OBJECTIVE: To explore an effective method to repair the abdominal wall defect. METHODS: From July 1996 to December 2000, 7 cases with abdominal wall defect were repaired by pedicle graft of intestine seromuscular layer and skin graft, among them, intestinal fistula caused by previous injury during operation in 4 cases, abdominal wall defect caused by infection after primary fistulization of colon tumor in 2 cases, abdominal wall invaded by intestinal tumor in 1 case. Exploratory laparotomy was performed under general anesthesia, the infective and edematous tissue around abdominal wall defect was gotten rid off, and the pathologic intestine was removed. A segment of intestine with mesentery was intercepted, and the intestine along the longitudinal axis offside mesentery was cutted, the mucous layer of intestine was scraped. The intestine seromuscular layer was sutured to the margin of abdominal wall defect, and grafted by intermediate split thickness skin. RESULTS: The abdominal wall wound in 6 cases were healed by first intention, but part of grafted skin was necrosed, and it was healed by second skin graft. No intestinal anastomotic leakage was observed in all cases. Followed up 1 to 2 years, there were no abdominal hernia or abdominal internal hernia. All the cases could normally defecate. The nutriture of all cases were improved remarkably. CONCLUSION: Pedicle graft of intestine seromuscular layer is a reliable method to repair abdominal wall defect with low regional tension, abundant blood supply and high successful rate.
ObjectiveTo study the treatment results of the pre-expanded flaps for scar contracture on face, neck, and joints by comparing with the skin grafts. MethodsA total of 240 cases of scar contracture between July 2004 and June 2014 were included in the study by random sampling; skin grafts were used in 120 cases (skin graft group), and preexpanded flaps in 120 cases (pre-expanded flap group). There was no significant difference in age, sex, injury sites, and disease duration between 2 groups (P>0.05). Re-operation rate and A&F 0-6 quantization score were used to evaluate the treatment results. ResultsThe patients were followed up 12 to 75 months (mean, 23.47 months) in the skin graft group, and 12 to 61 months (mean, 19.62 months) in the pre-expanded flap group. The re-operation rate of the skin graft group was 72.5% (87/120), and was significantly higher than that of the pre-expanded flap group (19.2%, 23/120) (P=0.000). The re-operation rate of the neck contracture in teenagers was the highest. It was 93.9% in the skin graft group and 35.0% in the pre-expanded flap group. In the patients who did not undergo re-operations, A&F 0-6 quantization score of the skin graft group was 2.85±1.12, and was significantly lower than that of the pre-expanded flap group (5.22±0.74) (t=13.830, P=0.000). ConclusionPre-expanded flap for scar contracture on face, neck, and joints has lower re-operation rate and better aesthetic and functional restoration than skin graft. It should be regarded as the preferred method for teenagers.
To discuss the advantages of two flap contouring methods and to explore the best choice for the flap contouring. Methods From March 2002 to March 2006, 59 patients were admitted for a flapcontouring operation. Of the 59 patients, 40 (32 males, 8 females; average age, 34 years) underwent the multiphase lipectomy (the multiphase lipectomy group). The original flaps included the abdominal flap in 19 patients, the groin flap in 10, the thoracic flap in 4, the free anteriolateral thigh flap in 6, and the cross leg flap in 1. The flaps ranged in size from 6cm×4 cm to 32 cm×17 cm. However, the remaining 19 patients (16 males, 3 females; average age, 28 years) underwent the onephase lipectomy with skin graft transplantation(the onephase lipectomy group). The original flaps included the abdominal flap in 4 patients, the groin flap in 6, the thoracic flap in 3, and the free anteriolateral thighflap in 6. The flaps ranged in size from 4 cm×3 cm to 17 cm×8 cm. The resultswere analyzed and compared. Results In the multiphase lipectomy group, partial flap necrosis developed in 4 patients but the other flaps survived. The followedup of 27 patients for 3 months to 2 years revealed that the flaps had a good appearance and texture, having no adhesion with the deep tissues. However, the flaps became fattened in 22 patients with their body weight gaining. The patietns who had a flap gt; 5 cm×5 cm in area had their sensation functions recovering more slowly; only part of the sensations to pain and heat recovered. The two point discrimination did not recover. In the onephase lipectomy group, total graft necrosis developed in 1 patient but the healing was achieved with additional skin graft transplantation; partial graft necrosis developed in 2patients but the wounds were healed after the dressing changes; the remaining flaps survived completely. The followup of the 16 patients for 3 months to 3 years revealed that all the 16 patients had a good sensation recovery, 12 patientshad the two point discrimination lt; 15 mm, with no recurrence of the fattening of the flaps; however, the grafted skin had a more severe pigmentation, and no sliding movement developed between the skin and the tissue basement. Conclusion The multiphase lipectomy and the onephase lipectomy with skin graft transplantation are two skin flap contouring methods, which have their ownadvantages and disadvantages. Which method is taken should be based on the repair location of the 〖WT5”BZ〗skin flap and the condition of the skin flap.
Objective To evaluate the clinical outcomes of free perforator flaps combined with skin graft for reconstruction of ankle and foot soft tissue defects. Methods Between June 2014 and October 2015, 20 cases of ankle and foot soft tissue defects were treated. There were 16 males and 4 females, aged from 19 to 61 years (mean, 43.3 years). Injury was caused by traffic accident in 7 cases, by crashing in 9 cases, and machine twist in 4 cases. The locations were the ankle in 6 cases, the heel in 3 cases, the dorsum pedis in 4 cases, and the plantar forefoot in 7 cases of avulsion injury after toes amputation. The size of wound ranged from 15 cm×10 cm to 27 cm×18 cm. The time from injury to treatment was from 11 to 52 days (mean, 27 days). The anterolateral thigh perforator flap was used in 11 cases, thoracodorsal antery perforator flap in 3 cases, medial sural artery perforator flap in 4 cases, deep inferior epigastric perforator flap in 1 case, and anteromedial thigh perforator flap in 1 case, including 5 chimeric perforator flaps, 5 polyfoliate perforator flaps, 3 flow-through perforator flaps, and 3 conjoined perforator flaps. The size of the perforator flap ranged from 10.0 cm×6.5 cm to 36.0 cm×8.0 cm, the size of skin graft from 5 cm×3 cm to 18 cm×12 cm. Results Venous crisis occurred in 2 flaps which survived after symptomatic treatment; 18 flaps survived successfully and skin grafting healed well. The follow-up time ranged 4-18 months (mean, 8.3 months). The flaps had good appearance, texture and color, without infection. The patients could walk normally and do daily activities. Only linear scars were observed at the donor sites. Conclusion Free perforator flap can be used to reconstruct defects in the ankle and foot, especially in the weight-bearing area of the plantar forefoot. A combination of free perforator flap and skin graft is ideal in reconstruction of great soft tissue defects in the ankle and foot.
Eighteen cases of loss or obliteration of eye sockets from trauma or tumour were repaired with various methods: skin graft, postauricle flap with tempopostauricular blood vessel, forehead flap with temporal blood vessel and temporal flap with subcutaneous pedicle. Following 1 to 5 years follwup, the results were good and the improvement on outlooking was remarkable. The skin grafting was a simple and applicable method but it needed a longer time of blepharorrhaphy. The flap transfer was more complicated but suitable for the obliteration of the eye socket accompanied with depression deformity, but it usually would result in a secondary cicatricical malformation at the region around the eye. Thus, it was important to select a best operative method according to the specific condition.
Objective To investigate the cl inical effect of Meek technique skin graft in treating exceptionally large area burns. Methods The cl inical data were retrospectively analysed from 10 cases of exceptionally large area burns treated with Meek technique skin graft from April 2009 to February 2010 (Meek group), and were compared with those from 10 casesof exceptionally large area burns treated with the particle skin with large sheet of skin allograft transplantation from January 2002 to December 2006 (particle skin group). In Meek group, there were 8 males and 2 females with an average age of 34.5 years (range, 5-55 years), including 6 cases of flame burns, 2 cases of hot l iquid burns, 1 case of electrical burn, and 1 case of hightemperature dust burn. The burn area was 82.6% ± 3.1% of total body surface area (TBSA). The most were deep II degree to III degree burns. The time from burn to hospital ization was (3.5 ± 1.3) hours. In particle skin group, there were 8 males and 2 females with an average age of 36.8 years (range, 18-62 years), including 5 cases of flame burns, 2 cases of hot l iquid burns, and 3 cases of gunpowder explosion injury. The burn area was 84.1% ± 7.4% of TBSA. The most were deep II degree to III degree burns. The time from burn to hospital ization was (4.9 ± 2.2) hours. There was no significant difference in general data between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). Results The skin graft survival rate, the time of skin fusion, the systemic wound heal ing time, and the treatment cost of 1% of burn area were 91.23% ± 5.61%, (11.14 ± 2.12) days, (38.89 ± 10.36) days, and (5 113.28 ± 552.44) yuan in Meek group, respectively; and were 78.65% ± 12.29%, (18.37 ± 4.63)days, (48.73 ± 16.92) days, and (7 386.36 ± 867.64) yuan in particle skin group; showing significant differences between 2 groups (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Meek technique skin graft has good effect in treating exceptionally large area burns with the advantages of high survival rate of skin graft, short time of skin fusion, and low treatment cost of 1% of burn area.
Objective To detect the expression of melanocortin 1 receptor (MC-1R) and the melanin contents in human skin autografts and the normal skin, to elucide the role of MC-1R in hyperpigmented process of skin autografts. Methods Skin autografts and normal skin samples were obtained from skin graft on neck who need reoperation to release contractures after 1 year of operations. Immunohistochemical technique was performed to detect the expression and distribution of MC-1R in skin autografts(include full thickenss skin autografts, medium thickness skin autografts, and razorthin skin autografts) and normal skin respectively. MassonFontana staining technique was performedto detect the melanin contents in all sorts specimens respectively. Results The expression of MC-1R was located on cell membrane and cytoplasm of melanocyte and keratinocyte in epidermal. The expression of MC-1R in most skin autografts was much ber than that of control normal skins; the thinnerskin autografts were, the more obvious expressions of MC-1R in skin autografts were. The expressions of MC-1R in all sorts of skinautografts were of significant differences compared with that in normal skins(P<0.01); the expression of MC-1R in normal skin of donor area was no significant differences compared with normal skin around recipient area(P>0.01). The contents of melanin in skin autografts were increased obviously and there were significantdifferences compared with that in normal skins(P<0.01); the contents of melanin among all sorts of skin autografts were of significant differences (P<0.01). The thinner skin autografts were, the more melanin contents in skin autografts. The expression of MC-1R was positively correlated with the contents ofmelanin in epidermis. Conclusion The expression of MC-1R in skin autografts is significantly higher than that in normal skin and is correlated positively with the contents of melanin in skin autografts. Overexpression of MC-1R may play an important role in hyperpigmented process of skin autografts.