1.Clinical efficacy of modified superior gluteal artery perforator flap with V-Y advancement for the reconstruction of sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus
Hai LI ; Xiangkui WU ; Chengliang DENG ; Shun’e XIAO ; Zairong WEI
Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery 2025;41(11):1175-1182
Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of the modified superior gluteal artery perforator (SGAP) flap V-Y advancement technique in the repair of sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients who underwent modified SGAP flap V-Y advancement for the reconstruction of sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus wounds at the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, between January 2019 and January 2025. The surgical procedure involved two stages. During the first stage, the sinus tract was preoperatively marked with methylene blue, followed by complete excision of the sinus and surrounding involved tissues. The resultant wound was then treated with vacuum sealing drainage for 3 to 5 days. The second stage consisted of flap repair. A portable Doppler ultrasound was used to identify and mark the superior gluteal artery perforator on one side of the wound. A V-shaped flap was designed transversely, with the base corresponding to the length of the subcutaneous tissue defect on the wound side and the superior and inferior borders extending laterally along the wound margins, ensuring the 1-2 SGAP was included within the flap. Intraoperatively, the wound was re-debrided. The epidermis was removed from the base of the V-shaped flap, and the dermis and subcutaneous tissue were dissected. The dermis and superficial subcutaneous tissue of the contralateral wound edge were also dissected. The flap was then advanced in a V-Y fashion to cover the wound. The de-epithelialized portion of the flap was imbricated and sutured to the contralateral skin edge near the midline. The donor site at the apex of the V-shaped flap was closed directly after subcutaneous tissue tension relief, resulting in a Y-shaped closure. Postoperative flap survival, incision healing, and complications were observed. At the final follow-up, flap appearance, texture, surgical site scarring, and sinus recurrence were assessed, and patient satisfaction with the surgical outcome was investigated.Results:A total of eight patients were included in the study, comprising six males and two females, with ages ranging from 14 to 41 years (mean 22.4 years). Two patients presented with multiple sinus tracts, two with chronic sinus tracts and recurrent inflammation with scar formation, and four with postoperative recurrence. The area of the wound defect after debridement ranged from 4.5 cm×5.0 cm to 6.5 cm×8.0 cm. The flap dimensions ranged from 4.5 cm × 6.0 cm to 6.5 cm × 12.5 cm, with a mean V-shaped flap apex angle of 35° ± 2° (range 20° to 60°). In one patient, slight exudate was observed at the base of the flap, which healed after 12 days of dressing changes and drainage. The remaining flaps survived successfully, and primary closure was achieved in both the donor and recipient sites. The patients were followed for a period of 3 to 64 months, with a mean follow-up duration of 10.7 months. In all patients, the sacrococcygeal flap showed no evidence of bulkiness, exhibiting a color similar to the surrounding skin and a soft texture. Linear scars remained at the surgical site, with no complaints of itching, pain, or other discomfort affecting daily life. No recurrence of pilonidal sinus was observed during the follow-up period. Patients reported satisfaction with the appearance of their buttocks.Conclusion:The modified SGAP flap V-Y advancement technique for the repair of sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus effectively elevates the gluteal cleft, facilitates off-midline closure, demonstrates reliable result, and provides a high level of patient satisfaction.
2.Clinical efficacy of modified superior gluteal artery perforator flap with V-Y advancement for the reconstruction of sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus
Hai LI ; Xiangkui WU ; Chengliang DENG ; Shun’e XIAO ; Zairong WEI
Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery 2025;41(11):1175-1182
Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of the modified superior gluteal artery perforator (SGAP) flap V-Y advancement technique in the repair of sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients who underwent modified SGAP flap V-Y advancement for the reconstruction of sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus wounds at the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, between January 2019 and January 2025. The surgical procedure involved two stages. During the first stage, the sinus tract was preoperatively marked with methylene blue, followed by complete excision of the sinus and surrounding involved tissues. The resultant wound was then treated with vacuum sealing drainage for 3 to 5 days. The second stage consisted of flap repair. A portable Doppler ultrasound was used to identify and mark the superior gluteal artery perforator on one side of the wound. A V-shaped flap was designed transversely, with the base corresponding to the length of the subcutaneous tissue defect on the wound side and the superior and inferior borders extending laterally along the wound margins, ensuring the 1-2 SGAP was included within the flap. Intraoperatively, the wound was re-debrided. The epidermis was removed from the base of the V-shaped flap, and the dermis and subcutaneous tissue were dissected. The dermis and superficial subcutaneous tissue of the contralateral wound edge were also dissected. The flap was then advanced in a V-Y fashion to cover the wound. The de-epithelialized portion of the flap was imbricated and sutured to the contralateral skin edge near the midline. The donor site at the apex of the V-shaped flap was closed directly after subcutaneous tissue tension relief, resulting in a Y-shaped closure. Postoperative flap survival, incision healing, and complications were observed. At the final follow-up, flap appearance, texture, surgical site scarring, and sinus recurrence were assessed, and patient satisfaction with the surgical outcome was investigated.Results:A total of eight patients were included in the study, comprising six males and two females, with ages ranging from 14 to 41 years (mean 22.4 years). Two patients presented with multiple sinus tracts, two with chronic sinus tracts and recurrent inflammation with scar formation, and four with postoperative recurrence. The area of the wound defect after debridement ranged from 4.5 cm×5.0 cm to 6.5 cm×8.0 cm. The flap dimensions ranged from 4.5 cm × 6.0 cm to 6.5 cm × 12.5 cm, with a mean V-shaped flap apex angle of 35° ± 2° (range 20° to 60°). In one patient, slight exudate was observed at the base of the flap, which healed after 12 days of dressing changes and drainage. The remaining flaps survived successfully, and primary closure was achieved in both the donor and recipient sites. The patients were followed for a period of 3 to 64 months, with a mean follow-up duration of 10.7 months. In all patients, the sacrococcygeal flap showed no evidence of bulkiness, exhibiting a color similar to the surrounding skin and a soft texture. Linear scars remained at the surgical site, with no complaints of itching, pain, or other discomfort affecting daily life. No recurrence of pilonidal sinus was observed during the follow-up period. Patients reported satisfaction with the appearance of their buttocks.Conclusion:The modified SGAP flap V-Y advancement technique for the repair of sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus effectively elevates the gluteal cleft, facilitates off-midline closure, demonstrates reliable result, and provides a high level of patient satisfaction.
3.Influence and implications of basketball shoes'functional parameters on human biomechanics
Yicheng YANG ; Zhizhen ZHENG ; Shuangxue LIANG ; Chengliang WU ; Yunyun DU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(35):7620-7628
BACKGROUND:Basketball shoes are one of the most important pieces of athletic equipment in basketball,helping to improve players'performance and reduce the risk of injury.With the development of basketball,the demand for basketball shoe performance is getting higher and higher.OBJECTIVE:To systematically review and summarize the effects of different functional parameters of basketball shoes on the wearer's biomechanical performance,and to investigate the effects of each functional parameter of basketball shoes on athletic performance and injury risk.METHODS:Relevant literature addressing the effect of basketball shoes'functional parameters on human biomechanics from CNKI,WanFang,Web of Science,ScienceDirect and other databases was searched by computer,with the search terms of"basketball,basketball shoe,shoes,footwear,sports biomechanics,kinematics,kinetics"in Chinese and English.All the retrieved literature was evaluated and screened,and finally 61 articles were included for literature review.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Existing studies on functional parameters of basketball shoes include shoe collar height and heel counter-stiffness,midsole hardness,midsole cushioning,midsole thickness,forefoot flexural stiffness,whole shoe mass,and outsole traction.The functional parameters of basketball shoes play a role in improving sports performance and reducing the risk of sports injuries:(1)Compared with low-top shoes,high shoe collars can reduce the risk of ankle sprains,but may affect sports performance,ankle proprioception,and increase the load on the knee.(2)Better midsole cushioning or softer midsoles can effectively reduce vertical impact,and the forefoot cushioning structure can effectively improve the athletic performance of lateral movement.(3)The midsole thickness of 11 mm in the forefoot and 20 mm in the rearfoot can obtain the best ankle stability and sprinting performance.(4)Improving the outsole traction and forefoot bending stiffness can significantly improve the performance of jumping,sprinting,and side-cutting.There are diminishing returns to the improvement of athletic performance by improving outsole traction.(5)Lighter basketball shoes can improve athletic performance,but this effect only occurs when the wearer is aware of the shoes'weight.
4.Epidemiological study on traditional Chinese medicine treatment for inflammatory bowel disease in Jiangsu Province from 2019 to 2023
Chujun NI ; Zexing LIN ; Haiyang JIANG ; Jie WU ; Peizhao LIU ; Jiaqi KANG ; Chengliang QIAN ; Haiqing LIU ; Liting DENG ; Huan YANG ; Chenling WU ; Yun ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 2025;09(4):318-325
Objective:To explore patterns of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) use among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Jiangsu Province, China from 2019 to 2023.Methods:Using data from the IBD health data platform of the National Healthcare Big Data (Eastern) Center, a retrospective cohort study was conducted. We performed descriptive analyses on hospitalised patients diagnosed with IBD between 2019 and 2023, who received TCM treatment.Results:The study included 11 095 case records from 4 760 patients, with TCM diagnoses primarily indicating diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Ulcerative colitis (UC) accounted for 4 782 hospitalizations (3 103 patients), while Crohn's disease (CD) accounted for 6 313 hospitalizations (1 657 patients). Patient demographics showed a trend towards younger age and a higher proportion of males. Treatment utilisation was highest in southern Jiangsu compared with the central and northern regions. In terms of disease burden, all treatment costs showed a downward trend. In terms of external TCM therapies, UC patients tend to prefer plasters and enemas, while CD patients are more inclined to use acupuncture. Regarding herbal medicine, licorice, white atractylodes, and white peony root are commonly used single herbs for IBD patients.Conclusions:The number of IBD patients treated with TCM in Jiangsu Province has steadily increased from 2019 to 2023. It is important to identify effective TCM treatment methods to reduce the burden of patients.
5.Influence and implications of basketball shoes'functional parameters on human biomechanics
Yicheng YANG ; Zhizhen ZHENG ; Shuangxue LIANG ; Chengliang WU ; Yunyun DU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(35):7620-7628
BACKGROUND:Basketball shoes are one of the most important pieces of athletic equipment in basketball,helping to improve players'performance and reduce the risk of injury.With the development of basketball,the demand for basketball shoe performance is getting higher and higher.OBJECTIVE:To systematically review and summarize the effects of different functional parameters of basketball shoes on the wearer's biomechanical performance,and to investigate the effects of each functional parameter of basketball shoes on athletic performance and injury risk.METHODS:Relevant literature addressing the effect of basketball shoes'functional parameters on human biomechanics from CNKI,WanFang,Web of Science,ScienceDirect and other databases was searched by computer,with the search terms of"basketball,basketball shoe,shoes,footwear,sports biomechanics,kinematics,kinetics"in Chinese and English.All the retrieved literature was evaluated and screened,and finally 61 articles were included for literature review.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Existing studies on functional parameters of basketball shoes include shoe collar height and heel counter-stiffness,midsole hardness,midsole cushioning,midsole thickness,forefoot flexural stiffness,whole shoe mass,and outsole traction.The functional parameters of basketball shoes play a role in improving sports performance and reducing the risk of sports injuries:(1)Compared with low-top shoes,high shoe collars can reduce the risk of ankle sprains,but may affect sports performance,ankle proprioception,and increase the load on the knee.(2)Better midsole cushioning or softer midsoles can effectively reduce vertical impact,and the forefoot cushioning structure can effectively improve the athletic performance of lateral movement.(3)The midsole thickness of 11 mm in the forefoot and 20 mm in the rearfoot can obtain the best ankle stability and sprinting performance.(4)Improving the outsole traction and forefoot bending stiffness can significantly improve the performance of jumping,sprinting,and side-cutting.There are diminishing returns to the improvement of athletic performance by improving outsole traction.(5)Lighter basketball shoes can improve athletic performance,but this effect only occurs when the wearer is aware of the shoes'weight.
6.Clinical effect of antibiotic-loaded bone cement implantation combined with free chimeric tissue flap transplantation in the sequential treatment of severe gouty wounds
Shun'e XIAO ; Hai LI ; Tianhua ZHANG ; Xiangkui WU ; Bihua WU ; Zairong WEI ; Chengliang DENG
Chinese Journal of Burns 2025;41(1):53-60
Objective:To evaluate the clinical effect of antibiotic-loaded bone cement implantation combined with free chimeric tissue flap transplantation in the sequential treatment of severe gouty wounds.Methods:This study was a retrospective observational study. From July 2019 to July 2022, 11 male patients with severe gouty wounds who were aged 33 to 71 years and met the inclusion criteria were admitted and treated at the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University. The wounds were located on the hands in 2 cases, the ankles in 5 cases, and the feet in 4 cases. After debridement, the wound area ranged from 5.0 cm×4.0 cm to 22.0 cm×6.0 cm. All wounds were sequentially repaired with antibiotic-loaded bone cement implantation combined with free chimeric tissue flaps transplantation. Two cases were repaired by free perforating branch of superficial circumflex iliac artery with chimeric osseous flaps, with the areas of harvested skin flaps being 5.5 cm×4.0 cm and 8.0 cm×6.0 cm, respectively, and the volumes of iliac bone flaps being 2.0 cm×2.0 cm×1.5 cm and 3.5 cm×2.0 cm×2.0 cm, respectively. Two cases were repaired by free perforating branch of deep circumflex iliac artery with chimeric osseous flaps, with the areas of harvested skin flaps being 6.0 cm×4.0 cm and 7.5 cm×5.0 cm, respectively, and the volumes of iliac bone flaps being 2.0 cm×1.5 cm×1.5 cm and 2.5 cm×2.0 cm×1.5 cm, respectively. Seven cases were repaired by free chimeric myocutaneous flaps based on the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery. The areas of harvested skin flaps ranged from 9.5 cm×6.0 cm to 25.0 cm×6.5 cm, and the volumes of muscle flaps ranged from 4.0 cm×3.0 cm×2.0 cm to 6.0 cm×5.0 cm×2.5 cm. The donor site wounds were directly sutured. The chimeric tissue flap was freely transplanted to the recipient wound site, of which the iliac bone graft was used to fill the bone defect, the muscle flap was utilized to fill the wound cavity, and the skin flap was employed to cover the wound surface; the arteries and veins in the vascular pedicle were anastomosed with those in the recipient area. At admission and 3 days post antibiotic-loaded bone cement implantation, the changes in white blood cell count, neutrophil and hypersensitive C-reactive protein level, as well as the bacterial culture of wound secretions specimen, and the growth of granulation tissue were observed. After stage Ⅱ surgery, the survival of transplanted chimeric tissue flaps, the occurrence of vascular crisis, and the healing of wounds in donor and recipient sites were observed. During follow-up, the blood supply, appearance, and texture of the transplanted tissue flaps in the recipient sites, the function and appearance of the affected limbs and fingers, and the complications in the donor and recipient sites were observed.Results:Three days post antibiotic-loaded bone cement implantation, white blood cell count, hypersensitive C-reactive protein level, and neutrophil significantly decreased compared with those at admission (with Z values of -2.93 and -2.93 respectively, t=8.63, P<0.05). At admission, all patients exhibited bacterial infections with redness and swelling around the wounds. Three days post antibiotic-loaded bone cement implantation, bacterial cultures of wound secretions specimen were negative, local redness resolved, and granulation tissue showed good growth. After stage Ⅱ surgery, all chimeric flaps survived without vascular crises. The wound healing in the recipient site of the dorsum of the foot in one patient was poor and delayed but healed after dressing changes; all the other recipient sites in remaining patients healed successfully. The donor incision healed well in all patients. During 6 to 24 months of follow-up, the flaps in the recipient area demonstrated good blood circulation, texture, and appearance. Bone healing was achieved in 4 patients with iliac grafts. Nine patients with lower limb wounds were able to bear weight, and the functions including gripping, palm alignment, and finger alignment were significantly improved in 2 patients with hand wounds. No significant complications were observed in donor or recipient sites. Conclusions:In treating patients with severe gouty wounds, the sequential strategy of stage Ⅰ debridement with antibiotic-loaded bone cement implantation followed by stage Ⅱ free chimeric osseous flaps or myocutaneous flaps repair can achieve effectively control of postoperative wound infection, promote wound healing, and well restore the functions of affected finger or limb with no obvious complications, which is worthy of promotion for clinical application.
7.Effects of the lateral circumflex femoral artery chimeric perforator flap in repairing composite tissue defects in the ankle and foot area
Hai LI ; Chengliang DENG ; Shun'e XIAO ; Xiangkui WU ; Bihua WU ; Zairong WEI
Chinese Journal of Burns 2025;41(4):370-377
Objective:To investigate the effects of applying the lateral circumflex femoral artery chimeric perforator flap in repairing composite tissue defects in the ankle and foot area.Methods:This study was a retrospective observational study. From January 2018 to December 2023, 12 patients with composite tissue defects in the ankle and foot area who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery of the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, including 9 males and 3 females, aged from 4 to 64 years. The causes of the injuries included traffic accident injuries in 7 cases, wringing injuries in 2 cases, crush injuries in 2 cases, and fall injury in 1 case. All patients had combined skin and soft tissue defects, with the defect areas ranging from 10.0 cm×5.0 cm to 22.0 cm×7.0 cm. Among them, 7 patients had ankle joint capsule defects sized from 3 cm×2 cm to 6 cm×5 cm; 3 patients had Achilles tendon defects ranged from 4 to 8 cm in length; 1 patient had an extensor hallucis longus tendon defect of 4 cm in length; 1 patient had an extensor digitorum longus tendon defect of 10 cm in length. All patients underwent repair of the composite tissue defects using the lateral circumflex femoral artery chimeric perforator flaps. Flaps with sizes ranging from 11.0 cm×5.5 cm to 24.0 cm×6.5 cm were used to repair skin and soft tissue defects, and fascia lata flaps with sizes ranging from 4.0 cm×2.5 cm to 17.0 cm×2.0 cm were used to repair joint capsule and tendon defects. The flap donor area wound was closed by suturing. Postoperatively, regular follow-up was conducted to observe the survival of the flaps after surgery, the repair of the defects, the healing of the incisions in the flap donor area, the occurrence of complications, the appearance and texture of the flaps, the scar formation in the surgical area, and the movement of the lower limb on the flap donor side. At the last follow-up, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scoring standard was used to evaluate the function of the ankle and foot.Results:All patients were followed up for 2 to 38 months, with an average of 8.7 months. After surgery, all flaps survived, and all wounds in the recipient areas healed. In patients who underwent ankle joint capsule and tendon reconstruction, there was no swelling in the joints, and the joint movements were good without foot drop or toe drop deformities. All incisions in the flap donor areas were healed without any complication. The families of 2 children took their children back to the hospital for flap thinning at 3 and 4 months respectively after surgery because they felt that the flaps were bulky. The other patients were satisfied with the appearance and texture of the flaps. One child had obvious scar hyperplasia in the early stage, and the scar gradually faded after external application of anti-scar medications and pressure treatment. The scars of the other patients were not obvious. All patients had normal lower limb movements on the flap donor side. At the last follow-up, the functions of the ankle and foot were rated as excellent in 8 cases and good in 4 cases.Conclusions:The lateral circumflex femoral artery chimeric perforator flap is flexible in design. It can repair the composite tissue defects in the skin and soft tissue, joint capsules, and tendons of the ankle and foot simultaneously. There are no obvious complications in the flap donor area. Most patients are satisfied with the appearance of the flap in the recipient area. The flap is soft in texture, and the functions of the ankle and foot are well restored.
8.Epidemiological study on traditional Chinese medicine treatment for inflammatory bowel disease in Jiangsu Province from 2019 to 2023
Chujun NI ; Zexing LIN ; Haiyang JIANG ; Jie WU ; Peizhao LIU ; Jiaqi KANG ; Chengliang QIAN ; Haiqing LIU ; Liting DENG ; Huan YANG ; Chenling WU ; Yun ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 2025;09(4):318-325
Objective:To explore patterns of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) use among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Jiangsu Province, China from 2019 to 2023.Methods:Using data from the IBD health data platform of the National Healthcare Big Data (Eastern) Center, a retrospective cohort study was conducted. We performed descriptive analyses on hospitalised patients diagnosed with IBD between 2019 and 2023, who received TCM treatment.Results:The study included 11 095 case records from 4 760 patients, with TCM diagnoses primarily indicating diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Ulcerative colitis (UC) accounted for 4 782 hospitalizations (3 103 patients), while Crohn's disease (CD) accounted for 6 313 hospitalizations (1 657 patients). Patient demographics showed a trend towards younger age and a higher proportion of males. Treatment utilisation was highest in southern Jiangsu compared with the central and northern regions. In terms of disease burden, all treatment costs showed a downward trend. In terms of external TCM therapies, UC patients tend to prefer plasters and enemas, while CD patients are more inclined to use acupuncture. Regarding herbal medicine, licorice, white atractylodes, and white peony root are commonly used single herbs for IBD patients.Conclusions:The number of IBD patients treated with TCM in Jiangsu Province has steadily increased from 2019 to 2023. It is important to identify effective TCM treatment methods to reduce the burden of patients.
9.Chimeric flap with a perforator of superficial circumflex iliac artery in treatment of complex tissue defects in Achilles tendon region: 9 cases report
Hai LI ; Zairong WEI ; Shun'e XIAO ; Xiangkui WU ; Bihua WU ; Chengliang DENG
Chinese Journal of Microsurgery 2025;48(1):25-30
Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of chimeric flap with perforating branch of superficial circumflex iliac artery in reconstruction of complex tissue defect in Achilles tendon region.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 9 patients who underwent reconstruction of composite tissue defects in Achilles tendon region with the perforator flap of lateral femoral circumflex artery, from January 2017 to January 2023 in the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University. The patients were 7 males and 2 females and at 16 to 54 years, with 36.6 years in average. Causes of injury were: 5 patients by traffic accident, 2 by machine strangulation and 1 by heavy object, also 1 defect was caused by infection. The soft tissue defects were 4.5 cm×6.0 cm to 8.0 cm×12.0 cm in size, and the defects of Achilles tendon were 4.5 cm to 11.5 cm, with an average of 6.8 cm in length. The wounds were managed with VSD after primary surgery, and then stage Ⅰ surgery were followed to reconstruct the defects in Achilles tendon region with perforator flap of lateral femoral circumflex artery. The sizes of chimeric flaps were 6.5 cm×5.0 cm to 18.0 cm×6.5 cm, including 3 lobuated flaps. The fascia grafts were 5.5 cm to 12.0 cm, with an average of 7.0 cm. Scheduled postoperative follow-ups were conducted in outpatient clinic and via telephone or WeChat interviews, together with the advices for rehabilitation training. Postoperative functions of the Achilles tendon and ankle function were evaluated using Arner-Lindholm criteria and the ankle and hindfoot functional score of American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS).Results:All of the 9 chimeric flaps survived and all the donor sites had primary healing. All patients were entered into the postoperative follow-up for 10 to 66 months, with 14.6 months in average. One chimeric flap was found bulky and a flap thinning surgery was further carried out in 3 months under the request of patient. The rest of patients were satisfied with the appearance and texture of the flaps. The range of ankle plantar flexions was found at 42.9°±1.8° and the dorsal flexions was at 16.2°±2.5°. There was no significant decrease in circumference and no discomfort or muscle re-rupture in the affected legs. Thompson test was found negative. There was no wound related complications during follow-up. Reconstructive surgery were found effective based on Arner-Lindholm criteria, with excellent in 6 patients, good in 2 and 1 in fair. The ankle and subtalar joint function was evaluated according to the ankle-hindfoot function score of AOFAS, with 7 patients scored 90-100 point and 2 scored 75-89 point, and 7 patients were in excellent and 2 in good.Conclusion:The chimeric perforator flap of lateral femoral circumflex artery is safe and reliable in reconstruction of composite tissue defects in Achilles tendon region. It can effectively restore the function and appearance of ankle and hindfoot in patients with composite tissue defects in the Achilles tendon region.
10.Single-stage treatment of upper limb lymphedema following breast cancer surgery using superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator-based vascularized lymph node transfer combined with lymphaticovenular anastomosis and liposuction.
Zongcan CHEN ; Junzhe CHEN ; Yuanyuan WANG ; Lingli JIANG ; Xiangkui WU ; Hai LI ; Shune XIAO ; Chengliang DENG
Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery 2025;39(9):1114-1121
OBJECTIVE:
To compare the effectiveness of single-stage vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) combined with lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) and liposuction (LS) (3L) versus LVA combined with LS (2L) for the treatment of moderate-to-late stage upper limb lymphedema following breast cancer surgery.
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 16 patients with moderate-to-late stage upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer surgery, treated between June 2022 and June 2024, who met the selection criteria. Patients were divided into 3L group (n=7) and 2L group (n=9) based on the surgical approach. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in baseline data between the groups, including age, body mass index, duration of edema, volume of liposuction, International Society of Lymphology (ISL) stage, preoperative affected limb volume, preoperative circumferences of the affected limb at 12 levels (from 4 cm distal to the wrist to 42 cm proximal to the wrist), preoperative Lymphoedema Quality of Life (LYMQoL) score, and frequency of cellulitis episodes. The 2L group underwent LS on the upper arm and proximal forearm and LVA on the middle and distal forearm. The 3L group received additional VLNT in the axilla, with the groin serving as the donor site. Outcomes were assessed included the change in affected limb volume at 12 months postoperatively, and comparisons of limb circumferences, LYMQoL score, and frequency of cellulitis episodes between preoperative and 12-month postoperative. Ultrasound evaluation was performed at 12 months in the 3L group to assess lymph node viability.
RESULTS:
Both groups were followed up 12-20 months, with an average of 15.13 months. There was no significant difference in the follow-up time between the groups (t=-1.115, P=0.284). All surgical incisions healed by first intention. No adverse events, such as flap infection or necrosis, occurred in the 3L group. At 12 months after operation, ultrasound confirmed good viability of the transferred lymph nodes in the 3L group. Palpation revealed significant improvement in skin fibrosis and improved skin softness in both groups. Affected limb volume significantly decreased in both groups postoperatively (P<0.05). The reduction in limb volume significantly greater in the 3L group compared to the 2L group (P<0.05). Circumferences at all 12 measured levels significantly decreased in both groups compared to preoperative values (P<0.05). The reduction in circumference at all 12 levels was better in the 3L group than in the 2L group, with significant differences observed at 7 levels (8, 12, 16, 30, 34, 38, and 42 cm) proximal to the wrist (P<0.05). Both groups showed significant improvement in the frequency of cellulitis episodes and LYMQoL scores postoperatively (P<0.05). While the improvement in LYMQoL scores at 12 months did not differ significantly between groups (P>0.05), the reduction in cellulitis episodes was significantly greater in the 3L group compared to the 2L group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
The combination of VLNT+LVA+LS provides more durable and comprehensive outcomes for moderate-to-late stage upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer surgery compared to LVA+LS, offering an improved therapeutic solution for patients.
Humans
;
Female
;
Lipectomy/methods*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Anastomosis, Surgical/methods*
;
Lymphedema/etiology*
;
Middle Aged
;
Upper Extremity/surgery*
;
Breast Neoplasms/surgery*
;
Lymph Nodes/blood supply*
;
Adult
;
Lymphatic Vessels/surgery*
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Iliac Artery/surgery*
;
Postoperative Complications/surgery*
;
Perforator Flap/blood supply*
;
Treatment Outcome
;
Mastectomy/adverse effects*
;
Quality of Life
;
Aged

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