Objective To summarize the method and the cl inical outcome of repairing both toe extensor tendon and dorsal foot wounds with anterolateral thigh flap. Methods Between February 2007 and May 2009, 11 patients with toe extensor tendon and dorsal foot defect were treated with anterolateral thigh flap. There were 8 males and 3 females with a medianage of 45 years (range, 10-60 years). The causes of injury were sharp injury in 3 cases, machine crush injury in 3 cases, and traffic accident injury in 5 cases, including 7 cases of fresh wounds with a disease duration of 2-8 hours and 4 cases of old wounds with a disease duration of 3-15 days. The size of wound ranged from 6 cm × 5 cm to 25 cm × 15 cm. All cases compl icated by toe extensor tendon defect, which were located at the 2nd-5th toes in 1 case, 3rd-5th toes in 1 case, 2nd-4th toes in 2 cases, 2nd and 3rd toes in 3 cases, 1st and 2nd toes in 1 case, and 1st toe in 3 cases. In the first stage, the anterolateral thigh flap ranged from 8 cm × 7 cm to 27 cm × 15 cm was used to repair defect and fascia lata was used to bridge two ends of digitorum longus tendon; the donor site was sutured or repaired with the skin graft. The second stage was performed after 2-3 months, tenolysis for tendon was performed, and fascia lata was spl it into tendon-l ike shape; and the toe functional exercises were done. Results All flaps survived completely after the first stage, wounds healed by first intention; the donor skin graft survived and incisions healed by first intention. At 7 days after the second stage, marginal necrosis occurred in 3 flaps (0.5-2.0 cm in width), and healed after 15-20 days of dressing change; the other flaps survived, and incisions healed by first intention. Eight patients were followed up 12-18 months (mean, 15 months). Excepts 4 sl ight bulky flaps, the other flaps had satisfactory appearance and soft texture with two points discrimination of 1-3 cm. During the follow-up, part of the dorsiflexion function recovered in 5 patients (5-40°), andflexion function was normal; 3 dorsiflexion function disappeared without effect on the function of toe flexion, and the patients could walk normally. No toe ptosis occurred. Conclusion Appl ication of the anterolateral thigh flap can repair toe extensor tendon and dorsal foot wounds with short treatment time and less damage at the donor site, so it can avoid toe ptosis after surgery and achieve excellent cl inical results.
Objective To evaluate the short-term effectiveness of Kirschner wire (K-wire) elastic fixation in the treatment of Doyle type Ⅰ and Ⅱ mallet finger. Methods Between July 2016 and March 2017, 18 patients with Doyle type Ⅰ and Ⅱ mallet finger were treated. There were 12 males and 6 males, with an average age of 45 years (range, 16-61 years). The index finger was involved in 2 cases, the middle finger in 3 cases, the ring finger in 10 cases, and the little finger in 3 cases. The interval from injury to operation ranged from 2 hours to 45 days (median, 5.5 hours). There were 8 patients of closed wound and 10 patients of open wound. Fourteen patients were simply extensor tendon rupture and 4 were extensor tendon rupture complicated with avulsion fracture. The distal interphalangeal joints (DIPJ) of injured fingers were elastically fixed with the K-wire at mild dorsal extend position. The K-wire was removed after 6 weeks, and the functional training started. Results The operation time was 34-53 minutes (mean, 38.9 minutes). Patients were followed up 3-8 months (mean, 5 months). All incisions healed primarily and no K-wire loosening or infection happened during the period of fixation. All mallet fingers were corrected. The range of motion (ROM) in terms of active flexion of injured DIPJ was (75.83±11.15)° at 6 weeks after operation, showing significant difference when compared with the normal DIPJ of contralateral finger [(85.28±6.06)°] (t=3.158, P=0.003). The ROM in terms of active flexion was (82.67±6.78)° in 15 patients who were followed up at 8 months after operation, showing no significant difference when compared with the normal DIPJ of contralateral finger [(86.00±5.73)°] (t=1.454, P=0.157). After the removal of K-wire at 6 weeks, visual analogue scale (VAS) score of active flexion and of passive flexion to maximum angle were 1.78±0.88 and 3.06±1.06, respectively. According to the total active motion criteria, the effectiveness was rated as excellent in 10 cases, good in 5 cases, moderate in 2 cases, and poor in 1 case, and the excellent and good rate was 83.33%. The patients’ satisfaction were accessed by Likert scale, which were 3-5 (mean, 4.2). Conclusion K-wire elastic fixation in the treatment of Doyle typeⅠand Ⅱ mallet finger can repair the extensor effectively, correct the mallet finger deformity, and also be benefit for the flexion-extension function restoration of DIPJ.
ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of absorbable anchor combined with Kirschner wire fixation in the reconstruction of extension function of old mallet finger. MethodsBetween January 2020 and January 2022, 23 cases of old mallet fingers were treated. There were 17 males and 6 females with an average age of 42 years (range, 18-70 years). The cause of injury included sports impact injury in 12 cases, sprain in 9 cases, and previous cut injury in 2 cases. The affected finger included index finger in 4 cases, middle finger in 5 cases, ring finger in 9 cases, and little finger in 5 cases. There were 18 patients of tendinous mallet fingers (Doyle type Ⅰ), 5 patients were only small bone fragments avulsion (Wehbe type ⅠA). The time from injury to operation was 45-120 days, with an average of 67 days. The patients were treated with Kirschner wire to fix the distal interphalangeal joint in a mild back extension position after joint release. The insertion of extensor tendon was reconstructed and fixed with absorbable anchors. After 6 weeks, the Kirschner wire was removed, and the patients started joint flexion and extension training. Results The postoperative follow-up ranged from 4 to 24 months (mean, 9 months). The wounds healed by first intention without complications such as skin necrosis, wound infection, and nail deformity. The distal interphalangeal joint was not stiff, the joint space was good, and there was no complication such as pain and osteoarthritis. At last follow-up, according to Crawford function evaluation standard, 12 cases were excellent, 9 cases were good, 2 cases were fair, and the good and excellent rate was 91.3%. Conclusion Absorbable anchor combined with Kirschner wire fixation can be used to reconstruct the extension function of old mallet finger, which has the advantages of simple operation and less complications.