ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the efficacy of an anterolateral femoral chimeric perforator flap combined with vancomycin-loaded calcium sulfate in the treatment of chronic infection after internal fixation of calf fracture with soft tissue defects.Methods:Retrospectively analyzed were the data of 16 patients with chronic infection combined with extensive soft tissue defects after internal fixation of calf fracture who had been admitted to Department of Orthopedics, Shenzhen Hospital Affiliated to Peking University from September 2008 to November 2020. There were 11 males and 5 females, aged from 16 to 62 years (average, 37 years). Infection sites: the upper tibia in 4 cases, the middle and lower tibia in 10 cases, and the middle fibula in 2 cases. According to the Cierny-Mader classification, all patients were anatomical type III and by the host classification, there were 14 cases of type B and 2 cases of type C type. The areas of soft tissue defects ranged from 6 cm × 4 cm to 23 cm × 14 cm. All patients were treated by transplantation of an anterolateral thigh chimeric perforator flap combined with vancomycin-loaded calcium sulfate therapy. At the last follow-up, the curative efficacy was evaluated according to the Paley fracture union scoring.Results:All patients were followed up for 8 to 24 months (mean, 16 months). Complete flap survival was achieved in 15 flaps and partial survival in one. According to the Paley fracture union scoring at the last follow-up, the curative efficacy was evaluated as excellent in 15 cases and as good in one. Both the grafted artificial bone and the tibia and fibula achieved bone union after 6 to 12 months (mean, 8.9 months). Infection with chronic sinus tract pus recurred in one case at post-operative one year. After re-debridement, the infection was controlled and the wound healed. The plate internal fixation was replaced by the unilateral or annular external fixator in 14 patients and retained in 2 patients. The lengths of the bone defects averaged 2.4 cm and the time for the external fixation 10.5 months (from 8 to 14 months).Conclusion:In the treatment of chronic infection after internal fixation of calf fracture with extensive soft tissue defects, the efficacy of an anterolateral femoral chimeric perforator flap combined with vancomycin-loaded calcium sulfate is satisfactory, because the flap can fully cover the bone and soft tissue defects while the vancomycin-loaded calcium sulfate can effectively control the infection.
ABSTRACT
To identify the best suture techniques for the tendon repair, the biomechanical properties of tendons sutured by different methods were dynamically examined. 140 chickens were divided into 2 groups equally: group A and group B. The tendon of the right side was subjected to injury-repair process, and the tendons of the left sides served as controls in both groups. In group A, "figure-of-8" suture, modified Kessler suture and Bunnell suture were used for the 2nd to 4th paws respectively, while in group B, Kleinert suture, Tsuge suture and Ikuta suture were used. On the day 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42 after operation, 10 animals were sacrificed and the flexor tendons of both sides were harvested for strength test. The results showed that the initial strength of the repaired tendons and the strength after 6 weeks following tendon cut were far below those of intact tendons, irrespective of suture techniques used. With the 6 techniques, the P(max) of tendons repaired by Tsuge suture was increased continually, reaching the highest value on the 42nd day. The P(max) of tendons sutured by the modified Kessler suture was slightly lower than that by Tsuge suture, but it was increased steadily in healing. The tendons repaired by figure-of-8 suture yielded the lowest P(max). It was concluded that Tsuge suture and modified Kessler suture were the best techniques for tendon repair.
Subject(s)
Biomechanical Phenomena , Chickens , Suture Techniques , Tendon Injuries/surgery , Tendons/surgery , Tensile Strength , Wound HealingABSTRACT
To identify the best suture techniques for the tendon repair, the biomechanical properties of tendons sutured by different methods were dynamically examined. 140 chickens were divided into 2 groups equally: group A and group B. The tendon of the right side was subjected to injury-repair process, and the tendons of the left sides served as controls in both groups. In group A, "figure-of8" suture, modified Kessler suture and Bunnell suture were used for the 2nd to 4th paws respectively, while in group B, Kleinert suture, Tsuge suture and Ikuta suture were used. On the day 0, 3,7, 14, 21, 28, 42 after operation, 10 animals were sacrificed and the flexor tendons of both sides were harvested for strength test. The results showed that the initial strength of the repaired tendons and the strength after 6 weeks following tendon cut were far below those of intact tendons, irrespective of suture techniques used. With the 6 techniques, the Pmax of tendons repaired by Tsuge suture was increased continually, reaching the highest value on the 42nd day. The Pmax of tendons sutured by the modified Kessler suture was slightly lower than that by Tsuge suture, but it was increased steadily in healing. The tendons repaired by figure-of-8 suture yielded the lowest Pmax. It was concluded that Tsuge suture and modified Kessler suture were the best techniques for tendon repair.
ABSTRACT
To study the effects of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) on denervated skeletal muscle atrophy and to find a new approach to ameliorate atrophy of denervated muscle, a model was established by cutting the right sciatic nerve in 36 Wistar mice, with the left side serving as control. Then they were divided into two groups randomly. CNTF (1 U/ml) 0.1 ml was injected into the right tibial muscle every day in experimental group, and saline was used into another group for comparison. The muscle wet weight, muscle total protein, Ca2+, physiological response and morphology were analyzed on the 7th, 14th and 28th day after operation. Our results showed that compared to control group, there was a significant increase in muscle wet weight, total protein, Ca2+, muscle fiber cross-section area in CNTF group (P < 0.05). CNTF could ameliorate the decrease of tetanic tension (PO), post-tetanic twitch potentiation (PTP), and the prolonged muscle relaxation time (RT) caused by denervation (P < 0.05). The motor end-plate areas 7 days and 14 days after denervation was similar (P > 0.05), but significantly larger 28 days after the denervation (P < 0.05). Our results suggest that CNTF exerts myotrophic effects by attenuating the morphological and functional changes associated with denervation of rat muscles and has protective effects on denervated muscle and motor end plate.