Cobertura de partes blandas del Pulgar. Guía en la toma de decisiones / Coverage of soft parts of the Thumb. Guide for decision making

Las lesiones digitales son extremadamente frecuentes y cuando estas involucran al pulgar pueden comprometer importantemente la función de la mano, tanto así que su amputación afecta hasta un 50% la función global de la mano y disminuye su fuerza hasta en un 20%. Para poder mantener el largo del pulgar en muchas ocasiones se requiere de cobertura mediante el uso de colgajos, los cuales no siempre son realizados por un cirujano de mano. La elección correcta del colgajo es esencial para evitar la restricción de movilidad y limitación funcional del dedo lesionado, existiendo múltiples alternativas descritas, que varían en su capacidad de cobertura y complejidad, haciendo difícil una adecuada elección. Nuestro objetivo es resumir y entregar una estrategia de análisis de lesiones del pulgar que permita comprender el tipo de lesión y objetivos del tratamiento quirúrgico, para así optimizar la cobertura según cada caso y los resultados a largo plazo.

Digital injuries are frequent in medical practice. When they involve the thumb, it is important to consider that an amputation affects up to 50% of the hands' function and decreases its strength by up to 20%. Management of thumb injuries often requires coverage with local flaps, which are not always performed by hand surgeons. Choosing the right flap is essential to avoid restrictions in mobility and functional limitations of the injured finger. Our objective is to summarize and provide a strategy for the analysis of thumb injuries that may help to understand the different types of lesions, and the surgical approaches recommend in order to optimize coverage and long term results.

Delayed Soft Tissue Coverage after Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in Open Fractures of Lower Extremities / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: To evaluate the delayed soft tissue coverage after previous negative wound therapy in treating wounds associated with open lower extremity fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 2007 and February 2011, delayed soft tissue coverage of open lower extremity fractures after previous use of a negative pressure vacuum device, were performed in 15 consecutive patients. Patients included 13 male and 2 female, and their mean age was 39.0 (7-65) years old. Information on the time from injury to definitive wound coverage, type of coverage, functional result, bone union, and complications such as infection were collected. RESULTS: The vacuum-assisted closure devices was applied for an average of 29.3 (9-50) days, and the mean time from injury to definitive wound was 36.1 (21-60) days. Skin graft coverage was performed in 5 cases, free flap in 8 cases, and local flap in 3 cases. The mean time to radiographic union was 5.2 (3-8) months and delayed union occurred in 2 cases. CONCLUSION: Delayed soft tissue coverage after previous negative wound therapy was considered an alternative treatment method in open lower extremity fractures associated with severe concomitant injury.

Total Knee Arthroplasty Using Tissue Expander In Patient with Poor Soft Tissue Coverage of Knee: A Case Report / 대한정형외과학회잡지

In total knee arthroplasty, the status of the soft tissue around the knee joint is important in preventing soft tissue complications and post-operative infection to obtain good results. This article reports a patient, who presented with a stiff knee joint and poor soft tissue coverage as a consequence of several operations after an open patellar fracture. The patient underwent total knee arthroplasty after an expansion of the skin and adjacent soft tissue using a tissue expander. The TKA results were satisfactory without any soft tissue complications including infections or skin necrosis.

Early treatment for Grade ⅢB tibial fractures / 临床外科杂志

Objective To seek an effective method for the treatment of grade ⅢB tibial fractures.Method From Oct. 1985 to Oct.1999, 26 cases of grade ⅢB tibial fractures were treated by early soft tissue coverage(including 12 cases of free muscle flaps and 14 cases of local muscle flaps), early fracture fixation(including 21 cases of external fixation and 5 cases of non-reamed intramedullary nail) and early bone grafting(15 cases).Results The follow up duration were from 10 to 32 months with an average of 15.5 months. The success rates of free and local muscle flaps were respectively 91.7 %(11/12) and 92.9 %(13/14)?Infection occurred in 5 cases (3 cases of local superficial infection and 2 cases of osteomyelitis). The time for bone union were from 17 to 66 weeks with an average of 42 weeks. Conclusion "San-Zao"therapy,especially early soft tissue coverage and early fracture fixation is on effective management for grade ⅢB tibial fractures with the advantages of promoting wound healing and bone union and decreasing the possibility of infection.