Objective To investigate the cl inical results of cross-finger flap combined with laterodigital pedicled skin flap for repair of severe flexion contracture of the proximal interphalangeal joint. Methods Between October 2008 and February 2011, 11 patients (11 fingers) with severe flexion contracture of the proximal interphalangeal joint were treated with cross-finger flap combined with laterodigital pedicled skin flap. There were 7 males and 4 females, aged 20-63 years (mean, 32.6years). The causes of injury were crush or electric-saw injury in 7 cases, burn or explosive injury in 3 cases, and electrical injury in 1 case. The locations were the index finger in 4 cases, the middle finger in 2 cases, the ring finger in 2 cases, and the l ittle finger in 3 cases. The mean disease duration was 12.4 months (range, 6-24 months). All cases were rated as type III according to Stern classification standard. The volar tissue defect ranged from 3.0 cm × 1.5 cm to 5.0 cm × 2.5 cm, with exposed tendons, nerves, vessels, or bone after scar relaxation. The defects were repaired with cross-finger flaps (2.2 cm × 1.8 cm to 3.8 cm × 2.5 cm) combined with laterodigital pedicled skin flaps (1.5 cm × 1.2 cm to 2.5 cm × 2.0 cm). Double laterodigital pedicled skin flaps were used in 3 cases. The flap donor site was sutured directly or repaired with the skin graft. Results All flaps survived completely and wound healed by first intention. The donor skin graft survived. All the patients were followed up 6-18 months (mean, 11.3 months). The finger appearance was satisfactory. The flaps had soft texture and good color in all cases. No obvious pigmentation or contraction was observed. The contracted fingers could extend completely with good active flexion and extension motion. At last follow-up, the extension of the proximal interphalangeal joint was 10-15°. Based on proximal interphalangeal joint motion standard of Chinese Medical Association for hand surgery, the results were excellent in 6 cases, good in 4 cases, and fair in 1 case; the excellent and good rate was 90.9%. Conclusion It is an easy and simple therapy to cover wound area of severe flexioncontracture of the proximal interphalangeal joint after scar relaxation using cross-finger flap combined with laterodigital pedicled skin flap, which can repair large defect and achieve good results in finger appearance and function.
Objective To summarize the cl inical experience of repairing soft tissue defect in dorsal pedis with reversed fascia pedicled peroneal perforating branch sural neurofasciocutaneous flap, and to explore surgery matters needingattention and measures to prevent flap necrosis. Methods Between August 2000 and April 2009, 31 patients with soft tissue defects in dorsal pedis were treated with reversed fascia pedicled peroneal perforating branch sural neurofasciocutaneous flaps. There were 23 males and 8 females with a median age of 34 years (range, 3-65 years). Defects were caused by traffic accident in 20 cases, by machine in 2 cases, and by crush in 2 cases. The time from injury to admission was 1-32 days (mean, 15 days). And 6 cases had chronic ulcer or unstable scar excision with disease duration of 6 months to 10 years, and 1 case had squamous carcinoma with disease duration of 5 months. The wounds were located in medial dorsal pedis in 12 cases and lateral dorsal pedis in 19 cases; including 14 wounds near the middle metatarsal and 17 wounds beyond the middle metatarsal (up to the metatarsophalangeal joint in 10 cases). All cases accompanied with bone or tendon exposure. Five cases accompanied with long extensor muscle digits tendon rupture and defect, 1 case accompanied with talus fracture, 1 case accompanied with talus fracture and third metatarsal fracture. The size of the wounds ranged from 6.0 cm × 4.5 cm to 17.0 cm × 10.0 cm. The size of the flaps ranged from 8.0 cm × 5.5 cm to 20.0 cm × 12.0 cm. The donor sites were resurfaced by skin graft. Results Seventeen flaps survived uneventfully, wounds healed by first intention. Distal epidermal or superficial necrosis occurred in 6 flaps at 5-12 daysafter operation, wounds healed by dressing change or skin graft. Distal partial necrosis occurred in 8 flaps (7 in medial dorsal pedis and 1 in lateral dorsal pedis) at 7-14 days after operation, wounds healed by skin graft in 3 cases, by secondary suture in 3 cases, by local flap rotation in 1 case, and by cross leg flap in 1 case. All skin grafts at donor sites survived uneventfully, wounds healed by first intention. Twenty-nine patients were followed up 6-29 months (mean, 19 months). The appearance was sl ightly overstaffed, but wearing shoe function and gait were normal. The texture and color of the flaps in all cases were good. There was no pigmentation and suppuration relapse. There was neither ankle plantar flexion deformity nor hammer toe deformity in 5 cases accompanied with long extensor muscle digits tendon rupture and defect. All fractures healed at 3 months after operation in 2 cases. Conclusion The reversed fascia pedicled peroneal perforating branch sural neurofasciocutaneous flaps are suitable to repair most soft tissue defects in lateral dorsal pedis. When the flaps are used to repair soft tissue defects in medial dorsal pedis, avoiding tension in flaps and fascia pedicles should be noted so as to improve flap survival.
Objective To investigate the cl inical results of treating leg open fracture with soft tissue defect by pedicle flap transfer in combination with external fixator. Methods From May 2004 to June 2007, 12 cases of leg open fracture with soft tissue defect, 9 males and 3 females aged 18-75 years, were treated. Among them, 8 cases were caused by traffic accidents, 2 crush, 1 fall ing and 1 mechanical accident. According to the Gustilo Classification, there were 2 cases of type II, 5 of type IIIA and 5 of type IIIB. There were 2 cases of upper-tibia fracture, 3 of middle-tibia and 7 of middle-lower. The sizes of soft tissue defect ranged from 5 cm × 3 cm to 22 cm × 10 cm.The sizes of exposed bone ranged from 3 cm × 2 cm to 6 cm × 3 cm. The course of the disease was 1-12 hours. Fracture fixation was reached by external fixators or external fixators and l imited internal fixation with Kirschner wire. The wounds with exposed tendons and bones were repaired by ipsilateral local rotation flap, sural neurocutaneous flap and saphenous nerve flap. The size of selected flap ranged from 5 cm × 4 cm to 18 cm × 12 cm. Granulation wounds were repaired by skin grafting or direct suture. Results All patients were followed up for 6 months to 2 years. All patients survived, among whom 2 with the wound edge infection and 1 with the distal necrosis were cured by changing the dressing, 8 with pin hole infection were treated by taking out the external fixator, 1 with nonunion received facture heal ing after bone graft in comminuted fracture of lower tibia, 2 suffered delayed union in middle-lower tibia fracture. The ROM of ankle in 3 cases was mildly poor with surpass-joint fixation, with plantar extension of 0-10° and plantar flexion of 10-30°, while the others had plantar extension of 10-20° and plantar flexion of 30-50°. Conclusion The method of pedicle flap transfer combined with external fixator is safe and effective for the leg open fracture with soft tissue defect.
Objective To investigate the closing method of wound after removalof the traditional pedicled abdominal flap. Methods Accordingto the design,the pedicled abdominal flaps were cut and lifted, and then the incision were extended from both sides on base of the flap to anterior superior iliac spine, respectively. After separating on superficial fascia, two flaps were obtained. The wound of donor site was closed completely by these two pedicled flaps. Twelvepatients with skin defects on hands or forearms were treated using the reformedmethod of traditional pedicled abdominal flap. Results All of the 12 reformed pedicled abdominal flaps survived, and only one had local necrosis on the distalpart of the abdominal flap, about 1.5 cm ×2.0 cm. Conclusion This new designcould provide a good method to close the abdominal wound after removal of pedicled abdominal flap.