Objective:To investigate the feasibility and adverse reactions of simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) in volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for early breast cancer after breast-conserving surgery.Methods:A total of 67 patients with early breast cancer after breast-conserving surgery at Zhongshan People's Hospital from September 2019 to May 2021 were enrolled. All patients received VMAT-SIB to the whole breast and tumor bed. The total breast dose and tumor bed dose were 40.5Gy/15 times every 3 weeks and 48 Gy/15 every 3 weeks respectively. The exposure dose of organs at risk and acute adverse reactions of radiotherapy were evaluated.Results:The average doses of planning target volume of the whole brease (PTV WB) and planning target volume of the boost(PTV BOOST) were (42.0±2.1) Gy and (49.9±0.8) Gy, respectively. The V 95% and V 105% of PTV WB and PTV BOOST were (98.8±1.2)% and (31.4±11.3)%, (99.8±0.6)% and (22.9±10.2)%, respectively. The V 5Gy, V 20Gy, V 30Gy and mean dose (D mean) of ipsilateral lung were (52.4±12.0)%, (15.3±4.5)%, (6.7±2.2)% and (11.0±2.4) Gy respectively. The V 18Gy, V 40Gy and D mean of heart were 3.80% (0.48%,9.60%), 0 (0,0.16%) and (6.7±2.1) Gy respectively. At the end of radiotherapy, 19 patients (29%) of all 67 patients had no acute skin toxicity, 41 patients (61%) showed radiation erythema, 5 patients (7%) had radioactive dry peeling and 2 patients (3%) had wet peeling mainly located in the nipple, areola area and breast folds. None of the patients had grade 3-4 acute skin reactions. Breast swelling and breast pain were found respectively in 9 patients (13%) and 7 patients (10%). No local recurrence or distant metastases were observed during the follow-up period. The 2-year disease-free survival rate was 100%. Conclusions:VMAT combined with SIB is feasible in the treatment of early breast cancer. The adverse reactions of radiotherapy are mild and well tolerated.

Objective:To summarize and analyze the application effect of combined polyfoliate and free flaps of superficial temporal artery and its branches in the wounds on the head and face.Methods:From February 2019 to January 2020, patients diagnosed with head and face skin tumors in the Department of Plastic Surgery of Xiangya Changde Hospital were selected. The lesions were excised, and the superficial temporal artery and its different branches (the parietal branch, the frontal branch, and the perforating branch of the frontal branch) were used to design polyfoliate and free flaps for wound repair. Patients were treated with polyfoliate flaps designed using the parietal or frontal branch with the proximal end of the trunk as the vascular pedicle, polyfoliate flap designed using the perforating branch of the frontal branch with the proximal end of the frontal branch as the vascular pedicle, polyfoliate flap designed using the trunk and parietal branch with the frontal branch as the vascular pedicle, and a free flap designed using the trunk with the proximal end of the parietal branch as the vascular pedicle. All donor sites of the flaps were closed primarily. The survival of the flaps were observed after surgery, and the appearance of the flaps and the recurrence of facial tumors were followed up.Results:In this study, all the patients were aged 18 to 69 years with an average age of 57 years and were diagnosed with head and face skin tumors. Among the six patients, there were five men and one woman. All the flaps survived, and no tumor recurrence was noted during the postoperative follow-up period of 1 month to 10 months. The texture of these flaps was similar to the surrounding skin, with no color difference. In addition, no noticeable scar was noted on both the flaps and the donor sites. The outcome of the repair was satisfactory.Conclusions:The design of polyfoliate and free flaps using different combinations of the superficial temporal artery and its branches can facilitate flexible repair of the wounds on the head and face. This method exhibits certain advantages, such as skin characteristics of the flaps similar to that of the surrounding skin, direct closure of the donor sites, and a satisfactory repair.

Objective:To summarize and analyze the application effect of combined polyfoliate and free flaps of superficial temporal artery and its branches in the wounds on the head and face.Methods:From February 2019 to January 2020, patients diagnosed with head and face skin tumors in the Department of Plastic Surgery of Xiangya Changde Hospital were selected. The lesions were excised, and the superficial temporal artery and its different branches (the parietal branch, the frontal branch, and the perforating branch of the frontal branch) were used to design polyfoliate and free flaps for wound repair. Patients were treated with polyfoliate flaps designed using the parietal or frontal branch with the proximal end of the trunk as the vascular pedicle, polyfoliate flap designed using the perforating branch of the frontal branch with the proximal end of the frontal branch as the vascular pedicle, polyfoliate flap designed using the trunk and parietal branch with the frontal branch as the vascular pedicle, and a free flap designed using the trunk with the proximal end of the parietal branch as the vascular pedicle. All donor sites of the flaps were closed primarily. The survival of the flaps were observed after surgery, and the appearance of the flaps and the recurrence of facial tumors were followed up.Results:In this study, all the patients were aged 18 to 69 years with an average age of 57 years and were diagnosed with head and face skin tumors. Among the six patients, there were five men and one woman. All the flaps survived, and no tumor recurrence was noted during the postoperative follow-up period of 1 month to 10 months. The texture of these flaps was similar to the surrounding skin, with no color difference. In addition, no noticeable scar was noted on both the flaps and the donor sites. The outcome of the repair was satisfactory.Conclusions:The design of polyfoliate and free flaps using different combinations of the superficial temporal artery and its branches can facilitate flexible repair of the wounds on the head and face. This method exhibits certain advantages, such as skin characteristics of the flaps similar to that of the surrounding skin, direct closure of the donor sites, and a satisfactory repair.

Objective: To investigate the effect of different negative pressure of wound negative pressure dressing (NPD) on the survival of full-thickness skin grafts of patients. Methods: One hundred and eleven patients who need skin grafting, conforming to the inclusion criteria were hospitalized in our unit from August 2012 to March 2017, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Forty-seven patients hospitalized from August 2012 to October 2015 were assigned into traditional treatment group. Sixty-four patients hospitalized from November 2015 to March 2017 were divided into -9.975 kPa negative pressure treatment group (n=34) and -13.300 kPa negative pressure treatment group (n=30). Patients in traditional treatment group received conventional dressing after full-thickness skin grafting. Patients in -9.975 kPa and -13.300 kPa negative pressure treatment groups received -9.975 kPa and -13.300 kPa NPD based on traditional treatment after vacuum sealing, respectively. Dot necrosis area of skin grafts and erosion and escharosis of graft edges of patients in the three groups on post operation day 10 were observed. The percentage of dot necrosis area of skin grafts and occurrence rate of erosion and escharosis of skin graft edges were calculated, respectively. Data were processed with chi-square test, Fisher′s exact test, and Kruskal-Wallis H test. Results: Percentages of dot necrosis area of skin grafts of patients in traditional treatment group and -9.975 kPa and -13.300 kPa negative pressure treatment groups were 17.81%, 3.20%, and 3.00%, respectively. Percentage of dot necrosis area of skin grafts of patients in traditional treatment group was significantly higher than that in -9.975 kPa and -13.300 kPa negative pressure treatment groups (Z=-5.770, -4.690, P<0.001). Percentages of dot necrosis area of skin grafts of patients in -9.975 kPa and-13.300 kPa groups were close (Z=-0.619, P>0.05). The occurrence rates of erosion and escharosis of skin graft edges of patients in traditional treatment group and -9.975 kPa and -13.300 kPa negative pressure treatment groups were 78.7% (37/47), 32.4 (11/34), and 36.7% (11/30), respectively. Erosion and escharosis of skin graft edges of patients in -9.975 kPa and -13.300 kPa negative pressure treatment groups were better than those in traditional treatment group (P<0.001). Erosion and escharosis of skin graft edges of patients in -9.975 kPa and -13.300 kPa negative pressure treatment groups were close (P>0.05). Conclusions The use of -9.975 kPa and -13.300 kPa NPD in skin grafts after full-thickness skin grafting significantly diminishes the occurrence rates of dot necrosis area of skin grafts and erosion and escharosis of graft edges.

Objective:To explore the clinical effects of axillary propeller flaps in reconstructing the axillary fold scar contracture.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted. From July 2016 to January 2020, 11 patients with anterior axillary fold or anterior and posterior axillary fold scar contractures after burns were admitted to Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, including 7 males and 4 females, aged 8 to 48 years. The lesions involved unilateral axilla in 9 cases and bilateral axilla in 2 cases, with the joint abduction angle of the affected shoulder ranging from 25 to 100°. The axillary fold contracture scars were excised and released, resulting in wound of 8 cm×5 cm-24 cm×20 cm. According to the condition of the residual normal skin in axilla, 2, 3, and 4-leaf propeller flaps with area of 5 cm×3 cm-24 cm×10 cm were designed to repair the wounds after scar excision and release. The donor site wound was closed by suturing directly, and the residual wound that could not be completely sutured was transplanted with free full-thickness skin grafts from the inner thigh or abdomen. The application of 2, 3, and 4-leaf propeller flaps, the joint abduction angle of the affected shoulder immediately after operation, and the survival of the flaps and skin grafts after operation were recorded. The recurrence of scar contracture, the appearance of the flaps, the joint abduction angle of the affected shoulder, and the functional recovery of the affected shoulder joint and upper arm were observed through a follow-up.Results:Among the 13 axillary propeller flaps transplanted in the 11 patients in this group, there were 9 double-leaf propeller flaps, two 3-leaf propeller flaps, and two 4-leaf propeller flaps. The joint abduction angle of the affected shoulder reached 110-165° immediately after operation. All the flaps survived after operation. Nine flap donor sites were repaired with free skin grafts, with skin grafts survived in 7 flap donor sites after operation. Scar erosion in incision and small area of skin graft necrosis developed in 2 flap donor sites. One of the wounds was debrided and repaired by transplantation of split-thickness skin grafts from inner thigh, and the other wound was healed after dressing changes. A follow-up of 6 to 24 months was conducted after surgery, and all the patients had no recurrence of axillary scar contracture; the color of the flap matched the receiving area; the elasticity of flap was good; the joint abduction angle of the affected shoulder reached 120-165°, and the joint pronation and supination, upper arm lifting and circular rotation of the affected shoulder were all good.Conclusions:Reconstruction of the axillary fold scar contracture with axillary propeller flaps has good result, with better flap appearance and recovery of the shoulder joint activity and upper arm function after operation.