ABSTRACT
The treatment of most fractures of the ulna and radius is usually performed by anatomical reduction and internal fixation, when damage is extensive and local soft tissue cannot provide a complete wound coverage, locoregional flaps present a suitable reconstructive benefit. A 35-year-old male patient suffered an exposed diaphysio-metaphyseal fracture with multi-fragmented distal radius. The patient was evaluated during a 10-day period at the National Institute of Rehabilitation, where the osteosynthesis material and a severe infectious process with necrosis were identified. Necrosectomy of the posterior compartment and removal of the osteosynthesis material was performed, a skin defect of approximately 22x16 cm was observed with a bone gap of 6 cm of radius and ulna. a fibula-free flap is placed to correct the skin defect and an external fixative used for bone alignment. The fibular free flap presents an excellent therapeutic alternative in the resolution of bone gaps with extensive skin defect. Whenever a trained microsurgery team is available, current scales of limb injury should be considered but not utilized for therapeutic approach, always trying to shift amputation as the first option, to the very last one of them.
ABSTRACT
Reconstruction of lower limb defects is a constant challenge for surgeons, the etiology of the defect can be very variable from diabetic ulcers, traffic accidents, fall from height, oncological resections and many others. Free flaps have always been an important option because it has great results in complex reconstructions in lower limbs, it is a microvascular technique, so it has a higher level of complexity. This technique is usually reserved for extensive perilesional wide defects. On the other hand, the propeller flap, which is considered less invasive and easier as it does not involve microvascular surgery. An 18-year-old patient who had a fracture of the right tibial pylon due to a 7-meter drop, who after orthopedic treatment had a defect with exposure of ostesynthesis material of 3 cm in circumference in the medial malleolus. This defect was first managed with a propeller flap complicated with necrosis at 48 hours which was treated with sub atmospheric pressure system for 5 days and later with an ultra-thin anterolateral flap of the pelvic limb. Complete pedicled propeller flap failure is very rare but, because necrosis develops distally, even partial necrosis can expose bone, tendons, or other tissue. Some surgeons consider that propeller flap placement is risky in this location, especially the distal third of the lower leg a prefer to use free flaps. Whenever any pelvic member reconstruction plan fails in the distal third, the best and safest is the use of microsurgery even with the failure of a previous micro vascular flap.
ABSTRACT
Complex defects in the soft tissues of the foot and ankle caused by high-energy trauma, infection, cancer or diabetes require rapid and effective treatment which decreases the risk of infection, bone healing time, hospital stay and number total of surgical approaches. Authors report a clinical case of a 23-year-old female patient who suffers high-energy trauma due to a motorcycle accident which causes exposure of the distal third of the tibia, loss of the tibial joint face, and loss of tissue throughout the region of the malleolus medial of the right pelvic extremity. Tissue transfer to the pelvic limb is performed using left contralateral radial antebrachial free flap as donor area. This case report aims to emphasize the key aspects of the high energy trauma approach by using microvascular flaps, as well as the satisfactory evolution of the patient that directly affects the prognosis for life and function.
ABSTRACT
RESUMEN: La reconstrucción de la cabeza y el cuello contempla avances importantes a lo largo de los años. Los colgajos microvasculares se han convertido en la primera opción de tratamiento en grandes defectos del territorio maxilofacial, mientras tanto, la tecnología con el uso de microscopía y luego las imágenes como CT, angiografía por tomografía computarizada, dispositivo ultrasónico, RNM o Doppler contribuyen a lograr una predictibilidad excepcional de estos colgajos microvasculares. Por lo general, la técnica de anastomosis consiste en una sutura de 9-0 en 360°, pero existen autores que han descrito diversos métodos que no son de sutura con un rendimiento aceptable. Existe un buen número de diferentes colgajos microvasculares, cuatro de ellos son los más comunes en la reconstrucción maxilofacial: fíbula, ilíaco, antebrazo radial, escápula. Además el colgajo anterolateral, muy útil en defectos de piel y tejidos blandos. La evolución de los colgajos microvasculares implica los colgajos quiméricos, muy útiles en defectos grandes. El objetivo de este artículo es describir y exponer el desarrollo de la microcirugía y las diversas opciones de colgajos microvasculares en la reconstrucción maxilofacial.
ABSTRACT: Head and neck reconstruction have shown important advances over the years. Microvasculars flaps transfer has become the first treatment option in large defects of the maxillofacial area. Meanwhile technology through the use of microscopy and the subsequent use of images such as CT, CT angiography, RNM or Doppler ultrasonic device, and additional new techniques have contributed to an exceptional predictability of these microvascular flaps. Typically, the anastomosis technique consists in 9-0 suture in 360°, but since the vascular flaps exist, authors have described diverse non-suture methods with acceptable performance. There are a number of different microvasculars flaps, four of them are the most common in maxillofacial reconstruction: fibula, iliac, radial forearm, scapula. In addition the anterolateral tight flap, very useful in skin and soft tissues defects. The microvascular flaps evolution involves the chimeric flaps that are useful in large defects. The aim of this article is to describe and expose microsurgery development and the diverse microvascular flap options in maxillofacial reconstruction.
Subject(s)
Humans , Oral Surgical Procedures/methods , Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods , Free Tissue Flaps , Thigh , Leg , Microsurgery/methodsABSTRACT
We performed tendon transfer with a microvascular free flap for recovery of handicapped function and reconstruction for the skin and soft tissue loss. We review the clinical data of 11 children who underwent these operation due to injured foot by pedestrian car accident from January, 1986 to June, l994. The mean age of patients was 5.6 years old (3-8). Five cases underwent tendon transfer and microvascular free flap simultaneously. Another 6 cases underwent operations separately. The time interval between tendon trasnfer and microvascular free flap was average 5.8 months (2-15 months). The duration between initial trauma and tendon transfer was average 9.6 months (2-21 months). The anterior tibial tendon was used in 6 cases. Among these, the technique of splitting the anterior tibial tendon was used in 5 cases. The posterior tibial tendon was used in 3 cases and the extensor digitorum longus tendon of the foot in 2 cases. Insertion sites of tendon transfer were the cuboid bone in 3 cases, the 3rd cuneiform bone in 3 cases, the 2nd cuneiform bone in I case, the base of 4th metatarsal bone in I case, and the remnant of the extensor hallucis longus in 3 cases. The duration of follow-up was average 29.9 months (12-102 months). The clinical results were analyzed by Srinivasan criteria. Nine cases were excellent and 2 cases were good. The postoperative complications were loosening of the tranferred tendon in 2 cases, plantar flexion contracture in l case, mild flat foot deformity in I case and hypertrophic scar in 2 cases. So we recommend the tendon transfer with a microvascular free flap in the case of injured foot of children combined with nerve injury and extensive loss of skin, soft tissue and tendon.