The repair of severed tendons within the digital sheath constitutes a complicated surgical problem. The injury and adhesion of the tendons are an important factor for functional return in the hand. On the basis of experimental study, 7 cases of injuries of flexor digitalis tendons have been treated by using silastic artificial tendons since 1982. During the operation the tendon graft was ensheathed in a porous filmy silastic tube, including the sites of anastomosis. This technique can prevent adhesion between tendon and its surrounding tissues. The operation can be performed in one stage. The operative procedure and its indication, reconstruction of the pulley system and the gliding function of the tendon were discussed.

BACKGROUNDBoonchoplasty can not only remove tumor but also reserve lung tissue maximally, and it becomes an alternative choice for patient with poor pulmonary function who could not accept pneumonectomy. The aim of this study is to summarize the experience of carinal resection and reconstruction, bronchoplasty and pulmonary arterioplasty in the treatment of central-type lung cancer.

METHODSFrom March, 1987 to March, 2005, A total of 79 patients with central-type lung cancer underwent operation. The operations included: left bronchoplasty (34 cases) combined with pulmonary arterioplasty in 10 cases and partial resection of left atrium in 3 cases; right bronchoplasty (45 cases) combined with carinal resection in 14 cases and segmentplasty in 5 cases, pulmonary arterioplasty in 5 cases, partial resection of superior vena cava wall in 5 cases.

RESULTSThere were no perioperative deaths. Twenty-eight cases (35.4%) had postoperative complication. The 1-, 3-and 5-year survival rate were 86.1%, 55.2% and 32.1% respectively.

CONCLUSIONSProper selection of carinal resection, bronchoplasty and pulmonary arterioplasty can expand the indications. They can reduce the ratio of pneumonectomy and improve the postoperative quality of life and the prognosis of lung cancer patients.