In order to study the clinical efficacy of facial artery musculocutaneous flap on repairing the defect of the floor of mouth, 21 patients had received this type of treatment from 1991 to 1997. The size of the flaps ranged from 8.0 x 3.4 cm to 12.1 x 5.4 cm and the average age of these patients was 59.5 years old. The donor site was closed directly. Nineteen flaps survived completely, while necrosis occurred at the apex of the other 2 flaps, which healed by ordinary management. The applied anatomy of the flap and the design and the main points of the operation were reported in details. The advantage of the flap and the prevention of facial malformation following operation were discussed. The conclusion was that this type of flap was ideal for reconstruction of the defects of floor of the mouth.
Objective To explore the clinical effect of the lower rotating point super sural neurocutaneous vascular flap on the repair of the softtissue defects in the ankle and foot. Methods From May 2001 to February 2006, 24 patients with the soft tissue defects in the ankle and foot were treated with the lower rotating point super sural neurocutaneous vascular flaps. Among the patients, 15 had an injury in a traffic accident, 6 were wringedand rolled by a machine, 1 was frostbited in both feet, 2 were burned, 25 had an exposure of the bone and joint. The disease course varied from 3 days to 22 months; 19 patients began their treatment 3-7 days after the injury and 5 patients were treated by an elective operation. The soft tissue defects ranged in area from 22 cm × 12 cm to 28 cm × 12 cm. The flaps ranged in size from 24 cm × 14cm to 30 cm × 14 cm, with a range up to the lower region of the popliteal fossa. The rotating point of the flap could be taken in the region 1-5 cm above thelateral malleolar. The donor site was covered by an intermediate thickness skingraft. Results All the 25 flaps in 24 patients survived with asatisfactory appearance and a good function. The distal skin necrosis occurred in 1 flap, but healing occurred after debridement and intermediate thickness skin grafting. The follow-up for 3 months to 5 years revealed that the patients had a normal gait, the flaps had a good sense and a resistance to wearing, and no ulcer occurred. The two point discrimination of the flap was 5-10 mm. Conclusion The lower rotating point super sural neurocutaneous vascular flap has a good skin quality, a high survival rate, and a large donor skin area. The grafting is easy, without any sacrifice of the major blood vessel; therefore, it is a good donor flap in repairing a large soft tissue defect in the ankle and foot.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the anatomical basis of blood supply and heel reconstruction by reversed island fibular musculocutaneous flap. METHODS: The blood supply of fibular musculocutaneous flap and the biomechanical characteristics of heel were studied by anatomical examination. One case with right heel full defect because of explosion injury was repaired by transfer of reversed island fibular vessels. The fibular flap was 14 cm in length with part of peroneus muscle and long flexor muscle of great toe. RESULTS: The lower part of fibular artery had plentiful anastomosis with anterior tibial artery and posterior tibial artery, which could provide ideal reversed blood supply. The rotatory point of vessel pedicle could be chosen according to the need of operation. The lowest site might be above 6 cm to lateral malleolus, and the vessel pedicle was 20 cm in length. The morphological feature of the reversed island fibular musculocutaneous flap was suitable to the biomechanical character of heel. The patient achieved satisfactory clinical result, the musculocutaneous flap survived well for 10 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: The reversed island fibular musculocutaneous flap provide a new method for repairing the severe heel defect, especially in full defect of calcaneus and cuboid bone.
Objective To study the method and effect of transferring the pedicled second metatarsal base for repairing bone defect of lateral malleolus. Methods Thirty lower limb specimens were anatomized to observe the morphology, structure and blood supply of the second metatarsal bone . Then transferring of thepedicled second metatarsal base was designed and used in 6 patients clinically.All cases were male, aged from 24 to 48 years old, and the area of bone defect was 3-4 cm. Results Followed up for 3-11 months, all patients healed primarily both in donor and recipient sites. There were excellent results in 4 cases and good results in 2 cases . The morphology and function of the malleoli were satisfactory. Conclusion Transferring of the pedicled second metatarsal base for repairing bone defect of lateral malleolus is an effective and reliable operative method.
Objective To report the experience of repairingperineal and adjacent defects with thoracoum biblical island flaps. Methods From January 1988 toOctober 2003, 7 cases of perineal and adjacent soft tissue defects with thoracoum biblical island flaps, aged 17-52 years. Of 7 cases, there were 2 cases of severe scar contracture due to burn on perineal, 1 case of malignancy on perineal,4 cases of vast soft tissue defects of trauma on the parts of groin and higher two-third thigh. The area of flaps was 9 cm×27 cm-12 cm×30 cm, the longest pedicel of blood vessel was 16 cm. The donor sites of flaps less than 10 cm couldbe sutured directly, the ones more than 10 cm could be repaired with skin grafting. Results All the flaps primarily survived. There was no ischemia and necrosis atthe distal part of flaps. Four patients were followed up 6 months to 6 years. The color, texture and appearance of the flaps were good. The functions of walk and squat were satisfactory.Conclusion The thoracoum bilical island flap can repair perineal and adjacent soft tissue defects, moreover the donor is shady and the effect is ideal.
Two hundred and twenty-two toes to hands free transfers have been performed in our clinic from January 1973 to May 1992 with a 100 percent successful results obtained. The authors developed the extended toe free transfer technique,and this technique was used in 40 cases.Six types of extended toe transfer can be designed to carry out complicated thumb or other finger reconstructions.Keys to successful toe-to-hand transfers are as followings: Evaluation of a three-points and one line pulsation on the donor foot can be used to localize the course of the first dorsal metatarsal artery . The first dorsal metaltarsal artery is best dissected and exposed in the retrograde direction. The toe must obtain good blood perfusion before its transplantation and close postoperative monitor.
Objective To investigate the treatment of extensive bone defect of distal femur caused by various diseases in adults. Methods From February 1998 to December 2002, 6 cases(aged from 19 to 37) of extensive bone defects of distal femur were treated with two free vascularized fibulae, whose defects were caused by resection ofbone tumor, osteomyelitis and trauma. After the resection of distal femur and articular surface of tibia, the fibulae were transplanted and fixed with screws. And the periosteum of the two fibulae was dissected and sutured with each other.Results The average follow-up time was 3.3 years. Twofree vascularized fibulae could give more support to the body and the bone union of the fibulae was possible when the periosteum was incised and sutured with each other. As time went on, both of the medullary canal reunioned to form a new canal as a whole, which would make the grafts ber. Conclusion Autograft with two free vascularized fibulae can increase the stability in treating extensive bone defect of distal femur, but the union of knee joint will make flexion and extension impossible.
In the repair of the defect of peripheral nerve, it was necessary to find an operative method with excellent therapeutic effect but simple technique. Based on the experimental study, one case of old injury of the ulnar nerve was treated by end-to-side neurorraphy with the intact median nerve. In this case the nerve defect was over 3 cm and unable to be sutured directly. The patient was followed up for fourteen months after the operation. The recovery of the sensation and the myodynamia was evaluated. The results showed that: the sensation and the motor function innervated by ulnar nerve were recovered. The function of the hand was almost recovered to be normal. It was proved that the end-to-side neurorraphy between the distal stump with the intact median nerve to repair the defect of the ulnar nerve was a new operative procedure for nerve repair. Clinically it had good effect with little operative difficulty. This would give a bright prospect to repair of peripheral nerve defect in the future.
OBJECTIVE To investigate the possibility of repairing the cartilage cartilage defect with homogeneous chondrocytes combined with Pluronic. METHODS: Homogeneous cartilage chondrocytes of adult New Zealand rabbits were harvested and cultured in vitro, which were marked by 3H-TdR and mixed with Pluronic. The medial or lateral condyle defects were made (phi 4 mm, extending down to the calcified zone) in 20 rabbits. In the experimental group, the right defects were repaired by homogeneous chondrocytes combined with Pluronic; in the control group, the left defects were repaired by Pluronic only or were left un-repaired. The animals were sacrificed in the 4th, 8th and 16th weeks after operation respectively. The repair results were observed and the cell source of repair tissue was distinguished. RESULTS: In the experimental group, the cartilage defects were repaired by the cartilage-like tissue after 8 weeks of operation; the defects were completely filled with mature cartilage tissue, which integrated smoothly with articular cartilage 16 weeks later. In the control group, only a small amount fibrous tissues were seen on the surface of defects. Autoradiographic assessment showed that the repair cells came from the implants, but not from self-chondrocytes. CONCLUSION: It is a good way to repair articular cartilage defects with homograft of tissue engineering cartilage. It is a convenient method to mark with 3H-TdR to discriminate the resource of the repair cells.
Abstract The narrow pedicled intercostal cutaneous perforater (np-ICP) thin flaps were successfully used for reconstruction of hand deformity from scar contraction. This flap was designed with a narrow pedicle (3～5cm in width) which included ICPs of 4th～9th intercostal spaces, and with awide distal part (the maximum is 15cm×15cm) which covered the lower chest and upper abdomen. The thickness of flap was cut until the subdermal vascular networkwas observed. The pedicle was divided between the 7th～14th days after operation. Sixteen flaps in 15 cases were transferred for covering of the skin defects at the dorsum of the hand. The perforators which were included in the narrow pediclewere mostly from the 7th intercostal spaces in 9 flaps. Fifteen of the 16 flapswere survived almost completely, except in one case there was necrosis of the distal portion of the flap. It seemed that this flap was more useful than the conventional methods, not only functionally but also aesthetically. Moreover, the operative techinque was more simple and safer than the island or free intercostalflap due to without the necessity to dissect the main trunk of the intercostalneurovascular bundle. Gentle pressure on the thinning portion of the flap for a short time after operation was important.