Objective To investigate the effectiveness of free anterolateral thigh flap (ALTF) with fascia lata in repairing diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) with bone exposure. Methods Between January 2019 and January 2021, 20 patients with DFUs with bone exposure were admitted. There were 17 males and 3 females with a median age of 57.5 years (range, 48-76 years). There were 10 cases of Wagner grade 3 and 10 cases of grade 4. The DFUs formed 1 to 14 months, with a median time of 3 months. The patients underwent CT angiography, which showed extensive atherosclerosis in both lower limbs; 6 of them were severely narrowed or occluded and underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. The size of wound ranged from 7 cm×6 cm to 27 cm×10 cm after applied first-stage debridement combined with vacuum sealing drainage treatment. In the second-stage, free ALTF with fascia lata was used to repair wounds and partial defects of tendons. The size of flap ranged from 8 cm×5 cm to 28 cm×11 cm. The wound of the donor site was sutured directly. The survival of the flap, the healing time of the wound, and the complications were recorded. The laser speckle blood flow imaging system was used to detect the blood perfusion of the flap and the skin around the flap at 2 weeks and 6 months after operation. The foot function was evaluated by American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score at 6 months after operation. Results After operation, effusion under the flap happened in 6 cases, which cured after symptomatic treatment. Flaps survived completely in 14 cases. The tissue necrosis at the edges of the flaps occurred in 3 cases and healed after dressing changes. Venous crisis of flaps occurred in 3 cases, of which 1 case was completely necrotic after exploration, and the other 2 cases were partially alive. The wounds of 3 cases were repaired with skin grafts after debridement and dressing. The flap survival rate was 95.0%, and the limb salvage rate was 100%. The wound healing time after flap transplantation was 14-30 days, with an average of 19.1 days. Two patients had recurrence of peripheral skin ulcers of the flaps within 1 month after healing, which healed after conservative dressing changes. Eighteen cases of incisions at donor site healed by first intention, 2 cases had local skin necrosis and healed by debridement and suture. All patients were followed up 6-30 months, with a median time of 11 months. The texture, appearance, and elasticity of the flaps were good. All patients could walk alone without pain. At 6 months after operation, the AOFAS score was 75.9±11.9, which was significantly different from that (44.7±18.4) before operation (t=−7.025, P=0.000). The blood perfusion value increased from (38.1±7.8) PU at 2 weeks to (42.7±10.3) PU, and the difference was significant (t=−4.680, P=0.001). Conclusion Free ALTF with fascia lata has a rich blood supply and a high survival rate. It can be used to repair DFUs with bone exposure. After the free skin flap healed, it can promote revascularization of the affected foot, reduce the probability of ulcer recurrence, and avoid amputation.
Objective To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of Jiu Wei Lv Ping particle in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Methods The multi-center, randomized double-blind method was used to observe 227 GAD patients who were divided into the treatment group (n=114, treated with Jiu Wei Lv Ping particle 6 g, three times a day) and the control group (n=113, treated with buspirone 10 mg, three times a day). HAMD score, and CGI-GI score were used to evaluate the clinical efficacy. TESS score and the list of symptom-recording were used to observe the safety. All the outcomes for evaluation before and after treatment at week 1, week 2, week 3 and week 4. Results According to intention-to-treat analysis (ITT), the level of decrease of HAMA score from baseline at each observational point of the treatment group was similar to that of the control group (t test, Pgt;0.05). At the end point, the effective rate of treatment group was 87.72％, and the effective rate of the control group was 87.61%. There was no significant difference between the two groups (CMH test, Pgt;0.05). According to the score of CGI-GI at each observational point, there was no difference of the effective rate between the treatment group and the control group (student test, Pgt;0.05). The side effect rate of the treatment group was 16.67%, The frequent symptoms were thirst (8.77%), dizziness (7.02%), nausea (2.63%), constipation (2.63%) and diarrhea (1.75%). The side effect rate of the control group was 30.97%, The frequent symptoms were thirst (15.04%), constipation (6.19%), nausea (4.42%), diarrhea (4.42%), dizziness (3.45%) and tachycardia (1.77%). The side effect of the treatment group was lower than that of the control group. But there was no significant difference between the two groups according to the score of TESS (F test, Pgt;0.05). Conclusions The therapeutic action of Jiu Wei Lv Ping particle in the treatment of GAD is affirmed with less side effects. It is valuable to use clinically.