Objective To investigate the distribution of the perforating branches artery of distally-based flap of sural nerve nutrient vessels and its clinical application. Methods The origins and distribution of perforating branchesartery of distally-based flap were observed on specimens of 30 adult cadavericlow limbs by perfusing red gelatin to dissect the artery.Among the 36 cases, there were 21 males, 15 females. Their ages ranged from 6 to 66, 35.2 in average. The defect area was 3.5 cm×2.5 cm to 17.0 cm×11.0 cm. The flap taken ranged from 4 cm×3 cm to 18 cm×12 cm. Results The perforating branches artery of distally-based flap had 2 to 5 branches and originated from the heel lateral artery, the terminal perforating branches of peroneal artery(diameters were 0.6±0.2 mm and 0.8±0.2 mm, 1.0±1.3 cm and 2.8±1.0 cm to the level of cusp lateral malleolus cusp).The intermuscular septum perforating branches of peroneal artery had 0 to 3 branches. Their rate of presence was 96.7%,66.7% and 20.0% respectively(the diameters were 0.9±0.3, 1.0±0.2 and 0.8±0.4 mm, andtheir distances to the level of cusp of lateral malleolus were 5.3±2.1, 6.8±2.8 and 7.0±4.0 cm). Those perforating branches included fascia branches, cutaneous branches, nerve and vein nutrient branches. Those nutrient vessels formed longitudinal vessel chain of sural nerve shaft, vessel chain of vein side and vessel network of deep superficial fascia. The distally-based superficial sural artery island flap was used in 18 cases, all flaps survived. Conclusion Distally-based sural nerve, small saphenous vein, and nutrient vessels of fascia skin have the same origin. Rotation point of flap is 3.0 cm to the cusp of lateral malleolus, when the distally-based flap is pedicled with the terminal branch of peroneal artery.Rotation point of flap is close to the cusp of lateral malleolus, when the distally-based flap is pedicled with the heel lateral artery.
Objective To introduce the application of the pedicled anterolateral thigh flap transferring for coverage of the oversized skin defect of the hand. Methods The pedicled anterolateral thigh flap was transferred to cover the large skin defects of the hands or the skin defects of theabdomen after the abdominal flap transferred to the hand in 5 male patients aged 16-44 years from April 2002 to August 2005. The injured sites were as follows:4 right hands and 1 left hand, including 2 hands injured by a machine and 3 hands injured by burning.The mechanically injured patients underwent an operation within 6 hours after the injury. The burned patients were reconstructed by the flap transferring 4-7 days after the burn when the decayed tissues could be clearly indentified.The areas of the hand defects were 12.19 cm×18.22 cm.The areas of the pedicled anterolateral thigh flaps were 7.12 cm×16.24 cm. The areas of the abdominal flaps were 13.20 cm×19.23 cm.The pedicles were separated 3 weeks after the repairing operation. Results All the flaps survived well and there was no vascular crisis, with the wound healing of the first intention. The skin defects of the hand were covered completely. Five patients were followed up for 6-12 months. The texture of the flaps was soft and the flaps had a good blood circulation. Of the patients, 3 underwent the finger exclusion and degreasing operation 47 months after operation. All the flaps of the hands had protective sensation, which could meet the requirement of the daily life. Conclusion The pedicled anterolateral thigh flap can provide the large coverage for the skin defects of the hands. The risk of the operation can be greatly decreased by obviation of the vessel anastomosis. It can be an optimal choice for themanagement of the oversized skin defects of the hands.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the possibility of prefabricate a vascularized artificial bone-muscular flap, a compound of xenogenic inorganic bone and auto-marrow, with capability of osteogenesis. METHODS: Twelve 6-month New Zealand rabbits were divided into two groups, compound of xenogenic inorganic bone and auto-marrow implanted into the muscle near to radia and ulna of left forefoot as experimental group. Simple xenogenic inorganic bone implanted into the same site of right side as control group. After 2, 8, 12 weeks, x-ray examination, gross evaluation and histological observation were carried out. RESULTS: X-ray film showed that the implant had a cancellus-like density, and no variance with time. Since 2 weeks after implantation, gross observation showed a complete fusion formed between the implant and the host muscular tissue, with obvious blood vessels on the surface of the muscular flap in which the compound was encapsulated. No necrosis was observed in the following 30 minutes after the compound was dissected from its surrounding tissues. The histological investigation showed a contact connection between implant and its surroundings. In the experimental group, no new bone formed but in-growth of blood vessels was observed at the end of the 2nd week, and a little new bone formed along the edge of xenogenic inorganic bone at the end of the 8th week, while at the end of 12th week, more new bone formed in the compound with osteocytes in bone lacuna, plenty blood vessels in bone matrix, and lots of osteoblasts surrounded by un-differentiated mesenchymal cells at the fringe of the new bone. While in the control group, there were only loose connective tissue with blood vessels grew into xenogenic inorganic bone with no new bone formation until 12 weeks. CONCLUSION: The compound of xenogenic inorganic bone and auto-marrow can promote the formation of vascularized myo-bone flap with new bone formation.
OBJECTIVE: To explore an effective method to repair the abdominal wall defect. METHODS: From July 1996 to December 2000, 7 cases with abdominal wall defect were repaired by pedicle graft of intestine seromuscular layer and skin graft, among them, intestinal fistula caused by previous injury during operation in 4 cases, abdominal wall defect caused by infection after primary fistulization of colon tumor in 2 cases, abdominal wall invaded by intestinal tumor in 1 case. Exploratory laparotomy was performed under general anesthesia, the infective and edematous tissue around abdominal wall defect was gotten rid off, and the pathologic intestine was removed. A segment of intestine with mesentery was intercepted, and the intestine along the longitudinal axis offside mesentery was cutted, the mucous layer of intestine was scraped. The intestine seromuscular layer was sutured to the margin of abdominal wall defect, and grafted by intermediate split thickness skin. RESULTS: The abdominal wall wound in 6 cases were healed by first intention, but part of grafted skin was necrosed, and it was healed by second skin graft. No intestinal anastomotic leakage was observed in all cases. Followed up 1 to 2 years, there were no abdominal hernia or abdominal internal hernia. All the cases could normally defecate. The nutriture of all cases were improved remarkably. CONCLUSION: Pedicle graft of intestine seromuscular layer is a reliable method to repair abdominal wall defect with low regional tension, abundant blood supply and high successful rate.
From jan.1984 through dec.1991,65 cases of hand skin defects were primarily repaired by podicled groin flap. Four of the 65 cases had skin defects on both sides of the palms and dorsal aspot of the hands which were treated by the Y-shaped hypogastric groin flap .Five easec had thumb loss in which the lxdicled groin tubed flap was used to reconstruct the thumb.The time of division of the pedicles ranged from 14 to 28 days(averaged 16 days).All flape survived after division of the podicl...
Objective To evaluate the outcome of pedicle graft of greater omentum and polypropylene mesh in reconstruction of large defect of abdominal wall caused by surgical incision. Methods From 1994 to 2004, 12 cases of large abdominal wall defects were repaired with pedicle graft of greater omentum and polypropylene mesh after removal of abdominal wall tumor; the defect sizes of abdominal wall ranged from 10 cm×7 cm to 25 cm×17 cm. Results The abdominal wall wound in 12 cases were healed by first intention. After a follow-up of 1 to 5 years, no complications of abdominal hernia, infection and intestine obstruction occurred in all patients. Conclusion It is reliable to repair abdominal wall defect caused by surgical incision with pedicle graft of greater omentum and polypropylene mesh instead of peritoneum.
Objective To report 4 methods of reconstructing soft tissue defects in oral and maxillofacial regions after tumors resection using cervical pedicle tissue flaps. Methods One hundred seventy-two soft tissue defects were repaired with cervical myocutaneous flaps after resection of oral and facial cancer( 165 cases of squamous cell carcinoma and 7 cases of salivary carcinoma). The clinical stage of the tumors was stage Ⅰ in 21 cases, stage Ⅱ in 116 cases and stage Ⅲin 35 cases. Primary sites of the lesions were the tongue (59 cases), buccal mucosa (55 cases), lower gingiva (26 cases), floor of the mouth (25 cases), parotid gland (4 cases) and oropharynx (3 cases). Infrahyoid myocutaneous flaps were used in 60 cases, platysma flaps in 45 cases, sternocleidomastoid flaps in 59 cases and submental island flaps in 8 cases. The sizes of skin paddle ranged from 2.5 cm×5.0 cm to 5.0 cm ×8.0 cm. Results Among 153 survival flaps, there were55 infrahyoid myocutaneous flaps, 40 platysma flaps, 52 sternocleidomastoid flaps and 6 submental island flaps. There were 11 cases of total flap necrosis and8 cases of partial flap necrosis. The success rates were 91.67%(55/60) for infrahyoid myocutaneous flap, 88.89%(40/45) for platysma flap, 88.14% (52/59) for sternocleidomastoid flap and 75%(6/8) for submental island flap. After a follow-up of 3 11 years(5.7 years on average) among 101 cases local reccurence in 18 cases, cervical reccurence in 4 cases, distance metastasis in 2 cases. The survical rate at 3 years were 83.17%(84/101). Conclusion Cervical pedicle tissue flaps haveclinical value in reconstruction of small and medium-sized soft tissue defects after resection of oral and maxillofacial tumors.