OBJECTIVE To summarize and analyze the main point on the reconstruction of traumatic tissue defects of limbs with vascularized skin and multi-tissue flaps. METHODS: Sixty-seven cases of traumatic tissue defects of limbs were reconstructed with 14 kinds of skin or multi-tissue flaps. The operative methods included local transposition, cross-transposition with vessel pedicles and vessel anastomosed free transplantation. RESULTS: Forty cases with vessel anastomosed free transplantation and 26 cases with local or cross-transposition of vessel pedicled flaps were survived. In the followed up cases, 53 cases were satisfied with the outward appearance of the skin flaps. All the cases with bone flap or skin-bone flap resulted in union. And the cases with motor nerve anastomosed myocutaneous flap transplantation had recovered to 2-3 grade muscle contraction ability. CONCLUSION: It is important that the appropriate flaps and operative methods should be chosen according to the size, location, depth and structure of the tissue defects. To raise the success rate and to gain better operation effect, the correct manipulation in operation and the rational postoperative treatment are necessary.
Various tissue flaps were used in the repair of 255 cases of the wounds from severe deep burns and cicatricial deformities. The types of flaps used included: 6 kinds of myocutaneous flaps in 54 cases, 10 kinds of axial cutaneous flaps in 50cases, 7 kinds of fasciocutaneous flaps in 44 cases, pedicled subcutaneous tissues flaps in 12 cases, pedicled thin skin flaps in 54 cases, subdermal vascular networks cutaneous flaps in 38 cases, and free skin flaps with arter ialization of vein flap, retrograd island cutaneous flap with great or small saphaneous vein, in each. The survival rate from the transplantation was 99.2 per cent, and the rate of primary healing was 94.5 per cent. According to the time interval between the injury and operation and the conditions of the wounds, the patients were divided into acute, infected and selective cases, and the rate of primary healing was 93.0 per cent, 91.6 per cent and 97.9 per cent, respectively. The selection of the types of flap to be used and the attentions to be taken dueing operation were discussed.
OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical result of treating firearm-wound with the vessel pedicel tissue flap. METHODS: From May 1992 to October 2000, 21 cases of firearm-wound of upper limbs underwent transplantation with the vessel pedicel tissue flap. Of them, the locations of the wound were upper arm in 11 cases, forearm in 7 cases, hand in 3 cases. The size of wound was 1.0 cm x 0.5 cm to 8.0 cm x 6.5 cm; the wound course was 3 minutes to 8 hours with an average of 3 hours and 30 minutes. The patients were followed up 3 months to 2 years. RESULTS: In 21 cases, the results were excellent in 19 cases and poor in 2 cases. The good rate was 90.5%. CONCLUSION: Treatment of firearm-wound with vessel pedicel tissue flap has the good effect.
Objective To conduct anatomical study on the iliac crest chimeric tissue flap and summarize its effectiveness of clinical application in repairing limb wounds. Methods Latex perfusion and anatomical study were performed on 6 fresh adult cadaver specimens with 12 sides, to observe the initial location, distribution, quantity, and direction of the common circumflexa iliac artery, the deep circumflexa iliac artery, and the superficial circumflexa iliac artery, and to measure their initial external diameter. Between December 2020 and September 2022, the iliac crest chimeric tissue flap repair was performed on 5 patients with soft tissue of limbs and bone defects. There were 3 males and 2 females, with an average age of 46 years (range, 23-60 years). Among them, there were 3 cases of radii and skin soft tissue defects and 2 cases of tibia and skin soft tissue defects. The length of bone defects was 4-8 cm and the area of skin soft tissue defects ranged from 9 cm×5 cm to 15 cm×6 cm. The length of the iliac flap was 4-8 cm and the area of skin flap ranged from 12.0 cm×5.5 cm to 16.0 cm×8.0 cm. The donor sites were directly sutured. Results Anatomical studies showed that there were 10 common circumflex iliac arteries in 5 specimens, which originated from the lateral or posterolateral side of the transition between the external iliac artery and the femoral artery, with a length of 1.2-1.6 cm and an initial external diameter of 0.8-1.4 mm. In 1 specimen without common circumflexa iliac artery, the superficial and deep circumflex iliac arteries originated from the external iliac artery and the femoral artery, respectively, while the rest originated from the common circumflex iliac artery. The length of superficial circumflex iliac artery was 4.6-6.7 cm, and the initial external diameter was 0.4-0.8 mm. There were 3-6 perforator vessels along the way. The length of deep circumflex iliac artery was 7.8-9.2 cm, and the initial external diameter was 0.5-0.7 mm. There were 3-5 muscular branches, 4-6 periosteal branches, and 2-3 musculocutaneous branches along the way. Based on the anatomical observation results, all iliac crest chimeric tissue flaps were successfully resected and survived after operation. The wounds at recipient and donor sites healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 8-24 months, with an average of 12 months. The tissue flap has good appearance and soft texture. X-ray film reexamination showed that all the osteotomy healed, and no obvious bone resorption was observed during follow-up. Conclusion The common circumflex iliac artery, deep circumflex iliac artery, and superficial circumflex iliac artery were anatomically constant, and it was safe and reliable to use iliac crest chimeric tissue flap in repairing the soft tissue and bone defects of limbs.
Objective To investigate the operative method and effectiveness of repairing defects at medial malleolus in children with vascularized fibular head composite flap. Methods Between November 2008 and January 2011, 8 children with bone and soft tissue defects at the medial malleolus were treated. There were 5 boys and 3 girls, aged 2-9 years (mean, 4.6 years). Injuries were caused by machine twisting in 2 cases and by wheel twisting in 6 cases. Soft tissue defect area ranged from 3.5 cm × 3.0 cm to 7.0 cm × 4.5 cm; defect was total in all medial malleolus. The disease duration from injury to admission was 2-8 hours (mean, 4.5 hours). Defects were repaired with vascularized fibular head composite flap carrying the skin around the head of the fibula in 5 cases, and with vascularized fibular head composite flap and skin flap above the medial malleolus in 3 cases having too large defect (gt; 5 cm × 4 cm). The donor sites were repaired with direct suture in 2 cases and with skin graft in 6 cases. Results All 8 fibular head composite flaps and 3 skin flaps above the medial malleolus survived completely. Wounds healed by first intention; the skin grafts at donor sites survived in the other cases except 1 case having local necrosis, with healing of incision by first intention. The patients were followed up 10 months to 3 years (mean, 22 months). The color and elasticity of the flaps were good. All the children had equal leg length. Of 8 cases, 6 had no joint valgus; 2 cases had progressive ankle varus after 1 year of operation. The ankle flexion and extension function returned to normal in 5 cases, and was slightly limited in 3 cases; horizontal side, forward and backward movements had no difference compared with normal side. According to American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle function evaluation criteria, the results were excellent in 5 cases, and good in 3 cases at 10 months after operation. X-ray film showed that the ankle hole gap development of both sides was similar; no premature closure of the epiphysis or bone bridge formation of the medial malleolus was observed in 6 cases, and bone bridge formed in 2 cases after 1 year of operation. Conclusion The satisfactory short-term effectiveness can be obtained in repairing children medial malleolus and soft tissue defects by vascularized fibular head composite flap, and the reconstructed medial malleolus can develop with the growth of children. Long-term effectiveness still need more follow-up study.
Objective To summarize the current status of pedicled flaps for defect repair and reconstruction after head and neck tumor resection, and to present its application prospects. Methods Related literature was reviewed, and the role evolution of pedicled flaps in the reconstruction of head and neck defects were discussed. The advance, anatomical basis, indications, advantages, disadvantages, and modification of several frequently used pedicled flaps were summarized. Results The evolution of pedicled flaps application showed a resurgence trend in recent years. Some new pedicled flaps, e.g., submental artery island flap, supraclavicular artery island flap, submandibular gland flap, and facial artery musculomucosal flap, can acquire equivalent or even superior outcome to free flaps in certain cases. Technological modification of some traditional pedicled flaps, e.g., nasolabial flap, pectoralis major myocutaneous flap, latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap, temporalis myofascial flap, and temporoparietal fascial flap, can further broaden their indications. These traditional flaps still occupy an irreplaceable role, especially in patients with poor condition and institution with immature microsurgical techniques. Conclusion The pedicled flaps still plays an important role in head and neck reconstruction after tumor resection. In certain cases, they demonstrate some advantages over free flaps, e.g., more convenient harvest, more rapid recovery, less expenditure, and better functional and aesthetic effect.
Objective To investigate the approach of using a nasolabial flap in conjunction with an auricular composite tissue flap with the skin on the dorsal aspect of the auricle excised for the restoration of full-thickness defects of the nasal ala following the removal of basal cell carcinoma. Methods The data of unilateral nasal alar full-thickness defect after basal cell carcinoma surgery at Department of Plastic and Burn Surgery of West China Hospital, Sichuan University between January 2016 and January 2018 were selected. All patients had full-thickness defects of the unilateral nasal ala after surgery. According to the size of the defect, the nasal labial sulcus flap combined with the auricular composite tissue flap with the skin on the back of the auricle removed was used for nasal ala repair and reconstruction in the first stage. The pedicle division of the flap was performed in the second stage one month after the surgery. The observation contents included: the survival situation of the flap and the auricular composite tissue flap, the recurrence situation of the tumor, the appearance of the affected nasal ala, the scar situation in the surgical area, and the patient satisfaction. Results A total of 18 patients were included. Among them, there were 5 males and 13 females. All 18 patients were followed up for 36 months postoperatively. The postoperative flaps and auricular composite tissue flaps survived favorably, and no tumor recurrence was detected. The contour of the affected nasal ala was satisfactory, the surgical scars were inconspicuous, and the nasofacial angle was effectively maintained. All patients expressed satisfaction with the appearance of the nose and the facial profile. Conclusions The two-stage surgical repair protocol involving the use of a nasolabial flap in combination with an auricular composite tissue flap with the skin on the back of the auricle removed for repairing the full-thickness defect of the nasal ala after basal cell carcinoma of the nasal ala is straightforward in execution. It can yield a favorable nasal ala appearance postoperatively and adequately safeguard the nasofacial angle from impairment. Thus, it merits extensive application and promotion.