Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of hamstring tendon and flexor hallucis longus (FHL) tendon autograft for Achilles tendon defects reconstruction. Methods Between February 2009 and October 2011, 9 patients (9 feet) with Achilles tendon defect were treated with hamstring tendon and FHL tendon autograft. Of 9 cases, 6 were male and 3 were female with an average age of 43 years (range, 21-65 years), including 5 cases of chronic Achilles tendon ruptures caused by sport injury and 4 cases of Achilles tendon defects caused by resection of tendon lesion (2 cases of hyaline degeneration with necrosis, 1 case of giant cell tumor, and 1 case of chronic inflammation with hyaline degeneration). The disease duration ranged from 31 to 387 days (mean, 137.6 days). The defect length was 5 to 18 cm (mean, 8.6 cm). Functional exercise of the ankle began at 6 weeks after plaster fixation. Results Dehiscence and effusion occurred in 2 cases and plantar pain caused by injury of tibial nerve in 1 case; primary healing of wound was obtained in the other patients without complication. Nine patients were followed up 19.7 months on average (range, 13-25 months); no re-rupture was observed. There was no significant difference in the dorsal extension between at preoperation and at 1 year and last follow-up after operation (P gt; 0.05); the ankle plantar flexion at 1 year and last follow-up after operation was significantly larger than that at preoperation (P lt; 0.05). The ankle plantar flexion and dorsal extension at 1 year and last follow-up after operation were significantly larger than those at 3 months after operation (P lt; 0.05), but no significant difference was found between at 1 year and last follow-up (P gt; 0.05). American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) and short-form 36 health survey scale (SF-36) scores were significantly increased at postoperation when compared with scores at preoperation (P lt; 0.05), and the scores at last follow-up were significantly higher than those at 3 months after operation (P lt; 0.05). The Achilles tendon total rupture score (ATRS) at last follow-up was significantly higher than that at 3 months after operation (t= — 7.982, P=0.000). Conclusion Combined hamstring tendon and FHL tendon autograft is one of the effect methods to reconstruction Achilles tendon defects.
Objective To explore the effectiveness of anterolateral thigh fasciocutaneous flap for repair of skin and soft tissue defect and simultaneous Achilles tendon reconstruction with modified methods of ilio-tibial bundle suture. Methods Between October 2009 and June 2011, 10 cases of Achilles tendon and soft tissue defects were treated. There were 7 males and 3 females, aged from 5 to 60 years (median, 40 years). Injury was caused by spoke in 5 cases, by heavy pound in 3 cases, and by traffic accident in 2 cases. The time between injury and admission was 2-24 hours (mean, 8 hours). The size of wound ranged from 11 cm × 7 cm to 18 cm × 10 cm; the length of Achilles tendon defect was 4-10 cm (mean, 7 cm). Three cases complicated by calcaneal tuberosity defect. After admission, emergency debridement and vacuum sealing drainage were performed for 5-7 days, anterolateral thigh fasciocutaneous flap transplantation of 11 cm × 7 cm to 20 cm × 12 cm was used to repair skin and soft tissue defects, and improved method of ilio-tibial bundle suture was used to reconstruct Achilles tendon. The flap donor site was closed directly or repaired with skin grafting to repair. Results All flaps and the graft skin at donor site survived, healing of wounds by first intention was obtained. All patients were followed up 6-18 months (mean, 10 months). The flap was soft and flexible; the flap had slight encumbrance in 3 cases, and the others had good appearance. At last follow-up, two-point discrimination was 2-4 cm (mean, 3 cm). The patients were able to walk normally. The range of motion (ROM) of affected side was (24.40 ± 2.17)° extension and (44.00 ± 1.94)° flexion, showing no significant difference when compared with ROM of normal side [(25.90 ± 2.33)° and (45.60 ± 1.84)° ] (t=1.591, P=0.129; t=1.735, P=0.100). According to Arner-Lindhoim assessment method for ankle joint function, all the patients obtained excellent results. Conclusion A combination of anterolateral thigh fasciocutaneous flap for repair of skin and soft tissue defects and simultaneous Achilles tendon reconstruction with modified methods of ilio-tibial bundle suture is beneficial to function recovery of the ankle joint because early function exercises can be done.
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of cryopreservation on the cell survival rate, cell viability, early apoptosis, migration ability, and tendon-related marker expression of tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) in rat patellar tendons.MethodsThe patellar tendon tissues were harvested from 12 4-month-old male Sprague Dawley rats; 12 patellar tendon tissues from 6 rats were cryopreserved (the experimental group), and the other 12 patellar tendon tissues were not treated (the control group). The patellar tendons were digested with 0.3% type I collagenase to obtain nucleated cells. The survival rate of nucleated cells was detected by trypan blue exclusion assay, and colony-forming ability by crystal violet staining. TDSCs were isolated and cultured to passage 3 (P3). The cell viability of TDSCs was detected by Alamar Blue method, the early apoptosis by Annexin V-FITC/PI assay, the cell migration ability by Transwell method, and the mRNA expressions of tendon-related markers [collagen type I (Col1α1), scleraxis (Scx), and tenomodulin (Tnmd)] by real-time quantitative PCR.ResultsThe survival rate of nucleated cells was 91.00%±3.63% in the control group, and was 61.65%±4.76% in the experimental group, showing significant difference (t=12.010, P=0.000). The formation of the primary nucleated cell clones was observed in 2 groups. At 12 days, the number of colonies forming of the experimental group [(8.41±0.33)/1 000 nucleated cells] was significantly lower than that of the control group [(15.19±0.47)/1 000 nucleated cells] (t=28.910, P=0.000). The percentage of TDSCs in the active nucleated cells in the experimental group (1.37%±0.09%) was significantly lower than that in the control group (1.67%±0.10%) (t=5.508, P=0.003). The growth trend of TDSCs (P3) in the 2 groups was consistent within 14 days. There was no significant difference in absorbance (A) value between 2 groups at each time point (P>0.05). The early apoptotic rate of TDSCs was 1.67%±0.06% in the experimental group and was 1.63%±0.06% in the control group, showing no significant difference (t=0.707, P=0.519). Under microscope, TDSCs adhered to the lower chamber of the Transwell chamber; the number of cells was 445.00±9.70 in the experimental group and was 451.50±12.66 in the control group, showing no significant difference (t=0.998, P=0.342). The relative mRNA expressions of Col1α1, Scx, and Tnmd were 3.498±0.065, 0.062±0.002, and (4.211±0.211)×10–5 in the experimental group and were 3.499±0.113, 0.062±0.001, and (4.341±0.274)×10–5 in the con-trol group, showing no significant difference (t=0.013, P=0.991; t=0.042, P=0.969; t=0.653, P=0.549).ConclusionThe survival rate of nucleated cells in cryopreserved rat tendon tissues is lower, but a large number of active TDSCs, and its cell viability, early apoptosis rate, migration ability in vitro, and cell tenogenic differentiation ability are remained.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of anterolateral femoral flap in combination with fascia lata grafting in repair of large Achilles tendon and skin defects.MethodsThe clinical data of 18 patients with large Achilles tendon and skin defects repaired with anterolateral femoral flap in combination with fascia lata grafting between January 2018 and January 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 14 males and 4 females; age ranged from 32 to 57 years (mean, 42.1 years). There were 9 cases of postoperative infection of Achilles tendon rupture, 1 case of traffic accident injury, and 8 cases of combined infection of skin and Achilles tendon defects after heel trauma. The length of Achilles tendon defect was 4-8 cm, with an average of 5.6 cm; the range of the skin defect was 14 cm×3 cm to 20 cm×5 cm. Flap survival was observed, and ankle function recovery was evaluated according to McComis functional assessment criteria, and dorsal extension and plantar flexion mobility of the affected limb were measured at last follow-up and compared with those of the healthy side.ResultsEighteen cases were followed up 8-24 months, with an average of 16.7 months. All the flaps survived after operation, the flaps were soft and elastic, and the incisions healed by first intention. At last follow-up, 15 cases were excellent, 2 cases were good, and 1 case was acceptable according to McComis functional evaluation criteria, with an excellent and good rate of 94.4%. The two-point discrimination of the heel posterior region of the affected foot was 4-7 mm, with an average of 5.32 mm. The heel-raise test was negative. The dorsiflexion range of the affected side was (21.55±1.26)°, which was significantly different from that of the healthy side (25.23±1.45)° (t=8.128, P=0.000); the plantar flexion of the affected side was (44.17±1.52)°, which was not significantly different from that of the healthy side (46.13±1.31)° (t=0.444, P=0.660).ConclusionThe application of anterolateral femoral flap in combination with fascia lata grafting for the repair of large Achilles tendon and skin defects can achieve good effectiveness.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of groin flap with external oblique aponeurosis in repair of tendon and skin defects of dorsal foot. Methods Between October 2016 and January 2020, 12 patients with compound tissue defects of the dorsal foot caused by trauma were treated. There were 9 males and 3 females, with a median age of 42 years (range, 32-65 years). The size of the skin defects ranged from 8 cm×5 cm to 12 cm×8 cm. All wounds were accompanied by extensor tendon injury, including 6 cases of extensor hallucis longus tendon defect, 5 cases of extensor digitalis longus tendon defect, and 3 cases of extensor digitalis longus tendon and extensor digitorum brevis defects. The interval between injury and admission was 1-6 hours (mean, 3 hours). After admission, the wounds were thoroughly debrided, and the groin flap with external oblique aponeurosis was used to repair the skin and tendon defects in the second stage. The size of skin flap ranged from 10 cm×6 cm to 13 cm×9 cm, and the size of the external oblique aponeurosis ranged from 5.5 cm×3.0 cm to 8.0 cm×5.0 cm. The wounds at donor sties were sutured directly. Results All flaps survived completely without significant complications. All incisions of the recipient and donor sites healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 16-24 months (mean, 18 months). The flaps were satisfactory in appearance and soft in texture. At last follow-up, 9 cases were excellent and 3 cases were good according to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) metatarsophalangeal-interphalangeal joint scale criteria. The toe function was satisfactory. The line scar was left without hernia or other morbidity on the donor site. Conclusion The groin flap with the external oblique aponeurosis can repair the tendon and skin defects of the dorsal foot, with concealed donor site, easy dissection and adjustable thinness, as well as the enough tough aponeurosis.