Objective To find out the recent progress in research of cl inical appl ication of fascia lata allograft. Methods The domestic and international articles were reviewed to summarize the princi pal properties, processing techniques, and various uses of fascia lata allograft. Results Histologically fascia lata is composed of parallel and compact bundles of collagen fibers with few cells and immunologically it is low-antigenic. After varied tissue processing and storage techniques, fascia lata, as the scaffold only with the extracellular matrix, has been used in cl inical practice and achieved good results, such as ophthalmology, urology, and orthopaedics. Conclusion Because of these unique properites in repairing defects and reconstructing functions, fascia lata allograft, as a natural biomaterial, is promising to be used in more aspects withthe development of the biomedical techniques.
Objective To review the research progress of the skin flap, fascial flap, muscle flap, and myocutaneous flap for repairing soft tissue defects around the knee so as to provide information for clinical application. Methods Domestic and abroad literature concerning the methods of soft tissue repair around the knee in recent years was reviewed extensively and analyzed. Results Fascial flaps meet the requirements of thin, pliable, and tough skin in the soft tissue repair around the knee. Myocutaneous flaps and muscle flaps have more abundant blood supply and anti-infection function. Free skin flaps are the only option when defects are extensive and local flaps are unavailable. Conclusion Suitable flaps should be chosen for soft tissue repair around the knee according to defect position, depth, and extent. Fascial flaps may be selected as the first flaps for defects repair because of excellent aesthetic results and less injury at the donor site.
Objective To investigate the characteristics of patients with crush injury in Wenchuan earthquake and the corresponding operational methods. Methods From May 12th 2008 to June 18th 2008, 202 patients with crush injury of soft tissue were treated, including 110 males and 92 females. Twenty-five patients aged 19 months to 16 years, 129 patients aged 17-60 years and 48 patients aged above 61 years. The crushed time was 30 minutes to 154 hours. Sixty cases of openinjuries were treated by debridement and dressing or suture; 16 cases of damaged extremities (18 l imbs) and 6 cases of acute renal failure due to crush syndrome (8 l imbs) received amputation; 32 cases of interfascial space syndrome crisis (42 l imbs) were treated by fascia cavity decompression; 15 cases received the resection of necrotic muscle for 31 times; and 9 cases received continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Results All the wounds healed except 2 cases which died from intestinal bleeding and intracranial hemorrhage during the treatment of CRRT. Two cases were discharged 8 months after treatment, while the other 198 cases recovered and were discharged 15-120 days after treatment. The average hospital ization time was 53 days. Twenty-two cases (26 l imbs) were fixed with artificial l imbs 3-6 months after amputation and achieved good functional outcome. Conclusion The treatment principle of crush injury is “be active to decompress and be prudent to amputate”, the hardening muscle and the increasing level of creatine kinase and blood potassium are the golden indicators of fascia cavity decompression. Decompression at an earl ier period is preferred when there is a dilemma to choose, and open amputation should be performed when the necrotic muscle is hard to clear or the necrosis boundary is not distinct.
Objective To observe the clinical effect of repairing rectovaginal septum with graft of fascia flap with blood vessels. Methods From August 2004 to August 2006, 12 female patients with rectocele were treated,aging 49-73 years. The disease course was from 5 to 30 years(mean, 5.6 years). All patients suffered dysporia. X-rayfilms showed severe rectocele (≥30 mm), or with the descendent perineum syndrome(≥40 mm), and inner pendant rectal mucosa (3 cases) and/or narrow anal canal (9 cases).The size of fascia flap ranged from 15 cm×3 cm to 18 cm×5 cm. Results The bleeding amount was 800 ml in 2 cases, and 500 ml in 10 cases. All fascia flaps survived. In the 12 patients, 11 had a primary wound healing(Stage Ⅰ), 1 had a delayed wound healing(Stage Ⅱ). The donor sites healed at Stage Ⅱ. Twelve patients could defecate normally 46 days after surgery. The legs edema occurred in 2 cases, urinary retention combined with infection occurred in 1 case. And all recovered completely after treatment. Eleven patients were followed up for 6 to 12 months. Digital anorectal examination showed prerectal pouch disappearance, glaze surface and good elasticity. Xray films and CT showed that the rectocele disappeared. Conclusion The operation of repairing rectovaginal septum with graft of fascia with blood vessels can effectively recover anatomy of rectovaginal septum and its normal biological function.
Objective To introduce the surgical procedure and indication of the reverse fascial pedicle island flap of the digital artery dorsal branches in repairing finger skin defect. Methods By use of the dorsal branches of the digital artery as the pedicel, the reverse island flap was designed. The skin defectsof the proximal interphalangeal joint and beyond in 35 cases (42 fingers) were repaired and the joint or extensor tendon was reconstructed simultaneously. Donor site was primarily closed or a skin graft was used. The flap size ranged from 1.0 cm×2.5 cm to 1.5 cm×3.5 cm.Results Thirtyfive patients were followed up 3 months to 1 year, all the flaps survived. The two-point discrimination was between 6 mm and 10 mm. The function of interphalangeal joint was satisfactory.Conclusion These flaps have the advantages of an extended skinpaddle and a versatile pivot point on the phalanx, and they allow coverage of wide and distal defects.
Objective To study the biological characteristic and potential of chondrocytes grafting cultured on fascia in repairing large defect of articular cartilage in rabbits. Methods Chondrocytes of young rabbits were isolated and subcultured on fascia. The large defect of articular cartilage was repaired by grafts of freeze-preserved and fresh chondrocytes cultured on fascia, and free chondrocytes respectively; the biological characteristic and metabolism were evaluated bymacroscopic, histological and immunohistochemical observations, autoradiography method and the measurement of nitric oxide content 6, 12, 24 weeks after grafting. Results The chondrocytes cultured on fascia maintained normal growth feature and metabolism, and there was no damage to chondrocytes after cryopreservation; the repaired cartilage was similar to the normal cartilage in cellular morphology and biological characteristics. Conclusion Chondrocytes could be cultured normally on fascia, which could be used as an ideal carrier of chondrocytes.
OBJECTIVE The correction of ectropion of lower lid and severe infra-orbital soft tissue depression is very difficult. Former methods included simple skin graft, tubed graft, transfer of local skin flap and so on. These methods had some disadvantages, such as not enough tissue to fill the depression, too much damage done to the donor area and operation in stages required. METHODS After investigation on the anatomy of temporal region, designed the following method. Combined transfer of the galea aponeurotica and temporal fascia was used to repair severe infra-orbital soft tissue depression and ectropion of lower lid in 6 cases. RESULTS It was discovered that the combined transfer of the galea aponeurotica and temporal fascia was rich in blood circulation because they received blood supply from parietal branch of superficial temporal artery and could be transferred to a distance as far as 15-18 cm. The skin graft used to cover the fascia usually resulted in good survival. This technique was used in 6 cases with good success. CONCLUSION This method had some merits such as the tissue flap had good blood supply, little damage done to the donor area, good correction of the severe depression, good appearance following correction, operation done under local anesthesia and completed in one-stage operation.
Considering the abundant vascular anastomotic networks in the deep fascia of the posterior calf, three kinds of distally based facial flap containing deep fascial vascular network were applied clinically. They were: 1. posterolateral distally based island fascial flap which could be used to repair the skin defect of heel, dorsum of foot and lateral-distal part of leg; 2. posteromedial distally based island fascial flap which could be used to repair the skin defect of heel, medial malleolus and medial-distal part of leg and 3. posterolateral malleolar distally based fascial flap which could be used to repair the skin defect of heel and lateral malleolus. Eighteen cases with soft tissue defects around the distal calf were treated, the area of skin defect ranged from 4 cm x 3 cm to 13 cm x 6 cm. All the flaps were survived completely after operation with an average of follow-up for 15 months (ranged from 6 months to 2 years). So the advantages of these flaps were as follows: the blood supply was reliable, preparation of the flap was easy and the major arteries of the calf needed not be sacrificed; the flap had a long and rotatable pedicle so that they would basically satisfy the need to repair skin defect of lower leg, dorsum of foot, heel and malleolus and the resistance of the flap to pressure and wear was better. However, the injury to the superficial sural nerve was the shortcoming.
In order to preserve the major vessels of the extremities in the repair and reconstruction of wounds of the extremities, the distally based fascial pedicled island flap was applied clinically. Its axis and rotatary point were designed along orientation of the major arteries, and the blood supply was from the abundant vascular networks in the deep fascia. Twenty-two cases with exposure of tendon and bone including 10 upper limbs and 12 lower limbs were treated. The flap area of forearm ranged from 7 cm x 8 cm to 12 cm x 9 cm and the ratio of the length to width of the pedicle was 1: 1-2. The flap area of the calf ranged from 10 cm x 6 cm to 16.5 cm x 12 cm and the ratio of the length to width of the pedicle was 2:1. The rotatary angle was 130 degrees-170 degrees. After operation, 18 flaps were survived completely, 2 cases had partial necrosis on the margin, 2 failures received cross-leg flap in the second operation. The patients were followed up with an average of 13.5 months (ranged from 3 months to 2 years). The conclusions were as follows: 1. the blood supply of this type of flap was reliable and the major arteries of the extremities needed not to be sacrificed; 2. the preparation of the flap was easy and the survival rate was satisfactory; 3. the shortcomings of this flap were unsightly incision scar and the limited size of flap and; 4. during the operation, the compression of the pedicle must be avoided.
he fascia lata substitute valve operation was performed for curing the supperficial varieositycaused by the deep vein incompotence of the lower extremity basing on the study of the sources ofblood supply and the vascular distribution features of the fascia lata. The fascia lata subetitute vein valve operations were done on three males with the age rangingbetween 22 and 44 years old, and the rerelts were satisfactory 2 and 6 months after oporation.