From April 1984 to March 1994, 31 reconstructive thumbs or fingers were followedup, including 16 cases with free neurovascular big toe nail skin flap and frozen preserved phalanxjointtendon composite allografts as well as 15 cases withfree second toe transfer. The method had the advantage of more fingers could bereconstructed and fewer toes would be lost. The decision of the site of reconstruction of finger, the augmentation of narrow web space between the thumb and the index finger, the prevention and treatment of vascular crisis and the degeneration of allogenic joint were discussed. It had been found that preserving the allogenic finger below -30℃ may lower the immunoreaction of the allogenic tissues. It was emphasized that the viable tissues should be preserved during the emergency debridement, so as to facilitate the following reconstruction procedure.
Thumb and finger reconstruction by the method of pedal digit transplantation had been successfully performed in 541 casee from 1977 to 1996, which contained 404 cases of thumbs and 78 cases of fingers. The thumb reconstruction was mainly the simple transplantation of distal phalanx (42 cases) and the compound transplantation of hallucal nail-cutaneous flap with iliac bone segment (16 cases) for the defect of thumbs in degree 1 and 2. The combined transplantation of hallucal nail-cutaneous flap with the joint and tendons of the second toe (34 cases) and the transplantation of the distal part of the second toe (182 cases) for the defect of degree 3 and 4. The combined transplantation of the second pedal digit with its metatarsalphalangeal joint (189 caese) for the defect in degree 5 and 6. The finger reconstruction was performed by anastomosis of the arteries of the digit with those of the fingers for 29 cases with the defect in degree 2 and 3, 60 cases with the defect in degree 4 and 5, and 17 cases with the defect in degree 6. One-hundred and four cases of versels vasiation were found in this group (19 cases with the pedal dorsal artery, 13 cases with the greater saphenous vein and 72 cases with the first dorsal metatarsal artery). The main point of the operation and the treatment of the vessel variations were discussed.
Two hundred and twenty-two toes to hands free transfers have been performed in our clinic from January 1973 to May 1992 with a 100 percent successful results obtained. The authors developed the extended toe free transfer technique,and this technique was used in 40 cases.Six types of extended toe transfer can be designed to carry out complicated thumb or other finger reconstructions.Keys to successful toe-to-hand transfers are as followings: Evaluation of a three-points and one line pulsation on the donor foot can be used to localize the course of the first dorsal metatarsal artery . The first dorsal metaltarsal artery is best dissected and exposed in the retrograde direction. The toe must obtain good blood perfusion before its transplantation and close postoperative monitor.
Objective To investigate the operative techniques and cl inical results of the superficial peroneal neurofasciocutaneous flap based on the distal perforating branch of peroneal artery in repairing donor site defect of forefoot. Methods From March 2005 to October 2007, 15 patients (11 males and 4 females, aged 20-45 years with an average of 33.6 years) with finger defects resulting from either machine crush (12 cases) or car accidents (3 cases) were treated, including 12 cases of thumb defect, 2 of II-V finger defect and 1 of all fingers defect. Among them, 6 cases were reconstructed with immediate toe-to-hand free transplantation after injury, and 9 cases were reconstructed at 3-5 months after injury. The donor site soft tissue defects of forefoot were 6 cm × 4 cm-12 cm × 6 cm in size, and the superficial peroneal neruofasciocutaneousflaps ranging from 10 cm × 4 cm to 14 cm × 6 cm were adopted to repair the donor site defects after taking the escending branch of the distal perforating branch of peroneal artery as flap rotation axis. The donor sites in all cases were covered with intermediate spl it thickness skin grafts. Results All flaps survived and all wounds healed by first intention. All reconstructed fingers survived completely except one index finger, which suffered from necrosis. Over the 6-18 months follow-up period (mean 11 months), the texture and appearance of all the flaps were good, with two-point discriminations ranging from 10-13 mm, and all patients had satisfactory recovery of foot function. No obvious discomfort and neuroma were observed in the skin-graft donor sites. The feel ing of all the reconstructed fingers recovered to a certain degree, so did the grabbing function. Conclusion Due to its rel iable blood supply, no sacrifice of vascular trunks, favorable texture and thickness and simple operative procedure, the superficial peroneal neurofasciocutaneous flap based on the distal perforating branch of peroneal artery is effective to repair the donor site defect in forefoot caused by finger reconstruction with free toe-to-hand transplantation.
ObjectiveTo review the research progress of interphalangeal arthrodesis in the treatment of interphalangeal joint deformity.MethodsThe literature about interphalangeal arthrodesis at home and abroad was extensively consulted, and the indications, fusion methods, fixation methods, complications, and so on were summarized and analysed.ResultsThe indications of interphalangeal arthrodesis are hammer toe, claw toe, and mallet toe. From the different forms of fusion surface, fusion methods include end-to-end, peg-in-hole, conical reamer type, and V-shape arthrodesis. There are three kinds of fixation methods: Kirschner wire fixation, stainless-steel wire suture fixation, and intramedullary fixation, and there are many kinds of intramedullary fixation. The complications of interphalangeal arthrodesis include vascular injury, fixation related complications, and postoperative complications.ConclusionInterphalangeal arthrodesis is a good way to correct some deformities of toes, but the incidence of various complications can not be ignored, and there is still a lack of clinical research on interphalangeal arthrodesis.
ObjectiveTo summarize the clinical experience of the retrograde replantation for amputated toe. MethodsBetween January 2010 and August 2015, 11 cases of amputated toes (15 toes) were treated by the retrograde replantation. All patients were male, with a mean age of 31 years (range, 18-45 years). The causes included cutting injury in 6 cases (9 toes) and crush injury in 5 cases (6 toes). One case had amputated great toe and distal segment of the second toe combined with the third toe nail bed contusion; 1 case had amputated proximal great toe and middle segment of the second and third toes; 1 case had amputated proximal segment of great toe and middle segment of the second toe; 7 cases had amputated distal segment of the great toe; and 1 case had amputated middle segment of the fifth toe. The time from injury to hospital was 1-3 hours (mean, 2 hours). ResultsThirteen toes survived completely after operation. Toe necrosis occurred in 1 toe; partial dorsal skins necrosis and nail bed necrosis occurred in 1 toe, and was cure after repaired with dorsalis pedis island flap. The rate of success for replantation of amputated toes was 93.33% (14/15). X-ray examination showed fracture healing of all survival toes at 8-12 weeks after operation (mean, 10 weeks); internal fixation was removed. Eleven cases were followed up 3-12 months (mean, 7.5 months). The survival toes had good appearance and toenail. The two point discrimination was 9-12 mm (mean, 10 mm) at last follow-up. The patients could walk and run normally. ConclusionIt is an ideal surgical method to use retrograde replantation to treat amputated toe, with the advantages of simple operation and high survival rate.
ObjectiveTo compare the effectiveness between toe transfer combined with an abdominal flap and bag-shaped abdominal flap for treatment of totally degloved hand. MethodsBetween January 2005 and January 2012,18 patients with totally degloved hand were treated by two kinds of techniques.Those patients were divided into 2 groups according to the technique.The bag-shaped abdominal flap was used in 8 cases (group A),and toe transfer with a dorsalis pedis skin flap combined with abdominal S-shaped tile-joint subdermal vascular network flaps was performed in 10 cases (group B).There was no significant difference in gender,age,injury cause,injury degree,and interval between injury and operation between 2 groups (P>0.05).The static two-point discrimination (s2PD),grip power of the reconstructed hand,time of returning to work,and active total range of motion (ROM) of the operated finger were compared between 2 groups to assess the effectiveness. ResultsAll flaps and skin grafts survived in 2 groups.One flap suffered vascular crisis at 2 days after operation and survived after surgical exploration in group B.All patients were followed up 12-24 months (mean,16 months).At last follow-up,group B showed a better recovery of s2PD of the thumb and ROM,and shorter time of returning to work than group A (P<0.05),but no significant difference was found in grip power of the reconstructed hand and s2PD of the other fingers between 2 groups (P>0.05). ConclusionThe technique of toe transfer combined with an abdominal flap is better than traditional bag-shaped abdominal flap with the advantages of easy dissection,less time of operation,and satisfactory functional recovery.