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.
ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility and accuracy of modified three longitudinal and five transverse method in locating perforating branches before anterolateral thigh perforator flap (ALTP) repair.MethodsBetween January 2019 and December 2019, 41 patients with skin and soft tissue defects were repaired with ALTP. There were 31 males and 10 females. The age ranged from 18 to 61 years, with an average of 32 years. The soft tissue defects were caused by trauma in 38 cases, and the time from injury to operation was 3-7 days, with an average of 4 days. The wounds left after excision of scar contracture deformity because of burn in 3 cases. Soft tissue defects located at upper limbs in 16 cases and lower limbs in 25 cases. The size of soft tissue defects ranged from 10 cm×4 cm to 25 cm×12 cm. Before operation, zonesⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳwere formed on the anterolateral thigh by modified three longitudinal and five transverse method. The perforating branches were detected in these four zones by Doppler ultrasound, and the skin flaps were designed according to the wound area. The perforating branches were explored during operation, and the distribution and types of perforating branches in each zone and the relationship between perforating branches and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve were observed. The ALTP with the size of 12 cm×5 cm to 30 cm×10 cm was used to repair the wound, and the donor site was sutured directly or repaired with the flap. ResultsA total of 117 perforating branches were detected in 41 patients before operation, and 111 perforating branches were found during operation, with a false positive rate of 5%. The probability of perforating branches in zonesⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ were 56%, 73%, 76%, and 66% respectively, and the false positive rates were –9%, 7%, 16%, and 4%, respectively. All perforating branches located near the trunk of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, especially in posterolateral area. There were only 1 perforating branch in 6 cases, 2 perforating branches in 12 cases, 3 perforating branches in 10 cases, and 4 perforating branches in 13 cases. The main types of perforating branches in zonesⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ were transverse perforating branches, oblique perforating branches, descending perforating branches, and descending perforating branches, respectively. Partial distal necrosis occurred in 2 cases and complete necrosis occurred in 1 case after operation, and the wounds were repaired with skin grafts. The remaining 38 flaps survived successfully, and the wounds and the incisions of donor sites healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 3 to 12 months, with an average of 6 months. The appearance and texture of the skin flap were acceptable, and linear scar remained in the donor site.ConclusionIt can simply locate and distinguish the perforating branches and better protect the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve by using the modified three longitudinal and five transverse method before ALTP repair.
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.
OBJECTIVE: To sum up the experience of clinical application of distal base sural island flap. METHODS: From January 1997 to April 1999, the posterior island flap of leg pedicled with sural nerve and its nutrient vessels was applied to repair heel or dorsum of foot in 6 cases, chronic ulcer of heel in 2 cases, chronic osteomyelitis in 2 cases, scar contracture of bone defect accompanying fistulation in 1 case. The range of flap was 5 cm x 8 cm to 8 cm x 12 cm. RESULTS: All the flaps survived completely without vascular crisis. All the wounds healed by first intention. Followed up 3 to 12 months, no ulcer, osteomyelitis, fistulation were recurrence, and the sensation of flap was recovered slightly. CONCLUSION: The flap do not damage critical blood vessels and nerves, the donating region is hidden. The manual of operation is simple and blood supply of flap is sufficient. It can repair the defect of soft tissue on heel and dorsum with high survival rate.
Objective To summarize the research progress of anterior cutaneous nerve injury and repair in knee arthroplasty. Methods The relevant literature at home and abroad in recent years was reviewed and summarized from the anatomy of anterior cutaneous nerve, nerve injury grade, clinical manifestations, prevention and treatment of anterior cutaneous nerve. Results The anterior cutaneous nerve injury is a common complication of knee arthroplasty. Because the anterior cutaneous nerve branches are many and thin, and mainly run between the first and second layers of fascia, this level is often ignored during surgical exposure. In addition, the knee arthroplasty does not routinely perform the exploration and repair of the cutaneous nerve. So the anterior cutaneous nerve injury is difficult to avoid, and can lead to postoperative skin numbness and knee pain. At present, studies have explored the feasibility of preventing its occurrence from the aspects of improved incision and intraoperative separation of protective nerve. There is no effective prevention and treatment measures for this complication. For patients with skin numbness after knee arthroplasty, the effectiveness of drug treatment is not clear. Local nerve block or nerve excision can be used to treat patients with painful symptoms after knee arthroplasty considering cutaneous pseudoneuroma. ConclusionKnee arthroplasty is widely used and anterior cutaneous nerve injury is common in clinic. In the future, more high-quality clinical studies are needed to further explore the prevention and treatment measures of this complication and evaluate the clinical benefits obtained.
This article presents a transcutaneous electric stimulator that is based on chaotic signal. Firstly, we in the study used the MATLAB platform in the PC to generate chaotic signal through the chaos equation, and then we transferred the signal out by data acquisition equipment of USB-6251 manufactured by NI Company. In order to obtain high-power signal for transcutaneous electric stimulator, we used the chip of LM3886 to amplify the signal. Finally, we used the power-amplified chaotic signal to stimulate the internal nerve of human through the electrodes fixed on the skin. We obtained different stimulation effects of transcutaneous electric stimulator by changing the parameters of chaotic model. The preliminary test showed that the randomness of chaotic signals improved the applicability of electrical stimulation and the rules of chaos ensured that the stimulation was comfort. The method reported in this paper provides a new way for the design of transcutaneous electric stimulator.