Objective To summarize the experience of the prevention of early arterial compl ications after hepatic artery (HA) reconstruction in adult-to-adult l iving donor l iver transplantation (A-A LDLT). Methods Between January 2002and March 2008, 127 patients underwent A-A LDLT. Of the 131 donors (127 cases of right lobe graft, 4 cases of left lobe graft), there were 69 males and 62 females with a mean age of 36.2 years (range, 19-65 years); in 127 recipients, there were 109 males and 18 females with a mean age of 41.9 years (range, 18-64 years). All patients underwent microsurgical reconstruction of HA between grafts and recipients. The artery of graft was anastomosed to the right HA in 62 cases, to the proper HA in 34 cases, to the left HA in 7 cases, to the common HA in 6 cases, and aberrant right HA rising from superior mesenteric artery in 8 cases. Interposition bypass using great saphenous vein (GSV) was performed between the donor right HA and recipient common HA in 5 cases. Bypass was performed between the donor right HA and recipient abdominal aorta using GSV in 2 cases, or using cryopreserved cadaveric il iac vessels in 3 cases. Results Of these 127 cases, hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) occurred in 2 recipients (1.6%) at 1 day and 7 days following A-A LDLT, which were successfully revascularized with GSV between right HA of donor and abdominal aorta of recipient, HAT in 1 patient occurred on the 46th postoperative day with no symptom. No other arterial compl ication such as HA stenosis and aneurysm occurred in recipients. All patients were followed up 9-67 months. At 1, 2, and 3 years, actual survival rateswere 82.2%, 64.7%, and 59.2%. No death was related to HA compl ication in peri-operative period. Conclusion The anatomic structure and variation of HA, the pathological changes, as well as surgical technique in HA reconstruction, have direct impact on the risk of postoperative compl ications of HA reconstruction.
Objective To explore a surgical method for chronic osteomyel itis of sternum after thoracotomy. Methods From January 2006 to February 2009, 11 cases of chronic osteomyelitis after thoracotomy (2 cases of coronary bypass, 6 cases of mitral valve replacement, and 3 cases of ventricular defect repair) were admitted. Of them, there were 6 males and 5females, aged from 6 to 62 years (median 34 years), including 6 cases of simple osteomyelitis of sternum, 2 cases of osteomyelitis of sternum with suppurative infection of mediastinum, and 3 cases osteomyel itis of sternum with costal chondritis. Necrotic sternum were excised and defect was from 4 cm × 3 cm to 7 cm × 4 cm. Greater pectoral muscle flap was designed from 8 cm × 5 cm to 10 cm × 6 cm on one side and was transferred to defect. Negative drainage and sensitive antibiotics were administered after operation. Results Healing by first intention was achieved in 10 patients except 1 patient who had a few discharge at the drainage outlet and whose incision healed 1 week later. The follow up was from 3 to 10 months with an average of 6 months. The formed scars were flat with soft texture in 8 patients and moderately hypertrophy in 3 patients. The wounds healed without pain, relapse or abnormal function of donor upper limb. Conclusion Transplantation of greater pectoral muscle flap is an effective way to repair chronic osteomyelitis of sternum after thoracotomy.
Objective To investigate the causes and managements of acetabular fracture during primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods Between May 2005 and July 2008, 9 patients (9 hi ps) suffered from acetabular fractures during primary THA. There were 1 male and 8 females with an average age of 63.3 years (range, 41-73 years), including 4 cases of developmental dysplasia of the hip, 2 cases of rheumatoid arthritis, 1 case of old femoral neck fracture, 1 case of avascular necrosis of femoral head, and 1 case of ankylosing spondyl itis. Three left hips and 6 right hips were involved. The preoperative Harris score was 40.4 ± 2.9. All the patients underwent cementless THA. Among nine acetabular fractures, 8 fractures were stable (2 anterior wall fractures and 6 posterior wall fractures), which were fixed by additional augmentation screws in 7 cases and accepted no special treatment in 1 case; 1 fracture was unstable (posterior wall fracture with posterior column incomplete fracture), which was treated by bone grafting and additional screws. Results The postoperative X-ray films showed that the position of the prosthesis were favorable. All incisions healed by first intention without early compl ication. Nine patients were followed up 1-4 years (mean, 2 years and 7 months). The Harris score was 87.8 ± 3.9 at last follow-up, showing significant difference when compared with the preoperative score (t=44.904, P=0.000). The X-ray films showed fracture heal ing at 8 weeks. No loosening occurred. Conclusion When primary THA is performed, the preoperative X-ray film should be studied and measured carefully, operation should be accurate and violence should be avoided. The diameter of the acetabular component should be equal to the diameter of a drill or not larger than 2 mm. In patients with severe osteoporosis, the diameter of the acetabular components should be the same diameter as a drill and additional screws are used to fix, or cemented cup is used. Once an acetabular fracture occurs during the primary THA, additional screw or bone grafting with additional screws should be chosen according to the fracture type and stabil ity, and good cl inical results can be expected.
Objective To investigate the causes of the vacuum seal ing drainage (VSD) compl ications during treatment of extremity wounds. Methods Between February 2005 and February 2010, 174 patients with skin and soft tissue defect of extremities were treated with VSD. Among them, 12 patients (6.9%) had compl ications and the cl inical data were analyzed retrospectively. There were 7 males and 5 females aged from 17 to 65 years (mean, 36.1 years). Injury was caused bytraffic accident in 8 cases, and by machine extrusion in 4 cases. The locations were forearm in 3 cases, upper arm in 2 cases, thigh and calf in 1 case, calf in 4 cases, and foot in 2 cases. The size of defect ranged from 10 cm × 7 cm to 90 cm × 40 cm. The time from injury to hospital ization was 3-8 hours (mean, 4.2 hours). Results At 1 day postoperatively, moderate to severe anemia and hypokalemia occurred in 6 cases, and the hemoglobin value increased to 100 g/L and the electrolyte disorder was rectified after blood transfusion and fluid infusion. At 2 days, 2 patients had local skin allergic symptoms, and local rash disappeared after oral administration of Clarityne. At 3 days, 2 patients complained pain and the pain was released after the suction pressure was decreased by 50%; 2 patients had infection and received VSD demol ition, debridement and draining, and anti-infection treatment. Tissue necrosis occurred in 1 case at 4 days and pressure ulcer in 1 case at 5 days, VSD was immediately changed and wound was repaired by spl it thickness skin graft or local flap. Conclusion Compl ications associated with VSD therapy for the wounds of the extremities are not very common. Most causes are related to the location of wound, the technique of the operators, and the conditions of the patients.
Objective To investigate the causes and the measures for prevention and management of compl ications of supracondylar fracture of the humerus. Methods In 203 cases of supracondylar fracture of the humerus treated from July2002 to July 2008, 49 cases had compl ication, whose data were retrospectively analyzed. There were 32 males and 17 females with an average age of 9 years(range 2-14 years). Fracture was caused by tumble in 38 cases, by fall ing from height in 4 cases, and by traffic accident in 7 cases. All cases were closed fractures. According to Gartland typing for supracondylar fracture of the humerus, there were 10 cases of type II and 39 cases of type III. Compl ications included 21 cases of vascular injuries, 10 cases of neural injuries, and 3 cases of osteofascial compartment syndrome. The time from injury to operation was 1-25 days. Closed reduction was given in 13 cases, closed reduction plus percutaneous K-wire fixation in 21 cases, and open reduction plus K-wire fixation in 15 cases. After reduction, plaster external fixation was performed. The cases of manipulation which blood circulation could not improve underwent incision to exploration of blood vessel. Two cases of neural injuries were treated with incision decompression of epineurium. Three cases of osteofascial compartment syndrome were treated with incision decompression, and the incision was sutured after 7-10 days. Results All incisions healed by first intention. The duration of follow-up was 1-5 years with an average of 3.4 years. Fracture heal ing was achieved within 4-8 weeks. All vascular injuries and 9 cases of neural injures recovered thoroughly. Poor function occurred in 1 case of median nerve injury and Volkmann ischemic contracture in 1 case of osteofascial compartment syndrome. Cubitus varus deformity was found in 11 cases and myositis ossificans in 4 cases within 3 months to 1 year. According to Flynn standard of the function of elbow, the results were excellent in 21 cases, good in 7cases, fair in 3 cases, poor in 18 cases. Conclusion Early reduction is the key for prevention of further vascular injury, nerve injury and osteofascial compartment syndrome. Operation is essential when expectant treatment inval id. Satisfactory reduction, good fixation and functional rehabil itation are key points for preventing cubitus varus deformity.
Objective To investigate the etiology, diagnosis, revascularization of upper l imb ischemia and the compl ications. Methods From March 2003 to February 2008, 72 cases of upper l imb ischemia were treated. There were 44males and 28 females, aged 19-90 years old (median 63 years old). The duration of the disease was 1 hour to 2 years. All cases had symptoms of l imb ischemia such as paleness, coldness, paralysis. According to individual condition, 72 patients accepted revascularizations including thromboembolectomy, reconstruction after traumatic injuries, pseudoaneurysm excision and angioplasty, balloon dilatation and stent implant, arterial repair, patch, vascular prosthesis or vein bypass/transplantation, and l igation or coarctation of fistula. Results Sixty patients (83.3%) recovered well after operation. Re-occlusion following thromboemboletomy was found in 6 patients (8.3%). And there were 4 patients (5.6%) with l imbs disturbance and muscles contracture and 2 patients (2.8%) with compartment syndrome in this series. The affected l imb had to be amputated in 2 patients (2.8%). And 1 patient (1.4%) died of cerebral hemorrhage because of anticoagulation 3 days after operation. All patients were followed up 1-6 years (mean 52 months) after operation. Four patients recurred and got improved after retreatments. The others got a good result with normal skin color and temperature, restoration of the radial and ulnar pulses, normal saturation of blood oxygen of finger ti p (gt; 90%) and patent blood flow of affected arteries was shown by color Doppler ultrasound. Conclusion The study indicates that identifying the etiology of upper l imb ischemia before operation and active revascularizations consistent with different causes are the key to treat the upper l imb ischemia.
Objective To investigate the donor-site compl ications of the anterolateral thigh flap and its influencing factors. Methods Between July 1988 and July 2007, 427 patients were treated with anterolateral thigh flap. Among them, 33 patients had postoperative donor-site compl ications and their cl inical data were analyzed retrospectively. There were 21 malesand 12 females aged 14-47 years old (average 32.7 years old). The size of the wound defect ranged from 16 cm × 7 cm to 28 cm × 13 cm. The area of the flap harvested during operation ranged from 16 cm × 7 cm to 30 cm × 13 cm. The donor sites were treated by direct suture in 7 cases; free spl it-thickness skin graft in 23 cases, and reverse superficial epigastric artery flap repair in 3 cases. The size of graft in the donor site ranged from 10 cm × 5 cm to 18 cm × 8 cm. The occurrence of short-term (within 4 weeks) and long-term (over 6 months) compl ications were analyzed. Results All patients were followed up for 8-54 months (average 21 months). There were 26 patients (78.8%) with short-term and long-term compl ications and 7 patients (21.2%) with long-term compl ications. The short-term compl ications included skin graft necrosis in 23 cases (69.7%), wound infection in 17 cases (51.5%), and muscle necrosis in 2 cases (6.1%). The long-term compl ications included non-heal ing wounds in 21 cases (63.6%), serious scar in 28 cases (84.8%), discomfort in 25 cases (75.8%), and dysfunction of the quadriceps femoris in 16 cases (48.5%). Conclusion The occurrence of anterolateral thigh flap donor-site compl ications is related to the anatomical structure of the anterolateral thigh region, the surgical procedure, and the patient’s physique.
Objective To analyze the causes and managing methods of long bone fracture nonunion after allogeneic bone transplantation. Methods From December 1995 to December 2000, 43 cases of postoperative nonunion of long bone fracture were treated. These cases included 31 males and 12 females at the age of 19-57 years (40 years on average). The locations were femur in 11 cases, tibia in 21 cases, humerus in 8 cases and forearm in 3 cases. Bone nonunionafter allogeneic bone transplantation was caused by extensive soft tissue contusion and poor cover around bone fractue site in 6 cases, by incomplete debridement in 8 cases of osteomyel itis (including 6 without continual lavage and 4 only skin flap transfer), by secondary infection of wounds in 3 cases, by severe primary injury or secondary scar covering bone in 12 cases, instable internal fixation in 7 cases, and by earl ier weight bearing in 7 cases. Accroding to Weber classification, there were 4 cases of hypertrophic type and 39 cases of atrophic type. Basing on the type of nonunion, the methods such as refixation, bone retransplantation and transferring tissue flap were chosen to manage the cases. Results Incision healed by first intention in 37 cases, superficial infection occurred and cured after 2 weeks of dressing change in 5 cases, and sinus formed and cured after 2 months of dressing change and drainage in 1 case. All transferring tissue flap survived, and partial necrosis occurred at flap edge in 4 cases and cured after dressing change. All patients were followed up for 38-91 months with an average of 54.6 months. All the nonunion cases achieved bone union 5-11 months with an average of 7.6 months. But low extreme shorten monstrosity occured in 4 cases, malunion in 2 cases, functional l imitation near joints in 7 cases, and rotational l imitation of forearm in 1 case. Conclusion Fracture nonunion after allogeneic bone transplantation mainly shows atrophic type with overall or partial absorption of the allograft bone. The preconditions to guarantee fracture nonunion heal ing include stabil ity of fracture fixation, using transferring tissue flaps, controll ing infection, and adequate bone transplantion.
Objective To observe the complication after embolizing the bilateral internal il iac arteries and the median sacral artery of dogs by different combinations and embolization levels with gelfoam particle, and to provide a reference for safety appl ication of gelfoam in cl inic. Methods Sixteen common grade adult healthy dogs (weighing 10-13 kg, 14 males and 2females) were randomly divided into 5 groups. Under the monitoring of digital subtraction angiography (DSA), the embolization was performed with gelfoam particle (diameter, 50-150 μm) in bilateral internal il iac arteries and the main branch of the median sacral artery (group A, n=3), in bilateral internal il iac arteries and the first branch of the median sacral artery (group B, n=3), in the main branch of bilateral internal il iac arteries (group C, n=3), in the unilateral internal il iac artery and the main branch of the median sacral artery (group D, n=4), and in the main branch of unilateral internal il iac artery (group E, n=3). Under the DSA, the anatomic relationships of the abdominal aorta, bilateral external il iac arteries, bilateral internal il iac arteries, and median sacral artery were observed before embol ization. The survival dogs were observed and the specimens of bladder, rectum, sciatic nerve, and gluteal muscles were harvested for the general and histological observations at 3 days after embolization. Results In dogs, there was no common il iac artery; bilateral external il iac arteries originated from the abdominal aorta and the starting of the median sacral artery had variation. Seven dogs (3 in group A, 3 in group C, and 1 in group D) died within 2 days after embolization, and the others survived to the end of the experiment. In the dead dogs of groups A, C, and D, the darkening and necrosis of the rectum were observed; the bladder presented lamellar obfuscation and focal hemorrhage and edema; and the median urinary volume in bladder was 270.6 mL. In survival dogs, no obvious change was observed in the rectum; the bladder only manifested l ight edema; and the median urinary volume in bladder was 137.0, 220.5, and 28.0 mL, respectively in groups B, D, and E.The rectum and bladder of dead dogs in groups A, C, and D manifested the disrupted cells, generous inflammatory cells infiltration, and desquamation of epithel ial cells; the rectum and bladder of survival dogs in groups B, D, and E manifested l ight inflammatory cells infiltration and edema; the embol ized artery mainly focused on the arterioles whose diameter was 100-200 μm. The sciatic nerve and gluteal muscles of each group had no obvious change except for l ight edema. Conclusion When the internal il iac artery and median sacral artery are embol ized with gelfoam particle with a diameter of 50-150 μm, to ensure the safeness of pelvic organs, the embol ized artery can not exceed the first branch when the 3 arteries are embol ized at the same time, or reserve at least unilateral internal il iac artery when embol ized to the trunk , or it will result in pelvic organ necrosis and perforation.
Objective To summarize and analyze the operation-correlated compl ications of total knee arthroplasty (TKA)with posterior stabil ized prosthesis (PS). Methods From October 2000 to October 2007, 707 cases (816 knees) underwent TKA. All the TKA knees were divided equally into former and latter groups according to the operation time (408 knees for each group). In the former group (October 2000 to January 2005, n=350), there were 63 males (84 knees) and 287 females (324 knees), aging (63.5 ± 7.8) years. A total of 198 left knees affected and 210 right knees affected; 292 single kneesaffected and 58 both knees affected. There were 304 knees of osteoarthritis, 84 knees of rheumatoid arthritis and 20 knees of other disease. The disease course was (9.3 ± 5.6) years. The knee range of motion (ROM) was (97.2 ± 8.7)°, the HSS score was 47.4 ± 12.2. In the latter group (January 2005 to October 2007, n=357), there were 77 males (92 knees) and 280 females (316 knees), aging (62.7 ± 6.3) years. A total of 221 left knees affected and 187 right knees affected; 306 single knees affected and 51 both knees affected. There were 278 knees of osteoarthritis, 109 knees of rheumatoid arthritis and 21 knees of other disease. The disease course was (8.6 ± 5.1) years. The knee ROM was (101.1 ± 10.3)°, the HSS score was 49.3 ± 11.2. We modified the method of lateral patellar retinaculum release and used a new femoral rotational al ignment technique in the latter group. The intraoperative and postoperative compl ications were divided into mild, moderate and severe. The HSS score, ROM and compl ications of the knee were compared and analyzed statistically during the follow-up. Results The former group was followed up 5.3 years (1 to7 years), compl ications occurred in 278 knees (68.1%), including mild in 136 knees (33.3%), moderate in 135 knees (33.1%) and severe in 7 knees (1.7%). The latter group was followed up 2.1 years (0.5 to 3.5 years), compl ications occurred in 159 knees (39.0%), including mild in 111 knees (27.2%), moderate in 47 knees (11.5%) and severe in 1 knee (0.2%), and there was significant difference between them (P lt; 0.001). There was significant difference in increased ROM between the former group (6.0 ± 3.7)° and the latter group (14.4 ± 4.2)° after operation (P lt; 0.05). There was significant difference in increased HSS score between the former group (36.9 ± 3.7)and the latter group (44.0 ± 4.2) after operation (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The TKA is a complex operation with innumerable potential compl ications. To accumulate operative experience and improve surgical skills are the key points to reduce the operation-correlated compl ications.