Objective To investigate the anatomic foundation of using main branch of posterior femoral nerve to restore the sensation function of distal basedsural island flap. Methods Thirty cases of adult human cadaver legs fixed by 4%formaldehyde were used. Anatomical investigation of the posterior femoral nerves of lower legs was conducted under surgical microscope to observe their distribution, branches and their relationship with small saphenous vein. Nerve brancheswith diameter more than 0.1 mm were dissected and accounted during observation.The length and diameter of the nerves were measured. Results The main branch of posterior femoral nerve ran downwards from popliteal fossa within superficial fascia along with small saphenous vein. 70% of the main branch of the posterior femoral nerves lay medially to small saphenous vein, and 30% laterally. They wereclassified into 3 types according to their distribution in lower legs: typeⅠ (33.3%) innervated the upper 1/4 region of lower leg (region Ⅰ), type Ⅱ (43.3%) had branches in upper 1/2 region (region Ⅰ and Ⅱ), and type Ⅲ (23.3%) distributed over the upper 3/4 region (region Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ). In type Ⅱ, the diameter of the main branches of posterior femoral nerves in the middle of popliteal tossa was 10±04 mm and innervated the posterior upper-middle region (which was the ordirary donor region of distal based sural island flaps) of lower legs with 2.0±0.8 branches, whose diameter was 0.3±0.2 mm and length was 3.5±2.7 mm. The distance between the end of these branches and small saphenous vein was 0.8±0.6 mm. In type Ⅲ, their diameter was 1.2±0.3 mm and innervated the posterior upper-middle region of lower legs with 3.7±1.7 branches, whose diameter was 0.4±0.1 mm and length was 3.7±2.6 mm. The distancebetween the end of these branches and small saphenous vein was 0.8±0.4 mm. Conclusion 66.6% of human main branch of posteriorfemoral nerves (type Ⅱ and type Ⅲ) can be used to restore the sensation of distal based sural island flap through anastomosis with sensor nerve stump of footduring operation.
Objective To observe the anatomic basis and the clinical application of the modified peroneal arterial cutaneous branch nutritional flap. Methods Twenty sides of lower limb of adult colyseptic cadavers and 5 sides of lower limb of adult fresh cadavers were used to detect the cutaneous branches of the peroneal artery. The position where the cutaneous branches come from the peroneal artery and the diameter of the cutaneous branches were recorded. From September 2003 to June 2005, 10 cases of skin and soft tissue defects in the region of metatarsophalangeal point with the modified peroneal arterial cutaneous branch nutritional flap, in which the cutaneous branches from the peroneal artery 11.0±1.7 cm upon the lateral malleolus were added. The defect size was 10 cm×6 cm to 15 cm×10 cm. The flap size was 11.0 cm×6.5 cm to 16.0 cm×11.0 cm. Results There is a stable cutaneous branches from peroneal artery 11.0±1.7 cm upon the lateral malleolus. The diameter of this cutaneous branches at the origin is 1.45±0.12 mm. The distance between the cutaneous branches entrance of the deep fascia and the line of the sural nerve nutritional artery flap was 15.70±1.20 mm. All 10 flaps survived. The blood supply and venous return of the skin flaps were good. The 10 patients were followed up from 6 to 12 months. The shape of the flaps was satisfactory. The texture and the color and luster of the flaps were similar to the adjacent skin. The functions of the feet were good. The twopoint discrimination was 1118 mm. Conclusion The modified peroneal arterial cutaneous branch nutritional flap has good blood supply. It can reverse to a long distance and can repair large skin defects.
OBJECTIVE: To provide anatomical bases for dorso-ulnar aspect of mid-hand reverse flap. METHODS: After red latex was infused into the arteries of 40 sides of adult cadava upper limbs, the origin, course, branches, distribution and distal anastomosis on the dorsal carpal branch of ulnar arteries were observed. And the mid-hand flap transfer was used to repair two cases of soft tissue defect (ranged 4.5-5.0 cm x 2.0-3.5 cm on ring and little fingers). RESULTS: The dorsal carpal branch begins with ulnar artery (3.9 +/- 1.2) cm above the pisiform with diameter of (1.3 +/- 0.2) mm, and branches off into ascending and descending branches. The descending one is the continuing of dorsal branch, it crosses the ulnar edge of the fifth metecarpal bone and anastomizes with the digital artery of little finger or hypothenar branch of deep palmar (accounted for 70%). While the other ascending branch with the former two branches formed anastomosis accounts for 30%. The two cases got healed in one-stage. The function of fingers recovered after 3-4 month follow-up. CONCLUSION: The reverse flap of dorso-ulnar aspect of mid-hand is available to repair the soft tissue defect on dorsum of hand with neighbor finger.
The skin and soft tissue defects or ulceration of the wight-bearing part of the sole was difficult to repair with medial plantar island flap, but would be treated with retrograde island flap carrying plantar metatarsal arteries as pedicle. Ten flaps were applied in 9 patients. They had either indolent ulcer or skin defect secondary to excision of painful corn or callosities of the front part of the sole. The flaps were 3 cm to 5 cm long and 3 cm to 4 cm wide, and they all survived following retrograde transfer. The patients were followed up for 1 to 10 years. It was found that the patients could bear weight on the operated foot and could walk without pain or lameness. The flaps were resistant to abrasion from long-time walking. It was concluded that this kind of flap was best suitable to repair the ulcers and defects over the front part of the sole despite there were some minor shortcomings such as the size of the flaps available was small and the donor site required split skin graft for coverage.
Objective To investigate the operative procedure and the cl inical results of the modified island flap based on the reversed dorsal metacarpal artery for repairing finger tissue defect. Methods From January 2004 to March 2009, 38 patients (43 fingers) with finger tissue defect were treated with the modified island flaps based on the reversed dorsal metacarpal artery. The deverting point was altered from the dorsal point to the palm. There were 27 males (31 fingers) and 11 females (12 fingers) with an average age of 43.6 years (range, 12-67 years). Defect was caused by crash injury in 18 cases, crush injury in 14 cases, and cutting injury in 6 cases. Of them, 11 index fingers, 23 middle fingers, 7 ring fingers, and 2 l ittle fingers were involved. The area of the defect ranged from 1.0 cm × 0.7 cm to 3.2 cm × 2.5 cm. The area of flaps ranged from 1.2 cm × 1.0 cm to 3.5 cm × 2.8 cm. The donor sites were sutured directly. Results Tension vesicular scabbing occurred in distal part of flap, and was cured after dressing change in 3 cases. The other flaps survived and incision healed primarily. All incision at donor sites healed primarily. Thirty-one patients (35 fingers) were followed up 6-29 months (15.3 months on average). All flaps survived with satisfactory appearance, sensation, and function. Two-point discrimination was 6-9 mm (7.9 mm on average). The results were excellent in 20 fingers, good in 13 fingers, and fair in 2 fingers according to the total active movement (TAM) standards; the excellent and good rate was 94.3%. Conclusion The treatment of finger tissue defect with the modified island flap based on the reversed dorsal metacarpal artery is recommendable. The deverting point was altered from the dorsal point to the palm. The vessel pedicle is extended. It can be easily and conveniently performed for more cases.