Objective To provide anatomical basis for the free saphenous branch of descending genicular artery flap and evaluate its clinical outcomes for the hand soft-tissue defects. Methods Fifteen fresh cadavers injected with lead oxide-gelatin mixture for three-dimensional visualization reconstruction using a spiral computed tomography scanner. The origin, course and distribution of the perforators of descending genicular artery were observed.From January 2005 to October 2011,seven patients with skin defect on the distant limbs were treated.The flap size was 5 cm × 6 cm-11 cm × 14 cm,vascular pedicle length 5.4 (4-7)cm. ResultsThe saphenous branch was consistent. It arised from the descending genicular artery (68％) or femoral artery(32％).The diameter of the saphenous branch was 1.5(1.1-1.7)mm at its origin above 9.0(4.0-16.0)cm from the medial epicondylar.Seven cases of flaps all survived,the average followup of 28 months,close to hand flap of skin texture,some sensory recovery,two-point discrimination 8-12mm. Conclusion Free saphenous branch of descending genicular artery flap is a reliable option for the treatment of soft tissue defect in hands. The pedicles were invariable of anatomy, thickness of the flaps is comparable,and procedure is simple and time saving.

OBJECTIVETo explore the anatomic basis and clinical application of the horn shaped perforator flap pedicled with the angular artery for the reconstruction of midface defect.

METHODS(1) 10 fresh cadavers were perfused with a modified guiding oxide gelatin mixture for three-dimensional visualization reconstruction using a 16-slice spiral computed tomography scanner and specialized software (Materiaise' s interactive medical image control system, MIMICS). The origin and distribution of the angular artery perforator were observed. (2) Between July 2012 and July 2014, twenty-one patients underwent operations for the reconstruction of midface defect. Ten patients had squamous cell carcinoma, nine patients had basal cell carcinoma and two patients had nevus. The flaps' size ranged from 1.5 cm x 3.5 cm to 2.5 cm x 5.0 cm.

RESULTSThe facial artery branches the lateral nasal artery 1 cm from the outside corner of the mouth, subsequently strenches to inner canthus continuing as the angular artery. The angular artery anastomoses extensively with the dorsal nasal artery and the infraorbital artery. All the flaps survived. The patients were satisfied with the final aesthetic and functional results.

CONCLUSIONSThe flap can be designed flexibly and simply with reliable blood supply. The donor sites could be closed directly without skin graft, it is a simple and fast method for the reconstruction of midface defect.

Anastomosis, Surgical ; methods ; Arteries ; anatomy & histology ; Cadaver ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; surgery ; Face ; blood supply ; Facial Neoplasms ; surgery ; Humans ; Nevus ; surgery ; Nose ; blood supply ; Perforator Flap ; blood supply ; transplantation ; Skin Neoplasms ; surgery ; Skin Transplantation ; Software ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of free ultra-thin superficial peroneal artery perforator flap for repairing the wound in forefoot.Methods From January 2010 to June 2012,six cases were treated with free ultra-thin superficial peroneal artery perforator flap for repairing the wound in forefoot,including 4 cases of dorsal defect,two cases of wound on the toe.The size of the wound ranged from 3.0 cm × 5.0 cm 5.5 cm × 8.0 cm.Four cases for direct suture,two cases of donor site repairing with skin graft.Results All of 6 cases were repaired successfully and no vascular crisis occurred,and clinical follow ups were performed after 3-12 months,the results was satisfactory.Conclusion It is an effective method of repairing the wound in forefoot by free ultra-thin superficial peroneal artery perforator flap.

Objective To investigate the anatomy of the superficial epigastric artery perforator flap , and to provide anatomical basis for harvesting flap .Methods Of 27 SD rats, 7 were used for gross anatomy observation and anatomic characteristics and 20 rats for lead oxide-gelatin injection followed by computer picture processing , measurements and the related parameters recording .Results The superficial epigastric artery originated from femoral artery , and gave off its first branch when passed through the superficial fascia .The trunk branched into a lateral perforator and a medial perforator , which anastomosed with thoracodorsal artery and lateral thoracic artery , respectively .The average external diameter of superficial epigastric artery was (0.46 ±0.02)mm at its starting point,and(0.46 ±0.02)mm at the superficial fascia level . The nutritive area of superficial epigastric artery was (18.37 ±3.67) cm2 .The anastomosed area with thoracodorsal artery and lateral thoracic artery was(5.34 ±0.86)cm and(6.28 ±0.29)cm, respectively, away from the horizontal line through axillary,and (4.38 ±0.38)cm and(2.04 ±0.33)cm, respectively, away from the ventral median line.Conclusion The position and external diameter of superficial epigastric artery are constant , and the superficial epigastric artery perforator flap is a ideal flap model for research on free flap transplantation , flap supercharging , and hemodynamics .

Objective To investigate the effects of DMOG on the microcirculation of the choke-area and the survival of the cross-boundary flap in rats via tail vein injection.Methods Rats with ischemic three-territory perforator flaps on the dorsum were treated with DMOG at a dosage of 40 mg/kg body weight via tail vein injection at 1 day before surgery(day-1),the time of surgery(day 0),1 day after surgery(day 1),2 days after surgery(day 2) and 3 days after surgery(day 3).Control group received sterile saline at the same time points and same dosage via tail vein injection.① Draw materials from the choke-area at day 1,day 3 and day 7,HE stain was used to compare the diameter size of the artery and vein at the same site.② Western blotting to check the expression of PCNA and HIF-1α,ELISA to detect the content of PCNA,HIF-1α,SDF-1α and VEGF at day 7.③At day 7,measure the survival area of the flap and observe the vessel of the flap by lead oxide-gelatine technique.Results ① There was a greater survival rate of (96.3 ± 5.1)％ in the treatment group than in the control group with (73.9 ± 5.8)％ at day 7 (P ＜ 0.05).② The diameter size of the arterioles and venules were dilated in both groups until postoperative days 7.But the treatment group was more expanded than the control group at day 3(2.20 ± 0.26 vs.1.50 ± 0.20,P ＜ 0.05) and day 7(3.67 ± 0.35 vs.2.03 ± 0.15,P ＜ 0.05).③ The skin expression of PCNA and HIF-1α in the treatment group were greater than the control group(P ＜ 0.05) at day 7.④ The content of skin PCNA in the treatment group and control group were(8.95 ± 0.71) ng/mg and (4.15 ± 0.72) ng/mg,HIF-1α were(5.04 ± 0.50)ng/mg and (2.98 ± 0.29) ng/mg,SDF-1α were (2.91 ± 0.61) ng/mg and (1.39 ± 0.62) ng/mg,and VEGF were(2.17 ± 0.41) ng/mg and (0.95 ± 0.44) ng/mg,respectively.The treatment group was greater than the control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion DMOG can improve the microcirculation of the choke area,and then increase the survival of the perforator skin flaps in rats via tail vein injection.

Objective To investigate the effects of human amniotic membrane on the survival of the crossboundary perforator flap in rats through distal subcutaneous implantation.Methods From February,2016 to December,2016,38 SD rats weighing 270-300 g were randomly divided into experimental group and control group (n=19).A three-territory perforator flap (3 cm× 10 cm) with the iliac artery as the pedicel elevated on the right dorsum of the rats.Experiment group,a section of amnion was sutured to the distal subcutaneous of the flap and then the flap was sutured back to its donor site.Control group,after the flap elevated,directly sutured back to its donor site.The blood flow of the pedicel were detected by laser Doppler flowmetry at the day before surgery,1 day after surgery,3 and 7 days after surgery,with 3 rats in every group.When the rats were anesthetized,biopsies were taken from the choke area Ⅱ at the day before surgery,3 and 7 days after surgery,with 9 rats in every group.When the rats were anesthetized,HE was used to compare the diameter size of the artery and vein at the same site.At day 7,measure the survival area of the flap,and 3 of them observe the vessel of the flap by lead oxide-gelatine technique.Results The survival rate of the experimental group and the control group after 7 days were (89.09±4.23)％ and (74.56-±5.59)％ respectively,the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group (t=5.48,P=0.00).X-ray showed that 7 days after operation,the pedicel of iliac artery in the experimental group was bigger than that in the control group.The blood flow detection showed that the blood flow of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group (t=2.39,3.06;P=0.03,0.00,respectively) at day 1 and day 3 after surgery.Hematoxylin eosin staining showed that arteriovenous tube diameter at the Choke Ⅱ were gradually increased on the day3 and day7 after surgery in both group,but the experimental group diameter expanded multiple was higher than that of control group (t=3.52,3.50;P=0.02,0.02,respectively).Conclusion Human Amnion subcutaneous embedding may improve the blood flow of the vascular pedicle,expand the microvascular at Choke area Ⅱ,improve microcirculation,as a result to promote the survival of cross perforator flap,while the mechanism is needed to understanding.

Objective:To investigate the curative effect of transfer of free anteriolateral thigh flap (ALTF) with partial iliotibial tract on reconstruction of composite tissue defects in dorsal wrist/hand.Methods:Ten patients who were admitted in the Department of Hand Surgery of Yongkang Orthopaedic Hospital from March 2018 to August 2022 were entered in the study due to extensive composite tissue defects in dorsal wrists and hands. The patients were 24-48 (37 in average) years old. All patients had tendon defects in 3 or more digits with 35 digits in total. The length of the tendon defects were 5.0-11.0 cm in various digits. The soft tissue defects ranged from 6.0 cm×8.0 cm to 11.0 cm×21.0 cm in size. Six patients had defects accompanied with metacarpal and phalangeal bone fracture and joint capsule. In emergency surgery, all patients received thorough debridement and VSD coverage after internal fixation for combined fractures. At 3-5 days after the primary surgery, free ALTF transfer with partial iliotibial tract was employed to reconstruct the defects on dorsal wrists and hands and the digit extension function. The size of flap was 6.0 cm×9.0 cm-9.0 cm×17.0 cm, and the rest of defect wound was covered by skin graft. All the donor sites were sutured directly, except 1 that received abdominal skin graft. Patients had the follow-ups in outpatient clinics, or via telephone or Wechat, to observe the sensation and appearance of the flap, and the healing of the donor site. The recovery of the extension function of the hand was evaluated according to the totle active motion (TAM) system.Results:All flaps survived except one that had vascular compromise after the surgery and it survived after two explorations and a vascular transfer. Postoperative follow-ups lasted for 6 to 24 months, with 13 months in average. At the last follow-up, a all the flaps were found soft in texture and slightly swollen in appearance. There was no obvious pigmentation or rupture of skin and extensor tendon. Sensory recovery achieved to S 2 in 7 patients and S 3 in 3 patients. The hand function was evaluated according to TAM system and rated as excellent for 3 digits, good for 18 digits, fair for 9 digits and poor for 5 digits. There were linear scars in the donor sites. Conclusion:Free ALTF transfer with partial iliotibial tract in the reconstruction of composite tissue defect of dorsal wrists and hands can not only reconstruct the wound surface, but also the extension of digits, which cuts short the course of treatment.