Since 1992, the retrograde island skin flap with its pedicle containing the arteria pollicis dorsalis was used to repair 6 cases of the fingertip defects and the results were successful. The skin measured from 1.5cm x 2cm to 4cm x 3.5cm. From the followup, the external appearance of the thumbs looked nice, no limitation of joint motions was noticed and the pain sensation was recovered. The major improvement of this operation was that the donor skin was chosen from the dorsum of the first and second metacarpal bones, thus it was not necessary to divide the tendon of the extensor pollicis brevis, so that the operative procedure was simple and the postoperative functional recovery was rapid.
Objective To evaluate a new reconstruction method for grades Ⅴ and Ⅵ defect with flap by skin soft tissue expansion technique. Methods From May 1998to September 2003, 8 cases of serious thumb defect were treated, including 6 males and 2 females, aging 18-27 years. The defect was caused by crush injury ofmachine in 6 cases and hot crush injury in 2 cases( 5 cases of grade Ⅴ and 3 cases of grade Ⅵ). The expander was placed under the tenor skin and softtissue.And then normal saline was infused to expand the skin and soft tissue graduallytill it was available for thumb reconstruction. Iliac autograft was fixed to residual thumb stump and covered with flap produce by expanded skin and soft-tissue.Postoperative rehabilitation was carried out. Results Allreconstructed thumbs were alive. After3-24 months follow-up, all reconstructed thumbs were with good sensation, appearance and durable. Twopoint discrimination was less than 5 mm. The functions of opposition, extend, abduction and endoduction were better in grade Ⅴ thumb defect than in grade Ⅵ thumb defect. Bone union was achieved within 3 to 4 months. Conclusion It is a convenient-to-operate and reliablemethod for thumb reconstruction. It is an alternative new reconstruction methodfor grades Ⅴ and Ⅵ thumb defect.
Thumb and finger reconstruction by the method of pedal digit transplantation had been successfully performed in 541 casee from 1977 to 1996, which contained 404 cases of thumbs and 78 cases of fingers. The thumb reconstruction was mainly the simple transplantation of distal phalanx (42 cases) and the compound transplantation of hallucal nail-cutaneous flap with iliac bone segment (16 cases) for the defect of thumbs in degree 1 and 2. The combined transplantation of hallucal nail-cutaneous flap with the joint and tendons of the second toe (34 cases) and the transplantation of the distal part of the second toe (182 cases) for the defect of degree 3 and 4. The combined transplantation of the second pedal digit with its metatarsalphalangeal joint (189 caese) for the defect in degree 5 and 6. The finger reconstruction was performed by anastomosis of the arteries of the digit with those of the fingers for 29 cases with the defect in degree 2 and 3, 60 cases with the defect in degree 4 and 5, and 17 cases with the defect in degree 6. One-hundred and four cases of versels vasiation were found in this group (19 cases with the pedal dorsal artery, 13 cases with the greater saphenous vein and 72 cases with the first dorsal metatarsal artery). The main point of the operation and the treatment of the vessel variations were discussed.
Objective To summarize the effectiveness of radial dorsal fasciocutaneous flap of thumb for repairing severe nail bed defects. Methods Between May 2009 and January 2012, 16 patients with severe nail bed defect were treated with radial dorsal fasciocutaneous flap of the thumb. There were 10 males and 6 females, aged 16-54 years (mean, 36 years). The causes of injury included crush injury in 10 cases, chainsaw injury in 4 cases, and scald in 2 cases; injured fingers were thumb in 3 cases, index finger in 4 cases, middle finger in 5 cases, ring finger in 3 cases, and little finger in 1 case. The time between injury and operation was 2 hours to 8 days (mean, 19.3 hours). Of 16 patients, 9 complicated by distal phalanx fracture. The area of defect ranged from 0.9 cm × 0.6 cm to 2.3 cm × 2.1 cm. According to ZHOU Qingwen’s grading system for nail bed defects, 6 cases were rated as degree III and 10 cases as degree IV. The area of flap ranged from 1.0 cm × 0.6 cm to 2.5 cm × 2.2 cm. Retrograde transposition was performed to repair the thumb defect, and pedicled transposition to repair the 2nd-5th fingers defects. The donor sites were directly sutured or were repaired with skin graft. Results All flaps and skin grafts survived, and wounds healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 6-12 months (mean, 8 months). The color, texture, and contour of the flaps were good. According to total active motion standard, the finger function was assessed as excellent in 10 cases, good in 4 cases, and fair in 2 cases, and the excellent and good rate was 87.5%. Conclusion Radial dorsal fasciocutaneous flap of thumb is a reliable flap with easy dissection and less trauma in repair of severe nail bed defects.
Objective To explore the effectiveness of thumb blocking technique through closed reduction of ulnar Kirschner wire threading in the treatment of Gartland type Ⅲ supracondylar humerus fractures in children. MethodsThe clinical data of 58 children with Gartland type Ⅲ supracondylar humerus fractures treated with closed reduction of ulnar Kirschner wire threading by thumb blocking technique between January 2020 and May 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 31 males and 27 females with an average age of 6.4 years ranging from 2 to 14 years. The causes of injury were falling in 47 cases and sports injury in 11 cases. The time from injury to operation ranged from 24.4 to 70.6 hours, with an average of 49.6 hours. The twitch of ring and little fingers was observed during operation, the injury of ulnar nerve was observed after operation, and the healing time of fracture was recorded. At last follow-up, the effectiveness was evaluated by Flynn elbow score, and the complications were observed. Results There was no twitch of the ring and little fingers when the Kirschner wire was inserted on the ulnar side during operation, and the ulnar nerve was not injured. All children were followed up 6-24 months, with an average of 12.9 months. One child had postoperative infection in the operation area, local skin redness and swelling, and purulent secretion exudation at the eye of the Kirschner wire, which was improved after intravenous infusion and regular dressing change in the outpatient department, and the Kirschner wire was removed after the initial healing of the fracture; 2 children had irritation at the end of the Kirchner wire, and recovered after oral antibiotics and dressing change in the outpatient department. There was no serious complication such as nonunion and malunion, and the fracture healing time ranged from 4 to 6 weeks, with an average of 4.2 weeks. At last follow-up, the effectiveness was evaluated by Flynn elbow score, which was excellent in 52 cases, good in 4 cases, and fair in 2 cases, and the excellent and good rate was 96.6%. ConclusionThe treatment of Gartland type Ⅲ supracondylar humerus fractures in children by closed reduction and ulnar Kirschner wire fixation assisted with thumb blocking technique is safe and stable, and will not cause iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury.