Objective To explore the operative methods and the short-term effectiveness to repair chronic tears of the 2nd plantar plate. Methods Between June 2012 and June 2013, 14 patients with chronic tears of the 2nd plantar plate were treated. There were 4 males and 10 females with an average age of 65.9 years (range, 51-82 years) and with an average disease duration of 6.2 years (range, 5-9 years). The left side was involved in 5 cases and the right side in 9 cases. One patient had simple hammer toe; 2 patients had hallux valgus and claw toe; and 11 patients had hallux valgus and hammer toes. All of them had unstable the 2nd metatarsophalangeal joints. The results of modified Lachman test and drawer test were positive. The surgical treatment included a Weil osteotomy and plantar plate repair operation for rupture via dorsal incision after correcting hallux valgus. Results Primary healing of incision was obtained in all patients. Twelve patients were followed up 6-12 months (mean, 8.2 months). Hallux valgus, claw toe, and hammer toe were all corrected. The results of modified Lachman test and drawer test were negative at 3 months after operation. Mild pain of the 2nd metatarsophalangeal joint occurred, but no stiff was observed in 2 cases at 6 months after operation. The midfoot and forefoot score of American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) was 90.50 ± 3.73 at last follow-up, which was significantly higher (t=21.724, P=0.000) than preoperative score (57.33 ± 4.99). Conclusion The plantar plate is the key to maintain the stability of the metatarsophalangeal joints, and surgical repair can achieve good short-term effectiveness in treating chronic tears of the 2nd plantar plate.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of medial sural artery perforator free flap (MSAP) for repairing defect after tongue cancer ablation. MethodsBetween March 2013 and April 2014, the defects after tongue carcinoma resection were repaired with MSAP in 12 patients, including 8 cases of high or medium differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and 4 cases of moderately-poor differentiated SCC. There were 7 males and 5 females with a median age of 55 years (range, 45-68 years). The disease duration ranged from 2.0 to 8.5 months (mean, 4.3 months). The tumor located at the tongue edge in 8 cases and at the tongue abdomen in 4 cases (mouth floor infiltration in 1 case). According to TNM stage, 7 cases were rated as T2N0M0, 2 cases as T2N1M0, 2 cases as T3N1M0, and 1 case as T4N1M0. The size of tumor ranged from 3.0 cm×2.0 cm to 4.5 cm×3.0 cm. The size of MSAP varied from 4.0 cm×3.5 cm to 6.5 cm×6.0 cm. ResultsThe time of total operation ranged from 5.5 to 8.3 hours (mean, 6.8 hours), and flap harvesting time ranged from 54 to 85 minutes (mean, 65.6 minutes). The other flaps survived except 1 case of vein crisis. All the patients were followed up 6-18 months (mean, 13.7 months). With time passing, the pronunciation got better, and the skin showed mucosa-like change; the patients were capable of normal language exchange at 6 months after operation. No obvious scar on the leg or limitation of limb motion was observed. ConclusionThe MSAP is reliable for repair of defect after tongue cancer ablation, with the advantages of satisfactory recovery of tongue appearance, language function, and less donor site morbidity.