To summarize the effectiveness of the improv ed surgical techniques in fasciocutaneous flaps of the limbs. MethodsFrom February 1999 to December 2005, 58 patients (39 males, 19 females, aged 1068 years) underwent repairs of the skin defects with improved fasciaocu taneous flaps of the limbs. Twentyone patients had the skin defects in front of the tibial bone in the middle and lower parts, 12 patients had the skin defect s in the heels, 16 patients had the skin defects in the ankles, 3 patients had t he skin defects around the knees, 1 patient had a wide sacrococcygeal bedsore, and 5 patients had the skin defects in the wrists and hands. The wounds ranged in size from 5 cm×3 cm to 18 cm× 12 cm. According to the wound lo cations, the following flaps were selected: 4 cutaneous antebrachii medialis nerve and basilic vein fasciocutaneous flaps, 1 cutaneous antebrachii lateralis nerve and cephalic vein fasciocutaneous flap, 3 saphenous nerve and great saphenousvein fasciocutaneous flaps, 1 cutaneous nerve of thigh posterior fasciocutaneous flap, 32 reverse sural nerve and saphenous vein fasciocutaneous flaps, and 17 reverse saphenous nerve and great saphenous vein fasciocutaneous flaps. The dissected flaps ranged in size from 6 cm× 4 cm to 18 cm× 13 cm. The donor wounds underwent straight sutures in 39 patients, and the skin grafting (6 cm×3 cm to 13 cm× 6 cm) was performed on 19 patients after the donor wounds were closed. Results The wounds healed by first intention, and the flaps survived completely in 54 patients. The flaps developed partial necrosis in 4 patients. The followup for 120 months (average, 8 months) revealed that the flaps had a satisfactory appearance with a soft texture and the function was also satisfactory. Conclusion A fasciocutaneous flap of the limbs is an ideal flap for repairing defects in the skins and soft tissues of the limbs. The survival rate of the flap can be further improved by an improvement of the surgical techniques.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of retrograde island neurocutaneous flap pedicled with lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve in the treatment of soft tissue defect of the hand. MethodsBetween October 2011 and December 2013, 17 cases of skin and soft tissue defects of the hands were treated. There were 8 males and 9 females, aged 23-62 years (mean, 44 years). Of them, defect was caused by trauma in 13 cases, by postoperative wound after degloving injury in 2 cases, and by resection of contracture of the first web in 2 cases; 13 cases of traumas had a disease duration of 2-6 hours (mean, 3.5 hours). The defect sites located at the back of the hand in 5 cases, at the radial side of the palm in 4 cases, at the first web in 2 cases, at the palmar side of the thumb in 4 cases, and at the radial dorsal side of the thumb in 2 cases. The bone, tendons, and other deep tissue were exposed in 15 cases. The defect size varied from 3 cm×3 cm to 12 cm×8 cm. The size of the flaps ranged from 3.6 cm×3.6 cm to 13.2 cm×8.8 cm. The lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm was anastomosed with the cutaneous nerve of the reci pient sites in 9 cases. The donor sites were repaired by free skin graft or were sutured directly. ResultsThe other flaps survived, and obtained healing by first intention except 2 flaps which had partial necrosis with healing by second intention at 1 month after dressing change. The skin graft at donor site survived, and incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 5-30 months (mean, 12 months). The flaps had good color and texture. Flap sensory recovery of S2-S3+ was obtained; in 9 cases undergoing cutaneous nerve flap anastomosis, the sensation of the flaps recovered to S3-S3+ and was better than that of 8 cases that the nerves were disconnected (S2-S3). The patients achieved satisfactory recovery of hand function. Only 2 cases had extended limitation of the proximal interphalangeal joint. At last follow-up, according to the Chinese Medical Society of Hand Surgery function evaluation standards, the results were excellent in 15 cases and good in 2 cases. ConclusionRetrograde island neurocutaneous flap pedicled with lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve is an effective way to repair skin defects of the hand, with the advantages of rel iable blood supply and simple surgical procedure.
Objective To introduce the surgical procedure and indication of the reverse fascial pedicle island flap of the digital artery dorsal branches in repairing finger skin defect. Methods By use of the dorsal branches of the digital artery as the pedicel, the reverse island flap was designed. The skin defectsof the proximal interphalangeal joint and beyond in 35 cases (42 fingers) were repaired and the joint or extensor tendon was reconstructed simultaneously. Donor site was primarily closed or a skin graft was used. The flap size ranged from 1.0 cm×2.5 cm to 1.5 cm×3.5 cm.Results Thirtyfive patients were followed up 3 months to 1 year, all the flaps survived. The two-point discrimination was between 6 mm and 10 mm. The function of interphalangeal joint was satisfactory.Conclusion These flaps have the advantages of an extended skinpaddle and a versatile pivot point on the phalanx, and they allow coverage of wide and distal defects.
This paper reported the method tendon reconstruction on dogs. Using the pedicled fascio-tendon graft, the flexor tendon system was constructed, and comparative study was made between the vascularized fascio-tendon graft and the free fascio-tendon graft by means of oxygen tension measurement, stereology, histology and ultra-mieroseoppy. The results showed: 1. vascularized graft changed the course of healing of the conventional graft into a simplified tendon stump healing course which shortened the healing time, ahd reduced the formation of peritendinous.2. the fascia tissue could be transformed into the synovial-like tissue6 weeks postopertively under the stimulation of gliding pressure of the tendon.It was conclude that this was a new and better method in reconstructing the severely damaged flexor tendon system.