Reconstruction of traumatic ear defect by retro-auricular expanded flap and cartilage graft / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the therapeutic effect of retro-auricular expanded flap and cartilage graft for reconstruction of traumatic ear defect.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From Aug. 2008 to Aug. 2010, 10 cases of traumatic ear defects were treated with retro-auricular expanded flap and cartilage graft. The expanders (volume, 50 ml) were implanted subcutaneously at retro-auricular area on the first stage. Then the expansion began at 1 week after operation until the volume reached 60 ml. On the second stage, the ear defects were reconstructed with the expanded flaps, rib cartilage framework, as well as skin graft.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the wounds healed primarily without any complication. The patients were followed up for 6 months to 2 years with satisfactory cosmetic results. Good symmetry was achieved.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>It is an effective and reliable method to reconstruct traumatic ear defect by retro-auricular expanded flap and cartilage graft.</p>

Application of bi-pedicled frontal expanded flap for cervical cicatricial contracture / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the therapeutic effect of bi-pedicled frontal expanded flap for cervical cicatricial contracture.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Tissue expanders were implanted under frontal muscle. After expansion, the frontal flaps were designed based on bilateral superficial temporal vessels and were transferred to the neck wound. The cervical spine movement and the mento-cervical angle was measured and analyzed by SPSS16.0 and t test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>From September 2006 to May 2010, 7 patients were treated by this method. The range of active cervical movement was improved in all direction. The mento-cervical angle decreased from (152.7 +/- 1.9) to (90.7 +/- 2.2) degrees after operation. The patients were followed up for 5 months to 3 years with satisfactory result and no contracture recurrence.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The bi-pedicled expanded frontal flap has a reliable blood supply and is very suitable for cervical cicatricial contracture with good functional and esthetic results, leaving less morbidity at donor site.</p>

Surgical treatment and etiological analysis of polyotia / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the surgical treatment and pathologic mechanism of polyotia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The operative methods for polyotia were flexible. The main procedures were aimed at the remodeling of tragus with the redundant tissue. Tissue transplantation was used to correct the depression deformity. Compound auricular tissue transplantation and Z-plasty were used for correction of the malformation at the posterior part of polyotia.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>From 2003 to 2008, 9 patients with polyotia were treated. The tragus was reconstructed after resection of redundant tissue. The depression deformity was corrected with tissue infilling in 6 cases. The compound auricular tissue transplantation was performed in 4 cases. Z-plasty at the lower ear lobe was performed in 2 cases. The appearance and the location of the reconstructed ears looked symmetric to the healthy ear.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Natural and symmetric appearance of reconstructed ear can be achieved in polyotia. The abnormal migration of neural crest cell might be the pathologic mechanism of polyotia.</p>

Expression and clinical significance of matrix metalloproteinase in gastric stromal tumor / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression and clinical significance of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) in gastric stromal tumor (GST).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression were determined by immunohistochemistry in tumor tissues in 44 patients with GST, and their relationship with clinicopathologic factors of the neoplasm was also investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MMP-2 and MMP-9 were expressed in the cytoplasm in 84.1% (37/44) and 81.8% (36/44) of tumors, respectively. The positive rates of MMP-2 and MMP-9 increased significantly in parallel to the increase in tumor malignancy (P < 0.05) and associated with pattern of tumor growth, tumor size, and centre necrosis (P < 0.05). In addition, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between the expression of the two markers in GST (r = 0.6523, P < 0.05). Furthermore, the 5-year postoperative survival rates of patients with positive expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were significantly lower than those of patients with negative expressions of the two markers (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Over expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 can be served as objective markers to judge the malignant degree and, to predict the prognosis of patients with GST.</p>