ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of using a sensory prefabricated flap to repair the heel avulsion injury. MethodsBetween August 2012 and August 2013, 6 cases of heel avulsion injury were treated. There were 4 males and 2 females, aged 16-54 years (mean, 29 years). The causes were crush injury in 4 cases and wheel twist injury in 2 cases. The injury to admission time was 2-6 hours (mean, 4 hours). The size of skin avulsion ranged from 5 cm×3 cm to 15 cm×8 cm. Avulsion skin had no replanted condition. At one stage operation, the avulsed heel skin soft tissue was made the full thickness skin graft which was fostered on the anterolateral thigh with lateral circumflex femoral artery perforator, and the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve was put beneath the skin to prefabricate the prefabricated flap; at two stage operation, the prefabricated skin flap pedicled with lateral circumflex femoral artery was used to repair the wound, and the lateral femoral nerve was anastomosed with the calcaneal nerve to reconstruct the feeling. ResultsSix prefabricated flaps all survived, and re-plantation flaps survived after operation. The wounds healed by first intention at donor site and recipient site. The patients were followed up 1-2 years (mean, 1.5 years). The flaps had satisfactory appearance and soft texture. At 1 year after operation, the sensation of the flaps was S3, with two-point discrimination of 22-27 mm (mean, 24.3 mm). According to ZHANG Ming's evaluation standards, the results were excellent in 5 cases, and good in 1 case. The patients could walk normally or with weight-bearing; only linear scar formed at the donor site. ConclusionFor patients with heel soft tissue avulsion injury without replantation qualification, a sensory prefabricated flap by the avulsed heel skin soft tissue can transplanted to repair the heel defect. Satisfactory effectiveness can be obtained in heel appearance and function recovery.
Objective To investigate and compare the effectiveness of perichondrial cutaneous graft (PCCG) of dorsal auricle for repairing defect after excision of melanocytic nevus in different parts of the face. Methods Between February 2008 and October 2012, 29 cases of facial melanocytic nevus were admitted. There were 11 males and 18 females, aged 3-25 years (median, 11 years). The locations were the upper eyelid in 5 cases, the nose in 15 cases, and the buccal region in 9 cases. The size of the nevi ranged from 1.2 cm × 1.0 cm to 4.0 cm × 2.2 cm. Defects after excision of nevi were repaired by PCCG of the dorsal auricle, which size ranged from 1.5 cm × 1.5 cm to 4.2 cm × 2.5 cm. The postoperative effectiveness was scored by patients according to color match, scar formation, and flatness of the reception site. The satisfaction evaluations were compared by the score among different parts. Results All the PCCG survived. All the patients were followed up 7-15 months (mean, 10 months). All the reception site had good color match and acceptable scar formation. The nasal part had good flatness, and the upper eyelid had poor flatness. Score comparison showed no significant difference in color match between 3 parts (P gt; 0.05). Nasal part had significantly less scar formation than buccal region and upper eyelid (P lt; 0.05), but no significant difference between buccal region and upper eyelid (P gt; 0.05). Nasal part and buccal region both had significantly better flatness than upper eyelid (P lt; 0.05), but no significant difference between nasal part and buccal region (P gt; 0.05). The overall evaluation score of nasal part and buccal region was significantly higher than that of the upper eyelid group (P lt; 0.05), and the score of the nasal part was significantly higher than that of the buccal region (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion PCCG of dorsal auricle has a good color match in repair of facial defect, especially in repair of nasal defect with good flatness and no obvious scar formation.
Objective To explore the effectiveness of staged treatment of open Pilon fracture combined with soft tissue defect. Methods Between June 2007 and December 2012, 18 cases of open Pilon fracture combined with soft tissue defect were treated. There were 14 males and 4 females with an average age of 35 years (range, 19-55 years). The causes of injury included falling from height in 12 cases, traffic accident in 4 cases, and crushing by machine in 2 cases. According to AO classification, 1 case was classified as type B2 fracture, 3 cases as type B3 fracture, 5 cases as type C1 fracture, 5 cases as type C2 fracture, and 4 cases as type C3 fracture. Sixteen cases accompanied by fibular fracture (14 cases of simple fibular fracture and 2 cases of communicated fibular fracture). According to Gustilo classification, the soft tissue injuries were all type IIIB. In first stage, debridement and vaccum sealing drainage combined with external fixation were performed; open reduction and internal fixation of simple fibular fracture were used. In second stage, open reduction and internal fixation of Pilon fracture and communicated fibular fracture were performed, and the flaps of 6 cm × 5 cm to 18 cm × 14 cm were applied to repair soft tissue defect at the same time. The donor site was repaired by skin graft. Results Partial necrosis occurred in 2 flaps, the other 16 flaps survived completely. The incisions of donor sites healed by first intention, the skin graft survived completely. The average follow-up interval was 12 months (range, 6-24 months). The X-ray films showed that the bone healing time ranged from 5 to 8 months (mean, 6 months). No internal fixation failure was found. At last follow-up, the average range of motion of the ankle joint was 37° (range, 26-57°). According to the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scale, the average score was 80.2 (range, 72-86). Traumatic arthritis occurred in 2 cases (11%). Conclusion The staged treatment has the advantages of accurate evaluation of soft tissue injury, shortened cure time, good reduction of the articular surface, and reduced incidence of infection, so it is an optimal method to treat open Pilon fracture combined with soft tissue defect.
Objective To investigate the clinical application of micro transverse flap pedicled with superficial palmar branch of radial artery from palmar wrist to repair skin defect of finger. Methods Twenty-six cases (26 fingers) with skin defect of finger were repaired with micro transverse flap pedicled with superficial palmar branch of radial artery from palmar wrist between December 2011 and February 2013. There were 20 males and 6 females with the average age of 31.5 years (range, 20-56 years). The causes of injury included cutting injury in 20 cases and crushing injury in 6 cases. The time from injury to admission was 1-5 hours with an average of 2 hours. Injured fingers included thumb in 6 cases, index finger in 6 cases, middle finger in 6 cases, ring finger in 4 cases, and little finger in 4 cases; the locations were the dorsal side of the finger in 6 cases, lateral side in 6 cases, and the volar of the finger tip in 14 cases; there were 4 cases on the proximal phalangeal skin, 8 cases on the middle phalangeal skin, and 14 cases on the distal phalangeal skin. The defect area ranged from 2.0 cm × 1.5 cm to 4.0 cm × 2.0 cm, and the flap area ranged from 2.5 cm × 2.0 cm to 4.5 cm × 2.5 cm. All the donor sites were directly sutured. Results The flaps of 25 cases survived well after operation, and wound healed by first intention； 1 case had partial necrosis and the wound had a scar healing by changing dressing. All cases were followed up 6-12 months (mean, 10 months). The color and appearance of the flaps were satisfactory with tender texture. The two-point discrimination of the flap was 5-8 mm (mean, 6.8 mm). The donor sites healed primarily without scar contracture and limitation of wrist flexion or extension. Conclusion The micro transverse flap pedicled with superficial palmar branch of radial artery from palmar wrist is a good option to repair skin defect of finger. It has the advantages of hidden donor site, the same operative field, great comparability of flap and finger skin, and it can be used as a vascularized tendon or nerve graft.