Objective To observe the anatomic basis and the clinical application of the modified peroneal arterial cutaneous branch nutritional flap. Methods Twenty sides of lower limb of adult colyseptic cadavers and 5 sides of lower limb of adult fresh cadavers were used to detect the cutaneous branches of the peroneal artery. The position where the cutaneous branches come from the peroneal artery and the diameter of the cutaneous branches were recorded. From September 2003 to June 2005, 10 cases of skin and soft tissue defects in the region of metatarsophalangeal point with the modified peroneal arterial cutaneous branch nutritional flap, in which the cutaneous branches from the peroneal artery 11.0±1.7 cm upon the lateral malleolus were added. The defect size was 10 cm×6 cm to 15 cm×10 cm. The flap size was 11.0 cm×6.5 cm to 16.0 cm×11.0 cm. Results There is a stable cutaneous branches from peroneal artery 11.0±1.7 cm upon the lateral malleolus. The diameter of this cutaneous branches at the origin is 1.45±0.12 mm. The distance between the cutaneous branches entrance of the deep fascia and the line of the sural nerve nutritional artery flap was 15.70±1.20 mm. All 10 flaps survived. The blood supply and venous return of the skin flaps were good. The 10 patients were followed up from 6 to 12 months. The shape of the flaps was satisfactory. The texture and the color and luster of the flaps were similar to the adjacent skin. The functions of the feet were good. The twopoint discrimination was 1118 mm. Conclusion The modified peroneal arterial cutaneous branch nutritional flap has good blood supply. It can reverse to a long distance and can repair large skin defects.
ObjectiveTo discuss the effectiveness of improved interosseous dorsal artery reversed island flap to repair dorsal skin and soft tissue defect of the hand. MethodsBetween March 2009 and September 2012, 29 cases of dorsal skin and soft tissue defects were treated with improved interosseous dorsal artery reversed island flap. Of 29 cases, there were 17 males and 12 females, aged 23-71 years (mean, 47 years); and the left hand was involved in 12 cases and the right hand in 17 cases. There were 11 cases of avulsion injury, 9 cases of crushing injury, 5 cases of strangulation injury, and 2 cases of traffic accident injury; the interval of injury and admission was 1-7 hours (mean, 4 hours). Two patients had scar contracture. The locations of soft tissue defects were dorsal hands in 21 cases, first webs in 5 cases, and dorsal thumb in 3 cases. The size of soft tissue defects ranged from 4 cm×3 cm to 10 cm×8 cm. One-stage repair was performed in 11 cases, and two-stage repair in 18 cases. The size of flaps ranged from 5.5 cm×4.5 cm to 12.0 cm×10.0 cm. The donor sites were sutured directly or repaired by skin grafting. ResultsAll flaps survived, and wounds healed in first stage. And the grafted skins at donor sites all survived, and incisions all healed in first stage. Twenty-six patients were followed up 3 months-3 years (mean, 19.5 months). Bulky flap was observed in 3 cases, and defatted operation was performed after 6 months; the other flaps had good appearance and texture, and wrist function was normal. According to total angle of motion (TAM) systematic evaluation, the results were excellent in 17 cases, good in 6 cases, and fair in 3 cases at 3 months after operation. ConclusionImproved interosseous dorsal artery reversed island flap has the advantages of easy-to-obtain, simple operation, and high survival rate of flaps, so it is an effective method to repair dorsal skin and soft tissue defect of the hand.
Objective To investigate the anatomic foundation of using main branch of posterior femoral nerve to restore the sensation function of distal basedsural island flap. Methods Thirty cases of adult human cadaver legs fixed by 4%formaldehyde were used. Anatomical investigation of the posterior femoral nerves of lower legs was conducted under surgical microscope to observe their distribution, branches and their relationship with small saphenous vein. Nerve brancheswith diameter more than 0.1 mm were dissected and accounted during observation.The length and diameter of the nerves were measured. Results The main branch of posterior femoral nerve ran downwards from popliteal fossa within superficial fascia along with small saphenous vein. 70% of the main branch of the posterior femoral nerves lay medially to small saphenous vein, and 30% laterally. They wereclassified into 3 types according to their distribution in lower legs: typeⅠ (33.3%) innervated the upper 1/4 region of lower leg (region Ⅰ), type Ⅱ (43.3%) had branches in upper 1/2 region (region Ⅰ and Ⅱ), and type Ⅲ (23.3%) distributed over the upper 3/4 region (region Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ). In type Ⅱ, the diameter of the main branches of posterior femoral nerves in the middle of popliteal tossa was 10±04 mm and innervated the posterior upper-middle region (which was the ordirary donor region of distal based sural island flaps) of lower legs with 2.0±0.8 branches, whose diameter was 0.3±0.2 mm and length was 3.5±2.7 mm. The distance between the end of these branches and small saphenous vein was 0.8±0.6 mm. In type Ⅲ, their diameter was 1.2±0.3 mm and innervated the posterior upper-middle region of lower legs with 3.7±1.7 branches, whose diameter was 0.4±0.1 mm and length was 3.7±2.6 mm. The distancebetween the end of these branches and small saphenous vein was 0.8±0.4 mm. Conclusion 66.6% of human main branch of posteriorfemoral nerves (type Ⅱ and type Ⅲ) can be used to restore the sensation of distal based sural island flap through anastomosis with sensor nerve stump of footduring operation.
The skin and soft tissue defects or ulceration of the wight-bearing part of the sole was difficult to repair with medial plantar island flap, but would be treated with retrograde island flap carrying plantar metatarsal arteries as pedicle. Ten flaps were applied in 9 patients. They had either indolent ulcer or skin defect secondary to excision of painful corn or callosities of the front part of the sole. The flaps were 3 cm to 5 cm long and 3 cm to 4 cm wide, and they all survived following retrograde transfer. The patients were followed up for 1 to 10 years. It was found that the patients could bear weight on the operated foot and could walk without pain or lameness. The flaps were resistant to abrasion from long-time walking. It was concluded that this kind of flap was best suitable to repair the ulcers and defects over the front part of the sole despite there were some minor shortcomings such as the size of the flaps available was small and the donor site required split skin graft for coverage.
Objective To investigate the method and effectiveness of repairing fingertip defects with reverse island flappedicled with terminal dorsal branch of digital artery with sense reconstruction. Methods Between December 2008 and March2010, 32 patients (40 fingers) with fingertip defects were treated. There were 20 males (23 fingers) and 12 females (17 fingers), aged from 20 to 62 years (mean, 42 years). The time between injury and admission was from 1 to 8 hours. The injured fingers included thumb (2 cases), index finger (6 cases), index finger and middle finger (3 cases), middle finger (7 cases), middle finger and ring finger (3 cases),ring finger (8 cases), ring finger and little finger (2 cases), and little finger (1 case). The defect area ranged from 1.2 cm × 1.0 cm to 2.2 cm ×1.8 cm, and the flap area ranged from 1.5 cm × 1.0 cm to 2.5 cm × 2.0 cm. The fingertip defects were repaired by the reverse island flaps pedicled with terminal dorsal branch of digital artery and branch of digital nerve, and the branch of digital nerve was anastomosed withstump of proper digital nerve. The donor sites were repaired with free skin grafts. Results Bl isters occurred in 6 cases (9 fingers) andpartial necrosis of the flaps in 2 cases (2 fingers), which were cured after symptomatic treatment. The other flaps and skin grafts survived and the wounds healed by first intention. Thirty cases (38 fingers) were followed up 6 months postoperatively. The shape, contour of the reconstructed fingertip, and motivation of the fingers were satisfactory. The superficial sensation and deep pain sensation recovered after 6 months of operation. The two-point discrimination was 4-6 mm in 24 fingers, 7-10 mm in 13 fingers, and none in 1 finger. According to the functional assessment criteria of upper l imb formulated by the Hand Surgery Branch of Chinese Medical Association, S3 was achieved in 1 finger, S3+ in 13 fingers, and S4 in 24 fingers. Conclusion It is simple and safe to harvest the reverse island flap pedicled with terminal dorsal branch of digital artery with sense reconstruction; at the same time, the blood supply of the flap is rel iable and its sense can be reconstructed. It is one of effective methods for repairing fingertip defects.