RESUMO
Objective:To explore the surgical procedure and effect of reconstruction of 2 adjacent soft tissue defects of digits with free twin-lobed flap of carpal cutaneous branch of ulnar artery.Methods:From January 2015 to February 2022, 6 patients (10 digits) with 2 adjacent soft tissue defects of digits were treated by free twin-lobed flap of the carpal cutaneous branch of ulnar artery in the Department of Hand and Wrist Surgery of Sichuan Orthopaedic Hospital. All patients were males, aged 35-53 years old, with an average age of 39.5 years old. Three patients were with soft tissue defects in palmar of index and middle fingers, 1 in palmar of middle and ring fingers, 1 in palmar and dorsal of thumb and 1 in palmar and radial of index finger. Nerves in 5 injured digits of 3 patients and the defected digital flexor tendons in 2 digits of 2 patients were reconstructed. The defects were 2.5 cm× 1.5 cm - 4.0 cm× 2.0 cm in size. The sizes of the flaps were 7.5 cm×2.0 cm-10.0 cm×3.0 cm. The donor sites were directly sutured. All of the defects were treated in emergency surgery. The survival rate of flaps was observed after surgery. All patients were included in postoperative follow-up via telephone or WeChat reviews after discharge to observe the flaps and function recovery of digits.Results:All flaps survived without complication. Venous occlusion occurred in 1 digit, which was relieved after suture removal and heparin dressing for 3 days. Follow-ups lasted 12-16 (mean 12.8) months. The texture and appearance of the flaps were satisfactory. Sensory recovery was at S 3-S 3+ with static two-point discriminations (TPD) at 7-12 mm in the digits with sensory reconstruction. In the digits without nerve repair, the flaps gradually regained protective sensation and the function of digits satisfactorily recovered at 6 months after surgery. According to the Evaluation Standard of Upper Limb Function of Hand Surgery Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, 5 patients were in excellent and 1 in good. Conclusion:Using a free twin-lobed flap with carpal cutaneous branch of ulnar artery to reconstruct 2 adjacent defects of digits can benefit from the thickness of flap being similar to the skin of hand and a hidden donor site together with satisfactory appearance, texture and function of the flap. It is an effective method in reconstruction of 2 adjacent soft tissue defects of digits.
RESUMO
Objective:To explore indications for replantation of proximal proper digital artery and establishing extrinsic arterial perfusion pressure in the treatment of special type of severed digits with avulsion over 12.0 hours of warm ischemia, and to analyse the factors that affected the survival rate of the replanted digits.Methods:From September 2014 to January 2022, 8 patients with severed digits and prolonged warm ischemia were treated by transposition of adjacent digital artery together with the technique of extrinsic arterial perfusion pressure in the Department of Wrist and Hand Surgery, the Orthopaedic Hospital in Sichuan Province. During the operation, the defected proximal proper digital artery was reconstructed and repaired with vein graft, one side of the digital artery was repaired with an inverted "Y" vein graft, and one side of "Y" vein was bridged and anastomosed to repair the original digital artery. On the other side, the adjacent proximal proper digital arteries were transpositioned and anastomosed to gain an extrinsic arterial perfusion pressure, which increased the distal haemodynamic and reconstituted the blood supply. Of the 8 patients (9 severed digits) : 1 had severed index and middle fingers, 2 had severed index fingers, 4 had severed thumbs and 1 had severed little finger. All the patients were males, aged 16-63 years old, at 37.6 years old in average. Warm ischemia time of the severed digits were 12.3-20.6 hours, with 17.4 hours in average. The survival rate of replanted digits was observed after surgery. Postoperative follow-ups were conducted through telephone or WeChat reviews.Results:Follow-up time was 6-26 months, at 8.3 months in average. Retrospective analysis was performed. Vascular compromises occurred in 3 patients 4 digits (arterial insufficiency in 1 digit, venous congestion in 3 digits), skin necrosis occurred in 1 patient (1 digit) and digit necrosis in 1 patient (1 digit). Overall, 8 of the 9 replanted digits survived. According to the Replantation Function Evaluation Standard of Hand Surgery Association of Chinese Medical Association, the digit function after replantation was evaluated at excellent in 6 digits, good in 1 digit and poor in 1 digit.Conclusion:For a severed digit with an ischemia time over 12.0 hours, the survival rate can be improved by transposition of an adjacent digital artery to provided extrinsic arterial perfusion pressure.
