ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility and effectiveness of V-Y advanced sense-remained posterior tibial artery perforator flap in repairing wound around the ankle. MethodsBetween March 2012 and January 2015, 11 patients with wounds around the ankle were treated by V-Y advanced sense-remained posterior tibial artery perforator flap. There were 6 males and 5 females with a median age of 37 years (range, 21-56 years). The causes were traffic accident injury in 3 cases, thermal injury in 2 cases, burn in 2 cases, iatrogenic wounds in 2 cases, and local contusion in 2 cases. The disease duration ranged from 1 to 3 weeks (mean, 2 weeks). Injury was located at the medial malleolus in 4 cases, at the lateral malleolus in 3 cases, and at the heel in 4 cases. All had exposure of bone, tendon, or plate. The defect area ranged from 4 cm×2 cm to 5 cm×3 cm; the area of the flap ranged from 11 cm×4 cm to 15 cm×6 cm. ResultsNecrosis of distal flap occurred in 1 case after operation; re-operation to amputate the posterior tibial artery was given and the wound was repaired by proximal skin graft. Light necrosis of distal end was observed in 2 cases, and wound healed at 3 weeks after dressing. And other flaps successfully survived, and primary healing of wounds were obtained. The patients were followed up 6-24 months (mean, 11 months). The flaps were good in color, texture, and appearance. The ankle joint had normal activity. At last follow-up, 10 cases restored fine sense, and 1 case restored protective feeling with posterior tibial artery advanced flap after amputation. ConclusionV-Y advanced sense-remained posterior tibial artery perforator flap has the advantages of reliable blood supply, simple operation, good appearance, and sensory recovery. Therefore, it is an ideal method to repair wound around the ankle.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of the free medial sural artery perforator flap for repairing anterior dorsal foot wound. MethodsBetween January 2010 and April 2015, 16 patients with skin and soft tissue defects of the anterior foot dorsal side were treated. There were 12 males and 4 females with the average age of 35 years (mean, 16-58 years). The disease causes included burn in 5 cases, traffic accident injury in 8 cases, and crush injury in 3 cases. The time from injury to admission was 2-30 hours (mean, 6.5 hours). The wound area ranged from 4 cm×3 cm to 10 cm×7 cm; combined injury included defects of lateral collateral ligament and joint capsule in 3 cases, and bone exposure in 12 cases, and all had exposure of tendon. Wounds were repaired with the medial sural artery perforator flap in 13 cases, and with medial sural artery perforator composite tissue flap carrying of medial head of gastrocnemius muscle flap in 3 cases. The size of flaps ranged from 5 cm×4 cm to 11 cm×8 cm. The donor site was sutured directly or was repaired with skin grafting. ResultsAll flaps survived well and wounds healed with stage I; skin grafts at donor site survived and the incision healed with stage I. All patients were followed up 6-36 months (mean, 11 months). The appearance of skin flap was satisfactory, without overstaffed; the joint of reconstructed ligament was stable, without secondary deformity. There was no obvious depression at the donor site, and no effect on the function. ConclusionThe medial sural artery perforator flap has the advantages of relatively constant perforator anatomy, reliable blood supply, and carries the gastrocnemius muscle flap for repair of compound tissue defect. It is one of better ways to repair the anterior dorsal foot wound.
ObjectiveTo study the effectiveness of surgical treatment of congenital type V thumb syndactyly. MethodsBetween March 2010 and May 2015, 12 cases of congenital type V thumb syndactyly were treated. There were 7 males and 5 females, aged from 1 to 25 years (mean, 8 years). The right thumb was involved in 8 cases, and the left thumb in 4 cases. There were 2 cases of radial type, and 10 cases of ulnar type. The basement of polydactylism was far away from the carpometacarpal joint in 7 cases, and was close to the carpometacarpal joint in 5 cases (slight ulnar deviation in 1 case). X-ray films showed that the main first thumb metacarpal bone and trapezium fitted well, and 2 cases had the first metacarpal bone deformity. Preoperative individualized treatment plan was made, and polydactylism was excised by the "S" or "Z" incision and simultaneous reconstruction of thenar muscle insertions or adductor muscle insertions was performed; if necessary, wedge osteotomy was used for correction. ResultsAll incisions healed by first intention with no complication. All cases were followed up 6 to 24 months (mean, 12 months). The thumb appearance, flexion and extension, the function of opposition, abduction function were improved significantly in 11 cases with no scar contracture deformity, small first web space, and deviation deformity. One case had slightly narrow first web space. According to hand function criterion, the results were excellent in 10 cases, good in 1 case, poor in 1 case; excellent and good rate was 91.7%. ConclusionBased on the condition of the type V thumb syndactyly, the individualized treatment plan is made, which can better restore the shape and function of the thumb.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of free superficial iliac circumflex artery perforator flap for repair of foot skin and soft tissue defect. MethodsBetween January 2010 and December 2015, 16 patients with ankle skin and soft tissue defect were treated. There were 13 males and 3 females with an average age of 32 years (range, 5-56 years). The causes included traffic accident injury in 8 cases, machinery injury in 3 cases, falling injury in 3 cases, and electrically injury in 2 cases. The time from injury to hospital was 1 to 6 hours (mean, 3.5 hours). The wound sites included foot dorsum skin defect in 6 cases, ankle skin defect in 5 cases, the back foot and ankle skin defect in 5 cases. The skin defect size ranged 5 cm×4 cm to 16 cm×7 cm. All patients had tendon exposure, and 8 patients had fracture. An emergency repair was performed in 6 cases, and selective surgery in 10 cases. The free iliac circumflex artery perforators flap was used to repair defect; the flap size was 6 cm×5 cm to 17 cm×8 cm, and the flap thickness was 0.4 to 1.1 cm (mean, 0.8 cm). ResultsThe flaps survived in the other 15 patients with primary healing of wounds except 1 patient because the iliac circumflex artery was too small to provide good blood supply, who underwent repair with local skin flap. Incision at donor site healed by first intention. The 15 cases were followed up 6-24 months (mean, 13 months). The appearance of the foot was satisfactory, and the flap had good texture without bulky flaps. ConclusionFree iliac circumflex artery perforators flap is one of ideal flaps in repair of skin defect of the foot and ankle because of hidden donor site, reliable blood supply, less injury to donor site, and full use of the flap.