Objective To investigate the method and effectiveness of repairing fingertip defects with reverse island flappedicled with terminal dorsal branch of digital artery with sense reconstruction. Methods Between December 2008 and March2010, 32 patients (40 fingers) with fingertip defects were treated. There were 20 males (23 fingers) and 12 females (17 fingers), aged from 20 to 62 years (mean, 42 years). The time between injury and admission was from 1 to 8 hours. The injured fingers included thumb (2 cases), index finger (6 cases), index finger and middle finger (3 cases), middle finger (7 cases), middle finger and ring finger (3 cases),ring finger (8 cases), ring finger and little finger (2 cases), and little finger (1 case). The defect area ranged from 1.2 cm × 1.0 cm to 2.2 cm ×1.8 cm, and the flap area ranged from 1.5 cm × 1.0 cm to 2.5 cm × 2.0 cm. The fingertip defects were repaired by the reverse island flaps pedicled with terminal dorsal branch of digital artery and branch of digital nerve, and the branch of digital nerve was anastomosed withstump of proper digital nerve. The donor sites were repaired with free skin grafts. Results Bl isters occurred in 6 cases (9 fingers) andpartial necrosis of the flaps in 2 cases (2 fingers), which were cured after symptomatic treatment. The other flaps and skin grafts survived and the wounds healed by first intention. Thirty cases (38 fingers) were followed up 6 months postoperatively. The shape, contour of the reconstructed fingertip, and motivation of the fingers were satisfactory. The superficial sensation and deep pain sensation recovered after 6 months of operation. The two-point discrimination was 4-6 mm in 24 fingers, 7-10 mm in 13 fingers, and none in 1 finger. According to the functional assessment criteria of upper l imb formulated by the Hand Surgery Branch of Chinese Medical Association, S3 was achieved in 1 finger, S3+ in 13 fingers, and S4 in 24 fingers. Conclusion It is simple and safe to harvest the reverse island flap pedicled with terminal dorsal branch of digital artery with sense reconstruction; at the same time, the blood supply of the flap is rel iable and its sense can be reconstructed. It is one of effective methods for repairing fingertip defects.
Objective To assess the sensory restoration after the greater auricular nerve is implanted into the flap to repair the buccal defect in rabbits. Methods Fifteen Japanese white rabbits, weighing 2.0-2.5 kg, were randomly divided into the experimental group (nerve implanted), the control group (nerve unimplanted), and the normal group (without any treatment). In the experimental and the control group, circular defects (2.0 cm×2.0 cm) were constructed in the left cheek of the rabbits. Then, the cervicalflaps (4.5 cm×2.5 cm) were transferred and the great auricular nerve was implanted into the defects in the experimental group, and the flaps without any nervewere implanted into the defects in the control group. The subjects in the normal group were given no treatment. After 6 months, the nerve discharge, the HE staining, and the immunohistochemical method were used to assess the regeneration of the nerve fibers. Results The nerve discharge and the percentage of the different kinds of the nerve fibers in the experimental group (124.2±33.8 roots) were not statistically different from those in the normal group （138.4±20.4 roots，Pgt;0.05）, but significantly different from those in the control group（18.8±5.6 roots,Plt;0.05）. In the center of the flap in the experimental group, the receptive field of the nerve fibers was identical to theimplanting approach of the greater auricular nerve. The HE staining and the immunohistochemical staining showed that the density of the regenerated fibers in the center of the flap in the experimental group reached the normal level.There was no regenerated fibers in the control group. Conclusion The great auricular nerve implanted into the cervical flaps has a good effect on reconstruction of the buccal defect in rabbits.
Objective To investigate the anatomic foundation of using main branch of posterior femoral nerve to restore the sensation function of distal basedsural island flap. Methods Thirty cases of adult human cadaver legs fixed by 4%formaldehyde were used. Anatomical investigation of the posterior femoral nerves of lower legs was conducted under surgical microscope to observe their distribution, branches and their relationship with small saphenous vein. Nerve brancheswith diameter more than 0.1 mm were dissected and accounted during observation.The length and diameter of the nerves were measured. Results The main branch of posterior femoral nerve ran downwards from popliteal fossa within superficial fascia along with small saphenous vein. 70% of the main branch of the posterior femoral nerves lay medially to small saphenous vein, and 30% laterally. They wereclassified into 3 types according to their distribution in lower legs: typeⅠ (33.3%) innervated the upper 1/4 region of lower leg (region Ⅰ), type Ⅱ (43.3%) had branches in upper 1/2 region (region Ⅰ and Ⅱ), and type Ⅲ (23.3%) distributed over the upper 3/4 region (region Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ). In type Ⅱ, the diameter of the main branches of posterior femoral nerves in the middle of popliteal tossa was 10±04 mm and innervated the posterior upper-middle region (which was the ordirary donor region of distal based sural island flaps) of lower legs with 2.0±0.8 branches, whose diameter was 0.3±0.2 mm and length was 3.5±2.7 mm. The distance between the end of these branches and small saphenous vein was 0.8±0.6 mm. In type Ⅲ, their diameter was 1.2±0.3 mm and innervated the posterior upper-middle region of lower legs with 3.7±1.7 branches, whose diameter was 0.4±0.1 mm and length was 3.7±2.6 mm. The distancebetween the end of these branches and small saphenous vein was 0.8±0.4 mm. Conclusion 66.6% of human main branch of posteriorfemoral nerves (type Ⅱ and type Ⅲ) can be used to restore the sensation of distal based sural island flap through anastomosis with sensor nerve stump of footduring operation.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of the side island flap coinciding dorsal branch of the digital nerve for repairing thumb pulp defects. MethodsBetween May 2008 and July 2012,36 cases of thumb pulp defects were treated with the side island flap coinciding dorsal branch of the digital nerve.There were 26 males and 10 females,aged 21-51 years (mean,32.4 years).The injury causes included electric saw injury in 14 cases,punch press injury in 8 cases,machine twist injury in 5 cases,door crushing injury in 5 cases,and glass cutting injury in 4 cases.The left hand was involved in 12 cases and the right hand in 24 cases.Combined injuries included tendon and bone exposure in all cases,fracture of the distal phalanx in 3 cases,and nail bed lacerations in 2 cases.The defect size ranged from 1.4 cm×1.2 cm to 2.5 cm×2.1 cm;and the flap size ranged from 1.8 cm×1.4 cm to 3.0 cm×2.5 cm. ResultsTwo flaps with distal skin flap tension blisters and skin scabbing,which were cured after dressing changes;the wound healed by first intension in the other 34 cases.The skin grafts at donor site survived,and primary healing of incision was obtained.The patients were followed up 3-15 months (mean,8 months).The appearance and function restored well.Two-point discrimination of the flap was 5.2 mm on average (range,4-8 mm) at last follow-up.The finger joint had no stiff.According to the upper extremity function evaluation criteria issued by the Hand Surgery Society of Chinese Medical Association,the sensation was S4 in 33 and S3+ in 3 cases.No ectopic feeling was observed.The extension and flexion activity of fingers at donor site was normal,the sensation reached S4 with no atrophy of the finger. ConclusionWith constant anatomy,reliable blood supply,and safe operation,the anastomoses of the finger side island flap with dorsal branch of digital nerve is a better method to repair thumb pulp defects because it also effectively overcome the ectopic feeling with traditional methods and protect feel function of the fingers at donor site.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of free sensate intercostal artery perforator flap for the hand soft tissue reconstruction.MethodsBetween March 2010 and September 2015, 19 cases of hand soft tissue defect were repaired with free sensate intercostal artery perforator flap, including 16 males and 3 females, aged from 18 to 53 years, with an average of 35.2 years. The defect was located in the dorsum of the hand in 15 cases and in the palm in 4 cases. The causes of injury were traffic accident injury in 8 cases, hot crush injury in 5 cases, strangulation injury in 4 cases, and avulsion injury in 2 cases. All of them were full-thickness skin and soft tissue defects of hand with exposure of phalanges, tendons, blood vessels, and nerves. The size of defect was 10.0 cm×7.0 cm to 17.0 cm×8.0 cm. There were 12 cases of emergency operation and 7 cases of selective operation. The thickness of flap was 10-25 mm, and the size of the flap ranged from 10.0 cm×7.5 cm to 17.0 cm×8.0 cm. The vascular pedicle of the flap was anastomosed with the snuff nest branch of the radial artery (12 cases), the main radial artery (7 cases), and there accompanying vein, and the intercostal nerve cutaneous branch of the flap was anastomosed with the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm. The donor site was closed directly (14 cases) or repaired with medium thickness skin graft (5 cases).ResultsAll of the flaps and skin grafts survived; the wounds in the donor and recipient sites healed by first intention. All 19 patients were followed up 10- 18 months, with an average of 12.7 months. After operation, the appearance and function of the hand recovered well, and there was no flap bloated. The two-point discrimination of the flap was 7-11 mm, with an average of 8.8 mm. Only linear scars left in the patients with direct closure of the donor site. The sensory function of the donor site was not significantly affected, and the hand function recovered satisfactorily. Conclusion Free sensate intercostal artery perforator flap is a valuable and reliable technique for the hand soft tissue defect.