Angioma serpiginosum is an uncommon, acquired vascular nevoid disorder with capillary dilation and proliferation in the papillary dermis. The eruptions are asymptomatic and characterized by grouped, erythematous to violaceous, serpiginous and punctate macules. The condition usually appears in females during adolescence on unilateral lower extremities and the buttocks. We report a rare case with a late onset and atypical distribution of lesions in a 48-year-old female patient who had groups of punctate lesions on her left foot for four to five years. Histopathological examination showed hyperkeratosis and multiple dilated and proliferated capillaries in the papillary dermis. Inflammation and extravasation of red blood cells were not found. According to the clinical and pathological findings, we established a diagnosis of angioma serpiginosum. She was treated with a pulsed dye laser, and the angiomatous lesions subsequently improved.
Female ; Foot Diseases/diagnosis/surgery ; Humans ; Lasers, Dye/therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Skin/blood supply/pathology/surgery ; Skin Diseases, Vascular/*diagnosis/surgery ; Telangiectasis/*diagnosis/surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the application of the island flap based on the postfemur neurocutaneous nutrient vessel.

METHODSThe flap was designed and applied to repair the defects in the gluteal, popliteal fossa or the bilateral postfemur areas. A total of 11 cases (12 defects) were treated with this method. The size of the defects ranged from 4.0 cm x 7.8 cm to 8.3 cm x 16.6 cm.

RESULTSOf the 12 defects, 9 achieved complete success. Epidermal necrosis occurred in the distal part of the flap in 3 defects owing to venous stasis, which were cured with skin grafting. Postoperative follow-up for 8-19 months showed that the appearance, texture, and function of the flap were satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONSThe advantages of the flap lie in the reliable blood supply, constant anatomy, and without sacrificing a major artery. The key points for the flap survival are utilizing the "Superficial vein-nutrient vessel of the cutaneous nerve system" and retaining a comet tail-shaped soft-tissue pedicle in the flap creation.

Arteries ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Necrosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Skin ; injuries ; pathology ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; pathology ; transplantation ; Thigh ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo analyze several methods of wound repair for deep partial thickness burn wounds retrospectively, so as to evaluate the significance of improvement of wound microcirculation on wound healing.

METHODS(1) 2,976 burn patients admitted to our department were enrolled in the study, among them 614 undertook tangential excision, 32, eschar abrasion, 86 allo-skin coverage after debridement, 1836 tropical application of silver sulfadiazine and 408 with traditional Chinese medicine (Jing Wan Hong ointment) with gauze bandage. The results of the management with different methods were compared. (2) Rat model with deep partial thickness burn was reproduced and topical application of silver sulfadiazine was given. The rats were randomly divided into control (n = 10, with normal saline injected via caudal vein within 5 minutes postburn), and treatment (n = 10, with batroxobin injected via caudal vein within 5 minutes postburn) groups. The blood flow perfusion unit in the wound skin was measured before burn and at 0.5 to 72 postburn hours by Laser Doppler. The wound healing rate, contraction rate and wound healing time in each group were calculated on 14 and 18 postburn days (PBDs). The number of hair follicles after wound healing was observed by histological method.

RESULTS(1) The burn wound treated by tangential excision healed within 2 to 3 post operation weeks (POWs), with the healing rate of 94.8% in patients with burn covering 50% - 70% TBSA and 93.4% in those with burn of 80% approximately 98% TBSA. The healing time of patients with allo-grafts coverage after eschar abrasion was 13.8 +/- 2.1 days without scar formation. The wound healing time was 18.0 +/- 2.3 day in 82 patients with allo-graft coverage after debridement, and it was 26.0 +/- 3.2 days with subeschar healing in 1658 patients with topical application of silver sulfadiazine. Infection in burn wound was encountered in most patients undergoing traditional Chinese medicine bandage treatment with wound healing time of 26.0 +/- 2.8 days in the lower extremities. (2) The blood flow perfusion unit of the rats in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.01). The wound healing rate in treatment group on 14 and 18 PBD was obviously higher than that in the control group (P < 0.01). But the wound contraction rate in the two groups was similar (P > 0.05). The wound healing time in treatment group was much shorter than that in control group (P < 0.01). A few hair follicles remained in the dermis of the rats in the control group on 30 PBD, and the number was evidently smaller than that in the treatment group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONEarly tangential excision and eschar abrasion remained better methods in the management of deep partial thickness burn wounds, as they could ameliorate burn wound infection, shorten treatment period, raise wound healing rate and quality. Application of batroxobin could accelerate wound healing rate by improving wound microcirculation in deep partial thickness burn wound.

Adult ; Animals ; Batroxobin ; therapeutic use ; Burns ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microcirculation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; blood supply ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo introduce a new method for reconstruction of the whole ear lobe defect.

METHODSThe free island skin flap supplied by superficial temporal vessel which was designed at the area anterior and superior to crus helicis. The flap was transferred through subcutaneous tunnel and self-folded to reconstruct the whole ear lobe defect.

RESULTSSince 1999, 6 cases were treated with no complication. The ear lobe shape and skin colour were very natural.

CONCLUSIONSThe island skin flap supplied by superficial temporal vessel is very suitable for the whole ear lobe defect with good cosmetic results.

Adult ; Ear, External ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Temporal Arteries ; transplantation

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of length-width ratio (LWR)on partial necrosis in distally based sural neurofasciocutaneous flap. METHODS: Clinical data and operative pictures of 157 distally based sural neurofasciocutaneous flaps were reviewed and analysed. LWR of the flaps ranged from 2.83:1 to 7.14:1. Based on the LWR of the flaps, the flaps were divided into 5 groups: Group A(LWR≤3:1), Group B(3:1RESULTS: Of the 157 flaps, 125 survived uneventfully, 8 had distal epidermical necrosis, wound dehiscence occurred in 6 flaps, 18 flaps(11.5%) had distal partial necrosis. Partial necrosis occurred in none of the 6 flaps in Group A(0%), 4 of 26 flaps in Group B(12.5%), 2 of 56 flaps in Group C (3.6%), 8 of 50 flaps in Group D (16.0%), and 4 of 19 flaps in Group E(21.5%). There were no statistical differences in partial necrosis ratio between Group A and B, Group B and C, Group D and E(P>0.05). Partial necrosis ratio was higher in Group D than that in Group C(P<0.05). It was lower in the LWR<5:1 group (Group A+Group B+Group C) (6.8%, 6/88) than that in the LWR≥5:1 group (Group D+Group E) (17.4%, 12/69) (P<0.05). CONCLUSION When LWR of the flap is less than 5:1, probability of partial necrosis occurring in distally based sural neurofasciocutaneous flaps is low, and the flap can survive more reliably. The maximum LWR of the surrival flaps can reach 6-7:1.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Foot Injuries ; surgery ; Humans ; Leg Injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; innervation ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEThe paper reviewed the effectiveness and reliability of skin paddles of free fibula flaps in the reconstruction of maxillofacial defects.

METHODSFifty-five consecutive free fibula osteocutaneous flap transfers performed from June 21, 1999 to October 31, 2000 were reviewed. The skin paddles of each flap were analyzed in terms of surgical design, blood supply, size, reconstruction location, and survival.

RESULTSFifty-seven skin paddles were used for the 55 free fibula flaps (double skin paddles for 2 flaps), 37 were nurtured by one perforator, 18 by two and two by 3 perforators. Twenty-eight skin paddles were used for intraoral reconstruction, 7 for extraoral reconstruction, 1 for both intraoral and extraoral reconstruction, 2 for soft tissue augmentation, and the remaining 19 were simply used as window for monitoring the blood flow of fibula flap. One free fibula flap with one skin paddle was lost because of venous thrombosis, and the other 54 flaps survived completely, with 100% survival of 56 skin paddles.

CONCLUSIONThe skin paddle of free fibula flap is safe and reliable. It can be used for all kinds of soft tissue reconstruction, as well as window for monitoring the blood flow of fibula flap after operation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Fibula ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; surgery ; Mandibular Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Oral Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Postoperative Complications ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Reoperation ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Tissue and Organ Harvesting ; methods