Objective To investigate surgical strategies using bilateral pectoralis major muscle flaps for the treatment of sternal dehiscence after cardiac surgery. Methods From May 2005 to October 2010，21 patients with sternal dehiscence, sternal osteomyelitis and mediastinitis after cardiac surgery were admitted to Beijing An Zhen Hospital of Capital Medical University. There were 13 male patients and 8 female patients with their age of 53-72 （64.5±7.8） years. There were 19 patients after coronary artery bypass grafting （CABG） and 2 patients after heart valve replacement. The non-viable and necrotic bones were debrided and sternal wires partially or completely removed. The sternal origins of pectoralis major were released on both sides. The pectoralis major muscle flaps were tensionlessly sutured across medially over the sternal defect. Multiple suction drains were placed and removed in due time. The skin was intermittently closed. Results All the pectoralis major muscle flaps lived well after surgery，and all the patients were discharged in 2 weeks after surgery. Twenty patients were discharged with complete wound closure，and 1 patient had wound fistula and infection after removal of suction drains that was healed after another surgery to resect the wound fistula. During 6 month follow-up，sternal wound healed well in all the patients with normal thoracic appearance，and none of the patients had abnormal respiratory movement, infection recurrence or persistent infection. Conclusion Bilateral pectoralis major muscle flap technique is a positive and efficient surgical strategy for the treatment of refractory sternal dehiscence after cardiac surgery.
Objective To explore a surgical method for chronic osteomyel itis of sternum after thoracotomy. Methods From January 2006 to February 2009, 11 cases of chronic osteomyelitis after thoracotomy (2 cases of coronary bypass, 6 cases of mitral valve replacement, and 3 cases of ventricular defect repair) were admitted. Of them, there were 6 males and 5females, aged from 6 to 62 years (median 34 years), including 6 cases of simple osteomyelitis of sternum, 2 cases of osteomyelitis of sternum with suppurative infection of mediastinum, and 3 cases osteomyel itis of sternum with costal chondritis. Necrotic sternum were excised and defect was from 4 cm × 3 cm to 7 cm × 4 cm. Greater pectoral muscle flap was designed from 8 cm × 5 cm to 10 cm × 6 cm on one side and was transferred to defect. Negative drainage and sensitive antibiotics were administered after operation. Results Healing by first intention was achieved in 10 patients except 1 patient who had a few discharge at the drainage outlet and whose incision healed 1 week later. The follow up was from 3 to 10 months with an average of 6 months. The formed scars were flat with soft texture in 8 patients and moderately hypertrophy in 3 patients. The wounds healed without pain, relapse or abnormal function of donor upper limb. Conclusion Transplantation of greater pectoral muscle flap is an effective way to repair chronic osteomyelitis of sternum after thoracotomy.
Objective To discuss and evalue the effects and the advantages of pectoral is major myocutaneous flap in repair of defect caused by resection of tonsillar cancer. Methods The data were retrospectively summarized from 10 patients with recurrent tonsillar cancer after radical radiotherapy from January 1998 to December 2005, including 7 cases of squamouscell carcinoma, 2 cases of undifferentiated carcinoma, and 1 case of adenoid cystic carcinoma. There were 8 males and 2 females, aged 43-68 years with an average of 58 years. All cases were classified as stages III and IV before radiotherapy according to staging standard of oropharyngeal cancer (International Union Against Cancer, 1997). The time of relapse was 6-32 months after radiotherapy. Recurrent tonsil cancer invased tongue base, soft palate, posterior wall of pharyngeal, parapharyngeal space, and palate. Tumor size was from 4 cm × 2 cm to 8 cm × 5 cm. Seven cases were accompanied by lymph node metastasis. After carcinoma were completely resected and defects were reconstructed by pectoral is major myocutaneous flap of 7 cm × 5 cm- 12 cm × 9 cm. The donor sites were sutured directly. Results After operation, pectoral is major myocutaneous flap completely survived in 9 cases. Partial necrosis of pectoral is major myocutaneous flap was found in 1 case; after treatment, the necrotic flap remained small pharyngeal defect. Incision at donor site healed by first intention in 10 cases. All patients showed satisfactory functions of respiratory, voice, and swallowing with no compl ication. Ten patients were followed up 2 years to 5 years and 8 months. The 3-year survival rate was 66.7% (6/9), and the 5-year survival rate was 20.0% (1/5). Conclusion Pectoral is major muscle flap has a high survival rate, which is safe, rel iable, easy-to-operate, and can repair larger defect. Pectoral is major myocutaneous flap is an ideal material in repair of defect caused by resection of recurrent tonsillar carcinoma after radiotherapy.
Objective To investigate the clinical effect ofthe pectoralis major myocutaneous flap and Ti-plate system in repairing mandibular defects caused by resection of oral carcinoma.Methods From November 2001 to February 2003, 32patients with mandibular defect caused by resection of oral carcinoma were treated. Combined radical neck dissection with resection of gingival and mandible was performed on 11 patients with carcinoma of the lower gingival, combined radical neck dissection with glossectomy and mandibulectory on 13 patients with carcinoma of tongue, combined radical neck dissection with resection of floor of mouthand mandible on 4 patients with carcinoma of floor of mouth, and combined radical neck dissection with resection of cheek and mandible on 4 patients with carcinoma of buccal mucosa, respectively. The defects of mandible were associated with soft-tissue component, the sizes of defect ranged from 5.5 cm×7.6 cm to 8.2 cm×10.5 cm. The defects were reconstructed with 6 cm×7 cm to 9 cm×10 cm pectoralis major myocutaneous flaps and Tiplate system. The effect was studied retrospectively. Results Thirty-two cases were followed for 219 months; 29 cases offlaps survived and 3 cases of flaps partly necrosed (10% or less of the skin paddle). The appearance of face was satisfactory in 27 patients, and slight deformity of face was observed in 5 patients. The occluding relation and masticatory function were recovered well. Opening mouth extents ranged from 2.7 cm to 3.4 cm. No temporomandibular arthrosis relating to operation was found in all cases. Conclusion A combination of thhe pectoralis major myocut aneous flap and Ti-plate system is an ideal method for reconstruction of mandible defects associated with soft-tissue component after radical operation of oral carcinoma.
Objective To explore the outcome of hypopharynx reconstruction by using remaining laryngeal mucosa flap and pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in advanced pyriform sinus cancer.Methods Twelve patients with pyriform sinus cancers underwent hemilaryngectomy and partial pharyngectomy, two patients underwentcervical esophagectomy at the same time. The defects were reconstructed by remaining laryngeal mucosa flap. Four cases were involved in the bilateral larynx, received total laryngectomy and were repaired by pectoralis major myocutaneous flap. Results There was no operative fatal case and all flaps survived. Only one suffered from postoperative pharyngocutaneous fistulas, whose defect was reconstructed by remaining laryngeal mucosa flap and had radiotherapy. All patients could swallow ordinary food and had no benign esophagostenosis and pharyngostenosis after operation. Out of 16 pateints, 1 case died of general metastasis;3 cases died of local tumor relapse, tumor relapse of cervical lymphonode and lung metastasis respectively within 1 year after operation; the other 12 casessurvived over 2 years.Conclusion The advantage of hypopharynx reconstruction with remaining laryngeal mucosa flap is simple and convenient with less trauma and complication. The reconstruction should be completed by using the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap when the bilateral larynx are involved in.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical application of primary transfer of pectoralis major to reconstruct the elbow flexion and shoulder abduction. METHODS: 12 cases of old injury of branchial plexus with dysfunction of both elbow and shoulder joints were received surgical operation to reconstruct the palsy joints by primary transfer of pectoralis major, shoulder abduction was reconstructed by clavicular head and elbow flexion by sternal head respectively. All cases were followed up for 5 to 18 months. RESULTS: The function of both joints recovered obviously, the total superior rate is 91.7%. CONCLUSION: Only if the palsy joints, shoulder or elbow, remained normal or almost normal passive motion, and the muscle power of pectoralis major over 4 degrees, the primary transfer of pectoralis major should be a simple, reliable and convenient technique to reconstruct the palsy joints.
The pectoralis major muscle or myocutaneous flap is characterized by its easy dissection and free rotation, as well as abundance of blood supply and tissue mass of the flap, so that it was often used in repairing the wound over the mandibulo-cervico-thoracic area. From 1989 to 1996, 11 cases with long-standing wound of this area were difficult to repair with the traditional method, but were treated with transposition of this type of myocutaneous flap. The myocutaneous flap was applied in 8 case and muscle flap in 3 case. The flap area ranged from 12 cm x 8 cm to 26 cm x 18 cm. All the flaps survived, and excellent results were achieved. The technique and design of the operation were reported in details. It was concluded that the process was easy to perform, and the flap had abundant blood supply and high resistance to infection.
Twohundrednineteen orofaciomaxillary tumours, 18 benigns and 201 malignancies, were repaired by pectoralis major myocutaneous flaps following their resections. The types of flaps used in the repair were: single island myocutaneous flaps in 201 cases, doubleisland myocutaneous flaps in 16 cases, and myocutan eous skeletal flaps in 2 cases. The results were susscessful in 201 cases and failure in 18. The advantages and indications of using pectoralis major myocutaneous flaps were discussed. The method of design and its relevent surgical thechniques were introduced, and the factors responsible for the success and failure were analyzed. It is noted that the correct and meticulous operative techniques were the main factors leading to operative success.