This article reported the implantation of the greater auricular nerve into the cervicoshoulder skin flap in rabbits. The progress following implantation of the nerve was continuously observed. According to the time elapsed from the nervesbeing implanted, the experimental animals were divided into 4 groups, 4 animalsin each group, in the order of 1, 2, 4 and 6 months groups, respectively, and the normal skin and the cervicoshoulder skin flaps without nerve implantation were used as control. The electron microscope was the method used to observed theprogress. The results showed that in the 2nd month the unmyelinated fibers first appeared, then the myelinated in the 4th month. The caliber of the axons, the thickness of the myelin sheath and the ratio of MF/UF increased with time. In the 4th month, the number of the regenerating nerve fibers (unmyelinated fibers predominant) had achieved the highest level and significantly exceeded that of thenormal skin. But at the 6 months. the MF/UF ratio was still for lower than normal.
OBJECTIVE The repair of soft tissue defect of heel by traditional operation did not restore the sensation of the heel. METHODS In order to solve this problem, the saphenous neurovascular skin flap reinnervated by end-to-side neuro-anastomosis was designed and 3 male patients with soft tissue defects of the heel were so treated. Grossgraft of saphenous neurovascular skin flap was employed for repairing the soft tissue defects of heel and the pedicle was divided at 21 days after operation. The end-to-side neuro-anastomosis was used to reinnervate not only the skim flap, but also the skin area of the medial malleolus, medial aspect of the foot and the big toe of the donor limb. RESULTS After follow-up of 6-12 months, the walking and weight bearing functions of the affected limbs were good, the contour of the grafted area was satisfactory, and the recovery of sensation of the skin flap, the medial malleolus, the medial aspect of the foot and the big toe was observed. CONCLUSION 1. Crossgraft of the saphenous skin flap was an effective method to repair the soft tissue defect of the heel; 2. End-to-side neuro-anastomosis could restore the sensation of the skin flap.