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.
This study aims to establish a multi-segment foot model which can be applied in dynamic gait simulation. The effectiveness and practicability of this model were verified afterwards by comparing simulation results with those of previous researches. Based on a novel hybrid dynamic gait simulator, bone models were imported into automatic dynamic analysis of mechanical systems (ADAMS). Then, they were combined with ligaments, fascia, muscle and plantar soft tissue that were developed in ADMAS. Multi-segment foot model was consisted of these parts. Experimental data of human gait along with muscle forces and tendon forces from literature were used to drive the model and perform gait simulation. Ground reaction forces and joints revolution angles obtained after simulation were compared with those of previous researches to validate this model. It showed that the model developed in this paper could be used in the dynamic gait simulation and would be able to be applied in the further research.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of medial tarsal combined with medial plantar flap pedicled with free dorsalis pedis artery in the repair of palm soft tissue defect. MethodsBetween September 2013 and December 2015, 9 cases of palm soft tissue defects were repaired with medial tarsal combined with medial plantar flap pedicled with free dorsalis pedis artery. There were 7 males and 2 females with a mean age of 33 years (range, 21-52 years). The causes included traffic accident injury in 4 cases, crushing injury by heavy object in 3 cases, and electrical injury in 2 cases. The time between injury and admission was 3 hours to 2 days (mean, 9 hours). Five cases had pure soft tissue; combined injuries included tendon exposure in 2 cases, median nerve defect in 1 case, and exposure of tendon and nerve in 1 case. After debridement, the soft tissue defect area ranged from 6 cm×4 cm to 11 cm×6 cm. The flap size ranged from 7.0 cm×4.5 cm to 13.0 cm×7.0 cm. The vascular pedicle length was from 6 to 10 cm (mean, 7.5 cm). The donor sites were covered with ilioinguinal full thickness skin graft. ResultsNine flaps survived, primary healing of wound was obtained. Partial necrosis occurred at the donor site in 1 case, and the other skin graft successfully survived. All patients were followed up 6-20 months (mean, 10 months). All flaps had soft texture and satisfactory appearance; the cutaneous sensory recovery time was 4-7 months after operation (mean, 5 months). At last follow-up, sensation recovered to grade S4 in 4 cases, to grade S3+ in 3 cases, and to grade S3 in 2 cases; two-point discrimination was 7-10 mm (mean, 8.5 mm). According to Society of Hand Surgery standard for the evaluation of upper part of the function, the hand function was excellent in 5 cases, good in 3 cases, and fair in 1 case. The donor foot had normal function. ConclusionThe medial tarsal combined with medial plantar flap pedicled with free dorsalis pedis artery can repair soft tissue defect of the palm, and it has many advantages of soft texture, satisfactory function, and small injury at donor site.
Objective To explore the influencing factors of flexible flatfoot in preschool children and the therapeutic effects of orthopedic insoles intervention. Methods Convenient sampling method was used to select 1-to-6-year-old children who visited the Prosthetics and Orthotics, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between April 2019 and December 2023. According to the follow-up visits of children wearing orthopedic insoles after 1 year, the follow-up group was divided into the experimental group, and those who did not follow up were matched with the experimental group based on general information to form the control group. The degree of flatfoot of both feet, hallux valgus angle, heel valgus angle, knee valgus angle, navicular drop height, tibial torsion angle, foot posture index, and joint flexibility of children at the initial visit and follow-up were evaluated. Ordered multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to assess the factors influencing the degree of flatfoot of children’s feet. Results A total of 976 children were included at the initial visit, all wearing orthopedic insoles. Among them, there were 805 cases in the control group and 171 cases in the experimental group. There were no statistically significant differences in gender, age, height, or weight between the two groups (P>0.05). A comparison of the experimental group before and after wearing orthopedic insoles for 1 year showed that the degree of flatfoot of both feet, heel valgus angle, knee valgus angle, foot posture index, and joint flexibility were lower at the follow-up visit than those at the initial visit (P<0.05); the remaining parameters showed no statistically significant differences (P>0.05). At the follow-up visit of the experimental group, both heel valgus angle, knee valgus angle, and foot posture index were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05); the other parameters showed no statistically significant differences (P>0.05). Age and tibial torsion angle were negatively correlated with the degree of flatfoot (P<0.001), while hallux valgus angle, heel valgus angle, knee valgus angle, navicular drop height, foot posture index, and body mass index were positively correlated with the degree of flatfoot (P<0.05). There was a difference in the degree of flatfoot between male and female children (χ2=99.76, P<0.001). The results of the logistic regression analysis showed that navicular drop height, male gender, foot posture index, body mass index, heel valgus angle, and age were influencing factors of the degree of flatfoot (P<0.05). Conclusions The flexible flatfoot in preschool children is influenced by factors such as navicular drop height, gender, foot posture index, body mass index, heel valgus angle, and age, and it will be somewhat alleviated as they grow. Wearing orthopedic insoles can correct related biomechanical abnormalities of heel valgus and knee valgus to some extent, but it cannot significantly reduce the degree of flatfoot.
Objective To analyze the excision of accessory navicular with reconstruction of posterior tibial tendon insertion on navicular for the treatment of flatfoot related with accessory navicular and to evaluate its effectiveness. Methods Between May 2006 and June 2011, 33 patients (40 feet) with flatfoot related with accessory navicular were treated. There were 14 males (17 feet) and 19 females (23 feet) with an average age of 30.1 years (range, 16-56 years). All patients had bilateral accessory navicular; 26 had unilateral flatfoot and 7 had bilateral flatfeet. The disease duration ranged from 7 months to 9 years (median, 24 months). The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-midfoot score was 47.9 ± 7.3. The X-ray films showed type II accessory navicular, the arch height loss, and heel valgus in all patients. All of them received excision of accessory navicular and reconstruction of posterior tibial tendon insertion on navicular with anchor. Results All patients got primary wound heal ing without any compl ication. Thirty patients (36 feet) were followed up 6-54 months with an average of 23 months. All patients achieved complete pain rel ief at 6 months after surgery and hadgood appearance of the feet. The AOFAS ankle-midfoot score was 90.4 ± 2.0 at last follow-up, showing significant difference when compared with preoperative score (t=29.73, P=0.00). X-ray films showed that no screw loosening or breakage was observed. There were significant differences in the arch height, calcaneus incl ination angle, talocalcaneal angle, and talar-first metatarsal angle between pre-operation and last follow-up (P lt; 0.01). Conclusion The excision of accessory navicular with reconstruction of posterior tibial tendon insertion on navicular is a good choice for the treatment of flatfoot related with accessory navicular, with correction of deformity, excellent effectiveness, and less complications.