【Abstract】 Objective To investigate the blood supply of the expanded skin flap from the medial upper arm andits appl ication for the repair of facial and cervical scar. Methods From May 2000 to February 2007, 20 cases (12 males and 8 females; aging from 7 to 42 years) of facial and cervical scar were treated with the expender flap from medial upper arm. The disease course was 9 months to 20 years. The size of the scar was 8 cm × 6 cm - 22 cm × 18 cm. The operation was carried out for three steps: ① The expander was embed under the superior proper fascia. ② The scar in the face and cervix was loosed and dissected. Combined the expanded skin flap from the medial upper arm(the size of the flap was 9 cm × 7 cm - 24 cm × 18 cm) in which the blood supply to the flap was the superior collateral artery and the attributive branches of the basil ica with auxil iary veins for blood collection with partial scar flap (3.5 cm × 2.5 cm - 8.0 cm × 6.0 cm) was harvested and transferred onto the facial and cervical defect. ③ After being cut off the pedicle, the scar was dissected. The expanded flap was employed to coverthe defect. Results After 3-24 months follow-up with 16 cases, all the grafted skin flaps survived at least with nearly normal skin color, texture and contour. The scars at the donor sites were acceptable. The function and appearance of the face and cervix was improved significantly. No surgery-related significant compl ications were observed. Conclusion Repair of facial and cervical scar with the medial upper arm expanded skin flap is a plausible reconstructive option for head and face reconstructions. However, a longer surgery time and some restrictive motion of the harvested upper l imbs might be a disadvantage.
ObjectiveTo investigate pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of crush syndrome of chest and arm.MethodsBetween January 2010 and January 2015, 5 cases of crush syndrome of chest and arm caused by pressing oneself in a coma after CO poisoning or alcoholic intoxication were treated. There were 4 males and 1 female with an average age of 36.7 years (range, 28-46 years). Two patients involved left upper limb and chest, while the other three patients involved right upper limb and chest. The crushed time ranged from 4 to 12 hours (mean, 7 hours). All 5 cases received emergency decompression and vacuum sealing drainage (VSD). After surgery, the patients were transferred to Intensive Care Unit to receive continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). The wounds were repaired with skin grafts after the patients’ condition were stable.ResultsThe hospitalization time was 26-48 days (mean, 33 days). Necrosis of the skin graft occurred in 1 case, which cured after debridement and skin graft again. The skin graft survived in the other cases and the wounds healed by first intension. Five patients were followed up 12-18 months (mean, 15 months). At last follow-up, the results were excellent in all 5 cases according to the assessment criteria proposed by GU Yudong. The patients got full recovery of their upper limb activities and sensation. All the patients returned to the normal life and work.ConclusionCO poisoning, drunkenness, and pressing oneself together will lead the crush syndrome to severe and rapid progress. The key of the treatment is a comprehensive therapy including a thorough and rapid tension reduction to save the limb function, CRRT, and correction of anemia and electrolyte imbalance.
ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility of reconstruction of phonatory function by using a tubular free flap from upper-lateral upper arm to repair the laryngotracheal circumferential defect after near-total laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 7 patients who underwent near-total laryngectomy between June 2021 and October 2023, aged from 48 to 70 years (median, 59 years), 6 males and 1 female. The disease duration ranged from 1 to 11 months, with a median of 6 months. Pathological diagnosis of preoperative biopsy was squamous cell carcinoma. Tumor classification: glottic type in 5 cases, supraglottic type in 1 case, transglottic type in 1 case; TNM staging: T4N0M0 in 6 cases, T4N2M0 in 1 case; American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging in 2017 was stage Ⅳ. Preoperative MRI angiography of upper arm was performed to investigate the blood supply in the upper and lateral regions of the upper arm. After near-total laryngectomy and bilateral neck lymph node dissection, the area of the laryngotracheal defect was measured. A free flap measuring 7.0 cm×5.0 cm to 8.0 cm×7.0 cm was harvested from the upper-lateral upper arm, rolled into a tube shape, and connected between the stump of the cervical trachea in the neck root and that of the epiglottis at the tongue base. Four patients received adjuvant radiochemotherapy, 1 patient received radiochemotherapy and targeted therapy, 2 patients adopted no further adjuvant treatment. Results All 7 patients were followed-up 1-2 years (mean, 1 year and 3 months). Four patients had primary wound healing, 2 patients had minor pharyngeal fistulas that healed after dressing change, 1 patient experienced pharyngeal fistula because of flap necrosis and the wound still healed without secondary surgery. All patients took food orally within 1 month after operation, and the tracheal cannula was retained. Six patients with survived flap gradually adapted to their new pronunciation mode and obtained satisfactory phonatory function from 15 days to 2 months after operation. Four patients had slight aspiration after operation. Till the end of the follow-up, all patients survived and no local recurrence or distant metastasis had been observed. The motor function of the upper arm was not affected, only partial sensory loss occurred in the area near the incision. The scar of the incision could be covered by the short sleeve so as to obtain a better aesthetic effect. ConclusionUsing a tubular free flap from upper-lateral upper arm to repair the laryngotracheal circumferential defect after near-total laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer can achieve satisfactory phonatory restoration while preserve the motor function and aesthetics of the donor site.