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Objective:To explore the clinical effect of keystone flap (KF) on repair of soft tissue defects at the donor site after flap transfer.Methods:From October 2020 to December 2022, in the Department of Microsurgical Rapair of First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, 12 patients were repaired with KF after transfer of flaps. There were 3 donor sites for lateral thigh myocutaneous flap, 3 for sural nerve nutrient vascular flap, 4 for latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap and 2 for medial supramalleolar island flap. Size of the KF was 15.0 cm × 12.0 cm-30.0 cm × 20.0 cm. Types of KF were: 3 of type I, 5 of type IIA, 2 of type IIB and 2 of type Sydney Melanoma Unit (SMU) modification KF design. Four patients were reviewed by telephone follow-up, 5 by WeChat and 3 with outpatient clinic visits to observe the appearance of the transferred KF and postoperative complications. Appearance of flaps was scored and analysed using Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and Scar Cosmesis Assessment and Rating (SCAR) .Results:The average follow-up period was 15.9 (2-27) months. The colour and texture of the transferred KF were similar to that of the surrounding skin, together with good sensation recovery. No complication such as osteofascial compartment syndrome, necrosis, wound dehiscence and venous congestion occurred in all patients. At the final follow-up, the scores for VSS was 2.17±0.58 and the score for SCAR was 5.33±1.23, with satisfactory repairing outcomes.Conclusion:As a relay flap, the KF is a simple and effective flap for reconstruction of the defects at the donor site and it can avoid complications that can be caused by direct closure of the soft tissue defect or a wound dehiscence after skin grafting.
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Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of pedicled latissimus dorsi flaps in reconstruction of large soft tissue defects around elbow.Methods:From January 2012 to January 2022, 12 patients with large soft tissue defects around elbow received reconstructive surgery with pedicled latissimus dorsi flaps in Department of Microreconstructive Surgery, The First Affliliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University. Partial latissimus dorsi flaps were employed to reconstruct The soft tissue defects around the posterolateral side of elbow in 6 patients. Functional reconstruction of anteromedial soft tissue defect around elbow with functional latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap combined with biceps muscle dynamic reconstruction was performed on other 6 patients. All patients were males and aged 18 to 57 years old, at 31.4 years old in average. Causes of injury: machine strangulation in 5 patients, traffic accident in 4 patients, machine crush in 2 patients, and fall from height in 1 patient. Injured sites: 5 patients had injury on right elbow and 7 on the left. The size of soft tissue defect ranged from 18.0 cm×10.0 cm to 51.0 cm×13.0 cm. The size of the flaps were at 30.0 cm×7.0 cm-55.0 cm×14.0 cm. The wounds at donor site were directly sutured. Follow-up included postoperative reviews via telephone, WeChat and visit to outpatient clinic. Mayo elbow performance scores(MEPS) at the last follow-up were recorded.Results:All 12 flaps survived, and all donor and recipient sites healed at stage I. The follow-ups lasted for 3 months to 2 years for all patients, with 18 months in average. Three months after operation, 1 patient underwent additional surgery for flap reduction due to a bloated flap and poor appearance. Six patients who received dynamic reconstruction myocutaneous flaps achieved grade IV in elbow flexion. Six patients with lateral elbow repaired with partial latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap showed that the appearance of the flap was not bulky and had no effect on the flexion and extension function of the elbow joint. All flaps survived well at the last follow-up, with soft texture and colour close to the surrounding normal skin. All donor sites healed well, leaving only linear scars. Motion of all elbows was good. The MEPS at the final follow-up was(90.6±6.4), with 10 patients in excellent and 2 in good.Conclusion:According to the location of elbow joint soft tissue defect, different types of latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps are used for reconstruction, which can achieve good clinical results.
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Objective:To investigate the risk factors for axial deviation in the treatment of tibial defect susing Orthofix unilateral external fixator and proximal tibial osteotomy for bone transport.Methods:A retrospective study was performed to analyze the clinical data of 90 patients who had been treated for tibial bone defects by the Orthofix unilateral external fixator at Department of Microrepair and Reconstruction, The First Hospital Affiliated to Xinjiang Medical University from May 2012 to June 2019. There were 77 males and 13 females with a mean age of 41.2 years (from 17 to 63 years).The bone defects ranged from 4 to 13 cm in length. According to the Paley criteria for axial deviation, the 90 patients were divided into 2 groups: a deviation-free group with no axial deviation or an axial deviation ≤5° and a deviation group with an axial deviation>5°. The 2 groups were compared in terms of age, number of prior surgery, defect length, placement angle of Schanz screws, external fixation time, external fixation index and bending degree of Schanz screws at the last follow-up.The factors with P<0.05 were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression to find the risk factors for coronal axial deviation. Results:The 90 patients were followed up for an average of 23 months (from 12 to 40 months). The incidence of axial deviation in this cohort was 36.7% (33/90).The deviation group had a significantly larger number of prior surgery [5 (3, 6) times], a significantly longer defect length [8 (8, 9) cm], a significantly longer external fixation time [400.0 (341.8, 426.3) d], and a significantly greater bending degree of Schanz screws at the last follow-up [1.2° (0.4°, 3.5°)] than the deviation-free group [3 (2, 3) times, 6 (5, 8) cm, 340.8 (226.5, 422.8) d, and 0.8° (0.2°, 3.7°)] (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the number of prior surgery ( OR=2.581, 95% CI: 1.496-4.450, P=0.001) and the defect length ( OR=5.310, 95% CI: 1.952-14.442, P=0.001) were the risk factors for the axial deviation. Conclusion:In the treatment of tibial defect susing Orthofix unilateral external fixator and proximal tibial osteotomy for bone transport, the more prior surgeries and the longer a bone defect, the higher the risk for axial deviation.
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Objective:To report the clinical effect of using polyfoliate anterolateral thigh perforator flap (ALTPF) in reconstruction of soft tissue defects of extremities.Methods:From April 2017 to January 2020, 21 cases of soft tissue defect in extremities were repaired by polyfoliate ALTPF, including 11 cases of traffic accident trauma, 8 of machine crush injury, and 2 of iatrogenic complications. There were 14 cases in calf and ankle, and 7 in hand and wrist. The area of defect was 17.0 cm×12.0 cm-20.0 cm×14.0 cm. Eight cases were complicated with fracture and bone exposure, 13 with tendon and nerve exposure. Thirteen cases had 2 adjacent wounds and 8 had large wound. The polyfoliate ALTPF was designed for wound repair. The patients entered follow-up regularly. The last follow-up included the colour, texture, shape, sensation of the flap and the scar of the donor area.Results:There was no infection in the recipient site of all 21 patients after operation, and all flaps survived. Two cases had venous crisis, with 1 was found in 5 hours after operation. Emergency exploration found that there were thrombosis in anastomosed veins. The flap survived completely after the thrombus removed and the embolized vein was anastomosed again. Another case was found with venous crisis at 1 lobe of flap in 2 hours after operation. Emergency exploration found that the anastomotic site between the superficial vein from the medial edge of the flap to the great saphenous vein and the superficial vein of the recipient area was embolised. The flap survived completely after the thrombus removed and the embolized veins was anastomosed again. The wounds of all donor sites healed in the first stage. All patients were followed-up for 6-30 (mean 12.3) months. All flaps had good colour and texture, with slightly bloated appearance and dull sensation. There was only a linear scar in the donor area, and the appearance evaluation was good.Conclusion:Polyfoliate ALTPF can be used to repair 2 large or adjacent wounds in 1 stage, reduce the damage of donor site. It is an ideal method to repair large or adjacent wounds of limb.
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Objective To study the clinical efficacy of two-stage bone transport combined with induced membrane technique in the treatment of post-traumatic tibial osteomyelitis.Methods A retrospective study was conducted of the 14 patients with post-traumatic tibial osteomyelitis who had been treated by two-stage bone transport combined with induced membrane technique from February 2009 to August 2015.They were 12 males and 2 females,aged from 26 to 59 years (average,40.4 years).By the Cierny & Mader classification,they all belonged to type Ⅳ.Their disease course ranged from 6 to 30 months,averaging 15.3 months.The number of their previous operations ranged from 2 to 6 times,averaging 3.3 times.In the first stage of operation,tibial extended external fixation was installed according to preoperative design,followed by early debridement and extensive removal of osteomyelitis lesion.The length of bone defect after resection of osteomyelitis lesion was from 4 to 18 cm (average,8.5 cm).10％ vancomycin-contained polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bone cement was molded and placed in the bone defects.In the second stage of operation,the PMMA-induced membrane was opened to remove the PMMA bone cement,the bone marrow was drilled through and the induced membrane was then sutured up.Tibial osteotomy was conducted at an appropriate part.The average interval between the first and second stages was from 4 to 7 weeks (average,4.8 weeks).The clinical efficacy was evaluated according to the Paley criteria at final follow-ups.Complications were recorded.Results All the patients were followed up for 15 to 50 months (17.5 months).No relapse of osteomyelitis occurred.The total treatment time ranged from 11 to 19 months,with an average of 14.7 months.The total time for external fixation was from 10 to 18 months,averaging 13.2 months.The external fixator indexes ranged from 31 to 75 day/cm,with an average of 48.5 day/cm.According to Paley criteria at final follow-ups,the clinical efficacy was excellent in 11 and good in 3 cases.Pin tract infection occurred in 9 patients,mal-alignment after removal of external fixation in 6,and malunion or nonunion at the docking site in 5.Conclusions Two-stage bone transport combined with induced membrane technique can cure thoroughly post-traumatic tibial osteomyelitis.Its operation procedures are simple but effective.
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Objective According to the characteristics of skin defects in ankle and foot select the posterior lateral leg pedide skin flaps supplyed by different blood to repair,providing advice and reference.Methods Between January,2001 and December,2015,163 cases of soft tissue defects at the foot and ankle were treated in our department.①The sural neurovascular flap was used in 93 cases in ankle and foot defect.②The sural nerve nutritional vessel flap pediele with the perforating branch of the peroneal artery in 36 cases in ankle and foot defect.③The sural nerve nutritional vessel flap pediele with the perforating branch of the peroneal artery including sensory reconstruction in 16 cases in heel rejion defect.④Peroneal artery perforator flap in 10 cases in anterior ankle,lateral malleolus and posterior malleolus defect.⑤The use of the sural fasciocutaneous flap alonged with peroneal artery and perforators in 8 cases in dorsal foot defect.The donor site with skin graft.Results Of the 93 sural neurovascular flaps,8 had partial loss,which were cured after dressing.All the sural nerve nutritional vessel flaps pediele with the perforating branch of the peroneal artery survived.Sensory grading standard by UK Medical Research Council was used to evaluate the recovery of sensory function on the last follow-up.The sensory function recovery of heel region flaps with reconstruction of the sensory was between S0 and S1.All peroneal artery perforator flaps survived.One of the sural fasciocutaneous flap alonged with peroneal artery and perforators occurred distal epidermis,which were cured after dressing.All patients were followed up 6-50 months (mean 20 months).All patients had recoveryed walking function,and infection wound had no recurrence after surgery.Conclusion According to the location,size,severity and the injury of peripheral vascular,select the most simple,safe,minimal damage flap for the soft tissue defects at the foot and ankle.The right choice and the exact design can improve flap survival rate,and recieve good clinical results.