Objective:To investigate the blood supply pattern and characteristics of bilobate anterolateral thigh flaps, and to summarize the clinical experience.Methods:Date of 102 cases of limb wounds repaired by bilateral anterolateral thigh perforator flaps from March 2014 to July 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 80 males and 22 females with an average age of 40.7 years (range, 9-66 years). All of the patients suffered from limb trauma with complex tissue defects, among which 29 cases had two adjacent and discontinuous wound surfaces on the same limb, and the area ranged from 5 cm×5 cm to 30 cm×18 cm, while the other 73 cases remained a single wound with the area ranged from 12 cm×11 cm to 27 cm×15 cm. Ultrasonic Doppler was used to locate the perforating branches. According to different patterns of blood supply, flaps of different types were designed and applied respectively. For those who with perforating branches of common trunk type or fascial type, the wound surface can be covered by the flap directly; for those who with perforating branches of double trunks type or mixed type, the turbocharging technique was performed after dissection of the pedicles of the flap, while the wound was repaired by reconnection. All the donor sites were sutured directly.Results:Total of 105 bilobed flaps were designed in 102 patients, including 43 flaps of common trunk type, 30 flaps of double trunks type, 24 flaps of fascial type and 8 flaps of mixed type. The single harvested flap area ranged from 6 cm×5 cm to 20 cm×9 cm. One patient's one piece of the bilobed flap repairing two wounds suffered an arterial crisis at 17 h after surgery. The surgery confirmed there was an intractable arterial spasm and the crisis was relieved after a vein trans-plantation. Then about 4 cm×3 cm superficial necrosis appeared in the most distal part of the flap and healed in secondary after dressing changes. Two cases with single wounds suffered from a vein crisis at 48 h after operation. After removing the suture and blood letting, the flaps survived a week later. The average healing time was 19 days (range, 8-83 days). All the thigh donor sites healed by first stage. All the cases were followed-up for an average period of 16 month (range, 6-70 months). The latest follow-up showed that the flaps were of good color and texture, and the sensation of the flaps recovered partially. According to the British Medical Research Council sensory rating scale: 21 cases were grade S2 and 81 cases were grade S3. According to the revascularization assessments of digital replantation standard by Hand Surgery Branch of Chinese Medical Association, the results were excellent in 91 cases, good in 11 cases, with excellent and good rate of 100%. Linear scars were left in most donor sites and the VAS scores were all zero. 5 cases had a large scar area which the width was more than 3 cm, but there was no scar contracture or pain. 9 cases had an abnormal sensation in the donor area in the early stage and recovered gradually 3 months later without any movement disorder.Conclusion:The use of the bilobed anterolateral femoral perforator flap with different blood supply patterns to repair the wounds of extremities could overcome the lack or deficiency of blood supply caused by perforators with different sources. To clarify the blood supply types is conducive to the flap cutting and leaf splitting during the operation, which greatly improves the survival rate of the flap.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of external fixators combined with anterolateral thigh musculocutaneous flap for treatment of Gustilo type IIIB/C open tibiofibular fractures.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted to analyze clinical data of 15 patients with Gustilo type IIIB/C open tibiofibular fractures admitted to Ruihua Hospital of Soochow University from March 2016 to June 2019. There were 11 males and 4 females, with the age of (48.5±12.6)years (range, 22-67 years). All patients underwent emergency debridement in stage I, the major blood vessels, nerves and tendons were inspected and repaired, and the fracture ends were fixed by external fixator. There were different degrees of wounds necrosis, infection and bone defect after operation. After debridement in stage II, the soft tissue defects with the dimension of 10.0 cm×5.0 cm to 30.0 cm×8.0 cm were repaired with anterolateral thigh musculocutaneous flaps whose areas ranged from 10.5 cm×5.5 cm to 30.5 cm×8.5 cm. All donor areas of the musculocutaneous flaps were sutured directly in stage I. The healing of the donor areas and musculocutaneous flaps were observed within 2 weeks after operation. At the last follow-up, the shape and sensory recovery of the flap, healing of fractures and related complications were observed. The lower extremity functional scale (LEFS) was used to evaluate the injured limb function.Results:All patients were followed-up for 12-32 months [(22.0±5.8)months]. All donor areas were healed by first intention, leaving only linear scars. The musculocutaneous flaps survived completely in all patients. Partial necrosis of large area of musculocutaneous flap occurred in 2 patients, and healed after debridement and skin grafting. Another patient had vascular crisis after musculocutaneous flap operation and survived after the embolized vein repaired by contralateral great saphenous. At the last follow-up, the shape of flap recovered well, and the feeling partially recovered with the two-point discrimination of 18-26 mm. All fractures healed well, and there were no serious infection-related complications such as osteomyelitis. The LEFS score was 47-69 points [(59.0±9.5)points].Conclusion:Theexternal fixator combined with anterolateral thigh musculocutaneous flaps for treatment of Gustilo type IIIB/Copen tibiofibular fractures can better restore the appearance of soft tissue defect of the lower leg, and can effectively reduce the occurrence of severe infection-related complications.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of flow-through anterolateral thigh perforator flap with fascia lata for repairing dorsal wounds of the hand and foot with extensor tendon defects.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted to analyze the clinical date of 14 patients with hand and foot wounds associated with extensor tendon defects admitted to Ruihua Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2015 to December 2019. There were 13 males and 1 female，aged 10-57 years［（39.2±13.4）years］. The wounds were all single with the area of 10 cm×4 cm to 23 cm×12 cm，including 8 wounds on the back of the hand and 6 wounds on the back of the foot. There was 1 patient accompanied with 1 tendon defect，10 with 4 tendon defects and 3 with 5 tendon defects，with the length of tendon defects ranging from 2.0 to 6.0 cm［（3.8±1.4）cm］. The dimension of flaps ranged from 12 cm×5 cm to 23 cm×13 cm，with the fascia lata from 11 cm×5 cm to 20 cm×7 cm. The deficient extensor tendons were repaired with the fascia lata and vascular pedicles were anastomosed by flow-though. A bilobed flap was harvested in 3 patients and a single flap in 11 patients. Donor sites were sutured directly. The survival of the flap and healing of the donor area were detected after operation. The extremity revascularization and shape and sensation recovery of the flap were measured at the last follow-up. The upper extremity functional evaluation standard set up by Hand Surgery Society of the Chinese Medical Association and Maryland foot functional score were used to evaluate the hand and foot function before operation and at the cast follow-up，respectively. The donor site complications and performance of tendon release or flap thinning in the second stage were recorded.Results:All patients were followed up for 8-30 months［（15.3±6.2）months］. All flaps survived successfully，with wounds and thigh donor areas healed by first intension. No significant effect of revascularization was observed on recipient sites，and acceptable cosmetic outcomes and sensation recovery of the flap were achieved at the final follow-up. For patients with dorsal wounds of the hand，the extensor function recovered in different degrees，and the flexion activities of the fingers were not limited. The total active movement was 180°-250°［（226.3±21.7）°］at the last follow-up，compared to preoperative 110°-170°［（145.6±13.2）°］（ P<0.01）. According to the upper extremity functional evaluation standard，the function was excellent in 4 patients，good in 2 and fair in 2. For patients with wounds of the foot，the flexion and extension function was good，with no obvious deformity of toes，and the Maryland foot functional score ranged from 60 to 92 points［（76.0±12.7）points］at the last follow-up，significantly improved from preoperative 18-45 points［（27.4±7.8）points］（ P<0.01），including excellent results in 2 patients，good in 3 and fair in 1. Only linear scars were left in the thigh donor area，and there was no discomfort such as scar contracture or pain. Four patients underwent skin flap thinning at 4-8 months after operation and none underwent a tenolysis. Conclusion:Repair of dorsal wounds with extensor tendon defects of the hand and foot by flow-through anterolateral thigh perforator flap with fascia lata can reduce interference to recipient sites and repair wounds and extensor tendons simultaneously，which can obtain good flexion and extension function and minor damage to the donor area.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and clinical effect of repairing the wound of limbs with severe infection by the bilateral chimeric perforator flaps in the anterolateral femoral area.Methods:From December 2015 to October 2018, 12 cases of limb wounds with severe infection were repaired by the lateral femoral bilateral chimeric perforator flaps in the Department of Hand Surgery, Ruihua Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, including five cases of traffic accident, four cases of machine strangulation and three cases of other injuries. There were eight males and four females, aged from 25 to 48 years old, with an average age of 40-year-old. All the wounds were complicated with the exposure of bone, tendon, or internal fixation and had different degrees of infection, 10 cases were of soft tissue infection, and two cases were of osteomyelitis. The wounds were outlined by sample cloth. A total of nine cases had single-wounds with the dimension of 12 cm × 11 cm to 26 cm × 11 cm, and these bilobed chimeric flaps were designed by dividing the sample cloth into two parts from the center and changing the width to the length. Three cases had two adjacent and discontinuous wounds in just one limb with an area from 6 cm × 4 cm to 14 cm × 6 cm, and the bilobed flaps were designed according to the size and the shape of these wounds. Six cases were reconstructed with the bilateral chimeric flaps of which the branches originate from one artery, three with flaps of different original arteries, two with fascia skin flaps, and one with a flap of mixed blood supply. The lateral thigh muscle or tensor fascia muscle carried in the flap was used to fill the cavity or sinus, and the donor area was sutured directly. The flap survival, wound healing, and donor area recovery were observed after the operation.Results:All the flaps survived without vascular crisis. The flap size ranged from 24 cm × 6 cm to 32 cm × 7 cm in nine cases of the single wound, and 7 cm × 5 cm to 14 cm× 7 cm in three cases with two wounds. The volume of muscle resection ranged from 4 cm × 3 cm × 2 cm to 11 cm× 6 cm × 4 cm. The average time of wound healing was 27 days (range from 12 to 83 days). All the donor areas of the thigh healed primarily. Follow-up time was 7 to 32 months, showing good color and texture. The sensation of the flaps recovered partially. Linear scars were left in all donor sites, except that one case suffereda large scar with no contracture or pain. One patient had an abnormal sensation in the incision area early but recovered gradually after two months without other serious complications. During the follow-up period, two cases of osteomyelitis showed no sinus, skin nonunion, and wound abscess. One case underwent a bone flap operation due to the bone defect one year later, and the defect healed well.Conclusions:Anterolateral femoral bilateral chimeric perforator flaps could be designed flexibly according to the conditions of the recipient area. By carrying the muscle with an abundant blood supply, the infection can be effectively controlled, and the damage to the donor area can be reduced.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of multiple-perforator extra-large anterolateral thigh flap (ALT) for repairing the circular wound of foot and ankle.Methods:Data of 13 cases with the circular wound of foot and ankle repaired by foot and ankle surgery in Ruihua Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from October 2011 to June 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The perforator was located by color Doppler ultrasound before the operation, and the flap was designed according to the size of the wound. Both the perforator vessel and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve entering the flap should be carefully protected. When all perforating branches in the flap come from the same vascular trunk, two or more perforating branches are carried to cover the wound directly; when the branches come from the different trunks, the turbocharging technique was used to ensure that there are two or more perforators to nourish the flap. All the donor areas were closed primarily. The sensory of flaps were elevated by the British Medical Research Council (BMRC) sensory function assessment standard, and the motor function was elevated by the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot function scoring system.Results:A total of 13 patients were enrolled in this study, including 8 males and 5 females.The age ranged from 21 to 65 years, with an average of 39 years. The wound area was 21.0 cm×6.0 cm to 35.0 cm×18.0 cm with exposure of bone and tendon. 12 cases were repaired with multiple-perforator extra-large anterolateral thigh flap ( ALT) harvested from one thigh, and 1 case was repaired with the combined bilateral ALT flap due to the huge wound. The size of flap was 21.0 cm × 7.0 cm to 35.0 cm×10.0 cm. During the procedure, 14 flaps were successfully harvested, 9 flaps were supplied by two perforators, 4 by three perforators, and 1 by four skin perforators. Each flap had an average of 2.4 perforators. Among them, there were 5 flaps with the common source perforators while the other 9 flaps whose perforators came from different sources. All flaps in this group finally survived. One flap suffered the venous crisis 24 hours after the operation and survived after removing the thrombus and re-anastomosing the vessel again. The stitches were removed 2 to 3 weeks after operation when the wound had healed. All wounds in the donor area healed primarily. 9 flaps underwent flap thinning and plastic surgery 6 to 10 months after the operation. Follow-up for 6 to 18 months showed the color and texture of the flap was close to the recipient area, and the sensation of the flap elevated by BMRC sensory function assessment standard was S2-S3. According to the AOFAS ankle and hindfoot scoring system, the function of the recipient area was 72-98 points, with an average of 92 points. Only linear scars were left in the donor area.Conclusions:Because of the advantages of rich blood supply, strong anti-infection ability, and less damage to the donor area, it is an ideal method to repair the circular wound of the foot and ankle with multiple-perforator extra-large anterolateral thigh flap.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and clinical effect of repairing the wound of limbs with severe infection by the bilateral chimeric perforator flaps in the anterolateral femoral area.Methods:From December 2015 to October 2018, 12 cases of limb wounds with severe infection were repaired by the lateral femoral bilateral chimeric perforator flaps in the Department of Hand Surgery, Ruihua Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, including five cases of traffic accident, four cases of machine strangulation and three cases of other injuries. There were eight males and four females, aged from 25 to 48 years old, with an average age of 40-year-old. All the wounds were complicated with the exposure of bone, tendon, or internal fixation and had different degrees of infection, 10 cases were of soft tissue infection, and two cases were of osteomyelitis. The wounds were outlined by sample cloth. A total of nine cases had single-wounds with the dimension of 12 cm × 11 cm to 26 cm × 11 cm, and these bilobed chimeric flaps were designed by dividing the sample cloth into two parts from the center and changing the width to the length. Three cases had two adjacent and discontinuous wounds in just one limb with an area from 6 cm × 4 cm to 14 cm × 6 cm, and the bilobed flaps were designed according to the size and the shape of these wounds. Six cases were reconstructed with the bilateral chimeric flaps of which the branches originate from one artery, three with flaps of different original arteries, two with fascia skin flaps, and one with a flap of mixed blood supply. The lateral thigh muscle or tensor fascia muscle carried in the flap was used to fill the cavity or sinus, and the donor area was sutured directly. The flap survival, wound healing, and donor area recovery were observed after the operation.Results:All the flaps survived without vascular crisis. The flap size ranged from 24 cm × 6 cm to 32 cm × 7 cm in nine cases of the single wound, and 7 cm × 5 cm to 14 cm× 7 cm in three cases with two wounds. The volume of muscle resection ranged from 4 cm × 3 cm × 2 cm to 11 cm× 6 cm × 4 cm. The average time of wound healing was 27 days (range from 12 to 83 days). All the donor areas of the thigh healed primarily. Follow-up time was 7 to 32 months, showing good color and texture. The sensation of the flaps recovered partially. Linear scars were left in all donor sites, except that one case suffereda large scar with no contracture or pain. One patient had an abnormal sensation in the incision area early but recovered gradually after two months without other serious complications. During the follow-up period, two cases of osteomyelitis showed no sinus, skin nonunion, and wound abscess. One case underwent a bone flap operation due to the bone defect one year later, and the defect healed well.Conclusions:Anterolateral femoral bilateral chimeric perforator flaps could be designed flexibly according to the conditions of the recipient area. By carrying the muscle with an abundant blood supply, the infection can be effectively controlled, and the damage to the donor area can be reduced.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of multiple-perforator extra-large anterolateral thigh flap (ALT) for repairing the circular wound of foot and ankle.Methods:Data of 13 cases with the circular wound of foot and ankle repaired by foot and ankle surgery in Ruihua Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from October 2011 to June 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The perforator was located by color Doppler ultrasound before the operation, and the flap was designed according to the size of the wound. Both the perforator vessel and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve entering the flap should be carefully protected. When all perforating branches in the flap come from the same vascular trunk, two or more perforating branches are carried to cover the wound directly; when the branches come from the different trunks, the turbocharging technique was used to ensure that there are two or more perforators to nourish the flap. All the donor areas were closed primarily. The sensory of flaps were elevated by the British Medical Research Council (BMRC) sensory function assessment standard, and the motor function was elevated by the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot function scoring system.Results:A total of 13 patients were enrolled in this study, including 8 males and 5 females.The age ranged from 21 to 65 years, with an average of 39 years. The wound area was 21.0 cm×6.0 cm to 35.0 cm×18.0 cm with exposure of bone and tendon. 12 cases were repaired with multiple-perforator extra-large anterolateral thigh flap ( ALT) harvested from one thigh, and 1 case was repaired with the combined bilateral ALT flap due to the huge wound. The size of flap was 21.0 cm × 7.0 cm to 35.0 cm×10.0 cm. During the procedure, 14 flaps were successfully harvested, 9 flaps were supplied by two perforators, 4 by three perforators, and 1 by four skin perforators. Each flap had an average of 2.4 perforators. Among them, there were 5 flaps with the common source perforators while the other 9 flaps whose perforators came from different sources. All flaps in this group finally survived. One flap suffered the venous crisis 24 hours after the operation and survived after removing the thrombus and re-anastomosing the vessel again. The stitches were removed 2 to 3 weeks after operation when the wound had healed. All wounds in the donor area healed primarily. 9 flaps underwent flap thinning and plastic surgery 6 to 10 months after the operation. Follow-up for 6 to 18 months showed the color and texture of the flap was close to the recipient area, and the sensation of the flap elevated by BMRC sensory function assessment standard was S2-S3. According to the AOFAS ankle and hindfoot scoring system, the function of the recipient area was 72-98 points, with an average of 92 points. Only linear scars were left in the donor area.Conclusions:Because of the advantages of rich blood supply, strong anti-infection ability, and less damage to the donor area, it is an ideal method to repair the circular wound of the foot and ankle with multiple-perforator extra-large anterolateral thigh flap.

Objective:To explore the clinical effects of bilateral overlength anterolateral femoral perforator flaps connected in series or parallel in repairing large area of wounds in limbs.Methods:From January 2017 to July 2019, 9 patients with large area of skin and soft tissue defects in limbs were admitted to the Departments of Hand Surgery and Foot and Ankle Surgery of Ruihua Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, including 8 males and 1 female, aged 36 to 63 years. The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The wound areas of patients after debridement were 20 cm×15 cm to 30 cm×25 cm, and the wounds were repaired with bilateral overlength anterolateral femoral perforator flaps. One main artery defect in the receiving area of 4 patients was repaired with bilateral flaps connected in series. Two main artery defects in the receiving area of 5 patients were repaired with bilateral flaps connected in parallel. A total of 18 flaps were excised, and the area of a single flap ranged from 20 cm×8 cm to 46 cm×9 cm. The donor sites of 17 flaps were sutured directly, and the donor site of 1 flap was repaired with free full-thickness skin graft from hypogastrium. Harvesting time of flaps, survival condition of flaps after surgery, and wound healing time, and flap observation, two-point discrimination distance of flaps, functional recovery of joint and appearance of recipient site, and recovery of donor site during follow-up were recorded.Results:In this group of 9 patients, the flap harvesting time was 1.0 to 4.5 hours, and all the 18 flaps survived. The wound healing time of recipient site was 18 to 72 days after flap transplantation. They were followed up for 6 to 34 months. The shape of the recipient site was satisfactory, with no deep tissue infection such as osteomyelitis. Four flaps in 2 patients were bloated and were thinned in 6 months after operation; 4 flaps in 2 patients had skin pigmentation on the edge of the flap; the flap of one patient was scalded but healed by dressing change, with patchy scar being observed during follow-up. The rest of the flaps were soft, elastic, and painless with good blood supply. All the flaps restored with protective sensation, with only one point in two-point discrimination. Only linear scars remained in the donor sites of 17 flaps. All the limbs had good blood supply in the distal end of donor sites, and no restriction occurred in range of motion of knee joint and quadriceps muscle strength.Conclusions:The bilateral overlength anterolateral femoral perforator flaps connected in series or parallel have constant anatomy, reliable blood supply, and flexible combination. It is an ideal surgical method for repairing large area of skin and soft tissue defects in limbs at one time.

Objective:To explore the clinical effect of bilobate anterolateral thigh flaps with turbocharging technique in repairing limb wounds.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 29 patients with complex wounds of limbs admitted to Ruihua Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University from March 2014 to July 2019. There were 26 males and 3 females, aged 22-60 years [(41.9±11.1)years]. A total of 24 patients had single-wounds with the dimension of 12 cm×10 cm to 38 cm×27 cm, and 5 patients had two adjacent and discontinuous wounds with the area from 7 cm×4 cm to 13 cm×9 cm. The bilobate anterolateral thigh flaps with turbocharging technique were used. All the donor sites were directly sutured by primary closure. Routine treatment was given after operation. The origin artery of perforators, time of flap harvesting and operation time were recorded. The survival of the flap, healing of the donor area, long-term shape of the flap and donor area, sensory recovery and complications were observed.Results:All patients were followed up for 6-64 months [(19.0±12.7)months]. A total of 30 bilobed flaps were designed for the 29 patients. The time of flap harvesting ranged from 25 to 60 minutes [(46.6±20.2)minutes]. The operation time was 4-11 hours [(6.4±1.8)hours]. All flaps survived except one piece of a bilobed flap suffered from a vein crisis, which healed well after conservative treatment. These wounds' healing time ranged from 11 to 53 days [(18.5±9.9)days], and all the donor sites healed by first intention. Four patients underwent skin flap thinning operation 4 to 8 months later due to the bloated appearance of flaps. Acceptable cosmetic outcomes, soft and elastic skin, and sensation recovery were achieved at the final follow-up. All patients 'donor area left linear scars. One patient had large scar area, but there was no scar contracture and pain. Two patients had an abnormal sensation in the incision area in the early stage and recovered gradually 3 months later without any other serious complications.Conclusions:Repair of limb wounds with bilobed anterolateral thigh flaps with turbocharged technique can overcome the limitation that the bilobed flap can not be designed if the perforators do not share the same trunk and expand the application scope of the bilobed flaps. The design of bilobate flaps reduces the width of the donor site, which can effectively avoid the complications of the donor site.

Objective:To investigate the social function in young and middle-aged coronary disease patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and to analyze its influencing factors so as to provide a basis for making clinical intervention.Methods:From February 2019 to September 2019, this study selected 240 young and middle-aged coronary disease patients after PCI reexamined in Cardiovascular Medicine of a ClassⅢ Grade A general hospital in Nanning as subjects by convenience sampling. All of patients were investigated with the General Information Questionnaire, Social Dysfunction Screening Scale (SDSS) , Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) and Event Related Rumination Inventory (ERRI) . Binary Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors.Results:Among 240 young and middle-aged coronary disease patients after PCI, the total score of SDSS was (3.98±2.58) . The incidence of social dysfunction was 72.9% (175/240) . Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that the influencing factors of social dysfunction in young and middle-aged coronary disease patients after PCI included the average monthly income per person in family ( OR=0.383) , illness perception ( OR=1.558) , objective rumination ( OR=0.643) with statistical differences ( P<0.01) . Conclusions:Social function in young and middle-aged coronary disease patients after PCI needs to be improved. Effective intervention based on influencing factors should be taken to reduce the incidence of social dysfunction in young and middle-aged coronary disease patients after PCI.