Reconstruction of finger pulp defect with reversed fasciocutaneous island flap from same finger / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical curative effect of reconstruction of finger pulp defect by anastomosis of reversed fasciocutaneous island flap with dorsal branch of the digital nerve of the same finger.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The restoration of finger pulp defect with fasciocutaneous island flap from the same finger was conducted in 25 cases (30 fingers) from January 2002 to June 2003. Nine patients (11 fingers) whose flaps with dorsal branch of the digital nerve anastomosed with the digital inherent nerve around the surface of the wound were Group A and the others were Group B. The follow-up was carried out at 3 and 9 months after the operation to observe the shape of finger pulp and the sense restoration between two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All flaps of 25 cases (30 fingers) survived. Three months after operation, the patients had fully grown finger pulps and recovered the superficial sensation and tactile sense of finger pulps. The two point discrimination on average was 5.00 mm+/-0.23 mm in Group A and 6.00 mm+/-0.30 mm in Group B. The difference between two groups was highly significant. Nine months later, their senses of finger pulps between two groups were recovered basically.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The reversed fasciocutaneous island flap from the same finger is the first choice to reconstruct the finger pulp defect, and the anastomosis of dorsal branch of the digital nerve shall be determined according to the specific condition.</p>

Superficial branches of radial nerve-cephalic vein neuro-veno-fasciocutaneous flap for skin defects in hand / 中华显微外科杂志

Objective To report the clinical effects of repairing skin defects in hand by reversed neu- ro-veno-fasciocutaneous flaps based on the superficial branches of radial nerve.Methods Eleven cases with soft tissue defects around the wrist and the dorsum of the hand were treated with superficial branches of radial nerve-cephalic vein neuro-veno-fasciocutaneous flaps.Results The flaps totally survived in the 9 cases,the others were small distal necrosis.Follow-up survey in the(6-48)months after the oporation showed the appear- ante and function were satisfactory.Conclusion Superficial branches of radial nerve neurofasciocutaneous flap is well supplied with blood and easy to perform.It is the ideal flap to repair the skin defects of the first finger web,radial palm and dorsum of hand.

Effects of chitosan on cell proliferation and collagen production of tendon sheath fibroblasts, epitenon tenocytes, and endotenon tenocytes / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the proliferation and collagen production of tendon sheath fibroblasts, epitenon tenocytes, and endotenon tenocytes; and the effects of chitosan on cell proliferation and collagen production in the 3 cell types of rabbit flexor tendon.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three cell lines of tendon sheath, epitenon, and endotenon were isolated from rabbit flexor tendon and cultured. Cell culture media was added with chitosan. The cell number and production of collagens I, II, and III were measured and compared with those cultured without chitosan. The expression of type I collagen in tendon sheath fibroblasts was determined by quantitative analysis of reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All 3 cell lines produced collagens I, II, and III. Adding chitosan to cell media resulted in a significant decrease in cell number in all 3 cell lines. In addition, there was a significant decrease in collagens I, II, and III production in all 3 cell lines as well as the expression levels of type I collagen in tendon sheath fibroblasts (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Chitosan can inhibit cell proliferation and collagen production of the tendon sheath, epitenon, and endotenon, and may provide a promising approach to obviating tendon adhesion formation clinically.</p>

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its fetal liver kinase-1 receptor in spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia after neurotomy of sciatic nerve in rats / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression and pattern of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its fetal liver kinase-1 (Flk-1) receptor in spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia after neurotomy of sciatic nerve in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-five adult male Wistar rats were divided randomly into a control group (n=5) and an experimental group (n=40). The bilateral sciatic nerves of the rats in the experimental group underwent neurotomy and the L4-L6 spinal cord and the corresponding dorsal root ganglia were harvested respectively at 8 hours, and 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 21 days (8 subgroups with 5 rats each) after operation. The rats in the control group only underwent an exposure of sciatic nerve without neurotomy. Immunohistochemistry and image analysis were used to study the expression of VEGF and its Flk-1 receptor.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Both VEGF and Flk-1 receptor expressed in the normal rat spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia. In response to neurotomy, their expression reached a higher level and persisted for a short time then declined to the normal level rapidly. Besides, positive staining of Flk-1 was observed in both glial cells and nerve fibers, which located in the white matter of the spinal cord.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>VEGF can promote the regeneration of peripheral nerves from the angle of central neurons, which establishes the experimental and theoretical foundation for VEGF treating peripheral nerve injuries.</p>