Objective To evaluate the effect of abducens orthosis combined with walker on de-velopmental dysplasia of the hip ( DDH ). Methods A total of 126 patients (224 hips ) with DDH aged 6～36 months in Xiangya Hospital was randomly divided into 2 groups: an orthosis combined with walker group and an improved hip frog cast fixation group. Seventy patients (130 hips) were treated by the orthosis combined with walker and 56 patients (94 hips) were treated by the improved hip frog cast fixation. We compared the effect and complications of the 2 groups. Results The fine-ness rates of the orthosis combined with walker group and the improved hip frog cast fixation group were 89.2% and 90.4% , respectively, with no significant difference (P>0.05). The rate of femoral head osteonecrosis in the orthosis combined with walker group was significantly lower than that in the improved hip frog cast fixation group (1.5 % vs. 5.3 % , P<0.05) , but the re-dislocation rate in the former was significantly higher than that in the latter (6.9 % vs. 1.1% , P<0.05). Conclusion Both methods are effective for DDH. Orthosis combined with walker has a lower propor-tion of femoral head osteonecrosis, but a higher proportion of re-dislocation.

Objective To investigate the effets of three mood stabilizers on ouabain?induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation in astrocytes. Methods As?trocytes were treated with different agents and divided into different groups accordingly,namely,the control group with saline,the group with oua?bain,the group with mood stabilizers(lithium carbonate,carbamazepine,sodium valproate)and the group with ouabain+mood stabilizers. The phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in each group was analyzed by Western blot. Results Compared with saline and mood stabilizer groups,the phosphoryla?tion of ERK1/2 was increased in the ouabain group,with statistical significance(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in ERK1/2 phosphoryla?tion between the group with ouabain+mood stabilizers and the control or mood stabilizer group. Conclusion The three kinds of mood stabilizers can inhibit ouabain?induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation in astrocytes.

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility and the effect of free chimeric perforator flap with deep inferior epigastric artery for the soft tissue defect on the lower extremity with deep dead space.

METHODSFrom Mar. 2010 to Aug. 2011, 8 patients with soft tissue defects on the lower extremities combined with dead space, bone or joint exposure were reconstructed with free hinged perforator flaps with deep inferior epigastric artery. The muscle flap was inserted into the deep dead space, with perforator flap for superficial defect. The defects on the donor sites were closed directly.

RESULTSAll the flaps survived with primary healing. Good color and texture was achieved. The patients were followed up for 12-24 months, with an average of 16 months. 2 over-thick flaps were treated by flap-thinning surgery. Only linear scar was left on the donor site on abdomen with no malfunction.

CONCLUSIONSThe free chimeric perforator flap with deep inferior epigastric artery can simultaneously construct the dead space and superficial defect with only anastomosis of one set of vascular pedicle. It is an ideal method with good results on recipientsites and less morbidity on donor sites.

Cicatrix ; Epigastric Arteries ; transplantation ; Feasibility Studies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leg Injuries ; surgery ; Lower Extremity ; Perforator Flap ; transplantation ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; surgery ; Time Factors ; Wound Healing

Objective To investigate the clinical results,indications and precautions of a variety of special forms of the perforator flap for reconstructing limb soft-tissue defect.Methods From January 2008 to December 2013,480 cases suffering from limb soft-tissue defect were treated with special forms of the perforator flap.Types of special forms of the perforator flap included flow-through perforator flaps,micro-dissected perforator flaps,conjointed perforator flaps,polyfoliate perforator flaps and chimeric perforator flaps.Derivative types combined two or three technologies used in basic types.Results Venous crisis of the flap was shown in 10 cases.Through a second surgical exploration,5 cases were diagnosed with anastomotic thrombosis,2 with vascular torsion and 3 with hematoma.After appropriate treatments,flaps survived in 4 cases,but partial necrosis occurred in 6 cases.Twelve cases were found to have infection,which led to arterial crisis followed by total flap necrosis in one of them at postoperative day 5.Other flaps survived and wounds healed by first intention.Donor sites were repaired by skin flap transfer in 8 cases,skin grafting in 3 cases and direct suture in the rest cases.Conclusion Special forms of the perforator flap are optimal for repair of soft-tissue defect of extremities.

BACKGROUND:The main component of cartilage, type Ⅱ col agen gene expression in chondrocyte is positively correlated with SOX9 concentration in a dose-dependent manner.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the variation of SOX9 and type Ⅱ col agen mRNA content at different periods in the differentiation process (osteogenic, chondrogenic, adipogenic induction) of mesenchymal stem cel s, and to explore the correlation of SOX9 expression and type Ⅱ col agen.
METHODS:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s were isolated from 4-week-old Kunming mice, and cultured in vitro to passage 3. The cel phenotype was identified with flow cytometry. Cel s were divided into three groups and subjected to three kinds of induction conditions favorable for adipogenic, chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation, and each group was observed at three time points. In addition, the non-induced cel s were used as a control group. The total RNA of cel s was extracted at 3, 7, 14 days after induction, and SOX9 and type Ⅱ col agen mRNA was quantified with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The induced cel s were stained by immunofluorescence to observe the differentiation and perform statistical analysis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Passage 3 bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s grew wel , and cel phenotype was confirmed as stem cel s by flow cytometry. The staining results showed that, the cel s differentiated into chondrocytes, adipocytes and osteoblasts. The SOX9 mRNA levels in the induced cel s were the highest in chondrogenic differentiation group, then in osteogenic differentiation group, and the lowest in adipogenic differentiation group. Type Ⅱ col agen mRNA levels in the induced cel s were the highest in chondrogenic differentiation group, then in adipogenic differentiation group, and the lowest in osteogenic differentiation group. SOX9 expression in chondrogenic differentiation group increased at 3 and 7 days, and then decreased at 14 days. While type Ⅱ col agen expression increased at 3, 7, 14 days. SOX9 mRNA levels increased as the osteogenic differentiation, while type Ⅱ col agen expression gradual y decreased. There was no significant difference in the SOX9 mRNA expression between adipogenic differentiation group and control group (P>0.05), while type Ⅱ col agen expression was not regularly changed. Experimental findings suggest that, critical effect of SOX9 in chondrogenic differentiation is better than that in osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation. SOX9 is associated with type Ⅱcol agen, which may alter along with the SOX9 in the early chondrogenic differentiation;SOX9 may play a fine-tuning role in the process of chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation.

Objective To explore the feasibility and clinic outcome of the modified latissimus dorsi flap when it is used to repair huge soft tissue defects in lower limbs.Methods The latissimus dorsi muscle is rich blood supply and available for harvest huge areas.According to these characteristics the modified latissimus dorsi flap was designed:a limited latissimus dorsi skin flap with a large area of latissimus dorsi muscle flap,skin graft area was transferred from donor-site to recipient-site.From April 2009 to August 2011,ten patients with large soft tissue defects in lower limbs were treated with modified latissimus dorsi flap.The size of skin and soft tissue defects range from 19 cm × 10 cm to 32 cm × 16 cm.Ten modified latissimus dorsi flaps had been used for coverage of these wounds,which were amplified 1-2 cm compared with the corresponding wounds.The size of skin flap was 20 cm × 6 cm-33 cm × 10 cm which was allowable to get direct closure of donor-site wounds.Results All the flaps and skin graft survived completely with no complication.Donor-site and recipient-site were primary closed and healing in all patients.All of the patients had got follow-up from 6 months to 36 months.All flaps survived with excellent color and quality,and no extremely fat contour.The results in donor site were satisfying and only left liner scar.It has no effect in the shoulder function.Conclusion The modified latissimus doris flap can provide with a huge amount of skin and soft tissue and be designed in various ways.It is a safe and reliable way to reconstruct huge skin and soft tissue defect in lower limbs.

Objective To explore the feasibility and clinical effect of modified peroneal artery perforatorbased propeller flap which excludes small saphenous vein and sural nerve for coverage of the soft tissue defects of the ankle and foot.Methods From January,2009 to August,2013,20 patients with soft tissue defects of the foot or ankle underwent the procedures of reconstruction.After the proper perforators being identified with doppler sonography,the propeller flap was designed,which selected the location where terminal perforator vessels perforate deep fascia as the pivot point,the line from this point to the point where the second perforator near the wound around the line from the midpopliteal point to the midpoint of the achilles tendon and lateral malleolus perforated the deep facia as the axis.The flap was raised above the level of the deep fascia.The small extrinsic vessels around the sural nerve and small saphenous vein were contained in the flap,while the small saphenous vein and sural nerve were kept in the original position.The donor site was closed directly.The skin flaps measured from 7 cm × 4 cm to 21 cm × 7 cm.Results All 20 flaps survived completely without complications.During 10-28 months' followed-up (average 13 months),all flaps showed good texture matches and contour.All patients recovered walking and shoe wearing function.No one showed sensory disturbances at the lateral foot.Conclusion The modified peroneal artery perforator-based propeller flap excluding small saphenous vein and sural nerve still has stable blood supply,which is an idea way for covering skin and soft tissue defects in foot and ankle.

Objective To explore the safety and clinical effect of the human acellular nerve allograft (hANG) for repairing peripheral nerve defects.Methods During November,2009 to October,2010,6 patients with 3 digital nerve defects and 3 radial nerve defects were repaired with hANG.During postoperation period,safety was evaluated by local wound response and laboratory testing,while the efficacy was evaluated by British Medical Research Council sensory function assessment standards,static 2-point discrimination (2PD) and Semmes-Weinstein monofilament testing.Results Three patients with 6 digital nerve defects received hANG transplant.The length of nerve graft was 20-50 mm(mean 30.8 mm).After followed up for 31-40 months,the excellent rate of 2PD was 66.7％.Two of 3 patients rahabilited as well as the normal.Three patients with radial nerve defects,whose length of nerve graft was 35-60 mm(mean 48.3 mm).The strength of extensor carpiradialis longus muscle had restored Ⅲ in 1 case,and other 2 cases had no restoration.Conclusion hANG is safe and effective for repairing peripheral nerve defects,especially for digital nerve defects.

Objective To explore the clinical effect and experience of separating deep circumflex iliac artery osteocutaneous perforator flap (DCIAP) from the bone flap.Methods According to local applied anatomy of groin,vascularized chimerical flaps of deep iliac circumflex artery was designed and applied.From May,2008 to June,2012,12 patients who combined bone and composite skin and soft-tissue defects were positioned by color dopplar ultrasound before operation and treated with vascularized chimerical flaps of deep iliac circumflex artery.The deep circumflex iliac perforator flaps was 8 to 19 cm in length and 2 to 6 cm in width,and the iliac bone grafts ranged from 5 to 8 cm in length.Results All flaps were fully survival.After 8-10 months postoperative followed-up,all the bone defect gained healing.The function and appearance of cutaneous flaps were satisfactory.There was no serious complication in donor sites of groin.The average time of healing was 9 (8-10) months.Conclusion Vascularized iliac bone graft and a perforator flap are nourished by the same deep circumflex iliac artery.There is more mobile scope and only 1 blood vessel between the bone graft and skin flap,which should be called chimeric perforator flap based on the deep iliac circumflex artery,and is a kind of good method to repair bone and soft-tissue defects of limbs.

Objective To describe a technique to achieve primary donor-site closure, extend applications and minimize donor-site morbidity by applying the double skin paddle principle.Methods All 16 cases of the double skin paddle anterolateral thigh perforator flap reconstruction from May, 2008 to June, 2014 were reviewed.Defects locations included calf, dorsum pedis or planta pedis.A long anterolateral thigh perforator flap was marked out using standard points of reference.At least two separate cutaneous perforator vessles were identified on hand-held Doppler.Separating and dissecting flap at superficial layer of fascia lata was adopted in all cases.Then skin paddle was then divided between the two cutaneous perforators to give two separate paddles with a common vascular supply which was the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery.The skin paddles could be used to cover complex skin defects, whilst still allowing for primary donor-site closure.Results Fifteen patients were successfully treated with the double skin paddle anterolateral thigh perforator flap with no major complications.One case was suffered with partial skin flap necrosis.The type A dumbbell-like flaps was used to cover defects involving two different units of the foot.The type B pattern were stacked side by side on a flap inset, effectively doubling the width of the flap, to resurface a large defect of a single unit of the calf.The type C pattern was used to repair adjacent skin defects.In all cases, the donor site was closed directly.All patients were satisfied with their outcomes.Conclusion The double skin paddle anterolateral thigh perforator flap is an excellent method of resurfacing large defects of the extremity involving multiple subunits with improved morbidity and cosmesis of the donor site.