ObjectiveTo introduce a modified technique of a sloped skin island design for the distally based sural nuerofasciocutaneous flap to reconstruct soft tissue defects longitudinal in distal pretibial region or transverse in the heel and ankle, and report the effectiveness of the modified technique. MethodsBetween April 2001 and January 2016, 37 patients (38 defects) with longitudinal defects in distal pretibial region or transverse defects in the heel and ankle were treated with the sural nuerofasciocutaneous flap with slope-designed skin island. These patients included 28 males and 9 females, with a median age of 37 years (range, 5-78 years). The horizontal and vertical dimensions ranged from 3 to 8 cm and 8.5 to 14.5 cm in 11 distal pretibial defects, and from 9 to 21 cm and 3.0 to 10.5 cm in 27 heel and ankle defects, respectively. The disease duration ranged from 2 days to 5 years. ResultsWhen the skin islands were routinely designed, the skin islands of 25 flaps would exceed the lateral limit (the anterior border of the fibula) laterally or medial limit (the medial border of the tibia) medially. After the skin islands were obliquely designed, the horizontal dimensions in 38 flaps decreased an average of 5.4 cm (range, 2.5 to 14.8 cm), and the vertical dimensions increased an average of 5.3 cm (range, 2 to 15 cm). The rotation angles ranged from 42° to 90°, with an average of 67°. Thirty-five flaps survived uneventfully. Margin necrosis occurred in 2 flaps, and partial necrosis in 1 (2.6%) flap. The grafted skins at donor site survived, and primary healing of incision was obtained. All patients were followed up 6 to 42 months (mean, 10 months). No infection or ulceration was noted during the follow-up period, and the appearances of the flaps were satisfactory. At last follow-up, according to Boyden et al criteria, the limb function was excellent in 30 cases, good in 6 cases, and poor in 2 cases, with the excellent and good rateof 94.7%. ConclusionWhen the distal sural nuerofasciocutaneous flap is used to reconstruct soft tissue defects longitudinal in distal pretibial region or transverse in the heel and ankle, the modified technique of sloped skin island design can decrease the horizontal dimension of the skin island, improve the flap survival rate, and extend its indications.
Different generations of biomedical materials are analyzed in this paper. The current clinical uses of plates made of metals, polymers or composite materials are evaluated, and nano hydroxyapatite/polylactic acid composites and carbon/carbon composite plates are introduced as emphasis. It is pointed out that the carbon/carbon composites are of great feasibility and advantage as a new generation of biomedical materials, especially in the field of bone plate. Compared to other biomaterials, carbon/carbon composites have a good biocompatibility and mechanical compatibility because they have similar elastic modulus, porosity and density to that of human bones. With the development of the technology in knitting and material preparation, carbon/carbon composite plates have a good application prospect.
ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to compare the value of SEEG and subdural cortical electrodes monitoring in preoperative evaluation of epileptogenic zone. MethodsFeatures of patients using SEEG (48 cases) and subdural cortical electrodes monitoring (52 cases) to evaluate the epileptogenic zone were collected from June 2011 to June 2015. And the evaluation results, surgical effects and complications were compared. ResultsThere was no significant difference between SEEG and subdural cortical electrodes monitoring in identifying the epileptogenic zone or taking epileptic surgery, but SEEG could monitor multifocal and bilateral epileptogenic zone. And there was no significant difference in postoperative seizure control and intelligence improvement (P > 0.05). The total complication rate of SEEG was lower than subdural cortical electrodes monitoring, especially in hemorrhage and infection (P < 0.05). ConclusionsThere was no difference among SEEG and subdural cortical electrodes monitoring in surgical results, but SEEG with less hemorrhagic and infectious risks. SEEG is a safe and effective intracranial monitoring method, which can be widely used.