ObjectivesTo explore the statistical performance of different methods for meta-analysis of single rates with zero events so as to provide evidence for selecting meta-analysis methods in evidence-based research.MethodsThrough Monte-Carlo simulations, we evaluated the performance of various transformation and correction methods for meta-analysis of single rates with zero events, considering the point estimate bias, confidence interval coverage and width.ResultsWhen the overall event rate was above 30%, all methods showed good statistical performance. As the event rate dropped, log, logit, and arcsine transformations could still maintain good performance. However, when the event rate was less than 5%, only Freeman-Tukey transformation showed excellent performance.ConclusionsThe meta-analysis of single rate based on Freeman-Tukey transformation is robust, and should be recommended as the preferable choice of meta-analysis of single rate with zero events.
Objective To introduce a method to repair soft tissue defect in different regions and different areas of hand in one procedure. Methods From May 2002 to May 2005, anterolateral femoral flap or lobulated anterolateral femoralflap(forming irregular anterolateral femoral flap) was designed into different shapes to repair multiple soft tissue defect in different regions in hand, whichwas used clinically in 27 cases. Among 27 cases, there were 16 males and 11 females; the locations were left hand in 9 , right hand in 16 and left foot in 2; including 5 penetrating injury, 9 hotpressing injury, 2 soft tissue defection of instep and planta by milled injury, 6 gearing injury and 5 carding machine injury. All the cases complicated by exposure of tendons, bones or joints. Defect was repaired with H-shape flaps in 5 cases of penetrating palm injuries; with Y-shape or K-shape flaps in 11 cases of dorsals or combined with fingers of hand with skin defect; with shape flaps in 3 cases of dorsals combined with sides of palms or the first web of hands with skin defect and in 2 cases of skin defects of dorsals combinedwith palms of feet;with h-shape flaps in 6 cases of skin defects of dorsal or palms combined with disconnected skin defect of fingers. The sizes of main flaps ranged from 6.5 cm×4.8 cm to 17.0 cm×12.0 cm, the sizes of lobulate flaps ranged from 3.5 cm×2.8 cm to 7.5 cm×4.5 cm. Results Allflaps survived without vascular crisis after operation. Except the fascia flapall recipient sites healed by first intention. The follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 1 year, all cases had satisfactory appearance, the texture of flaps was soft. Except 2 cases of penetrating injury, 3 cases of hotpressing injuryand1 case of carding machine injury whose function was not satisfactory, theremaining cases achieved the function of snap and pinch. More than 1 year after operation, the sense of pain and touch recovered. There was no functional impairment at the donor sites although scar hyperplasia was formed in some cases.Conclusion The application of irregular anterolateral femoralflap is an optimal choice for complex skin defect of hand.
In order to understand the influence of the free tendon graft and the tendon transfer on their blood supply, histological and biochemical changes during healing following repair of the damaged tendon after the alteration of the nourishing environment, an experiment was carried on 36 New Zealand white rabbits. In the front paws of the rabbits, the free tendon graft was sutured in the tendon defect of flexor of the fourth toe and the flexor tendon of the third toe was transferred to the second toe to reconstr...
Rectus femoris muscle of the lower abdomen was used as myocutaneous flap in the reconstruction of the breast in 4 patients, of which, in 2 cases the reconstruction was carried out immediately following the radical mastectomy for breast cancer by using trancfer of the pedicled myocutaneous flap, and in the other two cases, the vascularized free myocutaneous flap was used 2 months and 5 years after the radical mastectomy, respectively. The vascularized free myocutaneous flaps were survived, however, in the pedicled myocutaneous flap group, the fat of the flaps had liquefaction 23 weeks after operation. The latter were healed after repeated dressings. The external appearance of the 4 reconstructed breasts lookedsattisfactory. The patients wete follwed up for 10 to 18 months, 2 patients hadno ill effects, while the 2 pedicled myocutaneous flaps, in which 1 patient hadbulging of the weakened abdominal wall, and the other had lost from follow up.
Objective To introduce a new design of the scapular flap.Methods The lateral descending cutaneous branch of the circumflex scapular artery was investigated in 10 cadavers with radiography. Based on the results, we usedthe scapular flap(from 8 cm×25 cm to 11 cm×35 cm) pedical on the lateral descending cutaneous branch of the circumflex scapular artery to reconstruct defects offaciocervical region after burning in 7 patients, with direct suture the donatearea,or skin grafting.Results Sever flaps survived completely, satisfactoryresults were obtained except 2 patients’ flap to need to be thinned during the following up.Conclusion This flap can be designed to extend to the inframamary fold, the donor-site scar of the flap is well hidden. The design of the flap broadens the application of the scapular flap.
From 1987, in 4 cases having muscle damage associated with extensive skin defeet, the repair was carried out by anastomosing the neurovascular pedicle of the free latissimus dorsi myocutaneous graft with the host. The patients were followed up from 6 months to 3 years. The muscle power of the injured part following repair had returned to about 4 degrees, and the external appearance and the function were satisfactory. The advantages and disadvantages of this operation, the preparation of the recipient area and the management of the tendon were discussed.
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.
Objective To reveal the fibrillar network in vitreous and the effect of plasmin on this network.Methods 20 vitreous gels of freshly slaughtered pigs were divided into 2 groups, the gels in first group were digested by 3 Uplasmin (3 U/ml) at 37c for 24 hours respectively, the second group received the same PBS as control. After digestion, gels were fixed in neutral buffered formalin solution. Samples from vitreous base, cortex and the central region were observed by the technique of freeze etching electron microscopy.Results In vitreous collagen fibril network was in a three-dimensional array, collagen fibril density showed marked differences, central vitreous had the sparse fibril density, the cortex denser and the basal vitreous densest. After digestion by plasmin, the collagen fibrillar network was destructed.Conclusion Collagen fibrils in vitreous present spatial arrangement regularly, plasmin can lead to destruction of the fibrillar network.(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2003，19：179-181)
OBJECTIVE: To sum up transplantation of free scapular flap to repairing injury of faciocervical region, 103 cases in past 16 years were reviewed. METHODS: The scapular flap contained the ascending, descending, and transverse branches of the circumflex scapular artery. The range of the flap was as following: across the scapular spine to the acromion in upper edge, to the level of anterior iliac spine in lower edge, to the bilateral middle axillary line in both sides. RESULTS: The clinical result was good. Fifty eight cases were followed up for 3 months to 10 years, the function of the faciocervical region was recovered with satisfied contour. In part of the patients, a second-stage operation was performed to make the flap thinner. CONCLUSION: The maximal range of the flap can be 45 cm x 16 cm. For its sufficient blood supply, it should be of no influence on survival of the flap if the window is open in suitable site. Because of its large range of donating region and sufficient blood supply, it is fit for children.
OBJECTIVE: To study the availability of transplantation of anterolateral femoral skin flap with absence of the first branch of musculocutaneous artery. METHODS: One hundred and sixty cases of anterolateral femoral skin flap transplantation in the past 15 years were reviewed, to investigate the relationship between the outcome of the transplantation and the types, distribution, original point, diameter of blood vessels. Among the 160 cases, there were 10 cases, 6.3% in total, of skin flap transplantation with the pedicle of high site direct cutaneous femoral artery, ranging from 10 cm x 14 cm to 12 cm x 18 cm in size, applied to repair soft tissue defect. RESULTS: There were 149 cases, among the 160 cases, survived and all the 10 cases of femoral skin flap transplantation with high site anterolateral cutaneous artery survived. CONCLUSION: The femoral skin flap with high site anterolateral cutaneous artery has good blood supply, larger size available, and easier operation. When the first branch of descending anterolateral femoral artery is absent, the femoral skin flap with high site anterolateral cutaneous artery is an optimal alternative.