Comparison between free wrist crease flap pedicled with superficial palmar branch of radial artery and traditional free toe flap in reconstruction of hand soft tissue defects: A study on clinical efficacy / 中华显微外科杂志

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.

Role of scapholunate interosseous ligament in flexion-extension motion of scaphoid and lunate / 中华创伤杂志

Objective To observe the resection of the scapholunate interosseous ligament (SLIL)and its subregions on the three-dimensional(3-D)movement of the scaphoid and lunate so as to discuss the role of SLIL in the 3D flexion-extension motion of the scaphoid and lunate.Methods Twelve upper extremities(six left extremities and six right extremities)from adult cadaver were used in this study and divided into five groups:normal group,proximal subregion resection group,proximal subregion plus dorsal subregion resection group,proximal subregion plus palmar subregion resection group and whole SLIL resection group.The 3-D laser scan and reconstruction technique were used for meusure ment of the 3-D flexion-extension motion of the scaphoid and lunate.Results In the normal group,the scaphoid and lunate flexed and the radial deviated at the same direction during wrist flexion-extension motion.At the same time,there was minimal scaphoid and lunate pronation-supination during wrist flexionextension.After resection of the proximal and palmar(or dorsal)subregions of the SLIL,some different movements were found compared with the normal specimen.Whole SLIL resection resulted in increase of the flexion motion of the scaphoid but decrease of the palmar flexion of the lunate.Conclusions 3-D laser scanning and image reconstruction techniques can accurately measure the 3D motion of the scaphoid and lunate.Partial or whole resection of SLIL may exert significant effect on the flexion-extension motion of the scaphoid and lunate.However,the proximal subregion of SLIL has no prominent effect on the motion of the scaphoid and lunate.

Reconstruction of contracture of the first web space with snuff-box flap / 中华显微外科杂志

Objective To summarize and investigate the therapeutic effects of reconstruction of contracture of the first web space with snuff-box flap. Methods Eighteen patients with contracture of the first web space were treated by snuff-box flap. The width and the angle of the first web space was 19 mm and 20°on average. According to the first web space skin defects, the flap designed to nasopharyngeal fossa centers as rotation point, the radial line when the forearm in the neutral position as the axis. Results The followedup for 5-26 months revealed that 17 flaps had a success, but 1 case was partly necrosis. The width of the first web space was augmented by an aveage of 45 mm, the angle of the first web space was augmented by an average of 50°. Conclusion It is ralatively simple and reliable to repair the contracture of the first web space using the snuff-box flap.

Aesthetic reconstruction of distal finger or middle-distal finger degment with transplantation of 2nd, 3rd or 4th toe / 中华显微外科杂志

@#Objective To report the results of aesthetic reconstruction of distal finger or middle-distal finger segment with transplant harvested from 2nd, 3rd or 4th toe. Methods In a series of 108 cases of distal finger or middle-distal finger segment defect, 141 fingers were reconstructed with transplants harvested from 2nd, 3rd or 4th toe according to the outward appearance of donor toe. The blood-supply was restored by anastomosis of digital artery and vein. In first-stage reconstruction, refinement of outward appearance was applied in doner toe if the toe pulp is bulky or middle part of toe was relatively thinner. Results One hundred and forty fingers survived. The successful rate was 99.3%. Among them, 81 patients had been followed up from 1 to 10 years (mean 3.5years) postoperatively. 61 cases were graded to be excellent and 16 eases good as assessed with Criterion of Functional Evaluation on Finger Reconstruction issued by Chinese Society of Hand Surgery. Conclusion For aesthetic reconstruction of distal finger or middle-distal finger segment, the 2nd toe is usually considered to be donor of first choice. In case the outward appearance of 2nd toe was inferior to that of 3rd or 4th toe, the 3rd or 4th toe should be chosen for better result. In some cases, revisional aesthetic surgery were necessary to refine the outward appearance in first-stage reconstruction.

Clinical application of miniature tissue transplantation in hand surgery / 中华显微外科杂志

@#Objective To explore the concept,denomination and technique of miniature tissue transplantation in hand clinic. Methods In 537 cases,local skin or composite tissue defect in 756 thumbs or fingers were repaired with 4 kinds of miniature island flap and 10 kinds of miniature vascularized composite tissue.Some of them were created in clinic practice.The precess,main points and indication of the operation were expounded and compared. Results In 639 fingers covered with miniature island flap,the transferred flaps were surviverd completely in 621 fingers(97.2%),survivered partly in 11 fingers(1.7%)and necrosised in 7 fingers(1%).In 117 fingers repaired with miniature vascularized composite tissue,all the transplanted tissues were survivered.In all the injuried fingers,beautiful outlook were recovered and no fat and clumsy were found,two-point difference was 6-8 mm,effctive sensibility and good function were restored,and all the patients were satisfied. Conclusion Miniature tissue transplantation were good methods to cover the local defect in fingers or thumbs,worth of generalization and aplication in hand clinic,and have an important significance for improve the trauma repair quality and treatment level in hand surgery.

Small size toe flap repair tissue defect of thumb and ringer / 中华显微外科杂志

Objective To explore small size toe tissue flap for aesthetic reconstruction of the thumb and / or finger. Methods Six kinds of small size toe tissue transplants had been applied in repairing skin-bone-joint composite tissue defects of the thumb or finger in 74 cases. Results Among 83reconstructed flaps of the 74 patients, 81 flaps survived completely. Follow-up examination made three to forty-eight months postoperatively showed that the outward appearance were excellent in most cases. The function of the thumbs or fingers were good. The donor feet can walk normally with no pain. Conclusion A variable combinations of toe tissues including skin, soft tissue, bone and joint can be harvested to form a lot of small size transplants for refined aesthetic reconstruction of thumb and finger. The functional and aesthetic results are good and the treatment course is shortened.

Crab-shaped hand reconstruction: bilateral second toes transfer for reconstruction of total hand or total digits defect / 中华骨科杂志

Objective To report the result of bilateral second toes transfer for reconstruction of total hand or total digits defect. Methods A series of 14 total hand or total digits defect were reconstructed by transplantation of 2nd toes from both feet forming a crab-shaped hand. Among 14 cases, 11 cases were males and 3 females. The patients were aged from 4-44 years, with an average of 22.7 years. One of the 14 cases was of congenital deformity and the other 13 were caused by trauma. The 14 cases were classified into three types according to the level of amputation; Type Ⅰ: defect at the distal end of the metacarpal bone with good function of abductor pollicis in 6 cases; Type Ⅱ: at the proximal end of carpus or the level of wrist joint in 5 cases; and type Ⅲ: at the forearm end stump in 3 cases. All the operations were successful. Results All 28 transferred toes survived uneventfully with good blood supply and pulp fullness and elasticity. Follow-up examination made at mean 6.6 years postoperative period (2-15 years) showed that mean total active motion (TAM) of IP joints of reconstructed digit was 57.5? (35?-105?). All the 14 cases had restored digital function, such as opposition of the fingers, pinching a pencil, a key, a needle or holding an ink-bottle. The mean distance between the two reconstructed digital pulps was 4.3 cm (2.6-6.5 cm). Judging by the evaluation standard of British Medical Institute, sensation recovery to S3+ was obtained in 20 digits of 10 cases. Based on the trial criteria of the function of hand reconstruction of hand surgery society of Chinese Medical Association, 2 were assessed as excellent, 7 good, 4 fair and 1 poor. Conclusion Reconstruction of crab-shaped hand for total hand or total digits defect by transfer of bilateral 2nd toes with metatarso-phalangeal joint can give the patient reasonable prehensile function without much impairment to foot function.

Repair of compound defect in the hand by compound or combined flap transfer / 中华显微外科杂志

Objective To introduce the outcome of compound defect in the hand treated by compound flap transfer or combined flaps transfer. Method From Dec.1983 to June 2001,thirty-five cases with five kinds of compound defect in the hand were treated surgically.Among them,four cases with defect of skin and extensor tendon in the dorsum of hand were repaired by dorsalis pedis flap with tendons;Three cases with longitudinal subtotal loss of distal thumb and one case with longitudinal subtotal loss of distal middle finger were reconstructed with fibular segmental osteo-onychocutaneous flap from great toe or tibial segmental osteo-onychocutaneous flap from second toe;Eight cases with total or subtotal defect at middle part of thumb or fingers were reconstructed with segmental second toe; seventeen cases with defect of thumb and hand skin were reconstructed with combined transplantation of second toe and free skin flap;Two cases with middle finger defect at the base of proximal phalanx were reconstructed with bridging transplantation of bilateral second toe. Result Thirty-three cases were successful.Follow-up period ranged from 0.5 to 5 years postoperatively.The excellent and good rate was 82.9% assessed with provisional functional assessment criterion for upper limbs issued by Chinese Society of Hand Surgery. Conclusion The compound flap transfer or combined flaps transfer was an ideal method in repair of compound defect in the hand.