Research advances in diagnosis and treatment of high-voltage electric burn of the wrist / 中华创伤杂志

High-voltage electric burn is a special type of burns with high mortality and disabilities and is concerned by the public. High-voltage electric burn of the wrist is characterized by severe injury, difficulty in determining the degree of injury, complicated treatment process and poor prognosis, bring a huge burden to the society and family. In recent years, imaging examination has provided a more reliable basis for the diagnosis and classification of high-voltage electric burn. The development of microsurgery technology has also given more options for wound repair. The authors review epidemiology, clinical type, injury diagnosis and surgical treatment of wrist high-voltage electric burn, so as to provide references for clinical diagnosis and treatment of high-voltage electric burn of the wrist.

Repair strategy and functional reconstruction for complex soft tissue defect / 中华创伤杂志

The complex soft tissue defect is often accompanied by deep tissue injury and defects in tendons, nerves, blood vessels, muscles, joints and even organs. Therefore, it is not only necessary to repair the wound, but also needs functional rehabilitation. For the complex soft tissue defect, the injury is extensive and deep with severe local infections and many complications (diabetes, vascular diseases, tumors, etc.), causing great difficulties for clinical repair and reconstruction. Therefore, the authors have made a comprehensive and deep discussion on the complex soft tissue defect concerning its definition, classification, assessment, and principles and methods of repair and reconstruction, so as to guide the repair and functional reconstruction of the complex soft tissue defect.

Exploration on the method of aesthetic repair of the donor sites of flaps / 中华烧伤杂志

Objective@#To explore the excellent methods for aesthetic repair of the donor sites of flaps.@*Methods@#From January 2013 to March 2018, 120 patients (94 males and 26 females, aged from 3 to 60 years) were admitted to the Department of Burns of Beijing Jishuitan Hospital. Wounds areas after debridement or removing scar were ranged from 8.0 cm×3.5 cm to 24.0 cm×18.0 cm. Twenty patients with facial and neck scar were repaired with expanded flaps, including 4 scalp flaps, 8 supraclavicular flaps, 4 deltoid flaps, and 4 trapezius myocutaneous flaps. The flaps in ideal donor sites were selected to repair the wounds in 40 patients, including 20 cases of hand wounds or scars repaired with inguinal flaps, 10 children of foot skin defects or scars repaired with cross inguinal skin flap, 10 cases of knee joint wounds repaired with medial or lateral thigh flaps. The optimal flap design was used to repair wounds in 50 patients. Among the patients, wounds of 36 patients were repaired with relaying flaps, including donor sites of free anterolateral thigh flaps of 8 patients repaired with anteromedial thigh perforator flaps and donor sites of free anterolateral thigh flaps of 8 patients repaired with ilioinguinal flaps or superficial abdominal artery flaps, and donor sites of flaps of 20 patients repaired with peroneal perforator relaying flaps. Besides, wounds of 9 patients were repaired with free lobulated anterolateral thigh flaps, and wounds of 5 patients were repaired with modified V-Y propelling latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps. The donor sites of flaps were repaired with allogenic acellular dermal matrix combined with autologous split-thickness skin grafts in 10 cases. The areas of the flaps or myocutaneous flaps were ranged from 6.0 cm×4.0 cm to 30.0 cm×20.0 cm. The survival of flap, myocutaneous flap, or skin graft and the repair of donor site after operation and during follow-up were observed.@*Results@#Blood flow obstacle at 0.5 cm to the distal margin of the flap occurred in 1 patient repaired with expanded flap, which were healed after dressing change. Blood supply disorder occurred at the tip of the anteromedial thigh perforator flap of 1 patient repaired by optimal flap design, which were healed completely after second debridement and restitching. The other flaps or myocutaneous flaps survived well. The allogenic acellular dermal matrix and the autologous split-thickness skin graft survived with good color and texture. During follow-up of 3 months to 4 years, the donor sites of flaps had good appearance, only with linear scar and the function recovered well. The donor sites of skin grafts had no scar hyperplasia, only with scattered pigmentation.@*Conclusions@#According to the characteristics of donor sites of flaps, individualized and reasonable design before the operation such as pre-expanding of the flaps, selecting the ideal donor sites, optimization of the flap design or allogenic acellular dermal matrix combined with autologous split-thickness skin graft to repair donor sites of flaps can minimize the damage for function and appearance of donor sites of flaps and achieve aesthetic effects of donor sites of flaps.

Effect of axial flap of adjacent artery perforator with vascular pedicle in repairing facial and cervical scar deformity in patients / 中华烧伤杂志

Objective@#To explore the effect of axial flap of adjacent artery perforator with vascular pedicle in repairing scar deformity of face and neck in patients.@*Methods@#From January 2010 to June 2018, 38 patients with cicatricial deformity of face and neck after deep burn were admitted to author′s unit, including 22 males and 16 females, aged 5-56 years. The time of admission was 7 months to 19 years after burn injury. The size of wounds ranged from 7.0 cm×4.0 cm to 20.0 cm×10.0 cm after scar tissue was released. Nineteen patients were treated by upper thoracic internal artery perforator flap with size ranged from 7.0 cm×5.0 cm to 18.0 cm×8.5 cm. Among them, 16 cases were preexpanded with expanders at thorax whose rated capacity ranged from 300 to 500 mL and times of water injection of 1.8 to 3.1, and 3 cases were directly used. Twelve patients were treated by transverse carotid artery perforator flap with size ranging from 7.0 cm×4.5 cm to 11.0 cm×8.5 cm, of which 8 patients were preexpanded and 4 cases were directly used. The rated capacity of expander placed at the supraclavicular region ranged from 200 to 350 mL with times of water injection from 1.5 to 2.0. Seven patients were treated by preexpanded superficial temporal frontal branch artery perforator flap with size of 5.5 cm×3.8 cm to 8.0 cm×5.0 cm. The rated capacity of expanders placed at forehead was 150 to 300 mL with times of water injection of 1.5 to 2.0. Donor sites were directly sutured or reversely repaired by pedicled skin tube plasty. After operation, operation times and treatment time were recorded. The survival condition and complications of flaps and follow-up were observed.@*Results@#The patients each received 1 to 4 operation (s) with treatment time of 5 to 11 months. All flaps survived after operation. Among them, three flaps with perforating branches of internal thoracic artery had slight blood circulation disturbance at the distal end and were healed after conservative dressing change, etc. Pigment changes were observed at the distal end of thoracic internal artery perforator flaps in two patients in the later stage and was resected and repaired in the second stage. The patients were followed up for 5 to 18 months. The appearance and function of operation area were good with high satisfaction of patient.@*Conclusions@#The axial flap of adjacent artery perforator with vascular pedicle for repairing scar deformity of face and neck used directly or preexpanded can solve the problem of lack of normal skin around scar deformity without vascular anastomosis during the operation and with better appearance and function after operation. The donor site often can be directly sutured, but many operations often need to be completed for finishing whole treatment.

Limb salvage strategies for patients with high voltage electric burns of extremities on the verge of amputation / 中华烧伤杂志

Objective@#To explore the limb salvage strategies for patients with high voltage electric burns of extremities on the verge of amputation.@*Methods@#From January 2003 to March 2019, 61 patients with high voltage electric burns of extremities on the verge of amputation were treated in our hospital. All of them were male, aged 15-58 years, including 49 cases of upper limbs and 12 cases of lower limbs. The wound area after thorough debridement ranged from 15 cm×11 cm to 35 cm×20 cm. Emergency surgery for reconstruction of the radial artery with saphenous vein graft under eschar was performed in 5 cases. The arteries of 36 patients (including 7 cases with simultaneous ulnar artery and radial artery reconstruction) were reconstructed with various forms of blood flow-through after debridement, among them, the radial artery of 13 cases, the ulnar artery of 8 cases, the brachial artery of 8 cases, and the femoral artery of 2 cases were reconstructed with saphenous vein graft; the radial artery of 3 cases and the ulnar artery of 7 cases were reconstructed with the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery graft; the radial artery of 2 cases were reconstructed with greater omentum vascular graft; the reflux vein of 3 cases with wrist and forearm annular electric burns were reconstructed with saphenous vein graft. According to the actual situation of the patients, 12 cases of latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap, 6 cases of paraumbilical flap, 28 cases of anterolateral thigh flap, 10 cases of abdominal combined axial flap, 5 cases of greater omentum combined with flap and/or skin grafts were used to repair the wounds after debridement and cover the main wounds as much as possible. Some cases were filled with muscle flap in deep defect at the same time. The area of tissue flaps ranged from 10 cm×10 cm to 38 cm×22 cm. For particularly large wounds and annular wounds, the latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap, the paraumbilical flap, the abdominal combined axial flap, and the greater omentum combined with flap and/or skin grafts were used more often. Donor sites of three patients were closed directly, and those of 58 patients were repaired with thin and medium split-thickness skin or mesh skin grafts. The outcome of limb salvage, flap survival, and follow-up of patients in this group were recorded.@*Results@#All the transplanted tissue flaps survived in 61 patients. Fifty-six patients had successful limb salvage, among them, 31 limbs were healed after primary surgery; 20 limbs with flap infection and tissue necrosis survived after debridement and flap sutured in situ; 5 limbs with flap infection, radial artery thrombosis, and hand blood supply crisis survived after debridement and radial artery reconstruction with saphenous vein graft. Five patients had limb salvage failure, among them, 3 patients with wrist electric burns had embolism on the distal end of the transplanted blood vessels, without condition of re-anastomosis, and the hands gradually necrotized; although the upper limb of one patient was salvaged at first, due to the extensive necrosis and infection at the distal radius and ulna and the existence of hand blood supply under flap, considering prognostic function and economic benefits, amputation was required by the patient; although the foot of one patient was salvaged at first, due to the repeated infection, sinus formation, extensive bone necrosis of foot under flap, dullness of sole and dysfunction in walking for a long time, amputation was required by the patient. During the follow-up of 6 months to 5 years, 56 patients had adequate blood supply in the salvaged limbs, satisfied appearance of flaps, and certain recovery of limb function.@*Conclusions@#Timely revascularization, early thorough debridement, and transplantation of large free tissue flap, combined tissue flap, or blood flow-through flap with rich blood supply are the basic factors to get better limb preservation and recovery of certain functions for patients with high voltage electric burns of limbs on the verge of amputation.

Surgical treatment of hypertrophic scar contracture deformity after deep burn / 中华烧伤杂志

Although burn treatment technology has been greatly improved, the number of patients with hypertrophic scar contracture deformities after burn has not decreased significantly. Some patients still have severe deformities, which not only affect the appearance, but also lead to different degrees of dysfunction. Surgery is still dominant for treating hypertrophic scar contracture deformity. In addition to skin grafting, flaps, especially expanded flaps (perforator flaps), expanded free flaps (perforator flaps), and prefabricated flaps etc. are more frequently used in functional and exposed areas after scar excision, in order to achieve perfect repair and reduce donor site damage. The treatment of scar contracture deformity should take into account the rehabilitation after operation on the basis of active operation, so as to achieve the unity of shape and function.

Effects of perforator flaps in the reconstruction of hypertrophic scar contracture deformities in the large joints of extremities of patients after severe burns / 中华烧伤杂志

Objective@#To explore the clinical effects of perforator flaps in the reconstruction of hypertrophic scar contracture deformities in the large joints of extremities after severe burns.@*Methods@#From January 2008 to January 2018, 72 patients (53 males and 19 females, aged 5 to 63 years) with hypertrophic scar contracture deformities and functional disorder in the large joints of extremities after severe burns were admitted to the Department of Burns of Beijing Jishuitan Hospital. Scar hyperplasia and contracture deformity were located at shoulder joints of 28 patients, elbow joints of 15 patients, hip joints of 7 patients, knee joints of 17 patients, and ankle joints of 5 patients. The wound area of patients after the scars were excised and released ranged from 7 cm×6 cm to 34 cm×12 cm. The wounds were repaired with corresponding unexpanded perforator flaps or expanded perforator flaps according to the joint location and existing soft tissue conditions. The size of flaps ranged from 7 cm×6 cm to 35 cm×14 cm. The donor sites of 51 patients were sutured directly; the donor sites of 21 patients were repaired by segmented grafts or mesh grafts. The adopted surgeries, the survival of flaps after surgery, and the functional recovery of the joints during follow-up were recorded.@*Results@#Among the 72 patients, 53 patients had perforator flap repairing surgery only; 19 patients had perforator flap repairing surgery and skin grafting. Among them, 12 patients had expanded perforator flaps, 60 patients had unexpanded perforator flaps. The perforator flaps were performed free transplantation in 9 patients, pedicled transplantation in 61 patients, and groin transplantation in 2 patients. At last, 67 flaps survived completely, while 5 flaps had distal-end necrosis which were healed after dressing change or skin grafting after debridement. During follow-up of 6 months to 3 years, the joint function of all the patients was obviously improved. The abduction angles of shoulder joints were over 110°; the hip, knee, and elbow joints could reach the straight position, and the flexion was normal; the foot drop deformity was corrected, and the appearance of flaps was good with obvious extension compared with the original state.@*Conclusions@#Perforator flaps are suitable for reconstruction of hypertrophic scar contracture deformities in the large joints of extremities of patients after severe burns. They can restore the joint function to the greatest extent as well as repair the wounds.

Wound repair and functional reconstruction of high-voltage electrical burns / 中华烧伤杂志

In the repair of burn wound, high-voltage electrical burn wound is still the most complicated and the most difficult one to deal with. According to the clinical experience of author and the literature at home and abroad, this article systematically discusses the early treatment of high-voltage electrical burn wounds, including limbs escharotomy, fasciotomy, and early debridement, and the repair of high-voltage electrical burn wounds in various parts, especially in some special parts, focusing on the repair of the life-threatening parts and site of large vascular injury. At the same time, this article discusses the feasibility and necessity of functional reconstruction. We should make full use of modern repair technology and innovation, interdisciplinary cooperation, so as to reduce disability rate, amputation rate, and mortality of patients with high-voltage electrical burns as far as possible.

Experience of wound treatment on extremely severe mass burn patients involved in August 2nd Kunshan factory aluminum dust explosion accident / 中华烧伤杂志

Objective@#To explore experience of wound treatment of extremely severe mass burn patients involved in August 2nd Kunshan factory aluminum dust explosion accident.@*Methods@#On August 2nd, 2014, 98 extremely severe burn mass patients involved in August 2nd Kunshan factory aluminum dust explosion accident were admitted to 20 hospitals in China. The patients with complete medical record were enrolled in the study and divided into microskin graft group with 56 patients and Meek skin graft group with 42 patients. Split-thickness skin in area of residual skin were resected to repair wounds of patients in microskin graft group and Meek skin graft group by microskin grafting and Meek miniature skin grafting, respectively. The residual wound size on 28 days post injury and wound infection after skin grafting of patients in the two groups, and position of donor site of all patients were retrospectively analyzed. Data were processed with t test and chi-square test.@*Results@#The size of residual wound of patients in Meek skin graft group on 28 days post injury was (59±13)% total body surface area (TBSA), which was obviously smaller than that in microskin graft group [(70±14)%TBSA, t=4.379, P<0.05]. Twenty-nine patients in microskin graft group and 11 patients in Meek skin graft group suffered from obvious wound infection after skin grafting. Wounds of patients in two groups were repaired with residual skin around wound in head, trunk, groin, armpit, and uncommon donor sites of scrotum (4 patients), vola (10 patients), and toe or finger web (8 patients).@*Conclusions@#Meek skin graft is the first choice for wound repair of extremely severe burn mass patients, with faster wound healing, less wound infection. Uncommon donor sites of scrotum, vola, and toe or finger web can also be used for wound repair in case of lack of skin.

Analysis of effects of discipline cooperation on rescue and treatment of severe mass burn patients involved in August 2nd Kunshan factory aluminum dust explosion accident / 中华烧伤杂志

Objective@#To analyze effects of cooperation between physicians in department of burn surgery and department of intensive care medicine on rescue and treatment of severe mass burn patients involved in August 2nd Kunshan factory aluminum dust explosion accident.@*Methods@#On August 2nd, 2014, 15 extremely severe burn patients involved in August 2nd Kunshan factory aluminum dust explosion accident were admitted to temporary burn treatment center established in Department of Critical Care Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. The 15 patients were equally divided into 3 groups, with 5 patients in each group. Fifteen surgeons and 30 nurses from department of burn surgery and 15 physicians and 30 nurses from department of intensive care medicine from different hospitals in China were divided into 3 groups, with 5 physicians and 10 nurses from department of burn surgery and 5 physicians and 10 nurses from department of intensive care medicine in each group. Each group of physicians and nurses were responsible for treatment of 5 patients. Treatment of patients was leaded by surgeons from department of burn surgery, who were responsible for wound dealing and operation. Physicians from department of intensive care medicine were responsible for systemic treatment and adjustment of relevant equipment's parameters. Volume of fluid infusion and urine output in shock period, severe systemic complication during period of treatment, using time and kind of antibiotics, death in 1 month after admission, length of hospital stay, and survival of patients were monitored.@*Results@#Volume of fluid infusion of 15 extremely severe burn patients within the first 24 hours post injury was 10 360-17 162 (12 998±1 811) mL, including (1.62±0.23) mL·% total body surface area (TBSA)-1·kg-1 electrolyte and colloid and (2 850±232) mL glucose, with electrolyte and colloid ratio of (1.76±0.23)∶1.00. Volume of urine output within the first 24 hours post injury was (2 384±1 242) mL, with (99±52) mL in each hour. Volume of fluid infusion of 15 extremely severe burn patients within the second 24 hours post injury was 8 720-11 616 (9 406±1 277) mL, including (1.04±0.22) mL·%TBSA-1·kg-1 electrolyte and colloid and (2 910±187) mL glucose, with electrolyte and colloid ratio of (1.53±0.31)∶1.00. Volume of urine output within the second 24 hours post injury of patients was (2 299±1 362) mL , with (108±61) mL in each hour. One patient had pulmonary infection, and 7 patients had fungal infection, and no patient had gut microbiota dysbiosis. Patients were treated with combined 2 kinds of antibiotics for 21-85 (50±16) d. No patient died within 1 month after admission. The length of hospital stay was 53-132 (98±44) d. Ten patients survived finally.@*Conclusions@#After being treated by cooperation between physicians in department of burn surgery and department of intensive care medicine, severe mass burn patients involved in August 2nd Kunshan factory aluminum dust explosion accident had hemodynamic stability and could stably experience shock period, with less complication, shorter length of hospital stay, no death within 1 month after admission, more survived patients, which can provide reference for rescue and treatment of severe mass burn patients.

Perforator flap combined with mesh to repair scar abdominal hernia after deep burn / 中华整形外科杂志

Objective@#To study the outcome of perforator flap combined with mesh in repairing cicatricial abdominal hernia after deep burn.@*Methods@#From June 2000 to June 2016, 11 cases of cicatricial abdominal wall hernia after deep burn were treated. 8 cases were caused by electrical burn, 2 cases by stove burn and 1 case by molten iron burn. All of them were Ⅳ degree burn of abdominal wall. The overall treatment time was 1-11 years, with the average of 4.1 years. The hernias were 6 cm × 6 cm to 12 cm × 11 cm in size. The abdominal wall hernia was repaired following the process of scar excision, mesh and perforator flap transfer and defect repairment. 3 kinds of mesh materials were used, polypropylene mesh (n=7), composite mesh (n=2), and acellular allogenic dermis (n=2). The size of meshes ranged from 8 cm ×8 cm to 16 cm ×13 cm. Meanwhile, paraumbilical perforator flaps were used in 5 patients, and anterolateral thigh perforator flaps were 6. The flaps were 18 cm ×10 cm to 22 cm ×13 cm in size.@*Results@#All 11 cases of abdominal wall hernia were repaired. Follow-up period was 6 months to 2 years. There was no recurrence was found. The shape of the flap was satisfying.@*Conclusions@#The perforator flap combined with mesh is a good method to repair cicatricial abdominal wall hernia after deep burn.

Effects of flow-through descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery flap on repairing high-voltage electrical burn wounds of wrist of patients / 中华烧伤杂志

Objective@#To investigate the effects of flow-through descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery flap on repairing high-voltage electrical burn wounds of wrist of patients.@*Methods@#From January 2014 to June 2016, 5 patients with high-voltage electrical burn of unilateral wrist were hospitalized in our burn ward, with extensive necrosis of skin soft tissue of burn wrist. Five patients were transferred to our burn ward 6 to 12 days post injury after undergoing emergency dermotomy of wrist to reduce tension in other hospitals. In 2 to 3 days after admission, operation was performed by two surgeon group at the same time, when patients′ general condition were stable. One group underwent debridement and the other group designed and dissected flap according to the range of skin soft tissue defect of wrist. Wrist wounds after debridement ranged from 15 cm×10 cm to 24 cm×15 cm. Three patients were treated with flow-through descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery flap and great saphenous vein for repairing wounds of wrist and reconstruction of ulnar and radial artery. Two patients were treated with flow-through descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery flap for repairing wounds of wrist and reconstruction of ulnar artery. The dissected flaps ranged from 16 cm×12 cm to 26 cm×16 cm and the length of bridging vessel ranged from 15 to 21 cm.@*Results@#The flow-through descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery flaps of five patients survived well. Wounds of 4 patients healed and wounds of 1 patient with infection under the flap on 3 days after operation healed after changing wound dressing and undergoing debridement for 2 weeks. After the operation, wrists and hands of 5 patients had adequate blood supply and ulnar and radial artery recovered patency. Follow-up of patients for 6 months to 1 year showed good flap appearance and adequate blood supply of burn hands.@*Conclusions@#The flow-through descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery flap can repair wrist wounds and recover blood supply of hands and it is a good method for repairing high-voltage electrical burns of wrist.

Effects of flap or myocutaneous flap combined with fascia lata or composite mesh on repairing severe high-voltage electrical burn wounds in abdomen of patients / 中华烧伤杂志

Objective@#To investigate the effects of flap or myocutaneous flap combined with fascia lata or composite mesh on repairing wounds in abdomen of patients with severe high-voltage electrical burn.@*Methods@#From January 2010 to May 2017, 11 patients with severe high-voltage electrical burn in abdomen were hospitalized in our burn wards. In 3 hours to 7 days after burn, operation was performed when patients were in stable condition. After debridement, intestines with necrosis or perforation in 4 patients with peritoneal defects were resected and intestinal anastomosis was performed. The size of abdominal wounds after debridement ranged from 13 cm×9 cm to 41 cm×32 cm. Five patients were treated with rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap and size of which ranged from 14 cm×10 cm to 30 cm×17 cm. Among the above 5 patients, 4 patients with peritoneal defects used composite mesh of 25 cm×20 cm to enhance abdominal wall. Three patients were treated with tensor fascia lata myocutaneous flap, and size of the flap ranged from 24 cm×10 cm to 27 cm×13 cm. Three patients were treated with anterolateral thigh flap with fascia lata, and one of them was treated with the lobulated flap; size of the flap ranged from 18 cm×13 cm to 25 cm×15 cm. The later 6 patients used fascia lata of flap to enhance abdominal wall. The donor sites were sutured directly or repaired with intermediate split-thickness skin graft of thigh.@*Results@#After operation, flaps or myocutaneous flaps of patients were survived, and strength of abdominal wall recovered. During follow-up of 6 month to 1 year, flaps or myocutaneous flaps were in good appearance, with no ankylenteron or abdominal wall hernia.@*Conclusions@#Flap or myocutaneous flap combined with fascia lata or composite mesh can achieve good effects on repairing severe high-voltage electrical burn wounds in abdomen.

Wound repair and functional reconstruction of high-voltage electrical burns in wrists / 中华烧伤杂志

Objective@#To explore the methods and effects of wound repair and functional reconstruction of high-voltage electrical burns in wrists.@*Methods@#From January 2009 to June 2016, 71 patients with high-voltage electrical burns in wrists were hospitalized, with 118 wrist wounds including 21 of type Ⅰ, 69 of type Ⅱ, 9 of type Ⅲ, and 19 of type Ⅳ. According to the wrist injuries, different surgical operations were performed. Forearm amputation was conducted in 20 wrists with necrosis in the distal end. On the basis of fasciotomy for decompression, early debridement was performed on the other 98 wrist wounds. After debridement, wounds with area ranging from 10 cm×7 cm to 30 cm×18 cm were repaired with tissue flaps with abundant blood supply. Thirty-two wounds were repaired with pedicled groin flaps, 11 wounds with pedicled paraumbilical flaps, 3 wounds with pedicled anterolateral thigh island flaps, 9 wounds with combined abdominal axial pattern flaps, 37 wounds with free skin flaps or myocutaneous flaps, and 6 wounds with flow-through descending branch of lateral femoral circumflex artery flaps, with tissue flap area ranging from 12 cm×8 cm to 34 cm×20 cm. Ulnar artery or radial artery vascular reconstruction was performed in 20 wrist wounds. Forty-one donor sites were sutured directly, while 14 were closed by thin split-thickness skin grafts from same-side thighs, and 43 were closed by thin split-thickness skin grafts from opposite-side thighs. Fifty-three wrist wounds were performed with tendon and nerve repair surgery, of which 20 were performed with simple tendon and nerve release surgery. Flexor digitorum profundus tendons and (or) flexor pollicis longus tendons were reconstructed with autologous or allogeneic tendon transplantation in 33 wrist wounds, and the median nerve was repaired with sural nerve graft in 21 wrist wounds. In 6 to 24 months after the last operation, tendon function of 53 wrist wounds which had tendon repair was evaluated with finger total active motion (TAM) method, while median nerve function of 21 wrist wounds which had median nerve repair was evaluated with integrate estimation method.@*Results@#(1) After forearm amputation, the incisions of 20 wrists with necrosis in the distal end were healed. (2) Among the 98 tissue flaps, 90 had good blood flow, while 8 had distal necrosis, of which 6 were healed after necrotic tissue removal and skin grafting, and two were sutured directly after debridement. Infection occurred under 7 flaps, of which 3 were healed by dressing change, and 4 were healed after second debridement. Twenty wrist wounds which had radial artery or ulnar artery repair had good blood supply of hand and amputation was avoided. During follow-up of 1 to 3 years, the incisions and flaps of patients who had tissue flap repair surgery healed well. (3) The excellent and good rate of TAM in each finger of the corresponding affected limbs of 53 wrist wounds which had tendon and nerve repair surgery was 51%. (4) Twenty wrists which had simple tendon and nerve release surgery were followed up for 1 to 2 years. The strength of muscle dominated by the median nerve was restored to grade Ⅴ in 1 wrist, grade Ⅳ in 3 wrists, and grade Ⅲ in 2 wrists. The strength of muscle dominated by the ulnar nerve was restored to grade Ⅳ in 3 wrists, with no recovery in other wrists. Sensory function examination showed grade S0 in 4 wrists, grade S1 in 2 wrists, grade S2 in 3 wrists, grade S3 in 8 wrists, and grade S4 in 3 wrists. Twenty-one wrists which had median nerve repair were followed up for 1 to 2 years. There was no recovery in muscle strength dominated by the median nerve. Sensory function examination showed grade S0 in 3 wrists, grade S1 in 5 wrists, grade S2 in 8 wrists, and grade S3 in 5 wrists.@*Conclusions@#It is a good method to sequentially conduct early fasciotomy for decompression, early debridement, vascular reconstruction, transplant of tissue flap with abundant blood supply, tendon and nerve repair in repairing electrical burn wounds of wrists, avoiding amputation, and reconstructing hand function according to the condition of electrical burns of wrists.

Tissue flap repair strategy for severe defects of skin and soft tissue around the knee joints / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore selection and method of tissue flaps for the repair of severe defects of skin and soft tissue around the knee joints.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-four patients with wounds around the knee joints, all accompanied by exposure or necrosis of tendon or bone and exposure of prosthesis, were hospitalized in our burn center from June 2008 to December 2014. Five of them were with knee joint injury. After thorough debridement or tumor resection, the wound area ranged from 5 cm × 5 cm to 46 cm × 22 cm. Three patients were repaired with free latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps, 7 were repaired with modified sartorius myocutaneous flaps, 8 were repaired with gastrocnemius myocutaneous flaps, one was repaired with gastrocnemius muscle flap, two were repaired with posterior leg flaps combined with gastrocnemius muscle flaps, one was repaired with femoral biceps muscle flap combined with gastrocnemius muscle flap, 13 were repaired with reverse anterolateral thigh island flaps, two were repaired with reverse anterolateral thigh island flap combined with gastrocnemius myocutaneous flaps, two were repaired with superior lateral genicular flaps, 4 were repaired with reverse posterior thigh island flaps, 11 were repaired with saphenous artery flaps. Patellar ligament was reconstructed in 4 patients. The tissue flap size ranged from 5 cm × 5 cm to 38 cm × 19 cm. Some donor sites were sutured directly, and the others were closed by split-thickness skin grafting obtained from ipsilateral or contralateral legs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 59 tissue flaps of 54 patients, 55 tissue flaps of 50 patients survived, while necrosis of the distal part was observed in 4 tissue flaps, including one saphenous artery flap, two reverse anterolateral thigh island flaps, and one free latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap. Among them, 3 flaps with necrosis at the distal part healed after debridement followed by skin grafting, one myocutaneous flap healed by transplanting gastrocnemius myocutaneous flap. During the follow-up period of 6 to 36 months, the tissue flaps were in good appearance and texture, and knee joint function was good in most cases. In 4 patients the knee joint function was satisfactory after patellar ligament reconstruction, while stiffness was observed in 4 out of 5 patients with knee joint injury.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Free latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps are preferred to repair extensive defects around the knee joints. Reverse anterolateral thigh island flaps followed by saphenous artery flaps are preferred to repair wounds around the anterior knee. Wounds of the lateral knee are mainly repaired with reverse anterolateral thigh island flaps, and for small wounds the use of the superior lateral genicular flaps may be considered. Wounds of the medial knee can be repaired with modified sartorius myocutaneous flaps or saphenous artery flaps. Wounds of the posterior knee can be repaired with reverse posterior thigh island flaps or superior lateral genicular flaps. Wounds with severe infection or large space can be repaired with gastrocnemius myocutaneous flaps or muscle flaps or modified sartorius myocutaneous flaps. Anterolateral thigh flaps and gastrocnemius myocutaneous flaps are preferred in cases with indication of patellar ligament reconstruction.</p>

Penile replantation : two case reports and review of the literature / 中华泌尿外科杂志

Objective To present our experience of dealing with complete penile amputation.Methods Two cases of penile complete amputation were reported.The first case was a 34-year-old man,suffered amputation of the penis approximately 2.5 cm distal from the pubic area with a sharp knife.3.5hours later,the patient was transferred to our hospital.The urethra mucosa and corpus spongiosum were anastomosed.The cavernous body of the penis was reattached by suturing the tunics albuginea of each corpus cavernosum to the corresponding proximal segment.One dorssl artery,two dorsal veins,and dorsal nerve were anastomosed under a 10 × microscope with interrupted 9-0 nylon nonabsorbable sutures.The second case was a 25-year-old man,presented to the emergency room 15 hours after distal penile amputation,which had 2 wounds as a result of self-mutilation caused by psychiatric problems.The urethra mucosa and corpus spongiosum were anastomosed.The cavernous body of the penis was reattached by suturing the tunics albuginea of each corpus cavemosum to the corresponding proximal segment using 4-0 polyglactic acid sutures.Results In the first case,the tourniquet was released after replantation,and the distal penis appeared to revascularize,as noted by the gradual increase in redness and size.An arterial pulse was detected,and the superficial penile veins displayed normal turgor,and no bleeding was found.On postoperative day 3,the penile skin started to necrotize.On day 12,the necrotic skin was superficially debrided,and a fistula was observed in the corresponding urethral segment.Two weeks later,the fistula was sutured with 4-0 interrupted synthetic absorbable suture,and a transposition flap to embed the whole injured penis shaft was created from the proximal scrotal skin.The glans was exposed.Two months after the second operation,the embedded penis was released from the scrotum.After follow-up of two years,the patient had glans re-epithelialization with normal voiding,sensation,and erections.In the second case,the glans was still pink,but the penile skin started to necrotize on postoperative day 3.On day 14,serious infections were noted,the necrotic skin was superficially debrided,and the amputated penis was relieved.Conclusions Prompt diagnosis and early treatment are essential to avoid the potential complications of ischemic necrosis and autoamputation.Venous outflow is a critical factor for success of replantation.Microsurgical reanastomosing of the dorsal penile vein,penile arteries,and dorsal nerves can be identified as the standard method for penile replantation.The bipedicled scrotal flap can provide adequate skin cover for penis defects.

Distally based myocutaneous flap pedicled with nutrient vessel of cutaneous nerve of leg for traumatic chronic osteomyelitis of lower limbs in 25 cases / 中国组织工程研究

To investigate the clinical efficacy of distally based myocutaneous flap pedicled with nutrient vessel of cutaneous nerve of leg for the treatment of traumatic chronic osteomyelitis of lower leg. A total of 25 patients with traumatic chronic osteomyelitis of lower legs were from Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from January 2002 to June 2008. All the patients were treated with distally based myocutaneous flap pedicled with nutrient vessel of cutaneous nerve of leg after thoroughly debridement. Among them, 6 patients were treated with myocutaneous flap with nutrient vessel of saphenous nerve, and 19 patients were treated with myocutaneous flap with nutrient vessel of sural nerve. The sizes of the flaps were 5 cm×3 cm-18 cm× 12 cm, with attached muscles were 3 cm×3 cm-8 cm×5 cm. The lengths of the pedicles were 5-12 cm. All transplanted myocutaneous flaps survived well. A 6-24 months follow-up of all patients was obtained. The shape and texture of the myocutaneous flaps were good. And there was no recurrence of osteomyelitis. Results suggested that the distally based myocutaneous flap pedicled with nutrient vessel of cutaneous nerve of leg had reliable blood supply and satisfied efficacy, which was a good method for repairing traumatic chronic osteomyelitis of lower leg.