Flow-through latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap transplantation for functional reconstruction of forearm musculus flexor digitorum defects / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinical application of flow-through latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flaps for functional reconstruction of musculus flexor digitorum defects.Methods 9 forearm traumatic patients were selected admitted from March 2011 to February 2013,aged 22 to 57 years old (average age 39.2),including 5 male and 4 female.All cases were combined injuries.The flexion of the fingers was constrained.The injury areas ranged from 15 cm×6 cm to 21 cm×9 cm while the flaps were 17 cm×7 cm at least and 24 cm×10 cm at most.For traumatic musculus flexor digitorum,skin,soft tissue and radial artery defects were all well repaired with functional flow-through latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flaps.Functional exercise and physical therapy were done 3 weeks later.Electromyography,grip strength,and pinch strength evaluation were performed at the 6,12months after operating.Enneking evaluation was scored during follow-up periods from 12 to 24 months.All the results were measured and evaluated.Results All flaps survived completely in 9 patients and recipient radial artery were bypassed well.The flaps had good appearance and high aesthetic satisfactory.Seven cases had more than 12 months' follow-up periods.Muscle contraction can be touched 3 months after transplantion.Diagram of EMG tracing showed that the maximum voluntary contraction action potentials presented simple phase at 3 months,intermix phase at 6 months,and interference phase at 12 months.The average grip strength of the second to fifth finger was 8.97±2.91 g/mm2 at 6 months,11.69±3.71 g/mm2 at 12 months.The average pinch strength of thumb and the index finger was 1.39±0.22 g/mm2 at 6 months,1.67±0.34 g/rmm2 at 12 months.For the muscle power recovery and motor nerve function scale,4 cases were M3+,3 cases were M3.The average ratio of Enneking evaluation score with nomal was 65.7％± 15.9％.Conclusion As functional musculocutaneous flaps,flow-through latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flaps are effective for reconstruction of musculus flexor digitorum and wound defects.The vascular status of the extremities are protected and maintained,which is extremely useful in forearm-salvage procedures from both functional and structural viewpoints.