Superficial cervical artery skin flap is widely used in clinical practice. In order to inprove the outcome of the flap in clinic, eleven cases of skin defect of scalp who were treated with the flap was discussed. After operation, the donor area healed but there was no hair growth on recipient area. Among them, six cases occurred partial necrosis of skin flaps. In order to avoid these problen, the relevant solution discussed as follows: 1. Handle well the pedicle of the skin flap to prevent the interference with venous returm. 2. Adhere strictly to indications. 3. Apply skin expander to obtain "extra" skin, then carryout the tranfer of skin flap and 4. Better use the skin flap with residual hair.
OBJECTIVE To introduce a skin flap containing the middle cutaneous branch of the medial plantar artery. METHODS Microanatomic study was performed on 8 fresh cadaveric feet, the arteries were dissected and infused with methylene blue to observe their vascular distribution and the skin area supplied by the middle cutaneous branch. Furthermore, the clinical application was reported. A local pedicled flap containing the middle cutaneous branch was used to repair the soft tissue defects of the foot in 7 patients, and free cutaneous graft was used to repair the skin defects of the fingers in 6 patients. RESULTS The results showed that the medical plantar artery gave off 3 cutaneous branches to supply the medial aspect of the foot, among which the middle branch was the largest one and anastomosed with the other two branches. The skin flaps used clinically were all survived completely. CONCLUSION Medial plantar cutaneous graft had a reliable blood supply, and it’s one of the best choice in repairing small to middle sized skin defects of the foot and the fingers.
From 1988 through 1990, the free arteriolized venous network skin flap from dorsum of foot for skin defect of dorsum of hand was done in 8 cases. The size of the skin flap measured 10×9cm in max. and 7×6cm in min. The operation achieved good success and the clinical results were satisfactory. The mechanism of survival of the skin flap, the indications of this procedure in the repair of skin defects of the dorsum of the hand and its advantages were discussed.
Old achilles tendon rupture accompanied by skin defect was a common amp; annoying problem in clinic. From June, 1985 to June, 1996, 18 cases with this kind of injury were treated by one stage repair of the tendon and skin defect. In this series, there were 15 males and 3 females, the length of tendon defects were ranged from 4 cm-6.1 cm, and the area of skin defect were ranged from 5.9 cm x 3 cm to 8.2 cm x 6 cm. The procedures were: (1) to debridement of the wound thoroughly; (2) to repair the achilles tendon; (3) to repair the skin defect with kinds of pedicle flap; (4) immobilization of ankle and knee for 6 weeks. No infection was occured after the operation. The flaps survived in all cases. After follow-up for one year in 15 cases, 12 patients went back to their work. It was concluded that (1) achilles tendon rupture should be treated carefully and properly during the emergency operation; (2) different methods should be selected according to the length of tendon defect; (3) because of its high survival and retained sensation after operation, the flap pedicled with posterior lateral malleolar artery is the best choice for repairing the skin defect.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the methods of treatment for old achilles tendon rupture merging with skin defect. METHODS: By following up retrospectively 10 patients from February 1995 to December 2001, we analyzed the operative methods, the points for attention and the results. Gastrocnemius musculocutaneous flaps were used in 3 cases, foot lateral skin flaps in 4 cases, superior medial malleolus skin flaps in 2 cases, and sural neural skin flap in 1 case. The Achilles tendon was sutured directly in 8 patients, with Lindholm’s technique in 2 patients. RESULTS: All flaps survived and the wound healed well in 8 cases and reruptured in 2 cases. According to Yin Qing-shui’s criteria to test the efficacy, the results were excellent in 5 patients, good in 4 and poor in 1. CONCLUSION: Repairing the old Achilles tendon rupture merging with skin defect by use of microsurgery has good results and plays an important role in reducing joint contracture and stiffness, and in saving the ability to push forward and flex.
Objective To study the allograft effect of two kinds of tissue engineered oral mucosa lamina proprias on skin fullthickness wounds. Methods The cultured Wistar rat oral mucosa fibroblasts (OMF) were incorporated into collag en or chitosancollagen to construct the tissue engineered oral mucosa laminaproprias, and then the OMFs were labeled with BrdU. The fullthickness round skin defects were made with a round knife (diameter, 0.8 cm) on the backs of 36 Wistar rats (2125 weeks old), which were divided into 2 experimental groups: the fibroblastpopulated collagen lattices (FPCL) group (grafted by FPCLs) and the fibroblastpopulated chitosan collagen lattices (FPCCL) group (grafted by FPCCLs), and the control group (only covered with gauges). All the wounds were observed by the naked eyes or the light microscope, and were measured 4, 7, 14, and 21 days postoperatively. Results There were no infection during the wound healing period. At 7 days after the grafting, the wounds in the 3 groups were covered by scab and/or gauze; at 14 days, the gauze and scab on the wounds in the three groups were all replaced by the new epidermis naturally except one scab each in the FPCCL group and the control groups,which was replaced at 17 days.All the centers of the new epidermis were measurable as the pink red points. At 21 days, all the new skins were smooth without hairs, and their color was similar to the normal one. At 4, 7, and 14 days,there was an indication that the wound diameters became significantly smaller in the three groups; but after the 14th day, there was no significant indication of this kind. At 7 days, the wound diameter in the FPCL group was significantly smaller than that in the FPCCL group and the control group (Plt;0.01). Under the lightmicroscope, at 4 days postoperatively, the decayed tissue on the surfaces of the recipient wounds in the FPCL group and the FPCCL group was separated from the lower granular tissue in which there were many inflammatory cells, fibroblasts, and new vessels. There was a similar-phenomenon in the control group. Each skin wound in the three groups was only partly keratinocyted at 7 days postoperativel y. The recipient wounds were wholly keratinocyted with when rete ridges observed at 14 and 21 days, but in the control group the wounds were keratinocyted with no rete ridges. Fibers in the new dermis were thin. The OMFs with Brdu appeared in the granular tissue and new dermis at 4, 7, 14, and 21 days postoperatively, which could be illustr ated by the immunohistochemical staining. The positive OMFs and the granular tissue joined in the repair of the skin defe cts without any allergic reaction during the period of the wound healing. Conclusion The oral mucosa fibroblasts as the new seed cells can join i n the repair of the skin defects effectively and feasibly. The fibroblastpopul ated collagen lattices and the fibroblastpopulated chitosan collagen lat tices can repair skin defects effectively and feasibly, too. And the quality of the new skins was better in the two experimental groups than in the control group.
OBJECTIVE In order to increase the survival area of pedicled fasciocutaneous flap, a multiple pedicled blocking randomized fasciocutaneous flap was designed. METHODS From January 1991 to September 1998, this technique was used to repair 33 cases, including 27 males and 6 females and the ages ranged from 6 to 58 years. All of the patients were suffered from traffic accidents. In these cases, 22 cases had skin defects of legs and feet with bone, nerve and tendon exposed, 5 cases had osteomyelitis as well as internal fixaters exposed and the other 6 had deformity from scar. The size of the flap was 25.0 cm x 13.0 cm x 2.4 cm at its maximum and 6.0 cm x 3.5 cm x 1.5 cm at its minimum. Based on the traditional blocking flap, according to the severity of the wound and conditions of the neighboring tissues, a flap having 2 to 4 orthogonal pedicles with a width of 1.5 to 3.0 cm was designed. The medical-graded stainless steel sheet was implanted below the deep fascia, and after blocking for 3 to 6 days, the side pedicles were divided. 6 to 14 days later, one of the two remaining pedicles was divided and was transferred to repair the defect. RESULTS 31 cases were followed up for 6 months to 5 years without any trouble of the joints. The flap had a good external appearance and was high pressure-resistant. CONCLUSION The multiple pedicled blocking randomized fasciocutaneous flap increased the size of the flap and the length to width ratio. It had the following advantages: manage at will, high resistance to infection and a large survival area of flap.
A 15×20cm wound of full skin defects was made on the back of rabbits, then, a great number of 5% glucose liquid was ferfused rapidly. At the same time, the magnetotherapy was used in the research group. We found that the magnetic treatment can greatly prolong the survival time. The microscope, electrimicroscope and MRI examination were given to the hearts、brains、 lungs、 livers and kindlys of both group rabbits, the results showed that the tissue edema in control group was more severe than that in research g...
To meet the special need of function and cosmetics, thin skin flap was used in repair of skin defect of hand. It was reported that 37 cases with skin defect of hand had been treated since 1992. Eight kinds of flaps were used, including sub-abdominal flap (in 8 cases), paraumbilical flap (in 8 cases), intercostal flap (in 5 cases), subclavicular flap (in 3 cases), thoracoacromial flap (in 3 cases), trigonum clavopectoral flap (in 4 cases), thenal flap (in 2 cases) and pedicled flap carrying superficial iliac circumflex artery (in 4 cases). All of defects were treated by one-stage operation. The size of the flaps used ranged from the minimum of 1.2 cm x 2.5 cm to the maximum of 10 cm x 16 cm. All the flaps were survived. The function and appearance of the hands were satisfactory. It was noted that thin skin flap had developed from conventional pedicled flap and subcorium vascular-net flap, but it was easy to perform and had a high rate of success. The principle in choosing the flap was also discussed. It was suggested that more attention should be concentrated to solve the problems encountered in the use of thin skin flap in the repair of skin defect.
Objective To introduce the surgical procedure and indication of the reverse fascial pedicle island flap of the digital artery dorsal branches in repairing finger skin defect. Methods By use of the dorsal branches of the digital artery as the pedicel, the reverse island flap was designed. The skin defectsof the proximal interphalangeal joint and beyond in 35 cases (42 fingers) were repaired and the joint or extensor tendon was reconstructed simultaneously. Donor site was primarily closed or a skin graft was used. The flap size ranged from 1.0 cm×2.5 cm to 1.5 cm×3.5 cm.Results Thirtyfive patients were followed up 3 months to 1 year, all the flaps survived. The two-point discrimination was between 6 mm and 10 mm. The function of interphalangeal joint was satisfactory.Conclusion These flaps have the advantages of an extended skinpaddle and a versatile pivot point on the phalanx, and they allow coverage of wide and distal defects.