Objective To report the surgical method and treatment outecome of transfer of free upper limb lateral bone-skin flap for repair of bone defects and nonunion in hand and forearm.Methods 17 cases of hand composite trauma,5 cases of forearm composite trauma and 2 cases of nonunion in forearm were treated with free bone-skin flaps in distal humerus,whose pedicle was the posterior branch of radical collateral artery. Area of the flap was 2cm?3cm to 8cm?10cm,length of exseeted bone was 3～6 cm.Results All the bone-skin flaps completely survived,the donor area all achieved primary healing,On postoperative 1～4 years follow-up,the texture of the flap was excellent,and bone union was obtained in all transplants,the donor area of distal lateral humerus became thicker and thicker with new cortical bones formed.According to the upper arm function assessment criterion issued by hand surgery association of Chinese medical association.The hand function had excellent results in 17 cases and good results in 2 cases.Conclusion The bone-skin flap has following advantages:easy dissection,reliable blood supply,and no major vessel needed to be sacrificed,so it is an effective method for repair of skin and soft tissue with bone defects in hand and forearm,It.also can be used to repair refractory nonunion in ulna and radius.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effect of V-Y flap pedicled with superior malleolus cutaneous branch for small skin defect at the dorsal side of foot.

METHODSFrom Aug. 2008 to Aug. 2010, 9 cases with skin defects at the dorsal side of feet were treated by V-Y flaps pedicled with superior malleolus cutaneous branch. The flap size ranged from 6.0 cm x 5.5 cm to 12.0 cm x 6.5 cm. The defects at the donor sites were closed directly.

RESULTSAll flaps survived completely. 9 cases were followed up for 6-12 months after operation. The flaps had good texture and color match. The 2-point discrimination distance at the flap was 10-14 mm. The function of ankle was normal.

CONCLUSIONSThe V-Y flap pedicled with superior malleolus cutaneous branch is ideal for the treatment of small skin defect at the dorsal side of foot.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Ankle ; blood supply ; Female ; Foot Injuries ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the repair of soft tissue defect at finger tip with square island flap pedicled with skin perforator of digital artery on the distal interphalangeal joint (DIP).

METHODSFrom Jun. 2009 to Mar. 2010, 15 cases with soft tissue defects at 15 fingers tip were treated with this island flaps. The flap size ranged from 1.2 cm x 0.8 cm to 2. 0 cm x 3.0 cm. The defects at donor sites were covered with skin grafts from forearm.

RESULTSAll the flaps and skin grafts survived. 10 fingers in 10 cases were followed up for 6-12 months. The color, texture and contour of the flaps were good. The two-point discrimination distance was 5-6 mm on the directed island flaps, and 7-10 mm on the reverse island flaps. No obvious functional problem was found in DIP motion. The hand function was assessed as excellent in 8 fingers, good in 1 finger and medium in 1 finger.

CONCLUSIONSThe main artery and nerve will not be sacrificed when the island flap is used. The operative procedures are easily performed for the treatment of fingertip skin defect.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Finger Injuries ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo introduce the clinical experience in transplantation of the anterolateral femoral skin flap.

METHODSA total of 625 anterolateral femoral skin flaps in 600 patients were transplanted from 1988 to 2003. The retrospective analysis was carried out in all the cases as to the flap pedicle, the vascular variations, the surgical procedures and modifications, and the adaptation for a cutaneous-branch-absent flap.

RESULTSThe 625 flaps were transferred except 7 cancelled in the operation. Postoperatively, 17 cases encountered vascular complications, 10 of which survived completely with successful vessel exploration, 3 cases had partial necrosis, and 4 cases had complete necrosis. The survival rate was 97.8%. 545 flaps were pedicled with the descending branch or lateral branches; 45 flaps with the transverse branch or the high-site anterolateral cutaneous artery, 10 cases with the descending-transverse branch, 18 cases with other vessels. 7 cases were found cutaneous-branch-absent. The vessel variation rate of the flap was 4.06%.

CONCLUSIONSThe anterolateral femoral skin flap has less variation of its pedicle and high success rate of operation. It is an ideal choice for repair of soft tissue defects in the extremities.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Femur ; Humans ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the method for treatment of thumb tip defect.

METHODSThe thumb tip defect was treated with thumb island flaps at ulnar side by V-Y advancement. The flap size ranged from 1.4 cm x 2.0 cm approximately 1.4 cmx 2.5 cm. The wounds at donor sites were covered by skin grafts.

RESULTSFrom March 2007 to October 2009, 10 cases of thumb tip defects were treated. All the flaps and skin grafts were survived with primary healing. The patients were followed up for 6-18 months with both satisfactory functional and cosmetic results. The two-point discrimination was 5-6 mm at the thumb tip.

CONCLUSIONSThe thumb tip defect can be successfully repaired with thumb island flaps at ulnar side by V-Y advancement.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; Thumb ; injuries ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of modified vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) technique in treating refractory sinus in the lower leg.

METHODSFrom January 2010 to December 2011, 11 patients with refractory sinus in the lower leg, including 7 males and 4 females, with an average age of 34.5 years (ranged,23 to 56). These patients were treated with modified VSD technique after thorough cleaning sinus and continuous washing. After 14 to 21 days of treatment, removed VSD and re-debrided the sinus and sutured wound.

RESULTSInfections got control after operation, sinus in the lower leg healed. All patients were followed up from 6 to 14 months with an average of 10 months, no recidivations were found.

CONCLUSIONModified VSD technique is an effective method in the treatment of stubborn sinus in the lower leg.

Adult ; Drainage ; methods ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Leg Bones ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; therapy ; Vacuum