Objective To summarize and review the development and experience of anastomosis vascular pedicle free composite tissue flap. Methods From July 1987 to March 2007， 321 patients with complete records were treated. Fourteen tissue flaps were applied for the repair of trauma or tumor excision defects of the body, and for organ reconstruction. Results Vascular crisis occurred in 20 patients within 48 hours postoperatively. Necrosis occurred at flap end in 6 patients. The total survival rate was 94.8%. The main experience was: ① Training to grasp the basic microvascular anastomosis technique was very importantstarting up period for surgeons. The basic technique should be often practiced to ensure the safty of clinical application. ②Restoring appearance and function were equally important in practice.③Utilizing the minimal invasive methods and decreasing the loss of function of donor site were important for improvement of reconstruction quality. The purpose was to achieve functional and esthetic restoration in the condition of lowest donor site scarification. Conclusion The application of free composite tissue flap is important for the development of plastic surgery. There are extensive applications for free flap, especially for those critical patients. The application of free flap could decrease the mobility rate, shorten the treatment period, ease the pain of patients and improve the reconstruction effect. The experience of donor site selection, the strategy of poor recipient site condition, the advantages and disadvantages of muscle flap, the applications time, infections wound treatment and application, are helpful for the future application.
Objective o study the feasibility of homologous vascularized nerve transplantation after ultra deep cryopreservation. Methods Vascularized sciatic nerve from 12 female dogs was transplanted after ultra deep cryopreservation. Fortyeight male dogs were divided into 4 groups: ultra deep cryopreservation homologous vascularized nerve (group A), ultra deep cryopreservation homologous nerve (group B), fresh homologous vascularized nerve (group C), and fresh autologous vascularized nerve (group D). The gross appearance, patency rate of arteryand morphological transplanted nerve were observed 1, 4 and 12 weeks after transplantation respectively. Immunological analysis was performed using IL 2 assay and T lymphocyte subpopulations assay after 4 weeks. Image pattern analysis andelectromyogram were observed after 12 weeks. Results In groups A and D, no toe ulcer occurred, the atrophy of later limb and the sense of pain from skin of calf were restore significantly in the postoperative 12th week. In groups B and C, toe ulcer occurred, the atrophy of later limb and the sense of pain from skin of calf were not restored significantly in the postoperative 12thweek. The vessel patency rate of groups A and D was 83.3%, which was significantly higher than that of group C (50%,Plt;0.05). The changes of IL2 and Th, Ts in group C were significantly higher than that in groups A,B,D(Plt;0.01). There were increased vessel and regenerated nerve in transplanted nerve under optical microscope and image pattern analysis in groups A and D. There were shorter latent period of motor evoked potential, greater amplitude of action potenlial and faster motor nerve conducting velocity in groups A and D after 12 weeks. Conclusion The antigenicity of the homologous never and vessel may be reduced significantly by being frozen, and cryopreserved vascularized nerve can transferred successfully without the use of immunosuppressive agents. Vascularized nerve may restore good significantly for the thick nerve.
Objective To observe the survival rate of reversed-flow free flap after anastomosing one venous reverse flow and to explore the change of intravenous pressure and mechanism of venous reverse flow. Methods Thefree vascularized posterior tibial flap with reversed flow was successfully established in NewZealand white rabbits.Fifteen rabbits were randomly allocated into 3 groups of 30 flaps. In group A,two vena comitans were anastomosed.In groups B and C,only onevenae comitans was anastomosed. In groups A and B,intravenous pressure was measured immediately and 30,60 and 120 minutes after anastomosing the vascular pedicle.Flap survival rate of group B was measured after two weeks. In group C, radiography of one venae comitans was observed.The diameters of posterior tibial vessels was measured on all the rabbits before anastomosing the vascular pedicle. Results The diameters of posterior tibial artery was 8.0±0.3mm and of vena comitans was 11.0±0.5 mm。The intravenous pressure of group B increased rapidly and reached its top value after about 30 minutes (P＜0.05).It then decreased and approached normal level after about 60 minutes (Pgt;0.05).The intravenous pressure was not significantly different between groups A and B in each time interval (Pgt;0.05).Two flapsresulted in avulsion,infection and necrosis.The remaining 8 flaps survived completely.Most of the radiopaque in group C flew back to the proximal tibia one hourlater. Conclusion Venous retrograde return is abundant in reverseflow free flap of anatomosing one vena comitans.The main way of venous reflux in reverseflow free flap can be through “direct incompetent valve route”.
Objective To investigate the treatment of extensive bone defect of distal femur caused by various diseases in adults. Methods From February 1998 to December 2002, 6 cases(aged from 19 to 37) of extensive bone defects of distal femur were treated with two free vascularized fibulae, whose defects were caused by resection ofbone tumor, osteomyelitis and trauma. After the resection of distal femur and articular surface of tibia, the fibulae were transplanted and fixed with screws. And the periosteum of the two fibulae was dissected and sutured with each other.Results The average follow-up time was 3.3 years. Twofree vascularized fibulae could give more support to the body and the bone union of the fibulae was possible when the periosteum was incised and sutured with each other. As time went on, both of the medullary canal reunioned to form a new canal as a whole, which would make the grafts ber. Conclusion Autograft with two free vascularized fibulae can increase the stability in treating extensive bone defect of distal femur, but the union of knee joint will make flexion and extension impossible.
In the study of repair of massive bone defect with free vascularized fibula graft, 13 cases were reported, in which traumatic defect in 7 cases, segmental resection of bone from tumors in 5 cases and osteomylitis in 1 cases. They all were treated successfully with vascularized fibular graft. After a follow-up of 6 months to 7 year, bone healing was observed with satisfactory and rehabilitation of functions. In one case, fatigued fracture occured twice due to early walking. It was concluded that free vascularized fibular graft was very helpful in the repair of massive bone defect, but prolonged external fixation after operation might be important to prevent fractur of grafted bone.
There were several methods, such as free single and folded fibulae autograft, composed tissue autograft, however, it is still very difficult to repair long segment bone defect. In December 1995, we used free juxtaposed bilateral fibulae autograft to repair an 8 cm of femoral bone defect in a 4 years old child in success. The key procedure is to strip a portion of the neighboring periosteal sleeve of juxtaposed fibulae to make bare of the opposite sides of the bone shafts, suture the opposite periosteal sleeves, keep the nutrient arteries, and reconstruct the blood circulation of both fibular by anastomosis of the distal ends of one fibular artery and vein to the proximal ends of the other fibular artery and vein, and anastomosis of the proximal ends of the fibular artery and vein to lateral circumflex artery and vein. After 22 months follow up, the two shafts of juxtaposed fibulae fused into one new bone shaft. The diameter of the new bone shaft was nearly the same as the diameter of the femur. There was only one medullary cavity, and it connected to the medullary cavity of femur. This method also cold be used to repair other long segment bone defect.
From 1979, a total of 5 cases of giant cell tumor of the lower end of radius were treated by segmental resection, and vascularized fibular head transplantation, and reconstruction of the inferior radio-ulnar joint. The bone healed within 2-3 months. The patients were followed for 5-10 years. There was no recurrence, nor distant metastasis, and the functional recovery of extremities was satisfactory.The clinical materials, the operative techniques and the assessment of the long-term results were introduced.
From the observation of 33 specimens of the lower extremities it was discovered that at a point where 15cm below the pubic tubercle, at the lateral or medial border of the sartorius muscle, the femoral artery gave rise a cutancous artery supplying the skin of the anteromiddle of the thigh. At the same area, the skin was innervated by the cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve. According to this anatomic peculiarity of the distribution of the artery and nerve, a skin flap having neurovascular bundle could be constructed from that area for distant transfer. From 1989, this technique had been done in 4 cases with satisfactory results. The related anatomy, operative design, surgical technique and the clinical results were detailed.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness and technical key points of limb salvage surgery by allotransplantation of cryopreservated vascularized bone in children and adolescents with osteosarcoma. MethodsA retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 21 children and adolescents with osteosarcoma receiving limb salvage surgery by allotransplantation of cryopreservated vascularized bone from their relatives between February 2004 and April 2012. There were 13 males and 8 females, aged from 7 to 16 years (mean, 12.6 years). According to Enneking stage system, 15 cases were rated as stage ⅡA and 6 cases as stage ⅡB. The tumors located at the distal femur in 10 cases, at the proximal femur in 1 case, at the proximal tibia in 8 cases, at the proximal humerus in 1 case, and at the distal radius in 1 case. Imaging examination showed that epiphyseal extension of malignant bone tumors in 7 cases. The iliac bone allograft with deep iliac vessels was obtained from their lineal consanguinity. After preservation by a twostep freezing schedule, the iliac bone allograft with deep iliac vessels was implanted into the bone defect area after tumor resection. The size of iliac bone flap was 8.0 cm×3.0 cm×2.0 cm-14.0 cm×5.0 cm×2.5 cm. Reserved joint surgery was performed on 16 cases and joint fusion surgery on 5 cases, and external fixation was used in all cases. The chemotherapy was given according to sequential high-dose methotraxate, adriamycin, and cisplatine before and after operation. ResultsAll 21 cases were followed up from 5 months to 11 years (mean, 6.4 years). At 2 weeks after operation, the erythrocyte rosette forming cells accounted for 56.7%±3.9%, showing no significant difference when compared with that of normal control (58.3%±4.3%) (t=1.56, P=0.13), which suggested no acute rejection. At 4 weeks after operation, single photon emission computerized tomography bone scan indicated that the blood supply of bone graft was rich, and the metabolism was active. At 12 weeks after operation, the digital subtraction angiography showed the artery of iliac bone flap kept patency. X-ray films showed that malunion and non-union occurred at 5 and 6 months after operation in 1 case, respectively. The bone graft healed in the other patients, and the healing time was 3.2-6.0 months (mean, 4.4 months). At last follow-up, American Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score was significantly improved to 26.80±2.14 from preoperative value (17.15±1.86) (t=-4.15, P=0.00). The survival rate was 85.7% (18/21) and the recurrence rate was 9.5% (2/21). ConclusionAllotransplantation of cryopreservated vascularized bone from the relatives provides a new method for the treatment of osteosarcoma in children and adolescents. A combination of allotransplantation and chemotherapy can achieve the ideal treatment effect. The correct cutting, preservation, and transplantation of the donor bone, and indication are the key to improve the effectiveness.