This article reported the implantation of the greater auricular nerve into the cervicoshoulder skin flap in rabbits. The progress following implantation of the nerve was continuously observed. According to the time elapsed from the nervesbeing implanted, the experimental animals were divided into 4 groups, 4 animalsin each group, in the order of 1, 2, 4 and 6 months groups, respectively, and the normal skin and the cervicoshoulder skin flaps without nerve implantation were used as control. The electron microscope was the method used to observed theprogress. The results showed that in the 2nd month the unmyelinated fibers first appeared, then the myelinated in the 4th month. The caliber of the axons, the thickness of the myelin sheath and the ratio of MF/UF increased with time. In the 4th month, the number of the regenerating nerve fibers (unmyelinated fibers predominant) had achieved the highest level and significantly exceeded that of thenormal skin. But at the 6 months. the MF/UF ratio was still for lower than normal.
【Abstract】 Objective To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of composite grafts of acellular dermal matrix (ADM)and autologous spl it-thickness skin in repairing deep burn wounds. Methods Between June 2002 and December 2008, 30 patients (42 wound) were treated. There were 25 males and 5 females, aged 3-52 years with a median age of 31 years. Of them, 24 burned patients had 35 wounds, including 23 deep second degree and 12 third degree wounds with a mean disease duration of 24 days (range, 3-45 days); 6 patients with hyperplastic scar had 7 wounds with a mean disease duration of 16 days (range, 9-21 days). The wound locations were neck (2 wound), hand (4 wounds), forearm and elbow (8 wounds), shoulder (3 wounds), poples (6 wounds), laps (4 wounds), ankle and legs (15 wounds), and the area of wounds ranged from 10 cm × 10 cm to 30 cm × 20 cm. After thorough debridement, tangential excision, and scar excision, ADM and autologous spl it-thickness skin graft were used to repair the wounds by one-step method. Results After operation, composite skin graft survived completely in 39 wounds of 27 patients, with a survival rate of 92.9%; partial necrosis occurred in 3 wounds of 3 patients (7.1%), and healed after dressing change and secondary skin graft. The patients were followed up 30-34 months (mean, 32 months) postoperatively. The appearance of the composite grafts were smooth and soft with good elasticity and low pigmentation. The activity and function of limbs recovered well. No scar hyperplasia was observed at the donor sites. Conclusion It can achieve good outcomes in appearance and function to use ADM and autologous spl it-thickness skin graft for repairing deep burn wounds in functional regions.