ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of self-made limb chronic wound closure device in the treatment of scarred lower limbs and complex skin and soft tissue defects.MethodsBetween January 2014 and January 2017, 29 patients with complex fractures of the lower extremities and skin and soft tissue defects were treated. There were 19 males and 10 females with an average age of 31.1 years (range, 21-66 years). The causes of injury included 14 cases of traffic accidents, 5 cases of falling from height, 4 cases of heavy object crushing injury, 4 cases of mechanical crushing injury, and 2 cases of exposed steel plate after fracture. There were 26 cases of calf fracture and skin defect, 3 cases of metatarsal bone fracture and skin defect of the foot. The skin defect ranged from 5 cm×3 cm to 18 cm×8 cm. The time from injury to admission was 5-31 days, with an average of 14.3 days. All patients underwent a thorough debridement, open wound drainage, self-made chronic wound closure device combined with Ilizarov stretching technique for a slow skin and soft tissue traction. After the wound was cleaned up and the granulation tissue was freshened, the skins on both sides were closed, and then proceed to the second stage operation of skin grafting or direct suture closure based on the size of the wound.ResultsAll patients were followed up 8-20 months, with an average of 13 months. Twenty-nine patients were treated with self-made chronic wound closure device combined with Ilizarov technique for 1-2 times with an average of 1.3 times, then the wound infection was controlled and the granulation tissue grew well. In the course of treatment, the pain was not obvious and the patients had good compliance. All patients’ wounds healed clinically without skin traction complications and formed linear or flaky scars.ConclusionThe self-made chronic wound closure device is effective in repairing complex scarred wounds of lower extremities, and it is easy to operate.
ObjectiveThe anatomical calcaneal external fixator was designed by measuring and calculating the morphological data of the heel.MethodsA total of 100 normal people were randomly selected to obtain 200 hind foot data, including 45 males and 55 females, with an average age of 43.9 years (range, 19-67 years). According to the principles of human engineering and local anatomy, the morphological data of the heel in the weight-bearing standing position and supine position were measured with the direct measurement mode. The heel length, heel width, heel height, medial ankle height, lateral ankle height, and calcaneal pitch angle (CPA) were measured by vernier calipers and ulnar markers in weight-bearing standing position, and the gender groups and left and right foot groups were compared; the shape of the hind foot in the supine position was measured by three-dimensional (3D) dot matrix inverse model method. According to the stereoscopic data of the comprehensive anatomical morphology of the heel, the anatomical calcaneal external fixator was designed with AutoCAD 2019 and other 3D industrial design softwares.ResultsThe measurements of shoe size, heel length, heel width, heel height, medial ankle height, lateral ankle height, and CPA in male were significantly higher than those in female (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the left and right feet in the other indexes except that the height of the medial malleolus of the left foot was significantly lower than that of the right foot (t=−2.827, P=0.005). The measurement of 3D dot matrix inverse model in supine position showed that the heel part was non-circular arc edge, and many groups of arc edges fluctuate in a limited range. Based on the above data, an anatomical calcaneal external fixator was designed, which could fit the anatomic radian in theory, so as to be flexible in configuration. On this basis, the ordinary configuration, compression configuration, and orthodontic configuration were designed to meet the treatment needs of calcaneal fractures in different degrees. The ordinary configuration was suitable for patients with Sanders Ⅰ, ⅡA, and ⅡB calcaneal fractures with no or slight displacement of intra-articular fractures; the ordinary configuration was mainly used for simple fixing. The compression configuration was suitable for patients with Sanders ⅡC, ⅢA, and ⅢB, tongue fractures, and avulsion fractures with severe displacement of intra-articular fractures; the compression configuration used obliquely drawn console wires to fix the displaced bones. The orthodontic configuration was suitable for patients with Sanders ⅢC and Ⅳ calcaneal fractures with severe displacement of intra-articular fractures or severe calcaneal bone defects; the orthodontic configuration was a multi-module design, which took into account the stable fixation of the fracture and the arbitrary adjustment of the joint fixation angle.ConclusionThe hind foot is special for morphology, so the external fixator designed based on the vernier caliper measurement method and 3D dot matrix measuring plate measurement method is an anatomical type and its configuration can theoretically meet stable and flexible clinical needs.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the treatment results of Ilizarov microcirculation reconstruction technique for chronic wounds in the post-traumatic ischemia limbs.MethodsBetween January 2016 and July 2019, 7 cases of chronic wounds in the post-traumatic ischemia limbs were treated. There were 5 males and 2 females, with an average age of 42.4 years (range, 29-66 years). The duration of the wound ranged from 1 month to 2 years (mean, 7.7 months). The wounds located in the leg (3 cases) or in the foot and ankle (4 cases). The wound sizes ranged from 4.0 cm×2.2 cm to 12.0 cm×7.1 cm. There were 1 case of tibial varus, 3 cases of equinovarus, 1 case of scleroderma, and 2 cases of Volkmann’s ischemic contracture. After debridement, external fixators were used for tibial transverse transport, or correction of tibial varus and correction of equinovarus.ResultsAll patients were followed up 8-20 months, with an average of 13 months. The infection of wound surface was all controlled in 7 cases and the granulation tissue grew well; the wound surface healed directly in 5 cases and healed after skin grafting in 2 cases, and the wound healing time was 1-3 months (mean, 1.7 months). During the follow-up, there was no recurrence of the wound. Six cases of limb deformity were corrected.ConclusionFor the chronic wounds in the post-traumatic ischemia limbs, Ilizarov microcirculation reconstruction technique can effectively improve local circulation and facilitate the fresh granule growth and wound healing.