Objective To explore the cl inical outcomes of repairing l imb wound with distal based neurocutaneous flap. Methods From June 2003 to June 2009, 187 cases with wounds in the hand, foot, and distal leg were treated. There were127 males and 60 females aged 20-70 years old (average 37.5 years old). The wound was caused by traffic accident in 130 cases, crush injury in 38 cases, machinery accident in 16 cases, and explosion injury in 3 cases. Among them, the soft tissue defect was in the dorsal and palmar aspects of the hand in 35 cases, the distal leg in 50 cases, the dorsal aspect of foot in 40 cases, the region around ankle in 27 cases, the tendon area in 11 cases, the medial side of foot in 4 cases, the heel and sole of foot in 5 cases, and the forefoot area in 15 cases. The size of skin soft tissue defect was 5.0 cm × 3.0 cm-17.5 cm × 10.0 cm. Four cases suffered from nonunion of heel and 15 cases suffered from tibia defect (3-7 cm). The course of disease was 3 days-8 years. During operation, 35 cases with wound in the hand were treated with three types of lower rotation point of forearm neurocutaneous flaps with rotation points 0-3 cm above the wrist joint, 66 cases were treated with distal based saphenous nerve and saphenous vein neurovascular flaps, muscle flaps and bone flaps with rotation points 2-5 cm above the medial malleolus, and 86 cases were treated with sural and saphenous flaps, muscle flaps and bone flaps with rotation points 1-5 cm above the external malleolus. The flap was 5 cm × 3 cm-17 cm × 15 cm in size, the muscle flap was 5 cm × 3 cm × 1 cm-10 cm × 6 cm × 2 cm in size, the fibula flap was 4.0 cm × 2.5 cm-10.0 cm × 8.0 cm in size. The l igation of the superficial veins was performed below the rotation point of the flap in 163 cases, and the cutaneous nerve ending anastomosis was performed in 22 cases. The donor site was repaired byspl it thickness skin grafting from the inner side of the thigh. Results Various degree of skin flap swell ing occurred, and the swell ing extent in the patients receiving the superficial vein l igation was obvious less than that of patients with no l igation. At 4-7 days after operation, 6 cases had necrosis at the edge of flaps and 6 cases had bl ister, all of them healed after changing dress. The rest skin flaps and skin grafting in the donor site survived uneventfully, and the incision healed by first intention. All the patients were followed up for 2 months to 3 years. The appearance of the flap was satisfactory, the hand function and the foot function of walking and weight-bearing recovered. The two point discrimination of the patients 1 year after cutaneous nerve ending anastomosis was 8-12 mm. The grafted fibula in the patients with bone defect reached union 8-10 months after operation. The appearance and the movement of the donor site were normal. Conclusion The new type distal based neurocutaneous flap has such advantages as simple operative procedure, less invasion, high survival rate, and recovery of the sensory function of the hand and the foot. It is suitable to repair the tissue defect in the hand, the foot, and the distal leg.
Objective To provide the anatomic basis for thedesign of the intermediate dorsal neurocutaneous flap on the foot and to reportthe clinical results. Methods On 32 adult cadaver lower limb specimens perfused with red latex, the origins, diameters, courses, branches, and distributions of the intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve of the foot and its nutrient vessels were observed. On this anatomic basis, from June 2004 to October2005, 5 flaps were developed and applied to the repair of the soft tissue defect in the feet of 4 patients. Results The intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve of the foot was found to arise from the superficial peroneal nerve. Crossing the intermalleolar line, it was located 1.3±0.6 cm lateral to the midpoint of the line with a diameter of 2.05±0.56 mm. The nerve stem divided into branches 2.8±1.3 cm distal to the line. They distributed the dorsal skin of the second, third and fourth metatarsal and toe. On average, 5.1 perforators per specimen were identified. At least 3 nutrient vessels were always found in each. They originated from the cutaneous branches of the anterior tibial artery and the dorsalis pedis artery in the proximal end and the dorsalis metatarsal artery in the distal end. They perforated the deep fascia 4.3±0.4 cm proximal to the intermalleolar, 1.6±0.3 cm proximal to the tip of the third toe webspace and 1.5±0.3 cm proximal to the tip of the forth toe webspace, respectively. The external diameters of them were 0.82±0.13, 0.42±0.07 and 0.49±0.09 mm, respectively. The patients were followed up for 4-10 months. All theflaps survived completely. Their appearance and function were satisfactory. Conclusion The distallybased intermediate dorsal neurocutaneousflap on the foot has an abundant blood supply. This kind of flap is especially useful in repair of the soft tissue defect in the foot.
Objective To investigate the management of the soft tissue defect after the Achilles tendon repair. Methods From April 1996 to April 2006, 24 patients(17 males, 7 females; aged 16-59 years), who suffered from postoperative Achilles tendon exposure caused by local soft-tissue necrosis after the Achilles tendon repair, were treated and evaluated. Of the 24patients, 8 had an original open injury (machinecrush injury in 2 patients, heavy-object press injury in 3, motorcycle wheel crush injury in 3) and 16 patients had a closed injury (sports injury). In their treatment, the transferof the sural neurovascular flap was performed on 8 patients and the transfer ofthe saphenous neurovascular flap was performed on 3 patients. The secondary Achilles tendon repair was performed on 13 patients before the neurovascular flap transfer was performed. The time between the injury and the operation was 9-76 days, and the time between the Achilles tendon expousure and the operation was 3-65 days. Results All the flaps survived and the Achilles tendon exposure was well covered by the flaps of good texture. Eighteen patients followed up for 6 months to 24 months had no flap complication, and the two point discrimination of the flaps was 12-20 mm. The AOFASAnkleHindfoot Scale assessment revealed that 8 patients had an excellent result, 6 had a good result, 3 had a fair result, and just 1 had a poor result, with theexcellent and good results accounting for 77.8%. Sixteen patients (89%) were able toperform a tip-toe stance on their operative sides, and only 3 of them complained a loss of plantarflexion strength. However, 2 patients still could not perform the tip-toe stance. Conclusion The Achilles tendon repair, ifnot well performed, can result in the local soft-tissue necrosis and the subsequent Achilles tendon exposure. If those complications occur, the neurovascular flap transfer should be performed as soon as possible; if necessary, the secondary Achilles tendon repair should be performed, too.
Transcuataneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) analgesia as a non-drug method has received people's more and more attention recently. Considering problems of existing products, such as unstable performance and unsatisfied effectiveness, we developed a new analgesia therapy system for delivery based on bio-feedback TENS in our laboratory. We proposed a new idea for stimulation signal design, that is, we modulated a middle frequency signal by a traditional low frequency TENS wave in the new system. We designed different prescription waves for pain relief during a uterine contraction or massage between contractions. In the end, a bio-feedback TENS method was proposed, in which the waveforms of stimulation signals were selected and their parameters were modified automatically based on feedback from uterine pressure, etc. It was proved through quality tests and clinical trials that the system had good performance and satisfied analgesia effectiveness.
OBJECTIVE: To sum up the experience of clinical application of distal base sural island flap. METHODS: From January 1997 to April 1999, the posterior island flap of leg pedicled with sural nerve and its nutrient vessels was applied to repair heel or dorsum of foot in 6 cases, chronic ulcer of heel in 2 cases, chronic osteomyelitis in 2 cases, scar contracture of bone defect accompanying fistulation in 1 case. The range of flap was 5 cm x 8 cm to 8 cm x 12 cm. RESULTS: All the flaps survived completely without vascular crisis. All the wounds healed by first intention. Followed up 3 to 12 months, no ulcer, osteomyelitis, fistulation were recurrence, and the sensation of flap was recovered slightly. CONCLUSION: The flap do not damage critical blood vessels and nerves, the donating region is hidden. The manual of operation is simple and blood supply of flap is sufficient. It can repair the defect of soft tissue on heel and dorsum with high survival rate.
Objective To observe the plastic changes of sensory nerve in terms of structure and function when targetorgan changed through making the rat model of nerve regeneration by anastomosing the proximal end of sensory nerve and the distal end of motor nerve. Methods Thirty adult SD rats (male or female), weighing 200-250 g, were randomized into three groups (n=10 per group). The left upper l imb of the each rat was used as the experimental side, while the right upper l imb as the control side. In group A, the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve was cut 5 mm away from its origin and its proximal end was anastomozed end-to-end to the distal end of musculocutaneous nerve. In group B, the musculocutaneous nerve was cut 5 mm away from its nerve entry point and the proximal end of medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve were anastomozed end-to-end to the distal end of musculocutaneous nerve. In group C, medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve and musculocutaneous nerve were cut, without further anastomosis. Twenty-four weeks after operation, the general condition and the motion of the elbow joint of rats, the wet weight and muscle fiber cross-section area of the biceps brachii as well as the latent period and the ampl itude of the evoked potential were observed and the acetylchol inesterase (AchE) staining of nerve of proximal end of anastomosis was conducted. Results All the rats survived for 24 weeks with good general condition and without wound infection. The rats in groups A, B and C were lost the active flexion of left elbow joint after operation. The rats in groups A and B got recovered to some degree at 24 weeks. The behavioral evaluation showed that there were 7 l imbs in group A and 5 l imbs in group B scoredas 4-5 points, there was a significant difference when compared with group C (P lt; 0.05), but there was no significant difference between group A and group B (P gt; 0.05). Group A and group B were superior to group C in terms of the wet weight and the muscle fiber cross-section area of the biceps brachii (P lt; 0.05), but no significant difference between group A and group B was detected (P gt; 0.05). The evoked potential of the biceps brachii and motor nerve fibers in proximal end of anastomosis could be detected in both group A and group B. But there was no significant difference between group A and group B with respects of function recovery of elbow joint, the latent period and the ampl itude of the evoked potential of the biceps brachii and the quantity of motor nerve fiber in proximal end of anastomosis (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion The change of target organ leads to the sensory nerve plasticity structurally and functionally, which may provide a new approach for peripheral nerve repair.
Objective To provide the anatomical basis for posterior femoral neurocutaneous vascular flap pedicled with direct popliteal artery perforator. Methods A total of 30 embalmed lower limbs of adult cadavers perfused with red latex were dissected and measured to observe the course and distribution of posterior femoral cutaneous nerve (PFCN), and the anastomoses between direct popliteal artery perforator and nutrient vessels of PFCN. Mimic operation was performed on 1 side of fresh specimen. Results PFCN started from the midpoint of the inferior gluteus maximus edge, and went down along the middle line of posterior thigh region, and the final trunk of PFCN accompanied with small saphenous vein down to the middle line of lower leg. The diameters of PFCN was (3.0 ± 0.6) mm at the inferior gluteus maximus edge, and was (2.0 ± 0.7) mm at the superior fossa poplitea. The nutrient vessels of PFCN were multi-segmental and polyphyletic. The direct popliteal artery perforator which started from popliteal artery directly was constant pierced into deep fascia about 7-11 cm above the knee joint, and its original diameter was (0.8 ± 0.2) mm. The direct popliteal artery perforator had 1-2 accompanying veins, and this perforator artery was the main nutrient vessel of the inferior segment of PFCN. The direct popliteal artery perforator gave off 5-8 small vessels which anastomosed with the 1st-3rd perforator of deep femoral artery, the obturator artery perforator, and the lateral femoral circumflex artery perforators. Then these nutrient vessels formed vascular plexus along PFCN in the middle line of posterior region of thigh. Mimic operation showed that the posterior femoral neurocutaneous vascular flap pedicled with direct poplitea artery perforator could be formed successfully. Conclusion The posterior femoral neurocutaneous vascular flap pedicled with direct popliteal artery perforator has constant blood supply and can be easily formed to repair defects around knee joint.
ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility and accuracy of modified three longitudinal and five transverse method in locating perforating branches before anterolateral thigh perforator flap (ALTP) repair.MethodsBetween January 2019 and December 2019, 41 patients with skin and soft tissue defects were repaired with ALTP. There were 31 males and 10 females. The age ranged from 18 to 61 years, with an average of 32 years. The soft tissue defects were caused by trauma in 38 cases, and the time from injury to operation was 3-7 days, with an average of 4 days. The wounds left after excision of scar contracture deformity because of burn in 3 cases. Soft tissue defects located at upper limbs in 16 cases and lower limbs in 25 cases. The size of soft tissue defects ranged from 10 cm×4 cm to 25 cm×12 cm. Before operation, zonesⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳwere formed on the anterolateral thigh by modified three longitudinal and five transverse method. The perforating branches were detected in these four zones by Doppler ultrasound, and the skin flaps were designed according to the wound area. The perforating branches were explored during operation, and the distribution and types of perforating branches in each zone and the relationship between perforating branches and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve were observed. The ALTP with the size of 12 cm×5 cm to 30 cm×10 cm was used to repair the wound, and the donor site was sutured directly or repaired with the flap. ResultsA total of 117 perforating branches were detected in 41 patients before operation, and 111 perforating branches were found during operation, with a false positive rate of 5%. The probability of perforating branches in zonesⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ were 56%, 73%, 76%, and 66% respectively, and the false positive rates were –9%, 7%, 16%, and 4%, respectively. All perforating branches located near the trunk of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, especially in posterolateral area. There were only 1 perforating branch in 6 cases, 2 perforating branches in 12 cases, 3 perforating branches in 10 cases, and 4 perforating branches in 13 cases. The main types of perforating branches in zonesⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ were transverse perforating branches, oblique perforating branches, descending perforating branches, and descending perforating branches, respectively. Partial distal necrosis occurred in 2 cases and complete necrosis occurred in 1 case after operation, and the wounds were repaired with skin grafts. The remaining 38 flaps survived successfully, and the wounds and the incisions of donor sites healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 3 to 12 months, with an average of 6 months. The appearance and texture of the skin flap were acceptable, and linear scar remained in the donor site.ConclusionIt can simply locate and distinguish the perforating branches and better protect the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve by using the modified three longitudinal and five transverse method before ALTP repair.