Objective To study the anatomical basis of micro transverse flap pedicled with the superfical palmar branch of radial artery from the palmar wrist for using this free flap to repair soft tissue defect of the finger. Methods Thirty-eight fresh upper limb specimens (22 males and 16 females; aged 26-72 years with an average of 36 years; at left and right sides in 19 limbs respectively) were dissected and observed under operating microscope. Two specimens were made into casting mould of artery with bones, and 2 specimens were injected with red emulsion in radial artery. Thirty-four specimens were injected with 1% gentian violet solution in the superfical palmar branch of the radial artery. A transverse oval flap in the palmar wrist was designed, the axis of the flap was the distal palmar crease. The origin, distribution, and anastomosis of the superfical palmar branch of the radial artery were observed. Results The superficial palmar branch of the radial artery was constantly existed, it usually arises from the main trunk of the radial artery, 1.09-3.60 cm to proximal styloid process of radius. There were about 2-5 branches between the origin and the tubercle of scaphoid bone. The origin diameter was 1.00-3.00 mm, and the distal diameter at the styloid process of radius was 1.00-2.90 mm. The venous return of flap passed through 2 routes, and the innervations of the flap mainly from the palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve. The area of the flap was 4 cm × 2 cm-6 cm × 2 cm. Conclusion The origin and courses of the superficial palmar branch of the radial artery is constant, and its diameter is similar to that of the digital artery. A transverse oval flap pedicled with the superfical palmar branch of radial artery in the palmar wrist can be designed to repair defects of the finger.
Objective To invest igate the operat ive method and cl inical ef f icacy of reconstruct ing metacarpophalangeal joint defect by the second toe proximal interphalangeal joint with skin flaps. Methods From March 2003 to January 2008, 26 cases (26 fingers) with metacarpophalangeal joint defect were treated, including 19 males and 7 females aged 18-36 years old (average 27 years old). Among them, 23 cases were caused by mechanical injury and the time from injury to operation was 1-6 hours; while 3 cases suffered from secondary injury due to trauma and the time from injury to operation was 3-12 months. Four thumbs, 10 index fingers, 8 middle fingers, 3 ring fingers and 1 l ittle finger were injured.The metacarpophalangeal joint defects were 2 cm × 1 cm-4 cm × 2 cm in size, and 22 cases were combined with skin and soft tissue defect (1.5 cm × 1.5 cm - 6.0 cm × 5.0 cm). During operation, the second toe proximal interphalangeal joint with skin flaps was transplanted to reconstruct those defects, 20 fingers received whole-joint transplantation and 6 fingers received halfjoint transplantation. The skin flaps ranging from 2.0 cm × 1.5 cm to 6.5 cm × 6.0 cm in size were adopted. The donor site of 21 cases received toe amputation, and the rest 5 cases received joint fusion. Results The transplanted joints and skin flaps of all the 26 fingers survived. All incisions and donor sites healed by first intention. All patients were followed up for 6-20 months (average 12 months). The union of transplanted joints was achieved in all the cases at 6-12 weeks after operation, no bone nonunion and refracture occurred. The flexion range of transplanted metacarpophalangeal joints was 30-75° (average 45°). Joint activity was evaluated according to the total active movement/total passive movement assessment criteria, 8 fingers were excellent, 13 good, 3 fair, 2 poor, and the excellent and good rate was 80.77%. The foot donor-site abil ity to walk was unaffected. Conclusion Applying second toe proximal interphalangeal joint with skin flaps is an effective approach to reconstruct the metacarpophalangeal joint defect, and the function recovery of the injured joints is satisfying.
Objective To introduce a method to repair soft tissue defect in different regions and different areas of hand in one procedure. Methods From May 2002 to May 2005, anterolateral femoral flap or lobulated anterolateral femoralflap(forming irregular anterolateral femoral flap) was designed into different shapes to repair multiple soft tissue defect in different regions in hand, whichwas used clinically in 27 cases. Among 27 cases, there were 16 males and 11 females; the locations were left hand in 9 , right hand in 16 and left foot in 2; including 5 penetrating injury, 9 hotpressing injury, 2 soft tissue defection of instep and planta by milled injury, 6 gearing injury and 5 carding machine injury. All the cases complicated by exposure of tendons, bones or joints. Defect was repaired with H-shape flaps in 5 cases of penetrating palm injuries; with Y-shape or K-shape flaps in 11 cases of dorsals or combined with fingers of hand with skin defect; with shape flaps in 3 cases of dorsals combined with sides of palms or the first web of hands with skin defect and in 2 cases of skin defects of dorsals combinedwith palms of feet;with h-shape flaps in 6 cases of skin defects of dorsal or palms combined with disconnected skin defect of fingers. The sizes of main flaps ranged from 6.5 cm×4.8 cm to 17.0 cm×12.0 cm, the sizes of lobulate flaps ranged from 3.5 cm×2.8 cm to 7.5 cm×4.5 cm. Results Allflaps survived without vascular crisis after operation. Except the fascia flapall recipient sites healed by first intention. The follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 1 year, all cases had satisfactory appearance, the texture of flaps was soft. Except 2 cases of penetrating injury, 3 cases of hotpressing injuryand1 case of carding machine injury whose function was not satisfactory, theremaining cases achieved the function of snap and pinch. More than 1 year after operation, the sense of pain and touch recovered. There was no functional impairment at the donor sites although scar hyperplasia was formed in some cases.Conclusion The application of irregular anterolateral femoralflap is an optimal choice for complex skin defect of hand.
Objective To introduce a new design of the scapular flap.Methods The lateral descending cutaneous branch of the circumflex scapular artery was investigated in 10 cadavers with radiography. Based on the results, we usedthe scapular flap(from 8 cm×25 cm to 11 cm×35 cm) pedical on the lateral descending cutaneous branch of the circumflex scapular artery to reconstruct defects offaciocervical region after burning in 7 patients, with direct suture the donatearea,or skin grafting.Results Sever flaps survived completely, satisfactoryresults were obtained except 2 patients’ flap to need to be thinned during the following up.Conclusion This flap can be designed to extend to the inframamary fold, the donor-site scar of the flap is well hidden. The design of the flap broadens the application of the scapular flap.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical result of velopharyngeal cerclage in repairing velopharyngeal incompetence of postoperative cleft palate patients. METHODS: From 1987 to 2000, 25 cases of velopharyngeal incompetence due to postoperative cleft palate were given the velopharyngeal cerclage. The mucosa flap of palate was pushed back, the autogenous free grafts of denervated skeletal muscle were selectively used for velopharyngeal cerclage. All the patients were followed up for 2 and a half years on average. RESULTS: All the patients achieved good results with velopharyngeal competence and good articulation. The patients’ sound of voices was clear. CONCLUSION: This method can be used to repair velopharyngeal incompetence of postoperative cleft palate patients; the operation is simple and the results are satisfactory.
Rectus femoris muscle of the lower abdomen was used as myocutaneous flap in the reconstruction of the breast in 4 patients, of which, in 2 cases the reconstruction was carried out immediately following the radical mastectomy for breast cancer by using trancfer of the pedicled myocutaneous flap, and in the other two cases, the vascularized free myocutaneous flap was used 2 months and 5 years after the radical mastectomy, respectively. The vascularized free myocutaneous flaps were survived, however, in the pedicled myocutaneous flap group, the fat of the flaps had liquefaction 23 weeks after operation. The latter were healed after repeated dressings. The external appearance of the 4 reconstructed breasts lookedsattisfactory. The patients wete follwed up for 10 to 18 months, 2 patients hadno ill effects, while the 2 pedicled myocutaneous flaps, in which 1 patient hadbulging of the weakened abdominal wall, and the other had lost from follow up.
efect of the eyebrow is a common facialdefect. It was resulted from a variety of causes,but the most common was burn. The operationby using free postauricular scalp graft to repairthe defect of eyebrow was intreduced. The var-ious metheds of eyebrow reconstruction werecompared. The treatment of 79 patients with thedefect of eyebrow was summarized. It was notedthat it had the following advantages , such as theoperation being simple and easy, a naturallooking, appropriate density and r...
From 1987, in 4 cases having muscle damage associated with extensive skin defeet, the repair was carried out by anastomosing the neurovascular pedicle of the free latissimus dorsi myocutaneous graft with the host. The patients were followed up from 6 months to 3 years. The muscle power of the injured part following repair had returned to about 4 degrees, and the external appearance and the function were satisfactory. The advantages and disadvantages of this operation, the preparation of the recipient area and the management of the tendon were discussed.