OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical application of the medial arm fasciocutaneous flap based on the medial septocutaneous branches of the brachial vessel. METHODS: Since 1994, the medial arm fasciocutaneous flap based on the medial septocutaneous branches of the branchial vessel has been used to cure scar contracture of axillary and elbow joint, radiated ulcer of the chest wall. Eighteen clinical cases were reported. Among them, there were 14 males and 4 females, aged from 6 to 48 years old. The flaps, of which 3 were proximally based and 15 distally based, were designed 23 cm x 11 cm as maximal size and 10 cm x 6 cm as minimal size. RESULTS: All the flaps survived and the excellent function and cosmetic result were achieved. CONCLUSION: The medial arm fasciocutaneous flap is thin, soft and relatively hairless, so it is suitable for repairing the soft tissue defect of the axillary or elbow joint. There are consistently present perforators at both ends that allow one to rotate long flaps around pivoting points immediate to the areas needing coverage. Moreover, this flap is characterized by the simplicity of the surgical techniques and circulatory reliability.
Twenty patients with chronic lymphedema had been treated by microwave heating. T-lympocyte subpopulation and HLA-DR phenotype of peripheral blood in patientswith lymphedema were examined by using dual colour flow cytometry before and after treatment. We found that CD4 (T helpe/inducer) in chronic lymphedema decreased significantly (Plt;0.01), HLA-DR increased significantly (P lt;0.05). After the microwave treatment, the CD4, CD4/CD8 ratio increased significantly; HLA-DR, HLA-DR+CD+8 lymphocyte reduced. It was clear that microwave could regulate the immunological disorder of lymphedema patients.
The rectus femoris muscles of rabbits were used as muscle model. The electrical stimulation which resembled the normal motor-unit activity was used to observe its effects on free transferred muscle. After three months, the moist muscle weight (MW), its maximum cross-section area, its contractility and its histochemical characteristics were examined. The results showed that the function and morphology of the muscles were well preserved. These findings might encourage its clinical application.