Two-stage repair of composite soft tissue defect of dorsal wrist: Free flap transfer followed by transplantation of allogeneic tendon / 中华显微外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the clinical effect of a two-staged repair and reconstruction of composite soft tissue defect of dorsal wrist with transfer of free flap (in stage-one) repair and followed by transplantation of allogeneic tendon (in stage-two) reconstruction.Methods:From December 2018 to January 2021, 6 cases with dorsal wrist composite tissue injury and extensor tendon defect were treated in the Department of Hand and Microsurgery of the Fourth People's Hospital of Guiyang City. Four cases were treated with free anterolateral thigh flap (ALTF) combined with allogeneic tendon in the first stage to reconstruct finger dorsiflexion function, and 2 cases were treated with free ilioinguinal flap combined with allogeneic tendon in the second stage to reconstruct finger dorsiflexion function. The age of the patients ranged from 22 to 62 years old. The areas of defect were 5.0 cm×12.0 cm-8.0 cm×20.0 cm. Two cases had 2 extensor tendons defect, 1 had 3 extensor tendons defect, 2 had 4 extensor tendons defect, and 1 had 5 extensor tendons defect. The length of extensor tendon defects was 7.0-22.0 cm. In 5 cases, the wounds were covered by VSD for 5 to 7 days after complete emergenly debridement. Then, after the wounds had been cleared and clean, the wounds of 3 cases were covered with free ALTF, 2 with free ilioinguinal flap, and 1 with free ALTF after skin graft scar resection. At 3-4 months later, the extension function of digit was reconstructed with the transplantation of allogeneic tendons. Postoperative appearance of the flaps and functions of digits were observed at the outpatient clinics during the follow-up.Results:The postoperative follow-up lasted for 10 to 26 (15 in average) months. All 6 flaps surrived completely, and 1 case was further treated with flap thinning at 4 months after the second surgery. During the follow-up, all flaps healed well and were good in appearance and texture. Meanwhile, the donor areas were all healed well with no dysfunction nor sensory disorder. All the transplanted tendons were in good glide without adhesion. The active motion of metacarpophalangeal joints ranged from (10±10) ° to (80±10) °. According to the Evaluation Trial Standards of Upper Limb Partial Functional of Hand Surgery of Chinese Medical Association, at the final follow-up, 4 cases were excellent and 2 cases were good.Conclusion:It is safe and effective that using the two-staged procedure in repair of composite tissue defect of dorsal wrist with stage-one ALTF or ilioinguinal flap transfer combined with stage-two reconstruction with transplantation of allogeneic tendon. It can minimize the adhesion after tendon transplantation and donor site damage