Reconstruction of foot soft tissue defects by superthin anterolateral thigh flap harvested with retrograde dissection of the perforator in the interface plane between the superficial and deep layer of superficial fascia / 中华显微外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of superthin anterolateral thigh flap(ALTF) with retrograde dissection of perforator in the interface plane between the superficial and deep layer of superficial fascia for reconstruction of soft tissue defect in the foot.Methods:The study involved 24 Side of 23 patients with foot soft tissue defects in Department of Foot and Ankle Surgery in Wuxi Ninth People’s Hospital from August 2019 to July 2021. There were 15 males and 8 females with an average of 42(range, 22-59) years old, including 9 in left foot, 13 in right foot, and 1 in both feet. The size of soft tissue defects was 4 cm×4 cm-11 cm×17 cm. The dimension of the superthin ALTF was 4 cm×5 cm-12 cm×18 cm. CTA and high-frequency CDU were used to locate the perforator in the superficial fascia plane. The perforator was exposed and dissected retrograde in the adiposal layer. The superthin ALTF was harvested to repair the foot wound. The donor site was sutured directly. All patients enter follow-up reviews at outpatient clinic or by WeChat. The appearance of flaps were recorded.Results:The superthin ALTF survived in all patients. Two cases had partial epidermal necrosis at the distal part of the flap. The thickness of the flap averaged approximately 4(range 3-6) mm. During 8-16(mean 12) months of follow-up, all superthin ALTF were soft in texture without ulceration. Two flaps required secondary defatting procedures, others showed satisfactory appearance without bulky deformity. Only linear scars left in donor areas.Conclusion:The technique of harvesting superthin ALTF with retrograde dissection of perforator in the superficial fascia plane for repairing foot wounds is reliable and is able to achieve satisfactory functional and esthetic outcome.

Flow-through anterolateral thigh perforator flap or medial sural artery perforator flap in repair of Gustilo Ⅲ C wound of foot / 中华显微外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effect of Flow-through anterolateral thigh perforator flap (ALTPF) or medial sural artery perforator flap (MSAPF) in repair of Gustilo III C wound of foot.Methods:From July 2015 to June 2021, 8 patients with Gustilo III C wound of foot were treated in the Department of Foot and Ankle Surgery of Wuxi No.9 People’s Hospital. The patients were 7 males and 1 female, aged 25-62 years old, and (45.88±12.96) years old in average. Flow-through ALTPF or Flow-through MSAPF were used to repair the defect according to the size of the wound and the length and diameter of the defect vascular. Among the patients, 6 were repaired with free Flow-through ALTPF, and 2 with free Flow-through MSAPF. The size of flap was 9 cm×5 cm-22 cm×8 cm with (115.00±46.16) cm 2 in average, and the vascular bridging was 6-12 cm in length, with (8.75±2.50) cm in average. All patients received outpatient follow-up. The appearance of the flap, blood supply of affected limb, healing of fracture and dislocation and the recovery of limb function were recorded. Maryland score was used to evaluate functional recovery. Results:The flaps survived uneventfully in all 8 patients, and the wounds in donor site healed primarily. All patients were followed-up for 6-22 months with (12.25±5.39 ) months in average. At the last follow-up, all the flaps had satisfactory contour in soft texture and blood supply without occlusion in the bridging vessels. The fractures and dislocation were healed, and the appearance and function of the foot recovered satisfactorily. The Maryland score showed excellent in 3 patients, good in 4 patients and fair in 1 patient.Conclusion:Flow-through ALTPF or MSAPF can selectively used to reconstruct the Gustilo III C wound of foot in one stage. The functional recovery of the affected limb was satisfactory and the clinical effect was good.

Repair of foot degloving injury by ALTF combined with MPF / 中华显微外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of free anterolateral thigh flap(ALTF) combined with medial plantar flap(MPF) transfer in repairing forefoot and mid-foot degloving injury.Methods:From May, 2016 to November, 2019, 6 patients with forefoot and mid-foot degloving injuries underwent reconstructions using free ALTF combined with MPF. The study included 4 males and 2 females patients with an average of 43 (range, 35-55) years. The size of soft tissue defects was 15 cm×12 cm-19 cm×14 cm. The dimension of the MPF was 8 cm×5 cm-10 cm× 6 cm, and that of ALTF was 16 cm×7 cm-20 cm×8 cm. The ALTF was used to cover the dorsal and lateral foot, the flap artery was anastomosed to the dorsalis pedis artery. The MPF was used to repair the weight-bearing area of the forefoot, the flap artery was anastomosed to the medial plantar artery in recipient site. All patients entered follow-up by outpatient clinic or Wechat for 9-18(mean, 14) months, and the appearance of flap and limb function were recorded.Results:The MPF and ALTF survived uneventfully in all 6 patients, and the wound in donor and recipient areas healed in one stage. At the last follow-up, the flaps had satisfactory contour, the texture of the flaps was soft, the protective sensation was recovered, and the appearance and function of the foot recovered satisfactorily. The Maryland score of reconstructed foot function was considered excellent (90-100) in 4 cases and good (75-89) in 2 cases. The average Maryland score was 91.2.Conclusion:ALTF combined with MPF generated good effect and satisfactory function in repairing forefoot and mid-foot degloving injury.

Peroneal artery perforator flap with anterior tibial artery perforator in repair of the wound of dorsum of forefoot and midfoot / 中华显微外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical effectiveness of peroneal artery perforator flap with anterior tibial artery perforator in repair of the soft tissue defect of dorsum of forefoot and midfoot.Methods:From February, 2015 to July, 2019, peroneal artery perforator flaps with anterior tibial artery perforator were used to repair dorsal foot soft tissue defect in 42 patients. There were 25 males and 17 females, with an averge age of 62(44-73) years. The size of soft tissue defect ranged from 7 cm×4 cm to 18 cm×5 cm. The recipient sites on forefoot and midfoot were repaired by peroneal artery perforator flaps with anterior tibial artery from the anterolateral aspect of shank. The donor sites were resurfaced with full-thickness skin graft. All patients were followed-up at the outpatient clinic or through WeChat for 3-12 months. The appearance of the flaps and limb recovery were recorded.Results:All flaps survived successfully. The donor sites and recipient sites were well healed. At the last follow-up, the texture and aesthetic of flaps were good, and the appearance and function of the foot were satisfactory.Conclusion:The peroneal artery perforator flaps with anterior tibial artery double blood supply and can be designed to repair large and distanced soft tissue defect of forefoot and midfoot.

Clinical application of island flap with a pedicle of the descending branch of perforating branch from lateral anterior malleolus of peroneal artery in repairing midfoot and forefoot soft tissue defects / 中华显微外科杂志

Objective:To explore clinical application of the island flap pedicled of the descending branch of perforating branch from lateral anterior malleolus of peroneal artery in repairing the soft tissue defects in midfoot and forefoot.Methods:From January, 2010 to December, 2016, based on the anastomosis between the descending branch from a terminal branch of peroneal artery on the anterior aspect of the lateral malleolus and other branches located around the ankle joint and sinus tarsi, island flap with a pedicle could be harvested more distally and to be used in covering the soft tissue defects in midfoot and forefoot of 5 patients. Sizes of the flap were from 15 cm×12 cm to 8 cm×6 cm. All patients were followed-up in outpatient clinic or through WeChat. The appearance of the flaps and ankle function were recorded simultaneously.Results:All flaps were survived without any secondary surgeries. During the follow-up of 6-15 months, the texture of flaps was good with satisfactory estheticity. Range of motion at the injured ankle was 15° in dorsi flexion and 25° in plantar flexion.Conclusion:The flap with a pedicle of the descending branch of perforating branch from lateral anterior malleolus of peroneal artery is good enough to be used in the reconstruction of soft tissue defects in midfoot and forefoot.

Clinical application of 3 types of the medial shank island flaps / 中华显微外科杂志

Objective:To compare the application and results in repairing wounds on shank and medial malleolus by perforator pedicled middle and lower third of posterior tibial flap, saphenous neurovascular flap and posterior tibial artery perforator plus saphenous neurovascular (double blood supply) flap.Methods:Clinical data of 60 patients with wounds on shank and medial malleolus and treated between August, 2015 and December, 2018 were analyzed. Among the patients, 25 were treated with perforator pedicled middle and lower third of posterior tibial flaps, 15 with saphenous neurovascular flaps, and 20 with double blood supply flaps. The data of surgery, survival of the flaps, texture and swelling of the flaps, patient satisfaction and scores set by American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS) were collected. Statistic analysis was carried out to compare observations among the 3 groups.Results:Postoperative followed-up was 6 to 24(average 13.4) months. One flap suffered insufficient blood supply in the group of perforator pedicled middle and lower third of posterior tibial flaps, 2 flaps suffersd necrosis and skin graft was carried out in reverse saphenous nerve neurocutaneous flaps group. In double blood supply flaps group, 2 flaps appeared purple after surgery, and improved after removing the pedicle sutuer, and flaps became swelling and received secondary repair. All AOFAS scores (93.8, 93.3 and 92.8, respectively) and patient satisfaction were high in all 3 groups.Conclusion:All 3 types of flap are able to be used in repairing the soft tissue defect on shank and medial malleolus. The inclusive of saphenous nerve should be determined in intraoperation according to the presence and size of the perforator. If artery perforation is reliable, the use of posterior tibial artery perforator flap in wound repairing will deliver satisfactory outcomes in terms of blood supply and appearance of the flap. For the wider area of wound, a flap with double blood supply is preferred.

Lateral crural reverse island skin flap with two sets of blood supply system for soft tissue defect of ankle and foot / 中华显微外科杂志

ObjectiveTo introduce clinical experience of the modified lateral crural reverse island skin flap with two sets of blood supply system for aged ankle & foot soft tissue defect.MethodsOn the anatomy base that cutaneous artery branches of lateral crural reverse island skin flap and perforating branches of sural neurocutaneous vascular flap were originated from peroneal artery, we designed the modified lateral crural reverse island skin flap located in posterolateral cruris treated for aged ankle & foot soft tissue defect. The modified flap had two sets of blood supply system which were from lateral crural flap and sural neurocutaneous flap.ResultsAll 11 flaps survived. The skin grafting of donor sites healed well. Followed up 3-9 months, six cases were satisfactory. Five cases with extensor defect were regained by tendon transplantation after 3 months of the operations.Conclusion The modified lateral crural reverse island skin flap with two sets of blood supply system is a good method for aged ankle & foot soft tissue defect.

Design for Tolerance Trial of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Intravenous Drip in Human Body / 中药新药与临床药理

Intravenous preparations take more risk than oral preparation and externally applied agent.In phaseⅠtoler- ance trial of intravenous preparations of TCM on human subjects,minimum dose and maximum dose should be decided in light of data derived from preclinical pharmacodynamic and toxicological experiments,combined with practical situation in clinic.Dose-ascending coefficient of the should be reasonable.During the application of intravenous preparations of TCM in tolerance trial,clinical monitoring must be done to ensure the safety of subjects.Overall and integrated observa- tional indices should be designed on the basis of the features of preparation types,administration methods,the nature of medicine,etc.,so as to provide full-scale data for safe dose range,concentration of the preparation,dripping veloci- ty and possible adverse reactions,etc.