Objective To explore the effectiveness of the improved pedicled superficial iliac circumflex artery flap for repairing serious wound of the hand and forearm. Methods Between June 2008 and June 2011, 13 cases of serious wound of the hand and forearm were treated. There were 9 males and 4 females with a mean age of 41 years (range, 23-64 years). The disease causes included twist injury by machine in 2 cases, wire rope squeezed injury in 4 cases, traffic accident injury in 3 cases, crushing injury in 2 cases, high voltage electrical injury in 1 case, and snake bites in 1 case. There were 10 cases of fresh wounds and 3 cases of infection and necrosis wounds, and all had bone and tendon exposure. The skin and soft tissue defects ranged from 7 cm × 3 cm to 22 cm × 6 cm. The pedicled iliac artery flap was used in 8 cases, and pedicled iliac artery composite flap in 5 cases. The flap size ranged from 12 cm × 4 cm to 27 cm × 8 cm, with the flap pedicle of 2-4 cm wide strip and 3-5 cm wide fascia. Results The pedicle of flap was cut at 3 weeks in 12 patients, and at 4 weeks in 1 patient who had partial avulsion and hemorrhage at 1 week after operation. All flaps survived and incisions at donors and wounds healed by first intention. Eleven patients were followed up 6-36 months (mean, 20 months). The flap color and texture were good; 3 bulky flaps were observed, and satisfactory appearance was achieved after skin flap thinning. After 6 months, the protective sensation recovered in all cases; according to the Hand Surgery Society of Chinese Medical Association evaluation of upper extremity function trial standard for total active motion of the fingers, the results were excellent in 9 cases, good in 1 case, and poor in 1 case. Conclusion Improved fascia pedicled superficial iliac circumflex artery skin flap can repair serious hand and forearm injury, which is easy-to-operate and less injury at donor site.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of skin flaps repairing severe thermopressure injury of hand. METHODS: From January 1989 to December 1998, 112 patients with severe thermopressure injury of hand were repaired by various skin flaps transfer, the size of skin flaps was 6 cm x 8 cm to 12 cm x 18 cm. Postoperative patients were treated by combined rehabilitation in early stage. RESULTS: All the flaps were survived with satisfactory effect. Sixty-six patients were followed up 6 to 12 months, skin flaps all showed better colour and texture, and function of the hand was satisfactory. CONCLUSION: Different skin flaps are adopted to repair severe thermopressure injury of the hand according to different skin defects of the hand, combined early rehabilitation treatment, to achieve good recovery of function and appearance of the hand to the greatest extent.
OBJECTIVE: To explore a new surgical management of multiple fingers degloving injury. METHODS: In 1994 to 1997, 47 cases with multiple fingers degloving injury were sutured by two reverse "s"-type skin flaps on abdominal flank. RESULTS: The skin flaps in 46 cases survived and the wounds obtained primary heal. CONCLUSION: The application of abdominal flank "s"-type skin flap is reliable and convenient in the treatment of multiple fingers degloving injury.
In order to resolve the shortcomings of traditional pedicled abdominal skin flap, the pedicled abdominal subcorium vascular-net flap was reformed and applied clinically. Twenty-eight cases with scar on hand or wrist were treated, including 20 males and 8 females. The age was ranged from 18 to 35 years old. The key point in the design was rotating 45 degrees of the flap from the primary site toward the pedicle. The ratio of the length to width of the flap was 1-1.8 : 1, and the wound of the donor site was covered by direct suture. Five to seven days later, all the flaps were divided and survived. The advantages of this flap were as follows: skin-grafting on the donor site was not necessary; the time needed for cutting the pedicle was shortened, and the flap is thinner than the traditional flap.
Based on the structure and motion bionic principle of the normal adult fingers, biological characteristics of human hands were analyzed, and a wearable exoskeleton hand function training device for the rehabilitation of stroke patients or patients with hand trauma was designed. This device includes the exoskeleton mechanical structure and the electromyography (EMG) control system. With adjustable mechanism, the device was capable to fit different finger lengths, and by capturing the EMG of the users’ contralateral limb, the motion state of the exoskeleton hand was controlled. Then driven by the device， the user’s fingers conducting adduction/abduction rehabilitation training was carried out. Finally, the mechanical properties and training effect of the exoskeleton hand were verified through mechanism simulation and the experiments on the experimental prototype of the wearable exoskeleton hand function training device.