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Objective:To discuss outcomes of emergency repairing for Gustilo III B and III C fractures of forearm with complicated tissue defects and the related influence factors.Methods:From January 2014 to Feburary 2022, data of 98 cases of Gustilo III B and III C fractures with large compound defects of soft tissue, blood vessel, bone, tendon or muscle from elbow to wrist were collected. Primary debridement, bone fixation, wound coverage by free flap, bone transfer(or bone cement filling) or dynamic reconstruction of muscle were completed with emergency surgery in Department of Hand and Foot Microsurgery, Xi'an Fengcheng Hospital. Postoperative follow-ups were conducted through outpatient clinic visits, telephone and WeChat reviews. Video clips, questionnaires and the latest information of patients were also analysed. Rank sum test and Chi-square test were used to examine the relationship between independent variables such as general condition, disease condition and surgical procedures of chimeric tissue transfer group and simple flap transfer group, together with dependent variables such as limb salvage, number of surgery, wound healing, function scores, and complications. P<0.05 were further included in the regression equation to discover the relationship between multiple independent variables and dependent variables. Results:Follow-up lasted for 6-96 months, with an average of 71.1 months. In the chimeric group, the limb salvage rate was at 95.1%, with an infection rate of 8.50% and an average number of surgery was 2.13±0.89. In the simple flap transfer group, the limb salvage rate was at 87.5%, with an infection rate of 15.38% and an average number of surgery was 2.62±0.64. The good rate of Anderson score was 65.3% and the average score of Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand(DASH) was 32.9(0-60) points for all the patients. There were significant differences in dependent variables of limb salvage and infection rate between the 2 groups ( P<0.05). Ischemia time and method of bone fixation led to significant differences in number of surgery ( P<0.05). Methods of bone fixation and the types of flap made significant differences in wound healing ( P<0.05). Underlying disease, bonedefect, Gustilo classification and method of bone fixation all contributed to the significant differences in function score ( P<0.05 or P<0.01) . Conclusion:Emergency surgery for repair of serious injury of forearm has a relatively high limb salvage rate and good functional effects. The limb salvage rate is not correlated with independent variables such as severity of injury, Mangledextremity Severity Score (MESS) and ischemia time, while transfer of a simple flap or a chimeric flap is significantly correlated with the limb salvage rate, infection and wound healing. The severity of injury, ischemia time and bone defect are correlated with functional assessment, number of surgery and bone healing.
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Objective To investigate the clinical effectivity of the muscular flap transposition and induced membrane technique in the emergency treatment for the limb salvage of Gustilo type Ⅲ B/C open fracture of lower leg. Methods From July, 2015 to December, 2017, 10 cases of Gustilo type Ⅲ B/C fracture of lower leg with bone defects were performed limb salvage surgery. Induced membrane technique was used to fill the bone defects in the emergency room.The gastrocnemius and/or soleus muscular flaps were transposed to cover the bone cement or ex-posed bone simultaneously in emergence treatment. After the wound healed completely, traditional bone grafting was used to repair the bone defects. There were 4 cases of Gustilo type Ⅲ B and 6 cases of Gustilo type Ⅲ C. The aver-age length of bone defect was (5.25±1.70) cm ranging from 3.0 cm to 11.0 cm. The gastrocnemius medial head flaps were performed in 5 cases, the combined application with the gastrocnemius medial head flaps and the medial hemimuscular flaps of soleus were performed in 2 cases, and medial hemimuscular flaps of soleus were transposed in 3 cases. Results The wounds in 6 cases were healed at one stage, but 2 cases healed by dressing because the exudate after skin grafting.In 1 case, the cross-leg flap was used to cover the exposed bone cement due to the necro-sis of soleus flap. The other 1 was performed the transposition of the lateral gastrocnemius flaps because the exposure of bone cement after the necrosis of the upper and lateral muscles in lower leg. In the second-stage, the bone defects were reconstructed by traditional bone grafting. The average healed time of bone was 7.2 months ranging from 5 months to 9 months. At the last followed-up time, all patients recovered their function of weight-bearing. The Paley's score of the adjacent joints: excellent in 8 cases and good in 2 cases. Conclusion The combination with induced membrane technique and local muscular flap transposition in emergency surgery is an effective method to limb salvage for the Gustilo type Ⅲ B/C open fracture of lower leg.
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Objective To analyze the outcome of the flow-through anterolateral thigh flap for reconstruction in the Gustilo type Ⅲ C traumatized extremities.Methods From June 2008 to June 2011,sixteen flow-through anterolateral thigh flaps were used for limb salvage.All in this series suffered from Gustilo type Ⅲ C open fractures in upper (4 cases) or lower extremities (12 cases).All patients had the presence of wide segmental soft tissue defects and segmental artery defects with compromised circulation.Four patients received primary operations and 12 patients received debridement combined with vacuum sealing drainage and secondary operations.Results All patients were followed up from 12 months to 40 months (average of 22 months).The mean age was 37.5 years old (from 18 to 62 years).The mean timing of free flap transfer was 6.7 days after injury (from 5 hours to 16 days).The mean artery defect was 12 cm in length (from 6 to 16 cm).All the flaps survived completely with a soft tissue texture.After operation,infection occurred in one patient,venous thrombosis occurred 1 day post-operatively in one patient,local flap necrosis occurred in two patients.No donor site morbidity was noted.In the last follow-up,according to Johner-Wruhs and Berton scores,the overall excellent/good rate for lower and upper extremities were 83.3％ and 75.0％ respectively.Conclusion Flow-through anterolateral thigh flaps provide for reconstruction of both the vessels and soft tissue simultaneously.Because of avoiding sacrificing one of the major vessels,it particularly indicates for only one major artery survival in the extremity.The clinical results show that the above reconstruction technique is useful for upper and lower extremities salvage.
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Objective To investigate the choice of methods and time on the treatment of Gustilo type Ⅲ B and type ⅢC open tibia fractures by bone fixation and tissue flap repairing.Methods The clinic data of 136 cases of Gustilo Ⅲ B and Ⅲ C open tibia fractures were retrospectively studied.There were 102 males and 34 females,with average age of 34 years(range 14 to 68 years).Ninety-eight cases were classified as Gustilo type Ⅲ B and 38 cases were type Ⅲ C in degree.In all cases,one hundred and thirteen were treated with onestage external fixation,ninteen cases were treated with secondary bone fixation.Sixty-seven cases of all wounds were repaired by one-stage vascular pedicle skin flap.Seven wounds were repaired by one-stage free flaps with vascular anastomosis.Sixty-two cases were secondary repaired by different flaps after defect tissue under VSD (vacuum-sealing-drainage) treatment by 1 to several weeks,which contains 9 free skin graft,eleven muscle flaps based on posterior tibial artery perforator,thirteen flaps based on fibial artery perforator,fourteen gastrocnemius falps and 15 cross-leg flaps.Results Wound of all cases were healed wholly.Primary union occurred in 121 cases,twelve,cases healed after bone grafting for segmental bone defect.Three cases with delayed union healed after reoperation for infection that caused osteomyelitis and sinus tract.The period of bone healing was form 5 to 12 months.Conclusion The treatment of Gustilo Ⅲ B and Ⅲ C open tibia fractures by onestage or secondary bone fixation and tissue flap repairing get their advantages and disadvantages,but one-stage bone fixation and tissue flap repairing was better where appropriate.
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ObjectiveTo observe the curative effect of Gustilo typeⅢ fracture with soft tissue defect of leg in children.MethodsOf the 15 patients,the area of the soft tissue defect varied from 5 cm × 6 cm to 8 cm × 12 cm.With regard to the location of soft tissue defect,two were situated at the upper third of the leg,eight were middle part of the leg,four were lower portion of the leg and dorsum of foot,one was lower portion of the leg and heel.The fracture was fixed by external fixation device and raw surface was closed by negative pressure drainage in the first stage.The raw surface was eventually covered by the transposition of regional flap or cross leg flap in the second stage.Among them,three patients underwent transposition of saphenous neuro-veno-fasciocutaneous flap, three patients underwent sural neuro-veno-fasciocutaneous flap transposition,one case of medial head of gastrocnemius muscle flap and 7 cases of cross leg flap were performed,while only 1 patient underwent free lateral anterior thigh flap transposition.ResultsOne patient who underwent transposition of saphenous neuro-veno-fasciocutaneous flap present with necrosis of the distal end of the flap 5 days after operation,which was then cured by cross leg saphenous neuro-veno-fasciocutaneous flap.Dark crust in distal end of flap occurred in 1 patient who underwent sural neuro-veno-fasciocutaneous flap,which was cured by changing dressings.Bone fracture of 14 patients were all healed.One patient who was classified as Gustilo Ⅲ c underwent cross leg flap, but bone defect was produced 18 months later.Through 3 months to 2 years follow-up,the texture,colour and shape of flap is good. ConclusionWith regard to Gustilo type Ⅲ fracture combined with soft tissue defect of leg in children,external fixation coupled with flap transposition can cure effectively.
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We have treated the open tibia shaft fractures, especially Gustilo type II, with unreamed interlocking intramedullary nail. In cases combined with soft tissue damage around fracture site, maintaining rigid internal fixation and preserving endoosteal blood supply is important in union of fracture and soft tissue healing. We have analyzed 18 cases of Gustilo type II open tibial shaft fractures managed with intramedullary nailing without reaming since 1991, the follow-up period was average 22 months. Most of the fractures were the result of moderate to high-energy trauma. In all 18 cases, nails were inserted via closed method. Static interlocking nailing was used in all cases. In 16 cases, union of the fracture was achieved from 16 to 25 weeks(average 23 weeks). In the other 2 cases, union was achieved in 7 months. There was no serious postoperative complication except one skin infection with skin defect managed by skin flap and one failure of the interlocking screw. These results are comparable with those obtained from other forms of fixation, including immobilization with a cast, reamed intramedullary nailing, and external fixation.