OBJECTIVE: To explore a method to repair severe radiation-induced ulcer and evaluate its clinical effects. METHODS: From August 1988 to December 1998, 12 cases of severe radiation-induced ulcer were treated by muscular or musculocutaneous flap transfer, which included 1 case of pectoralis major muscular flap, 3 cases of three-lobed transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap, 2 cases of latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap, 1 case of tensor fascia lata musculocutaneous flap, 1 case of longitudinal rectus abdominis musculocutaneous and tensor fascia lata musculocutaneous flap, 1 case of gastrocnemius muscular flap, 1 case of gluteus major musculocutaneous flap, huge filleted musculocutaneous flap from lower limbs in 1 case and from upper limbs in 1 cases. RESULTS: All the flaps survived. Primary healing occurred in 9 cases and secondary healing in 3 cases. The extensive multiple ulcers in 2 cases were repaired with filleted limb musculocutaneous flap, and patients were saved. And in other 3 cases, the chest wall defect as the result of radionecrosis were repaired with simultaneous breast reconstruction. CONCLUSION: Muscular or musculocutaneous flaps have abundant blood supply, they are ideal tissue to fill the cavity and repair the defect, especially in repairing severe radiation-induced ulcers.
OBJECTIVE To investigate the reconstructional method of posterior wall of vagina after the resection of rectum carcinoma. METHODS From August 1991 to March 1996, 10 patients with rectum carcinoma were adopted in this study, among them, there were 4 cases belong to B stage of Dukas, and 6 cases belong to C stage of Dukes. In operation, rectum carcinoma and posterior wall of vagina were resected, and concurrent reconstruction was finished by using pedicled muscular flap of uterus. RESULTS The effect of operation were satisfactory except one case who was failed because of insufficient blood supply of the flap. Followed-up for 3-6 months, the posterior wall of vagina healed in 7 cases, the width of vagina was 2-3 fingers and the depth was 5-6 cm. CONCLUSION Reconstruction of the posterior wall of vagina with pedicled muscular flap of uterus was available in clinic. For its simplicity and feasibility, it’s suitable for the resection of rectum carcinoma in which the posterior wall of vagina was infiltrated.