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Objective:To compare the difference in clinical efficacy between a free wrist crease flap pedicled with superficial palmar branch of the radial artery flap (SPBRAF) and a traditional free toe flap (TFTF) in reconstruction of hand soft tissue defects, and to provide reference for the treatment of small-to medium-sized hand soft tissue defects.Methods:Data of 37 patients who received hand surgery in Department of Hand Surgery, No.971 Hospital of the PLA Navy from December 2016 to December 2019 for small-to medium-sized hand soft tissue defects were retrospectively studied. Among the 37 patients, there were 32 males and 5 females, aged between 18 and 65 years old, with 41.5 years old in average. According to the reconstructive surgical procedure, patients were divided into SPBRAF group (22 cases) and TFTF group (15 cases). Regular follow-ups were conducted after surgery. The difference in curative effect at the last follow-up between the 2 groups was evaluated by the comparison of data acquired in follow-up. SPSS 25.0 was used to analyse the data statistically. The evaluation indicators included flap survival, long-term recovery of flap, recovery effect at donor site, total active movement(TAM) of the affected digit, time of hospital stay and the time return to work. P<0.05 was considered a statistically significant. Results:All free flaps survived. All patients were entered 6-18 (mean, 10) months of postoperative follow-up to comprehensively evaluate the therapeutic effect. According to the Evaluation Trial Standards of Upper Limb Partial Function of Hand Surgery of Chinese Medical Association, in the SPBRAF group, 20 flaps were found in excellent, and 2 in good; in the TFTF group, 14 flaps were found in excellent, 1 in good. There was no statistical difference between the 2 groups( P>0.05). The colour, texture and thickness of flaps between the 2 groups were either in excellent or good. There was no statistical difference between the 2 groups( P>0.05). TPD in the TFTF group (5-6 mm) was better than that in SPBRAF group (6-7 mm) with statistical difference between the 2 groups ( P<0.05). Texture at donor sites between the 2 groups was either in excellent or good ( P>0.05). In terms of appearance, sensation and recovery time of donor site, it was found that the SPBRAF group(mean, 6 weeks) was significantly better than those in the TFTF group(mean, 8 weeks) and there was statistical difference between the 2 groups ( P<0.05). In terms of recovery of TAM in single-digit, excellent or good were shown in both groups and there was no statistical difference between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). In terms of hospitalisation and time for return to work, the SPBRAF group(mean, 8 days and 17 weeks) was significantly better than that of TFTF group(mean, 12 days and 24 weeks), and there was statistical difference between the 2 groups ( P<0.05). Conclusion:SPBRAF has an ideal effect on reconstruction of small-to medium-sized hand soft tissue defects in hand. Although the flap is still inferior in sensation and appearance compared with the TFTF, the advantages in terms of donor site recovery, patient satisfaction of the donor site and reduced time of hospitalisation and return to original work are more obvious. SPBRAF provides a good complement to surgical procedures reconstructing a digit defect.
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Objective:To evaluate the clinical effect of striated free wrist transverse flap pedicled with superficial palmar branch of radial artery carrying sensory nerve in repairing pulp defect of middle-and-distal segments of fingers.Methods:From February 2019 to March 2021, the data of 20 patients with defects of middle-and-distal finger segment were collected. The defects were repaired with striated free wrist transverse flaps pedicled with superficial palmar branch of radial artery. The defects sized were 2.0 cm×1.5 cm-4.0 cm×1.5 cm, and the flaps sized were 2.5 cm×2.0 cm-4.5 cm×2.0 cm. The flap carried metacarpal cutaneous branch of median nerve for the reconstruction of the sensation of finger pulps. The donor sites were directly sutured. After operation, the patients were evaluated according to the shape, sensation and functional recovery of the repaired fingers through outpatient visits and reviews via WeChat.Results:All 20 flaps survived and the wounds healed well. All patients entered regular follow-up for 6-12(average, 8) months. The colour of the flaps was close to the finger skin, without bloating flaps. The flaps were soft in good shapes and function. TPD were 6-11 mm, at 8 mm in average. The scars at the donor sites were hidden and the wrist function was not affected. According to the Trial Evaluation Standard of Upper Limb Function of Hand Surgery Society of Chinese Medical Association, 16 patients were classified as excellent and 4 as good.Conclusion:The striated transverse wrist flap with radial artery palmar superficial branch and sensory nerve offers many advantages, such as a good texture, hidden donor site, convenient flap harvesting, good recovery of sensation, etc. More clinical studies and the promotion of the technique are expected.
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Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of free chimeric bone flap pedicled with superficial palmar branch of radial artery in reconstruction of partial finger with composite tissue defect.Methods:From July, 2018 to January, 2020, 9 cases of compound tissue defect of fingers were reconstructed by free transfer of chimeric bone flap pedicled with superficial palmar branch of radial artery. The wrist transverse striated flap and distal radius bone flap pedicled with superficial palmar branch of radial artery were harvested in operations. The size of flap were 2.0 cm × 4.0 cm -3.0 cm × 6.5 cm, and the length of bone flaps were 1.5-2.5 cm. All patients entered monthly follow-up by clinic visit in 6 months after the surgery, and thereafter by WeChat interviews.Results:All of the 9 chimeric bone flaps survived well. The average healing time of bone flap was 1.7 months, and the average length of reconstructed finger was 2.4(1.8-3.0) cm; The appearance of the affected fingers restored well, the scars of the donor sites were mild, and average of the TPD of the flaps was 6.6(5.3-8.6) mm at 6 months after the surgery. The function of the affected finger was evaluated according to the Trial Standard of the Upper Limb Function Evaluation proposed by the Hand Surgery Society of the Chinese Medical Association: excellent in 7 cases, good in 1 case and medium in 1 case.Conclusion:Free chimeric bone flap pedicled with superficial palmar branch of radial artery can be used in reconstruction of the soft tissue and bone defects of fingers at the same time. It restores the functional length of fingers, improves the function and appearance of fingers, with less damage to the donor site. It is a simple method for reconstruction of finger defects.
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Objective To explore the sen sation recovery of superficial palmar branc h of the radial artery flap with palmar branch of median nerve and donor si te. Methods From January, 2014 to June, 2016, 12 cases of finger soft tissue defects were repaired with sup erficial palmar branch of the radial artery flap with palmar branch of median nerve. The 2 g tactile sensation, 5 g pain sen sation, 30 g pressure sensation and static two-point discrimination (S2 -PD) of the flap was tested regularly. The S2 -PD of the palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve were recorded respectively on the affected side and the unaffected side. The results were applied comparative t-test to perform statistical analysis, to observe the sensory recovery of the flap and donor site. Results The flaps survived.Twelve cases was followed-up for 6-18 mont hs. The pressure sensation of about 83.3％ of patients recovered after 2 months and 100％ of patients recovered after 3 months. The tactile sensation of about 91.7％ of patients recovered after 3 months and 100％ of patients recovered after 4 months. The pain sensation of about 91.7％ of patients recovered after 4 months of and 100％ of patients recovered after 5 months. S2-PD of the flap was the average of 8.3 mm in 6 months after operation. There were no significant differences in the S2-PD between the affected group [(12.08±2.15)mm] and unaffected group [(10.58±2.11)mm](P>0.05). And the sensory recovery of the control area of the palmar branch of the median nerve was S4 in 2 cases, S3+ in 9 cases, and S3 in 1 case. The sensory recovery was good. Conclusion Superficial palmar branch of the radial artery flap with palmar branch of median nerve can be used repair the skin defect of the fingers. The flap has a good sensery recovery, and the sensation of the donor area is gradually restored.
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Objective To investigate the clinincal curative effects of superficial palmar branch of radial artery (SPBRA) flaps with anastomosed accompanying vein repairing soft tissues defects in fingers.Methods From January,2016 to June,2017,10 cases with soft tissues defects received the operation of superficial palmar branch of radial artery flaps transplantation.In the process of operation,the superficial palmar branch of radial artery (SPBRA) was carefully separated,accompanying vein and superficial vein.The SPBRA was anastomosed with the proper digital artery,while the accompanying vein of superficial palmar branch and superficial vein were anastomosed with the palm vein.The nerve supplied this flap was anastomosed with the proper digital nerve.Mesured the range of motion and two-points discrimination of fingers with following-up.Regular followed-up was performed after operation.Results All patients were followed-up ranged from 6 to 24 months,averaged of 13.8 months.All flaps survived.The shape of flaps was plump and the two-points discriminations ranged from 8 to 12mm.Conclusion Using SPBRA flaps with anastomosed accompanying vein to repair soft tissues defects in fingers,there were minor damage to donor and recipient sites,and the shape and sense of recipient site was perfect.It is a promising treatment choice for patients with soft tissues defects in fingers.
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Objective To explore the clinical effect of free chimeric bone flap based on the superficial pal-mar branch of radial artery to repair finger composite tissue defects. Methods From July, 2013 to January, 2016, 9 cases of finger composite tissue defect were repaired by free chimeric bone flap from the wrist crease area. The flap and bone flap were taken with the superficial palmar branch of the radial artery during the operation. The area of the flap was 1.5 cm×4.0 cm to 3.5 cm×6.5 cm, and the size of the bone flaps were 0.5 cm×1.0 cm×1.5 cm to 1.0 cm × 2.5 cm × 3.5 cm. Regular followed-up was done after the operation. Results Nine cases of chimeric bone flap survived well, and the average healing time of bone flap was 1.6(1.5-3.0) months. The function and appearance of the patients recovered well. The scars on the donor area was slight. The average two-point discrimination of flap was 6.6 (5.3 to 8.6) mm at 6 months after operation. According to the Evaluation Criteria of Thumb and Finger Reconstructive Function Assessment of the Upper Limb of the Chinese Medical Association, 7 cases were superior, 1 was good, 1 was medium. Conclusion The free chimeric bone flap pedicled with superficial palmar branch of radial artery can si-multaneously repair soft tissue and bone defects. It helps shorten the course of disease and speed up the recovery of finger function.It is a new choice to repair finger tissue defects.