OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effects of the microsurgical treatment for the skin-degloving injury of the whole hand or foot. METHODS: From March 1984 to October 2001, we treated 6 cases of skin-degloving injury of the whole hand and foot. In 2 cases of skin-degloving hands, one was treated with free great omentum transplantation plus skin graft, the other with pedical abdominal S-shaped skin flap as well as mid-thick skin graft. In 4 cases of skin-degloving injury of the foot, 2 cases was repaired with free latissimus dosi musculocutaneous flap, 1 case with distall-based lateral skin flap of the leg and 1 case with free tensor fasciae latae muscle flap. The flap size ranged from 7 cm x 9 cm to 22 cm x 15 cm. One case was operated on the emergency stage, the other 5 cases on the delayed stage. The delayed time ranged from 2 to 14 days with an average of 6.6 days. RESULTS: All the flaps survived. After 1-2 year follow-up, the appearance and function of the hand and the foot were good. CONCLUSION: Microsurgery technique in repairing skin-degloving injury of the whole hand and foot can achieve good results. The keys to success are thorough debridement of the recipient area, appropriate selection of the donor site, good vascular anastomosis and active postoperative rehabilitation.
OBJECTIVE: To study the management of extensive closed internal degloving injury (CIDI). METHODS: From September 1987 to October 1999, 18 cases of CIDI were retrospectively reviewed. Of 18 cases, there were 7 cases in thigh, 6 cases in legs and 5 cases in pelvis, ranging from 15 cm x 12 cm to 38 cm x 25 cm in size. Various managements were adopted according to the severity of the injury, including vacuum drainage and adjuvant compression in 5 cases, regrafting of defatting fenestrated full-thickness skin by non-resection in 8 cases, and skin grafting with transfer of myocutaneous flap in 5 cases. Among them, there were 11 cases of bone and articular fixation or repair, 4 cases of principal vessels repair. All of the cases were evaluated clinically and followed up for 6 months to 3 years. RESULTS: In the 8 cases repaired by regrafting of defatting fenestrated full-thickness skin, only one case of skin necrosis, 5 cm x 2 cm in size, recovered after skin grafting; the others healed well. All of the patients recovered normal life and had normal limbs. CONCLUSION: It’s crucial to make a careful assessment about the injury severity of CIDI, to stress on importance of management of both CIDI and deep injury, and to choose proper options after comprehensive assessment of the injury.