Objective To investigate the method of repairing great wounds on foots and ankles with posterior tibial artery perforator-based dicyto-pattern flaps from interior and posterior compartment of leg. Methods Eighteen patients with great foot wound were repaired with posterior tibial artery perforator-based dicyto-pattern flaps from interoposterior compartment of calf from January 2006 to December 2008. The patients were at age of 16-52 years, with flap areas for 20 cm ×6 cm-25 cm × 10 cm. The donor sites of flaps were repaired with free skin graft. Results All the flaps primarily survived except for one patient with partial necrosis (4.0 cm × 1.0 cm) in the distal part of the flap. Twelve patients were followed up for from two months to two years, which showed good color, texture and appearance of the flaps. Conclusion This kind of flap is one of ideal flaps to repair great foot and ankle wounds, for it takes advantages of reliable blood supply, wide repair scope, safe operation and avoidance of damage to the major artery.

Objective To explore the treatment strategy for mouth and nose bleeding caused by skull base fractures. Methods A retrospective analysis was done on 14 patients with severe skull base fracture combined with nose and mouth bleeding admitted to hospital. Tracheotomy or tracheal intubation was performed to ensure airway patency. When anti-shock was performed, the patients were sent for carotid artery angiography to identify the blood vessel. Then, hemostasis was done by means of direct intravascular interventional embolization. Results Timely and successful hemostasis was achieved in all 14 patients after embolization, with no complications occurred. Of all patients, there were 10 patients with good recovery, three with disability and one death. Severe disability and death were related to brain injury. Conclusions After maintenance of airway patency and effective blood pressure, emergency endovascular embolization can effectively improve the rate of successful treatment of nose and mouth bleeding caused by traumatic skull base fractures, especially for patients combined with traumatic brain injury.

Objective To study advantages and disadvantages of the super-cutaneous calcaneal locking plate in the treatment of calcaneal fractures. Methods Between October 2007 to June 2008, 12cases of calcaneal fracture were treated with a super-cutaneous calcaneal locking plate. According to the Sanders classification system, 8 cases were of type ⅡA, one case of type ⅡB, one case of type ⅡC, one case of type Ⅲ AC, and one case of type Ⅳ. All the cases were fresh fractures. The skin incision was made from the distal tip of the fibula to the base of the fourth metatarsal. In direct observation of the posterior facet and anterior tuberosity, the articular fragments were reduced anatomically. Then the reduced calcaneus was fixed by a super-cutaneous calcaneal locking plate. After bone union was confirmed 3 months after the operation by the CT scans and X-ray films, the super-cutaneous plates and screws were removed in clinic. Results The average time of follow-up was 16 months with a span from 12 to 20 months. There were no incision or pin-hole infections. The reduction of the articular surface and bone union were good. One type ⅡA developed lateral wall exostosis which resulted in peroneal tendonitis and stenosis followed by obvious walking pain. The preoperative X-ray films of the 12 patients showed that the average B(o)hler angle was 11.9°±9.4° and the Gissane angle 86. 8°± 7. 7°. Their postoperative X-ray files demonstrated that the B(o)hler angle was improved to 29. 4°± 7.0° and the Gissane angle to 115.8°± 7.7°, with a significant difference ( P ＜ 0. 01 ). According to the Ankle Hindfoot Clinical Rating System of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS),their average score was 91 points (68 to 100 points). Conclusions Using a super-cutaneous calcaneal locking plate to treat calcaneal fractures can result in limited invasion, a low rate of skin infection, satisfactory reduction of the articular surface and stable fixation. Since the fixation can be removed without re-hospitalization, it is a cheaper and less painful alternative for the treatment of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures.

Objective To evaluate the clinical results of flexor hallucis longus (FHL) tendon transfer in treatment of patients with Achilles tendon defects of more than 6 cm. Methods Between January 2005 to February 2009, 19 patients with Achilles tendon defects, 13 males and 6 females, were treated with FHL tendon transfer. Their ages ranged from 20 to 61 years, with an average of (42. 6 ± 8.2)years. Fifteen defects were found during tendonitis debridement, and 4 were old ruptures. Time from rupture to surgery ranged from 0 to 6 months (average, 2.6 months). Defects were 6 cm to 10 cm long. Procedures were performed in a two-incision manner. The postoperative ROM of ankle joint, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS) and visual analogue scale(VAS) scores were recorded at 3 months, 12 months,and the last follow-up. The results were statistically analyzed to evaluate the functional recovery. Results Follow-ups lasted from 12 to 48 months (average, 22. 2 months). At the last follow-up, the average ROM of ankle joint was 17.8°± 1.9° at dorsal flexion and 39.1°±2.3° at plantar flexion, and the last average AOFAS score was up to (91.8 ± 1.7), significantly different from those at 3 months after surgery (P＜0.05), but not significantly different from those at 12 months (P＞0.05). The difference were significant between the results of 3 months and 12 months (P＜0.05). The last average VAS score was (1.0±0.7),significantly different from those at 3 months and 12 months(P＜0.05) . There was also significant differences between the VAS scores of 3 months and 12 months (P＜0.05). Patient's satisfaction was 100%.Conclusion FHL tendon transfer is an efficient procedure for long Achilles tendon ruptures associated with tendonitis in relieving pain and maintaining the function of ankle joint.

Objective To study the expression of aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) in core and marginal region of the contusion brain tissues from patients with severe traffic brain injuries. Methods Thirty patients with severe traffic brain injuries (frontal-temporal brain contusion) admitted into our department from January 2007 to July 2009 were enrolled in the study and divided into three groups according to the period from injury to operation, ie, 0-4 hours (Group A), 5-8 hours (Group B) and 9-12 hours (Group C). The tissue was collected from core and marginal regions of brain contusion in each group. Ten parts of normal brain tissues obtained from the cerebellum to gain good exposure of CPA region tumors were used as control. The expression of AQP-4 in the normal brain tissues and in the tissues from core and marginal region of brain contusion, with GAPDH used as a control. Results The expression of AQP-4 in the marginal region was distinctly higher than that in normal tissues and in the tissues from core region. The AQP-4 expression in the tissues of the core region was lower than that in normal tissues. Conclusions AQP-4 is highly expressed in the tissues from the marginal region early after injury in a time-dependent fashion. Low expression level of AQP-4 in the core region is possibly correlated with early damage of blood brain barrier and peripheral structures.

Objective To present a self-designed self-guided driver for clinical removal of cannulated screws. Methods The diameter of the selfguided rod is 2.8 mm and its length is 50 mm.The hexagonal driver head is 4 mm in height,2 mm in width and 5 mm in length.The other parts are similar to those of a solid driver.We then tested the stabilization of the selfdesigned driver by measuring the lateral load and displacement in 5 different experimental groups.Next we put it into use in the 26 patients who had been treated in our department from July 2008 to July 2009.They had been divided into 2 groups randomly.In the self-guided group,there were 9 males and 4 females,with an average age of 36 years and an interval of 30 months after the first operation.In the solid driver group.there were 7 males and 6 females.with an average age of 43 years and an interval of 21 months after the first operation. Results The mechanical tests revealed that the instrument designed by us was stable and could prevent lateral displacement.In clinic.the 39 screws were removed saccessfully in the self-guide driver group.The mean surgical time and incision in the self-guided driver group were significantly less and smaller than in the solid driver group.Conclnsions The self-guided driver is as stiff as a common solid driver and as stable as a cannulated driver.It can reduce the likelihood of screw invalidation which may make the operation very difficult and timeconsuming.It is a simple,timesaving,and less traumatic instrument,especially fit for removal of cannulated screws of the femoral neck.

Objective To investigate the role of precursor of brain derived neurotrophic factor (proBDNF) in the improvement of motor function of rats subjected to cord transection. Methods Spinal cord transection was performed at T10 level. The rats were divided into sham operation group and artificial cerebrospinal fluid group. Then, the rats were subjected to proBDNF antibody treatment. The efficiency of proBDNF block was also determined by immunohistochemistry. BBB scale scores were used to e-valuate the effect of ProBDNF block on the motor function of the rats with spinal cord transection. Results Compared with control rats, proBDNF treatment showed a marked down-regulation of proBDNF protein in the spinal cord and could significantly improve the motor function. BBB scores in proBDNF block group was higher than those in artificial cerebrospinal fluid group. Conclusion The proBDNF block is available to the recovery of the motor function in hindlimbs in cord transected rats, suggesting that proBDNF could be as a member of candidate molecules for SCI therapy in the future.

Objective To investigate the functional and ultrastructural changes of cerebral microvascular endothelial cells at early stage following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats. Methods The rat models with closed brain injury were established with the improved Marmarous method. The expressions of thrombomodulin (TM) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) were determined by immunohistochemical techniques (5 rats per group) and real-time quantitative RT-PCR (5 rats per group) respectively at 1, 4, 8, 12, 24 hours and at days 3 and 7 after injury. Results TM and vWF started expression at 4 hours, reached peak at 24 hours and recovered to normal at day 7 after TBI. The expression levels of TM and vWF at different time points in sham control group showed statistical difference compared with damage group (P < 0.05). Conclusion The activation of the cerebral microvascular endothelial cells at early stage after TBI is the main mechanism of early secondary brain injury.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of damage control resuscitation ( DCR) in the treatment of severe multiple injuries combined with traumatic hemorrhagic shock. Methods A retrospective analysis was done on 27 patients with severe multiple injuries combined with traumatic hemorrhagic shock treated by DCR. Another 32 patients treated with traditional aggressive/normotensive fluid resuscitation were used as control. Lactic acid clearance time, coagulation, diffuse intravascular coagulation (DIC) morbidity, and mortality were observed and compared between two groups. Results Compared with traditional aggressive/normotensive fluid resuscitation, DCR had better curative effect, shorter clearance time of lactic acid, more rapid recovery of blood coagulation function and lower incidence of DIC morbidity and lower mortality for patients with severe multiple injuries combined with traumatic hemorrhagic shock. Conclusions In the treatment of severe multiple injuries combined with traumatic hemorrhagic shock, the use of DCR can remarkably improve the survival rate of patients and also provide a new way for resuscitation and rescue of other types of shock patients.

Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinases (IRAK-4) in hypoxic neurons and explore their role in regulation of inflammatory reaction. Methods The B35 cells exposed to hypoxia of 3% O2,5% CO2 and 92% N2 were cultured for 1,3,6, 12,24,48,72 and 96 hours respectively. Then, mRNA and protein expressions of IRAK-4 were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot, the expression of IRAK-4 in the cells were observed by laser scanning con-focal microscope (LSCM), and the concentration of IL-6 was measured by ELISA method. Results After hypoxia, the mRNA and protein expressions of IRAK-4 were increased at one hour, reached the peak at six hours (P<0.05), kept at a high level at 12 hours (P<0.05) , but decreased gradually to the normal oxygen level at 24 hours (P < 0.05) and to below the normal oxygen level at 48 hours (P < 0.05). Immunofluorescence results showed that the fluorescence intensity of IRAK-4 was gradually increased with time. The changes of IL-6 in the supernatant were positively correlated with protein expression of IRAK-4 (r =0.84, P < 0.05 ). Conclusions Hypoxia can increase the expression of IRAK-4 at transcription and translation levels in a certain period of time, which may participate in down-stream inflammatory reaction and lead to increase of IL-6 expression.