OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the application of skin and soft tissue expansion in the treatment of deformity due to extensive severe burn injury and repair of severe deep electrical burned scalp and skull with fresh wound. METHODS: From 1988, 83 cases of application of skin and soft tissue expansion were reported. In those patients with deformity due to severe burn of large area and with whole nasal defect, soft tissue expander was used under the forehead skin graft and venter frontalis, followed by reconstruction of nose with the expanded vascularized skin flap and carved cartilago costalis as nasal frame. In patients of severe deep electrical burned scalp and skull with fresh wound, skin and soft tissue expansion were used to repair the wound simultaneously with scalp burn alopecia, anesthetics and antibiotics injected into the extracapsular space of the expander in case of pain and infection. RESULTS: All of the cases were successfully treated with little pain and minimized infection. CONCLUSION: Skin and soft tissue expansion in a safe and reliable measure in the treatment of deformity due to extensive severe burn injury and repair of severe deep electrical burned scalp and skull with fresh wound.
Objective To investigate the effect of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene therapy, the surgical delay, and the combination of the two therapeutic approaches on the survival of the rat over-area abdominal axial skin flap. Methods In 48 male Wistar rats (weight, 400-450 g), a model of the abdominal axial skin flap supplied by the superficial epigastric blood vessel was created. The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: Group A (the blank group), Group B (the gene-therapy-during-operation group), Group C (the gene-therapy-before-operation group), Group D (themerely-surgical-delay group), Group E (the gene-therapy-during-surgical-delay group), and Group F (the gene-therapy-aftersurgical-delay group). Seven days after operation, the survival rate of the skin flap was measured; the specimens were harvested from the skin flap for a histological investigation of themicrovessels and for an immunohistochemical staining to observe the expression of VEGF165. Results The average survival rate of the skinflap was significantly greater in each of the treated groups than in Group A (Plt;0.05); the rate was the greater in Group E (Plt;0.05), but with no statistically significant difference between the other treated groups (Pgt;0.05). The average number of the microvessels was significantly greater in Groups B, C, E andF than in Groups A and D (Plt;0.05), but with no statistically significant difference between Groups B, C, E and F and between Groups A and D (Pgt;0.05). The lumen diameter of the microvessels was significantly greater in Group D than in Groups E and F (Plt;0.05), and the diameter was significantly greater in Groups D, E andF than in the other groups (Plt;0.05). More deposition of VEGF DNA detected by the immunohistochemical staining was in Groups B, C, E and F than in Groups A and D. There was no newly-formed blood vessel in the rat cornea in the treated groups.Conclusion Both the administration of pcDNA4-VEGF165 and the surgical delay can improve the survival of the rat abdominal axial skin flap, but the mechanism of the effect is different in explanation. The combination of the two therapeutic approaches can achieve a better effect.
Objective To study the effect of various doses of estrogen on tissue injury, blood supply and survival area of skin flap and to investigate its mechanism. Methods Thirty New Zealand white rabbits aged 3-4 months old and weighing 1.5-2.2 kg (male or female) were used. Random pattern skin flap (12 cm × 3 cm in size) taking the central l ine of the rabbit dorsum as axis and with the pedicle attached at the proximal end was prepared, and the flap pedicle division was performed 7 days after operation. The rabbits were divided randomly into three groups (n=10 rabbits per group). At 2, 4, and 6 days after operation, the proximal edge of flap in group A and B received 100 ?g/kg and 50 ?g/kg subcutaneous injection ofestradiol benzoate, respectively, while group C received no further treatment serving as control group. General condition ofthe rabbits was observed after injection, gross observation was performed 3 and 7 days after injection, survival area of the skin flap was measured 7 days after injection, contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) were tested 5 days after injection, and the flaps were harvested 4 and 7 days after injection to receive histology and no significant difference was noted between group A and group B (P gt; 0.05). The NEU counts 4 days after injection were (18.20 ±6.24) cells/HP in group A, (21.27 ± 5.34) cells/HP in group B, and (28.78 ± 7.92) cells/HP in group C, and at 7 days after injection, there were (15.16 ± 7.02) cells/HP in group A, (18.12 ± 6.44) cells/HP in group B, and (29.67 ± 9.12) cells/HP in group C. The VEGF score 4 days after injection was (4.02 ± 0.48) points in group A, (4.19 ± 0.66) points in group B and (3.67 ± 0.49) points in group C, and at 7 day after injection, it was (4.96 ± 0.69) points in group A, (5.12 ± 0.77) points in group B, and (3.81 ± 0.54) points in group C. Significant difference was evident between 4 days and 7 days after injection in group A or B in terms of NEU counts and VEGF score (P lt; 0.05), and difference between 4 days and 7 days after injection in group C was not significant (P gt; 0.05), and the differences among 3 groups were significant (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Estrogen injection can increase VEGF expression and NO content of flap, decrease MDA content and NEU infiltration of flat, and improve survival area of flap.
The applied anatomy and clinical application were described in this paper. The blood supply of this flap was based on the second dorsal metacarpal artery. It gave some advantages of as easy of application, safe and reliable. Since November 1990, we had successfully used six such flaps in covering the soft tissue defects of the hand.
In order to study the effect of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) on the survival of skin flap 30 SD rats were used. A randomized flap measuring 7.5 cm x 3.0 cm was created on the back of each SD rat. The treatment group (n = 10) received VEGF 40 ng/flap by subcutaneous injection with microinjector during and 24 hours after operation. The control groups received heparin 16 U/flap (n = 10) or normal saline 800 microliters/flap (n = 10). After operation, on the 3rd and 11th day, the survival rate of the skin flaps and the dermovascular density of each flap were investigated by histological and histo-morphometrical examination. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the survival rate between the treatment group and the controls on the 3rd day after operation, while on the 11th day, there was a significant difference between them, and the survival rate was much higher in the treatment group. Besides, dermovascular density was much more increased in the treatment group than that in the controls, especially in the distal 1/3 of the flap (P lt; 0.02). The conclusion was that VEGF could .
The canine saphaneous skin flap was used as a model in this experiment. The cutaneous autograft would give long-term survival, whereas the allograft without pretreatment would only survive 10. 2±1.9 days from its transplantation. If the pretreatment consisted of the use of immunosuppressive agent as PHA or infusion of dexamesone, the survival days of the allografts could be prolonged to 15.1±2.5 and 13.7±2.8, respectively(Plt;0.01). The histological examination gave the evidence that drug perfusion delayed the rejection.
Objectives To investigate the curative effect of skin flap and allogenic tendon in reconstructing l imbs function of complex soft-tissue defect. Methods From May 2001 to December 2007, 43 cases of complex soft-tissue defect of l imbs were repaired by pedicled skin flaps, free skin flaps, cutaneous nerve nutrient vessel skin flaps and arterial island skin flaps for primary stage, then the function of the l imbs were reconstructed with allogeneic tendon after 2-3 months of skin flapoperation. There were 31 males and 12 females, aged 5-53 years(mean 25 years). Injury was caused by machine in 28 cases, by traffic accident in 14 cases and others in 1 case. There were 27 cases in upper l imb, 16 cases in lower l imb. Twenty-six cases compl icated by bone fracture, dislocation and bone defect, the most of bone defect were cortical bone defect. The sizes of skin and parenchyma defect were 9 cm × 4 cm to 37 cm × 11 cm, the length of tendon defect was 6 to 26 cm. The sizes of skin flaps were 10 cm × 5 cm to 39 cm × 12 cm. Allogeneic tendons were used 2-6 strips(mean 4 strips). Results Forty-three cases were followed up for 5-56 months (16 months on average), all flaps survived. The donor area healed by first intention, the incision healed by first intention in second operation, and no tendon rejection occurred. The cl inical heal ing time of fracture was 3-8 months, and the cl inical heal ing time of allograft was 6-8 months. Six cases were given tenolysis for adhesion of tendon after 3-5 months of tendon transplantation. The postoperative flexion of wrist joint was 20-50°, the extension was 20-45°. Articulatio metacarpophalangea and articulatio interphalangeae could extend completely. The flexion of articulatio metacarpophalangea of thumb was 20-45°, the flexion of articulatio interphalangeae was 30-70°. The flexion of articulatio metacarpophalangea and articulatio interphalangeae of the other fingers was 60-90°. The postoperative ankle can extend to neutral position, the neutral position of ankle was 30-50°. The flexion of articulatio metatarsophalangeae and articulatio interdigital was 20-40°. Theextension of articulatio metatarsophalangeae was 30-60°. Conclusion Through designing systematically treatment plan,practicing operation by stages, preventing adhesion of tendon actively and exercising function reasonably, the functions of l imbs reconstructed by allogenic tendon and skin flap can leads to satisfactory effect.
To investigate the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on necrosis rate, succinate dehydrogenase level and oxygen consumption of the skin flap, 18 Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups. Caudally based skin flap was raised on the back of each rat. Nine micrograms bFGF or normal saline with heparin was instilled under the flaps respectively after closure of the wounds. After 7 days, the necrosis rate of each wound was measured. The result showed that in bFGF group, the average necrosis rate of skin flap was 18.2%, less than that of the control group (37.14%). Succinate dehydrogenase content and oxygen consumption in bFGF group were higher than those of the corresponding sites in the control group (P lt; 0.05). It was suggested that the use of bFGF resulted in the decrease rate of necrosis of skin flap, and it maintained higher succinale dehydrogenase level and oxygen consumption. It was concluded that bFGF would probably be valuable for clinical use.
OBJECTIVE: To sum up the experimental development and clinical application of prefabricated flap. METHODS: The reported experimental results and clinical application of prefabricated flap extensively reviewed. RESULTS: Previous studies had proved that the revascularization of prefabricated flap mainly through anastomoses of implanted vessels and the original vessels of the flap, the implanted vessels slowly formed a new and complete blood vessel network, which could dominate the whole flap, three to four weeks later, the new vessels were mature and the flap could be transferred. Clinically, the superficial temporal vessels, gastroepiploic vessels, circumflex femoral vessels and thoracodorsalis vessels could be harvested for prefabricated flap with satisfactory results. CONCLUSION: Prefabricated flap provides a new method for the treatment of complicated defects.
Objective To investigate the effect of perioperative body temperature on the survival of skin flap grafting. Methods From July 2005 to November 2006, 50 cases of Ⅰ-Ⅱ grade patients undergoing elective skin flap grafting were randomly divided 2 groups. Pharyngeal temperature (PT) and skin temperature(ST) were monitored and recorded every 15 minutes. Operativetime, anesthetic time, time from the end of operation to extubation, the volume of blood transfusion, the volume of fluid transfusion and the flap survival 7 days after operation were recorded. In the experimental group, the body temperature was maintained in normal range with water market and forced air heater. In the control group， the body temperature was only monitored without any treatment. Results There were no significant differences in operating room temperature, operative time, anesthetic time, the volume of blood transfusion and fluid transfusion between 2 groups(Pgt;0.05). After induction, PT decreased gradually inboth groups during the first 45 minutes, compared with the time point of intubation(Plt;0.05),but there were no significant differences between the 2 groups(Pgt;0.05); and ST rose in both groups during the first45 minutes, compared with the time point of intubation (Plt;0.05). After 45 minutes of induction, in the experimental group, PT was in the normal range(36℃), and ST didn’t change compared with that of the timepoint of induction(Pgt;0.05). In the control group, both PT and ST decreasedgradually and timedependently compared with the time point of intubation (Plt;0.05). In the experimental group, PT and ST at each time point were higher than those in the control group (Plt;0.05). All the skin flap grafts survived in the experimental group, and skin flap grafts necrosed in 2 cases in the control group.Conclusion Keeping normal body temperature can improve the survival ofskin flap grafting. Therefore, the body temperature should be monitored and maintained in a normal range.