Objective:To investigate the effects of anterolateral thigh chimeric perforator flap in repairing complex wounds of foot and ankle.Methods:A retrospective observational study was conducted. From May 2018 to June 2022, 23 patients who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University to repair complex wounds of foot and ankle with anterolateral thigh chimeric perforator flaps, including 15 males and 8 females, aged from 20 to 66 years. The wounds were all accompanied by bone exposure and defects, and were complicated with varying degrees of infection. All patients underwent debridement and continuous vacuum sealing drainage treatment for 1 week in stage Ⅰ, with the skin and soft tissue defect area after debridement being 10 cm×5 cm to 22 cm×7 cm. In stage Ⅱ, the anterolateral thigh chimeric perforator flap was used to cover the defective wound, of which the muscle flap was used to fill the deep invalid cavity of the ankle joint or cover bone and internal fixation exposures, and the skin flap was used to cover the superficial wound, with the area of the skin flap ranging from 11 cm×6 cm to 23 cm×8 cm, and the area of the muscle flap ranging from 4.0 cm×2.5 cm to 8.0 cm×5.0 cm. The survival of the flap was observed after operation. During follow-up, the color, texture, appearance, and complications of the flap were observed, the function of ankle joint and its range of dorsiflexion motion and plantar flexion motion were measured, and the scar hyperplasia and muscular hernia in donor area were observed.Results:Ecchymosis and epidermal necrosis occurred at the tip of the flap in 1 patient on 5 days after operation and healed after dressing change for 1 week; the other flaps of patients survived successfully. After 6 to 40 months of follow-up, the color, texture, and shape of flaps were good, but 1 patient was not satisfied with the shape of the flap because of flap swelling; the ankle joint movement was basically normal, the dorsiflexion motion was 15-30°, and the plantar flexion motion was 20-45°; the scar hyperplasia in the donor area of the flap was not obvious, and no muscular hernia occurred.Conclusions:The anterolateral thigh chimeric perforator flap can effectively fill the deep invalid cavity of ankle joint and cover the superficial wound at the same time, with minimal damage to the donor site. So it is an ideal flap for repairing the complex wounds of foot and ankle.

Objective:To investigate the prognosis and influencing factors in critically ill surgical patients of different feeding intolerance trajectories.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinical data of 354 critically ill surgical patients who were admitted to 69 medical centers in the Chinese Critical Care Nutrition Trials Group -NEED database from March 2018 to July 2019 were selected. There were 247 males and 107 females, aged 58(46,68)years. According to the trajectory model of feeding intolerance change, 354 patients were divided into 3 categories as feeding intolerance, decreased feeding intolerance, continuous feeding intolerance, including 164, 49, 141 cases respectively. Observation indicators: (1) general situations of patients of different feeding intolerance trajectories; (2) treatment of patients of different feeding intolerance trajectories; (3) survival of patients of different feeding intolerance trajectories; (4) analysis of pro-gnostic factors in critically ill surgical patients. Measurement data of normal distribution were expressed as Mean± SD, and one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between groups. Measurement data of skewed distribution were expressed as M( Q1, Q3), and Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test was used for comparison between groups. Count data were expressed as absolute numbers or percentages, and chi-square test was used for comparison between groups. Ordinal data were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test. Bonferroni correction was used for pairwise comparison. Group-based trajectory model was constructed according to Traj plug-in in Stata17.0 statistical software, and the optimal trajectory model was evaluated by Bayesian information criterion and average posterior probability parameter. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw the survival curve and calculate the survival rate, and Log-Rank test was used for survival analyses. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted using the COX proportional hazard regression model. Results:(1) General situations of patients of different feeding intolerance trajectories. Of 354 critically ill surgical patients, 257 cases underwent enteral nutrition and 97 cases underwent enteral plus parenteral nutrition. The acute physiological and chronic health score (APACHEII) was 17(13,21), and the sequential organ failure score (SOFA) was 6(5,8). The modified Critical Illness Nutritional risk score (mNUTRIC) was 4 (2,5), the number of complications was 2(1,3). There were 293, 55 and 6 patients with grade Ⅰ, grade Ⅱ and grade Ⅲ acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI), and there were 224, 17 and 61 patients who were treated with mechanical ventilation, continuous renal replacement therapy and vasoactive drugs, respectively. The incidence of feeding intolerance in 354 patients increased first and then decreased, reaching a peak of 25.42%(90/354) on the third day and 53.67%(190/354) within 7 days. Of 354 critically ill surgical patients, cases with no feeding intolerance, decreased feeding intolerance, continuous feeding intolerance had the APACHE Ⅱ as 16(12,20), 17(14,25), 18(13,22), mNUTRIC as 3(2,5), 4(3,6), 4(3,5), the number of complications as 2(1,2), 2(2,3), 2(2,3). There were 152, 27, 114 cases with grade Ⅰ AGI, 12, 22, 27 cases with grade Ⅱ-Ⅲ AGI, 95, 39, 90 cases with mechanical ventilation. There were significant differences in the above indicators among the three groups ( H=6.14, 13.11, 28.05, χ2=37.96, 7.65, P< 0.05). Further analysis showed that compared with patients with no feeding intolerance, patients with decreased feeding intolerance and continuous feeding intolerance had the higher number of complications and grade of AGI ( Z=60.32, 54.69, χ2=39.72, 9.52, P<0.05), patients with decreased feeding intolerance had the higher mNUTRIC scores and ratio of mechanical ventilation ( Z=53.41, χ2=7.59, P<0.05). (2) Treatment of patients of different feeding intolerance trajectories. Cases with prokinetic drugs use and post-pyloric feeding were 36, 13 of patients with no feeding intolerance, 25 and 10 of patients with decreased feeding intolerance, 46 and 19 of patients with continuous feeding intolerance, respectively, showing significant differences in the above indicators among the three groups ( χ2=15.76, 6.20, P<0.05). Further analysis showed that compared with patients with no feeding intolerance, patients with decreased feeding intolerance had higher ratio of prokinetic drugs use and ratio of post-pyloric feeding ( χ2=15.60, 6.10, P<0.05). (3) Survival of patients of different feeding intolerance trajectories. The 28-day overall survival rates of patients with no feeding intolerance, decreased feeding intolerance, and continued feeding intolerance were 96.96%, 95.92%, and 87.94%, respectively, showing a significant difference ( χ2=10.39, P<0.05). Further analysis showed a significant difference between patents with no feeding intolerance and patients with continuous feeding intolerance ( χ2=9.19, P<0.05). (4) Analysis of prognostic factors in critically ill surgical patients. Multivariate analysis showed that continuous feeding intolerance was an independent risk factor for 28-day death in critically ill surgical patients ( hazard ratio=3.92, 95% confidence interval as 1.43-10.79, P<0.05). Conclusion:For surgical critically ill patients, patients with continuous feeding intolerance have a higher 28-day mortality than patients with no feeding intolerance, and the continuous feeding intolerance is an independent risk factor for 28-day death in critically ill surgical patients.

Objective:To explore the clinical effects of expanded flap made by skin and soft tissue expander (hereinafter referred to as expander) in repairing the wounds with exposed titanium mesh after cranioplasty with titanium mesh.Methods:A retrospective observational study was conducted. From April 2015 to October 2019, 13 patients with wounds with exposed titanium mesh after cranioplasty with titanium mesh were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, including 10 males and 3 females, aged 18 to 70 years. Exposure of titanium mesh occurred 3 months to 4 years after cranioplasty with titanium mesh. The wound area of exposed titanium mesh ranged from 1.5 cm×0.6 cm to 6.3 cm×6.0 cm. In the first stage, one or two square expanders with rated capacity of 50-200 mL were placed under the normal scalp 1 cm away from the edge of the wound surface of exposed titanium mesh. The water injection time was 2 to 3 months with the total water injection volume being 1.6 to 2.0 times of the rated capacity of expander. In the second stage, the expander was removed and the expanded flap (size ranging from 4.1 cm×1.8 cm to 9.1 cm×7.9 cm) was transferred to repair the wound of exposed titanium mesh. The placement site of the expander, the transfer form of the expanded flap, the postoperative wound healing of the titanium mesh exposed site, and the survival of expanded flap were recorded. The scar of the head incision and the appearance of head were followed up.Results:Among the patients in this group, the expanders of 7 were placed in the temporal region, while the other 6 were placed at the top. The 11 patients were treated with advanced expanded flap, while the other 2 patients were treated with pedicled expanded flap. The head wounds of patients in this group successfully healed with retaining of the titanium mesh. The wound was healed after dressing change in 1 patient with necrosis at the tip of the expanded flap. The expanded flaps of 12 patients survived after transfer. Patients in this group were followed up for 12 months after surgery, the exposed titanium meshes were retained, the incisions healed well with the scars concealed, the hair on the scalp grew well, and the appearance of head was comparatively good.Conclusions:Using expanded flap in the repair of the wounds with exposed titanium mesh after cranioplasty with titanium mesh can effectively cover the wound and retain the titanium mesh, achieving good function and appearance.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effects of skin-stretching device (hereinafter referred to as stretcher) combined with vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) in repairing diabetic foot wounds.Methods:From March 2016 to January 2020, 25 patients with diabetic foot wounds were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, including 18 males and 7 females, with age of 40 to 70 years. After debridement, intermittent VSD was performed for 3 to 10 days, with negative pressure value of -10.67 kPa. Then, the wound area was 5.0 cm×3.0 cm to 10.0 cm×7.0 cm. After infection control and detumescence, the wound was treated with stretcher for 3 to 5 days. The wound area after stretching ranged from 5.0 cm×0.3 cm to 10.0 cm×0.5 cm. The wound was closed with full-thickness suture. Two weeks after the suturing operation, the healing grade of the foot wound of patients was observed, and the serious complications such as recurrence of ulcer wound and gangrene on the foot, scar condition of the wound were observed during follow-up.Results:Two weeks after the suturing operation, the wounds of 23 patients were healed with grade A. Soft tissue infection ulcer relapsed in 2 patients during the stretch period. After anti-infection, thorough debridement, and VSD, the wounds were healed after another 16 days of stretch treatment. During the follow-up of 3 to 36 months, 23 patients had linear scar left on the stretch wounds, and the skin elasticity, color, sensation was similar to the surrounding normal tissue, and the limb mobility was good, and 2 patients had obvious scar hyperplasia. One patient had recurrence of diabetic foot and serious vascular occlusion and gangrene in the affected limb at follow-up of 10 months, which was treated with amputation of the lower leg.Conclusions:The use of stretcher combined with VSD in treating diabetic foot wound can avoid donor site injury, with healed wound achieving similar appearance to adjacent skin and satisfactory repair effects.

Objective: To observe the effects of the method of combining free superficial temporal fascia flaps with skin grafts in repairing deep wounds in posterior ankle region of extensively burned patients. Methods: From September 2013 to February 2017, 11 extensively burned patients with deep tissue defects in posterior ankle region were treated in our unit. Two patients had tissue defects in bilateral posterior ankle regions. The wound sizes ranged from 5.8 cm×4.6 cm to 11.7 cm×5.2 cm. Free superficial temporal fascia flaps with the same sizes as the wounds were designed and resected to repair wounds in posterior ankle regions after debridement. The proximal end of superficial temporal veins and posterior tibial veins were performed with end-to-end anastomosis, and superficial temporal arteries and posterior tibial arteries were performed with end-to-side anastomosis. Skin grafts were resected to cover the superficial temporal fascia flaps according to patients′ condition of donor sites. The donor sites were sutured directly. Results: All fascial flaps in 11 patients survived, while 2 skin grafts had partial necrosis, and they healed after secondary skin graft. All patients were followed up for 6 to 13 months, and the shape and function of the operation sites in all patients recovered well. Conclusions The method of combining free superficial temporal fascia flaps with skin grafts can repair deep wounds in posterior ankle regions of extensively burned patients. It has the advantages of good appearances in the recipient sites, strong resistances to infection of fascia flaps, minimal damages to the donor sites, short course of disease, and good prognosis of patients.