosing the vascular pedicle.Flap survival rate of group B was measured after two weeks. In group C, radiography of one venae comitans was observed.The diameters of posterior tibial vessels was measured on all the rabbits before anastomosing the vascular pedicle. Results The diameters of posterior tibial artery was 8.0±0.3mm and of vena comitans was 11.0±0.5 mm。The intravenous pressure of group B increased rapidly and reached its top value after about 30 minutes (P＜0.05).It then decreased and approached normal level after about 60 minutes (Pgt;0.05).The intravenous pressure was not significantly different between groups A and B in each time interval (Pgt;0.05).Two flapsresulted in avulsion,infection and necrosis.The remaining 8 flaps survived completely.Most of the radiopaque in group C flew back to the proximal tibia one hourlater. Conclusion Venous retrograde return is abundant in reverseflow free flap of anatomosing one vena comitans.The main way of venous reflux in reverseflow free flap can be through “direct incompetent valve route”.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of abdominal free flap carrying bilateral superficial circumflex iliac arteries for repairing large skin and soft tissue defects of foot and ankle.MethodsBetween June 2016 and June 2019, 15 patients with large skin and soft tissue defects of foot and ankle were admitted, including 10 males and 5 females with an average age of 30 years (range, 10-60 years). The causes of injury included 6 cases of traffic accident, 3 cases of machine strangulation, 3 cases of heavy object injury, 2 cases of fall, and 1 case of electric shock. The time from injury to admission was 3 hours to 10 days, with an average of 2 days. The wound located at dorsal foot in 5 cases, ankle in 6 cases, dorsal foot and ankle in 3 cases, and dorsal foot and sole in 1 case. All wounds were contaminated to varying degrees and accompanied by tendon and bone exposure, including 5 cases of extensive necrosis of the dorsal skin with infection. The area of defects ranged from 18 cm×6 cm to 25 cm×8 cm. There were 9 cases of foot and ankle fractures and dislocations, and 2 cases of foot and ankle bone defects. The wound was repaired with abdominal free flap carrying bilateral superficial circumflex iliac arteries. The area of the flaps ranged from 20 cm×8 cm to 27 cm×10 cm; the skin flaps were thinned under the microscope to make the thickness of 0.5-1.0 cm, with an average of 0.7 cm. All incisions at the donor site were sutured directly.ResultsDuring the operation, 1 case was replaced with an abdominal free flap carrying the superficial abdominal artery because the superficial iliac circumflex artery was thin and the superficial abdominal artery was thicker. The skin flaps of 15 cases survived smoothly, and the wounds healed by first intention; the donor incisions all healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 8-36 months, with an average of 15 months. The flap shape was satisfactory, with good texture and mild pigmentation of the flap edge, without obvious bloating, effect on shoe wear, or secondary surgical thinning of the flap. The linear scar left in the donor site and had no effect on hip joint movement. All fractures healed well, and the healing time ranged from 3 to 8 months, with an average of 6 months.ConclusionThe abdominal free flap carrying bilateral superficial iliac circumflex arteries has concealed donor site, with little damage, and can be sutured in one stage. The blood vessel is anatomically constant, with less variation, and reliable blood supply. It is one of the ideal flaps for repairing large skin and soft tissue defects of foot and ankle.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of free anterolateral thigh flap in repairing hand twist trauma combined with forearm main vascular injury.MethodsBetween February 2016 and March 2020, 14 patients with hand twist trauma combined with forearm main vascular injury were admitted. There were 10 males and 4 females. The mean age was 36.3 years (range, 22-53 years). There were 5 cases with left hand and 9 cases with right hand. The degloving injury of hand was rated as type ⅢA in 2 cases, type ⅢB in 9 cases, and type Ⅳ in 3 cases. The size of soft tissue defects range from 8.0 cm×4.5 cm to 13.5 cm×8.0 cm. Of all patients, 11 cases were ulnar artery injury and 3 cases were radial artery injury. Time from injury to operation was 2-16 hours (mean, 7.1 hours). The free anterolateral thigh flaps with the size of 10.0 cm×5.5 cm to 15.0 cm×9.5 cm were used to repair the soft tissue defects with the “T” shape anastomosis of blood vessel in 8 cases or direct anastomosis of blood vessel in 6 cases. The donor sites were directly sutured in 9 cases and repaired with free skin graft in 5 cases.ResultsAll patients were followed up 6-12 months (mean, 10.5 months). The vascular crisis occurred in 1 case and the flap survived with symptomatic treatment after operation. Other flaps survived and the wounds healed by first intention. All donor sites healed by first intention and the skin grafts survived. Three cases underwent the fat-free trimming at 4-5 months after operation. According to the evaluation standard of the upper limb part of the Chinese Medical Association, the hand function was evaluated as excellent in 4 cases, good in 7 cases, and fair in 3 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 78.6% at last follow-up.ConclusionBecause the diameter of the descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery is similar to that of the ulnar artery and radial artery, the use of free anterolateral thigh flap can not only repair the wound and obtain a good hand shape, but also repair blood vessels and promote recovery of hand function.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of the modified great toe fibular flap using the distal artery pedicle as reflux vein for repairing distal phalanx finger wound.MethodsBetween June 2018 and January 2020, 15 patients who suffered tissue defect of the distal phalanx finger were treated, including 12 males and 3 females, the average age was 40.2 years (range, 24-56 years). All of them were caused by machine crush injury. There were 2 cases of thumb, 6 cases of index finger, 3 cases of middle finger, 3 cases of ring finger, and 1 case of little finger. The defects ranged from 1.7 cm×1.3 cm to 3.0 cm×2.0 cm. The time from injury to admission was 0.6-4 hours, with an average of 2.3 hours. The medial fibular proper digital artery was further dissociated to the distal end and anastomosed with the recipient vein as the reflux vein. The area of flaps ranged from 2.0 cm×1.5 cm to 3.2 cm×2.2 cm.ResultsAll the flaps survived without vascular crisis, and the wounds healed by first intention. Except for 1 case that the suture was too tight, the incision was partially split after the stitches were removed, and it healed spontaneously after dressing change, the other patients had good healing of the donor site incision and normal foot function. All 15 patients were followed up 3-18 months, with an average of 9.3 months. The appearance of finger pulps were satisfactory with full and threaded. The color, texture, and elasticity of the flaps were good, and the two-point discrimination was 6-8 mm at last follow-up. The flexion and extension of fingers were normal. At last follow-up, hand function was evaluated according to the upper limb function evaluation trial standard of the Chinese Medical Association Hand Surgery Society, and the results were 13 cases of excellent and 2 cases of good.ConclusionModified great toe fibular flap using the distal arterial pedicle as a reflux vein can improve the venous drainage of the flap and contribute to increase the success rate of the flap without additional injury.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of free latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap transplantation combined with external fixation in the treatment of bone and soft tissue defects around the knee joint. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 13 patients with high-energy trauma-induced bone and soft tissue defects around the knee joint admitted between January 2016 and July 2023. Among them, 11 were male and 2 were female, the age ranged from 23 to 61 years, with an average of 35.7 years. The causes of injury included 10 cases of traffic accident, 2 cases of machine entanglement injury, and 1 case of heavy object crush injury. According to the Gustilo-Anderson classification, 11 cases were type Ⅲ B and 2 cases were type Ⅲ C. Post-injury, 2 cases had wound infection and 2 cases had popliteal artery injury. The time from injury to flap repair was 40-49 days, with an average of 27.5 days. The wound size was 18 cm×13 cm to 32 cm×20 cm, all accompanied by distal femoral bone defects and quadriceps muscle defects. After primary debridement, vacuum sealing drainage combined with external fixation was used for treatment. In the second stage, free latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps were transplanted to repair soft tissue defects, with the flap size ranging from 20 cm×15 cm to 34 cm×22 cm. The donor sites of 9 flaps were directly sutured, and 4 cases with large tension were repaired with a keystone flap based on the posterior intercostal artery perforator. At 6-15 months postoperatively, with an average of 10.5 months, 11 patients underwent knee arthrodesis surgery; 2 patients with large bone defects at the distal femur and proximal tibia underwent multi-segment bone transport reconstruction of the bone defect. At last follow-up, the recovery of the flap and the donor site was recorded, and the function of the shoulder joint was evaluated by the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and the function of the affected knee joint was evaluated by the Knee Society Score (KSS). ResultsAll the flaps survived after operation, the wounds and donor site incisions healed by first intention. All 13 patients were followed up 15-55 months, with an average of 21.6 months. Four patients who underwent the restoration of the donor site with the thoracodorsal keystone perforator flap had obvious scar hyperplasia around the wound, but no contracture or symmetrical breasts on both sides. At last follow-up, the appearance and texture of the flaps were good; the bony fusion of the knee joint was good, and the range of motion and function recovered well; the shoulder joint function on the flap-harvested side was not significantly affected, and the range of motion was satisfactory. The ASES shoulder joint score of the latissimus dorsi muscle-harvested side was 85-95, with an average of 89.5. The knee joint function KSS score was 75-90, with an average of 81.2. ConclusionFree latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap transplantation combined with external fixation for the treatment of bone and soft tissue defects around the knee joint caused by high-energy trauma can repair bone and soft tissue defects and reconstruct the stability of the knee joint, effectively preserve the integrity of the limb and soft tissues, and improve the patient’s ability of self-care.
Objective To investigate the method, effectiveness, andclinical application of the anterolateral thigh perforator free flaps for reconstruction of the soft tissue defects in the head and the four limbs after tumorresection. Methods From April 2004 to April 2006, 16 patients (13 males, 3 females; aged 26-72 years) with the soft tissue defects in the head (9 patients) and the four limbs (7 patients) underwent reconstructive operations with the anterolateral thigh perforator free flaps after their tumor resection. The defects ranged in area from 8 cm×6 cm to 20 cm×13 cm in the head with the process of diseases from 6 to 24 months, and the defects ranged in area from 10 cm×7 cm to 21 cm× 12 cm in the four limbs with the process of diseases from 2 to 18 months.The technique for the anterolateral thigh perforator flap freegrafting, the degree of the injury in the donor sites, and the appearance of the donor and recipient sites, and the influence on the anatomy and function in the both local sites were analyzed. Results In the 16 patients with the soft tissue defects in the head and the four limbs after tumor resection, 14 had a primary wound healing (Stage Ⅰ), and 2 had a delayed wound healing (Stage Ⅱ) . Fifteen flaps survived completely but two flaps had a partial failure. Theflap appearance was good and smooth without any severe scarring, and there was a minimal effect on the function at the donor and recipient sites. Conclusion Because of the less morbidity at the donor site, the better result at the recipient site, and the use of the anterolateral thigh perforator flap free grafting, this kind of the technique for reconstruction of the head and fourlimb soft tissue defects after tumor resection is well acceptable.
ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility of reconstruction of phonatory function by using a tubular free flap from upper-lateral upper arm to repair the laryngotracheal circumferential defect after near-total laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 7 patients who underwent near-total laryngectomy between June 2021 and October 2023, aged from 48 to 70 years (median, 59 years), 6 males and 1 female. The disease duration ranged from 1 to 11 months, with a median of 6 months. Pathological diagnosis of preoperative biopsy was squamous cell carcinoma. Tumor classification: glottic type in 5 cases, supraglottic type in 1 case, transglottic type in 1 case; TNM staging: T4N0M0 in 6 cases, T4N2M0 in 1 case; American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging in 2017 was stage Ⅳ. Preoperative MRI angiography of upper arm was performed to investigate the blood supply in the upper and lateral regions of the upper arm. After near-total laryngectomy and bilateral neck lymph node dissection, the area of the laryngotracheal defect was measured. A free flap measuring 7.0 cm×5.0 cm to 8.0 cm×7.0 cm was harvested from the upper-lateral upper arm, rolled into a tube shape, and connected between the stump of the cervical trachea in the neck root and that of the epiglottis at the tongue base. Four patients received adjuvant radiochemotherapy, 1 patient received radiochemotherapy and targeted therapy, 2 patients adopted no further adjuvant treatment. Results All 7 patients were followed-up 1-2 years (mean, 1 year and 3 months). Four patients had primary wound healing, 2 patients had minor pharyngeal fistulas that healed after dressing change, 1 patient experienced pharyngeal fistula because of flap necrosis and the wound still healed without secondary surgery. All patients took food orally within 1 month after operation, and the tracheal cannula was retained. Six patients with survived flap gradually adapted to their new pronunciation mode and obtained satisfactory phonatory function from 15 days to 2 months after operation. Four patients had slight aspiration after operation. Till the end of the follow-up, all patients survived and no local recurrence or distant metastasis had been observed. The motor function of the upper arm was not affected, only partial sensory loss occurred in the area near the incision. The scar of the incision could be covered by the short sleeve so as to obtain a better aesthetic effect. ConclusionUsing a tubular free flap from upper-lateral upper arm to repair the laryngotracheal circumferential defect after near-total laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer can achieve satisfactory phonatory restoration while preserve the motor function and aesthetics of the donor site.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of free sensate intercostal artery perforator flap for the hand soft tissue reconstruction.MethodsBetween March 2010 and September 2015, 19 cases of hand soft tissue defect were repaired with free sensate intercostal artery perforator flap, including 16 males and 3 females, aged from 18 to 53 years, with an average of 35.2 years. The defect was located in the dorsum of the hand in 15 cases and in the palm in 4 cases. The causes of injury were traffic accident injury in 8 cases, hot crush injury in 5 cases, strangulation injury in 4 cases, and avulsion injury in 2 cases. All of them were full-thickness skin and soft tissue defects of hand with exposure of phalanges, tendons, blood vessels, and nerves. The size of defect was 10.0 cm×7.0 cm to 17.0 cm×8.0 cm. There were 12 cases of emergency operation and 7 cases of selective operation. The thickness of flap was 10-25 mm, and the size of the flap ranged from 10.0 cm×7.5 cm to 17.0 cm×8.0 cm. The vascular pedicle of the flap was anastomosed with the snuff nest branch of the radial artery (12 cases), the main radial artery (7 cases), and there accompanying vein, and the intercostal nerve cutaneous branch of the flap was anastomosed with the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm. The donor site was closed directly (14 cases) or repaired with medium thickness skin graft (5 cases).ResultsAll of the flaps and skin grafts survived; the wounds in the donor and recipient sites healed by first intention. All 19 patients were followed up 10- 18 months, with an average of 12.7 months. After operation, the appearance and function of the hand recovered well, and there was no flap bloated. The two-point discrimination of the flap was 7-11 mm, with an average of 8.8 mm. Only linear scars left in the patients with direct closure of the donor site. The sensory function of the donor site was not significantly affected, and the hand function recovered satisfactorily. Conclusion Free sensate intercostal artery perforator flap is a valuable and reliable technique for the hand soft tissue defect.