Objective To investigate the characteristics of blood supply of popliteal fossa middle artery pedicled flaps and the feasibility of reconstruction of postburn popliteal fossa contractures using the flaps in children. Methods Between January 2008 and October 2010, 6 cases of postburn popliteal fossa contractures were recontructed using popliteal fossa middle artery pedicled flaps. Of them, 2 were boys and 4 were girls, aged from 2 years and 2 months to10 years. All burns were caused by hot water. The wound ranged from 5 cm × 4 cm to 10 cm × 8 cm after scar relaxation. The size of the flap ranged from 6 cm × 4 cm to 11 cm × 9 cm. Donor sites were covered with split-thickness skin graft in 5 cases, and sutured directly in 1 case. Results All the flaps and the skingraft survived; no vascular crisis or flap necrosis occurred. All incisions at donors and wounds healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 12-24 months. The color, texture, and appearance of the flaps were good. Hyperplastic scar was found at incision of popliteal fossa in 1 case at 6 months after operation; the range of motion (ROM) of the knee joint was 0-175°, and no obvious change was observed at 15 months after operation. The others had no functional disturbance of the knee joints or claudication; the ROM of the knee joint was 0-180°. Conclusion The popliteal fossa middle artery pedicled flap has reliable blood supply, simple operative procedure, and good results in reconstruction of popliteal fossa contracture.
Objective To provide the anatomical basis for posterior femoral neurocutaneous vascular flap pedicled with direct popliteal artery perforator. Methods A total of 30 embalmed lower limbs of adult cadavers perfused with red latex were dissected and measured to observe the course and distribution of posterior femoral cutaneous nerve (PFCN), and the anastomoses between direct popliteal artery perforator and nutrient vessels of PFCN. Mimic operation was performed on 1 side of fresh specimen. Results PFCN started from the midpoint of the inferior gluteus maximus edge, and went down along the middle line of posterior thigh region, and the final trunk of PFCN accompanied with small saphenous vein down to the middle line of lower leg. The diameters of PFCN was (3.0 ± 0.6) mm at the inferior gluteus maximus edge, and was (2.0 ± 0.7) mm at the superior fossa poplitea. The nutrient vessels of PFCN were multi-segmental and polyphyletic. The direct popliteal artery perforator which started from popliteal artery directly was constant pierced into deep fascia about 7-11 cm above the knee joint, and its original diameter was (0.8 ± 0.2) mm. The direct popliteal artery perforator had 1-2 accompanying veins, and this perforator artery was the main nutrient vessel of the inferior segment of PFCN. The direct popliteal artery perforator gave off 5-8 small vessels which anastomosed with the 1st-3rd perforator of deep femoral artery, the obturator artery perforator, and the lateral femoral circumflex artery perforators. Then these nutrient vessels formed vascular plexus along PFCN in the middle line of posterior region of thigh. Mimic operation showed that the posterior femoral neurocutaneous vascular flap pedicled with direct poplitea artery perforator could be formed successfully. Conclusion The posterior femoral neurocutaneous vascular flap pedicled with direct popliteal artery perforator has constant blood supply and can be easily formed to repair defects around knee joint.
ObjectiveTo discuss the feasibility and effectiveness of link-pattern lateral popliteal artery perforator flap in repairing popliteal fossa scar contracture in children or teenagers. MethodsBetween January 2009 and January 2013, 12 patients with popliteal fossa scar were admitted. Of them, 7 cases were male and 5 cases were female, aged from 3 to 17 years (median, 12 years). The disease duration was from 6 months to 5 years (median, 3 years). Wound was repaired with link-pattern lateral popliteal artery perforator flap after remission of popliteal fossa scar. The wound ranged from 6 cm×4 cm to 10 cm×7 cm, and the flap size ranged from 7 cm×4 cm to 12 cm×9 cm. The flap was with lateral sural cutaneous nerve in 5 cases, and lateral sural cutaneous nerve was retained at the donor area of 7 cases. The donor site was repaired using split-thickness skin graft. ResultsAll pedicled flaps and skin graft survived smoothly after operation. The wound at donor site healed by first intention. All the cases were followed up 12-36 months, with an average of 18 months. The flaps had good color, texture, and shape; scar obviously became softened, without hyperplasia or ulceration. The patients were free from lameness with knee range of motion of 0-180°. The squatting function was normal. Grafting skin was smooth in the donor area of the calf, without depression or scar hyperplasia. The senses of posterior-inferior calf and lateral of foot decreased or disappeared in 5 cases of flaps with lateral sural cutaneous nerve; at 6 months after operation, two-point discrimination was 12-14 mm (mean, 13 mm). The posterior-inferior calf was numb and discomfort in 7 cases of flaps with retained lateral sural cutaneous nerve; but after 3-6 months, the sense was obviously recovered, with no sense loss; at 6 months after operation, two-point discrimination was 5-7 mm (mean, 6 mm). ConclusionLink-pattern lateral popliteal artery perforator flap has reliable blood supply and the operation was simple. The cutaneous nerve can be retained in donor area. It is an ideal method for repairing wound after remission of popliteal fossa scar in children or teenagers.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the arthroscopic treatment effectiveness of popliteal cyst excision in combination with debridement of the knee under local anesthesia by comparing with continuous epidural anesthesia. MethodsBetween June 2002 and January 2013,145 patients with popliteal cyst underwent arthroscopic popliteal cyst excision in combination with debridement of the knee under local anesthesia (local anesthesia group).In addition,51 patients with popliteal cyst were treated with the same surgery under continuous epidural anesthesia between February 2000 and August 2005 served as control group.No significant difference was found in gender,age,side,disease duration,or cyst size between 2 groups (P>0.05).Then,anesthesia time,analgesia effect,anesthesia satisfaction,operation time,bleeding volume,and anesthesia complication were compared between 2 groups.The guidelines of Rauschning and Lindgren were used to assess the effectiveness,and recurrence rate was recorded. ResultsAll incisions healed primarily,no neurological or vascular injury was found.The patients were followed up 1 year and 1 month to 8 years (mean,3.7 years) in local anesthesia group,and 8 years to 13 years and 7 months (mean,10.8 years) in control group.Local anesthesia group had shorter anesthesia time,higher visual analogue scale (VAS) score,shorter operation time,and lower bleeding volume (P<0.05) than control group.Anesthesia satisfaction was reduced in local anesthesia group,but there was no significant difference (χ2=0.071,P=1.000).The anesthesia complication incidence of control group (15.7%,8/51) was significantly higher than that of local anesthesia group (0) (P=0.000).Recurrence was found in 12 patients of local anesthesia group (curative ratio 91.7%) and in 5 patients of control group (curative ratio 90.2%),showing no significant difference (χ2=0.111,P=0.774).According to the guidelines of Rauschning and Lindgren,there were 131 cases of grade 0,13 cases of grade I,and 1 case of grade Ⅱ in local anesthesia group,and 37 cases of grade 0,12 cases of grade I,and 2 cases of grade Ⅱ in control group; significant differences in grading were shown between at pre- and post-operation in 2 groups (Z=-10.683,P=0.000; Z=-6.385,P=0.000),and between 2 groups at post-operation (Z=-3.145,P=0.002). ConclusionCompared with under continuous epidural anesthesia,arthroscopic treatment of popliteal cyst excision under local anesthesia can obtain better results.Under local anesthesia,the condition of nerve and vessel can be timely and dynamically observed.Arthroscopic treatment of popliteal cyst excision in combination with debridement of the knee has the advantages of less trauma,lower recurrence rate,and satisfactory results.