Combination of rhomboid flap and double Z-plasty technique for reconstruction of palmar and dorsal web space burn contractures.

BACKGROUND: Web space contractures after a burn can cause severe impairments in hand function along with esthetic deformities. In this study we present our experience with the combined treatment technique consisted of rhomboid flap and double Z-plasty for palmar and dorsal web space contractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Combined rhomboid flap and double Z-plasty was performed in eight patients with eleven web space contractures occurred after burn. The average follow-up was 10.9 months. RESULTS: The average age of 8 patients was 16.3 years. The average duration of burn contractures was 6 years (range 1-13 years). The right third web of the patients was the most common contracted web space. In the postoperative period hematoma, infection, partial or total flap loss was not observed in any patient. Web and hand function and esthetic appearance of web spaces were satisfactory in the late postoperative period. CONCLUSION: Rhomboid flap combined with a double Z-plasty technique was an effective choice for the treatment of palmar and dorsal web space contracture after burn.

Polidocanol injection for chemical delay and its effect on the survival of rat dorsal skin flaps.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Surgical delay is an invasive method requiring a two-stage surgical procedure. Hence, methods that may serve as an alternative to surgical delay have become the focus of interest of research studies. From a conceptual view, any technique that interrupts the blood flow along the edges of a proposed flap will render the flap ischemic and induce a delay phenomenon. Polidocanol (Aethoxysklerol(®)-Kreussler) was initially used as a local anesthetic. Nowadays, it has been used as a sclerosing agent to treat telangiectasias and varicose veins. The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the effects of polidocanol injected around the periphery of a random flap as a sclerosing agent on flap delay and survival in a random flap model. METHODS: A preliminary histopathologic study was performed on two rats to evaluate the sclerosing effect and distribution of polidocanol injection. After the preliminary study, the main study was carried out with three groups: group 1: dorsal flap (n = 10); group 2: dorsal flap + surgical delay (n = 10), group 3: dorsal flap + chemical delay (n = 10). RESULTS: Tissue samples obtained from the flap and injection area revealed destruction of intradermal vessels. The area affected with sclerosis was limited to 0.1 cm beyond the injection site. Mean viable flap areas were 52.1 ± 4.38% (44.0-58.2) in group 1, 64.8 ± 8.92% (57.2-89.2) in group 2, and 71.8 ± 5.18% (64.0-84.0) in group 3. A statistically highly significant difference was found between the surgical delay and chemical delay groups versus the group without delay (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The difference between the mean viable flap areas was not statistically significant in the surgical and chemical delay groups (p = 0.056). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study has shown that polidocanol injection around the dorsal flap in the rat is a safe and easy method for nonsurgical delay. The results have shown a flap survival benefit that is superior to controls and equivalent to surgical delay. The clinical application of polidocanol, already in clinical practice for occlusal of telangiectasias, for surgical delay appears feasible.