Various tissue flaps were used in the repair of 255 cases of the wounds from severe deep burns and cicatricial deformities. The types of flaps used included: 6 kinds of myocutaneous flaps in 54 cases, 10 kinds of axial cutaneous flaps in 50cases, 7 kinds of fasciocutaneous flaps in 44 cases, pedicled subcutaneous tissues flaps in 12 cases, pedicled thin skin flaps in 54 cases, subdermal vascular networks cutaneous flaps in 38 cases, and free skin flaps with arter ialization of vein flap, retrograd island cutaneous flap with great or small saphaneous vein, in each. The survival rate from the transplantation was 99.2 per cent, and the rate of primary healing was 94.5 per cent. According to the time interval between the injury and operation and the conditions of the wounds, the patients were divided into acute, infected and selective cases, and the rate of primary healing was 93.0 per cent, 91.6 per cent and 97.9 per cent, respectively. The selection of the types of flap to be used and the attentions to be taken dueing operation were discussed.
Objective To investigate the safety and effectiveness of using the Taylor Spatial Frame (TSF) based on the Ilizarov tension-stress principle for treatment of post-burn foot and ankle deformities in adults. Methods A retrospective analysis of clinical data from 6 patients with foot and ankle deformities treated between April 2019 and November 2023. There was 1 male and 5 females with an average age of 28.7 years (range, 20-49 years). There were 3 cases of simple ankle equinus, 2 cases of ankle equinus, midfoot rocker-bottom foot, and forefoot pronation, and 1 case of calcaneus foot combined with fore-midfoot pronation deformity. Preoperative American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was 45.3±18.2, SF-12 Physical Component Summary (PCS) was 34.3±7.3 and Mental Component Summary (MCS) was 50.4±8.8. Imaging examination showed tibial-calcaneal angle of (79.8±31.5)°, calcaneus-first metatarsal angle of (154.5±45.3)°, talus-first metatarsal angle of (-19.3±35.0)°. Except for 1 case with severe deformity that could not be measured, the remaining 5 cases had talus-second metatarsal angle of (40.6±16.4)°. The deformities were fixed with TSF after soft tissue release and osteotomy. Then, the residual deformities were gradually corrected according to software-calculated prescriptions. TSF was removed after maximum deformity correction and osteotomy healing. External fixation time, brace wearing time after removing the TSF, and pin tract infection occurrence were recorded. Infection severity was evaluated based on Checketts-Otterburns grading. Joint function was evaluated using AOFAS score and SF-12 PCS and MCS scores. Patient satisfaction was assessed using Likert score. Imaging follow-up measured relevant indicators to evaluate the degree of deformity correction. Deformity recurrence was observed during follow-up. Results The external fixation time was 103-298 days (mean, 193.5 days). The mild pin tract infections occurred during external fixation in all patients, which healed after pin tract care and oral antibiotics. No serious complications such as osteomyelitis, fractures, neurovascular injury, or skin necrosis occurred. After external fixation removal, 3 cases did not wear braces, while the remaining 3 cases wore braces continuously for 6 weeks, 8 weeks, and 3 years, respectively. All patients were followed up 13.9-70.0 months, with an average of 41.7 months. During follow-up, none of the 6 patients had recurrence of foot deformity. At 1 year after operation, the AOFAS score was 70.0±18.1, SF-12 PCS and MCS were 48.9±4.5 and 58.8±6.4, respectively, all showing improvement compared to preoperative values (P<0.05). Imaging follow-up showed that all osteotomies healed, and all distraction cases achieved bony union at 6 months after stopping stretching. At 1 year after operation, tibial-calcaneal angle was (117.5±12.8)° and talus-first metatarsal angle was (-3.3±19.3)°, both showing improvement compared to preoperative values (P<0.05). Calcaneus-first metatarsal angle was (132.0±14.4)°, which also improved compared to preoperative values but without statistical significance (P>0.05). Except for 1 case with severe deformity that could not be measured, the remaining 5 cases had talus-second metatarsal angle of (18.0±6.4)°. And there was no significant difference (P>0.05) between pre-and post-operative data of 4 patients with complete data. At 1 year after operation, 1 patient was satisfied witheffectiveness and 5 patients were very satisfied. Conclusion The TSF, by applying the Ilizarov tension-stress principle for gradual distraction and multi-planar adjustment, combined with soft tissue release and osteotomy, can effectively correct foot and ankle deformities after burns, especially equinus deformity with contracture of the posterior soft tissues of the lower leg. There are still limitations in treating cases with tight, adherent scars on the dorsum of the foot that require long-distance distraction. If necessary, a multidisciplinary approach combined with microsurgical techniques can be utilized.