Objective To investigate the surgical methods and cl inical results of reconstructing soft tissue defects in dorsum of forefoot with distally based saphenous neurocutaneous flap of lower rotating point. Methods From January 2005 to August 2007, 6 cases of soft tissue defects in dorsum of forefoot, including 4 males and 2 females aged 28-53 years, were treated with the distally based saphenous neurocutaneous flaps of lower rotating point. The soft tissue defect was in left foot in 2 cases and in right foot in 4 cases. Five cases of soft tissue defects were caused by crush, and 1 case was caused by traffic accident. Tendons and bones were exposed in all cases. The defects after debridement were 7.0 cm × 5.0 cm to 9.0 cm × 5.5 cm in size. Emergency operation was performed in 2 cases and selective operation in 4 cases. Rotating point of the flaps was from 1 to 3 cm above medial malleolus. The size of the flaps ranged from 8.0 cm × 6.0 cm to 13.0 cm × 6.5 cm. Neuroanastomosis was performed in 2 cases of the flaps. Skin defects in donor site were repaired with thickness skin graft. Results Four cases of the transferred flaps survived completely and the other 2 cases began to swell and emerge water bl ister from the distant end of the flap after operation, which resulted in distal superficial necrosis of flaps, heal ing was achieved after change dressings and skin grafted. Skin graft in donor site survived completely in all cases. All cases were followed up from 6 to 18 months. The color and texture and thickness of theflaps were similar to reci pient site. Pain sensation and warmth sensation of the 2 flaps whose cutaneous nerve were anastomosed recovered completely, two point discrimination were 8 mm and 9 mm respectively. Sensation and warmth sensation of the 4 flaps whose cutaneous nerve were not anastomosed recovered partly. All patients returned to their normal walking and running activities and no ulceration occurred. No donor site morbidity was encountered. Conclusion Blood supply of the distally based saphenous neurocutaneous flap of lower rotating point is sufficient, the flap is especially useful for repair of soft tissue defects in dorsum of forefoot.
Objective To provide the anatomic basis for defect repair of the knee, leg, foot and ankle with great saphenous venosaphenous neurocutaneous vascular island flaps. Methods The origin, diameter, branches, distribution and anatomoses of the saphenous artery and saphenous neurocutaneous vascular were observed on 20 sides of adult leg specimens and 4 fresh cadaver voluntary legs. Another4 fresh cadaver voluntary legs were radiogeaphed with a soft X-ray system afterthe intravenous injection of Vermilion and cross-sections under profound fascial, otherhand, micro-anatomic examination was also performed in these 4 fresh cadaver legs. The soft tissue defects in lower extremity,upper extremity, heel or Hucou in handwere repaired with the proximal or distal pedicle flaps or free flaps in 18 patients(12 males and 6 females,aging from 7 to 3 years). The defect was caused by trauma, tumour, ulcer and scar.The locations were Hucou (1 case), upper leg(3 cases), lower extremity and heal (14 cases). Of then, 7 cases were complicatedby bone exposure, 3 cases by tendon exposure and 1 case by steel expouse. the defect size were 4 cm×4 cm to 7 cm×13 cm. The flap sizes were 4 cm×6 cm to 8 cm×15 cm, which pedicle length was 8-11 cm with 2.-4.0 cm fascia and 12 cm skin at width. Results Genus descending genicular artery began from 9.33±0.81 cm away from upper the condylus medialis, it branched saphenous artery accompanying saphenous nerve descendent. And saphenous artery reached the surface of the skin 7.21±0.82 cm away from lower the condylus medialis,and anastomosed with the branches of tibialis posterior artery, like “Y” or “T” pattern. The chain linking system of arteries were found accompanying along the great saphenous vein as saphenous nerve, and then a axis blood vessel was formed. The small artery of only 00-0.10 mm in diameter, distributed around the great saphenousvein within 58 mm and arranged parallelly along the vein like water wave in soft X-ray film. All proximal flaps,distal pedicle flaps and free flaps survived well. The appearance, sensation and function were satisfactory in 14 patientsafter a follow-up of 6-12 months. Conclusion The great saphenous vein as well as saphenous neurocutaneous has a chain linking system vascular net. A flap with the vascular net can be transplanted by free, by reversed pedicle, or by direct pedicle to repair the wound of upper leg and foot. A superficial vein-superficial neurocutaneous vascular flap with abundance blood supply and without sacrificing a main artery is a favouriate method in repair of soft tissue defects in foot and lower extremity.
Objective To investigatethe anatomic structure of the compound flap of distally-based saphenous nervegreat saphenous vein nutritional vessels so as to provide anatomic basis for the clinical operation. Methods The origin, branches, anastomosis of nutritional vessels of sural nerve-great saphenous vein, and the relationof blood supply of tibia and soleus muscle were observed on 30 low limb specimens of adult cadaver, which were perfused with red gelatin to dissect from the artery. Results The nutritional vessels of sural nerve-great saphenous vein originated from: the saphenous artery 3-5 branches with a diameter of 0.7±0.4 mm；the cutaneous branches of medial inferior genicular artery, diameter of 0.7±0.2 mm；the intermuscular space perforating branches of posterior tibial artery 2-7 branches with a diameter of 1.0±0.2 mm，the internus halfside of the muscular branches nutrient soleus muscle；the perforating osteoseptocutaneous 1-2 branches with a diameter of 1.3±0.3 mm; the perforating branches of superior malleolus with a diameter of 0.6±0.2 mm; the perforating branches of medial anterior malleolus with a diameter of 0.8±0.3 mm. A vascularnetwork of 3 layers, which included periosteum, deep artery, and fascia nerve and superficial vein, was formed by those branches of deep artery, fascia branches, periosteum branches, and nerve-vein nutrition branches. Conclusion The nutritional vessels of saphenous nerve-great saphenous vein has the same origin as muscles, bones, and cutaneous nutritional vessels. It provides anatomic basis for the compound flap of distally-based saphenous nerve nutritional vessels.
Objective To investigate the clinical feasibility of different types of the saphenous neuro-veno-fascial cutaneous flaps. Methods From June 1996 to October 2002, 18 cases of skin defects in the knee and the lower part of the limb were treated with proximally(4 cases) or distally(11 cases) based pedicles of saphenous neuro-venofascial cutaneous flap or crossleg flap (3 cases)according to the site of defects . The sizes of the flaps ranged from 4 cm×5 cm to 9 cm×20 cm. Results The flaps survived completely in 17 cases, distal 1/5 of the flap necrosed partially in 1 case because of vein drainage disturbance. The colour and texture of flaps were excellent, the appearance and function were satisfactory after a follow up of 6-24 months.Conclusion The saphenous neuro-veno-fascial cutaneous flap is an idea flap in repairing skin defects of the knee, the leg, the ankle and the foot because it is easy to be designed and dissected and it has reliable blood supply and preserved main artery. The relationship between the septal perforating branches of the tibial posteriorartery and survival size of flap need to be investigated further.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of a new method to repair severe soft tissue defects of the leg, foot, and ankle with contralateral saphenous neurocutaneous vascular flaps combined with assembly external frisket for fixation in parallel-leg position. MethodsBetween August 2009 and August 2013, 29 cases with leg, foot, or ankle wound were treated. There were 18 males and 11 females, with an average age of 37.6 years (range, 11-65 years). The interval of injury and operation was 14-36 days (mean, 22.3 days). The locations were the planta pedis and heel in 5 cases, the dorsal foot in 2 cases, the ankle in 4 cases, middle and lower leg in 14 cases, and upper leg in 4 cases. The area of trauma ranged from 5 cm×3 cm to 19 cm×9 cm. The assembly external frisket was used for fixation in parallel-leg position; a bridge flap was transplanted to repair defects, and the area of flap ranged from 6 cm×4 cm to 22 cm×11 cm. The donor sites were directly sutured or repaired with skin graft. The pedicle of the bridge flap was cut off and the assembly external frisket was removed after 3-4 weeks. ResultsThe flaps in all patients survived completely; primary healing of wound and incision at donor site was obtained. The patients were followed up 6-18 months (mean, 13.2 months). The appearance of flaps was satisfactory, and the sensation of the heel recovered. Moreover, the patients had a comfortable feeling, and the ankle and knee joints can move freely, and had good function. ConclusionThe assembly external frisket in parallel-leg position instead of cross-leg can make patients comfortable position, and achieve reliable fixation. The saphenous neurocutaneous vascular flap has the advantages of no need for anastomosis vein and for sacrifice of the main vein. Contralateral saphenous neurocutaneous vascular flap combined with assembly external frisket for fixation in parallel-leg position is a favorite method to repair severe soft tissue defects of the leg, foot, and ankle.