Objective:To explore the clinical effect of composite skin transplantation combined with systemic rehabilitation in the treatment of extensive scar contracture deformity around the popliteal fossa in children after burns.Methods:A retrospective observational research method was adopted. Seventeen children with extensive scar contracture deformities around the popliteal fossa after burns who met the inclusion criteria and were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University from March 2018 to April 2022 were selected. Among them, there were 10 males and 7 females, aged 2-11 years, with scar contracture deformities lasting from 10 months to 9 years, all located around the popliteal fossa, 10 cases of right popliteal fossa, 5 cases of left popliteal fossa, 2 cases of bilateral popliteal fossa, scars around the popliteal fossa result in a knee joint extension angle of only 95° to 115°. The scar contracture during surgery was thoroughly released, joint mobility was restored, so as to form a secondary wound range of 10 cm×8 cm-20 cm×13 cm. In stage Ⅰ, after completely releasing the scar contracture, the wound was covered with negative pressure closure drainage (VSD) for 2-3 days. In stage Ⅱ, a large autologous blade thick scalp and allogeneic decellularized dermal matrix composite graft was performed to repair the wound around the popliteal fossa. After 8-10 days of surgery, the dressing was changed to check the survival of the skin graft. One week after the skin graft survived, a 12 month orderly knee joint function training was conducted under the guidance of a rehabilitation therapist. Postoperative sequential treatment with a combination of strong pulsed light and ultra pulsed carbon dioxide lattice laser for 5-7 courses of significant scar hyperplasia in the skin graft area and edges.Results:15 cases of pediatric patients had good skin graft survival; One patient developed a wound due to partial displacement of the transplanted autologous scalp, and one patient developed a plasma swelling under the limb graft, which was drained through an opening. Two patients underwent dressing changes for 3 weeks before the wound healed. After follow-up for 6 to 36 months, the elasticity and appearance of the skin graft were similar to those of a medium thickness skin graft. Children with knee joint contracture were able to fully extend to 180°, and knee joint function was significantly improved. There was no scar formation or hair loss in the donor skin area.Conclusions:The combination of composite skin transplantation and systematic rehabilitation has a good effect on the treatment of extensive scar contracture around the popliteal fossa in children after burns, avoiding the problem of scars left in the donor area due to autologous skin grafting.

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of free superficial temporal fascia flap combined with split thickness skin transplantation in repairing refractory wounds in the anterior tibia.Methods:Data on 19 patients with soft tissue defects in the anterior tibial region who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from September 2019 to October 2023 and met the inclusion criteria were collected and summarized. Among them, 11 were males and 8 were females, aged 19-70 years old. The wound area was 4.3 cm×5.0 cm-6.8 cm×9.5 cm, and all wounds were accompanied by tendon exposure. 5 patients also had local bone exposure, and 10 patients had varying degrees of local infection. All patients were treated with wound debridement and continuous closed negative pressure drainage to control infection. After controlling the wound infection, an equally large temporal superficial fascia tissue flap was designed and cut according to the size of the wound to repair the wound. At the same time, a scalp split thick skin was taken to cover the fascia flap.Results:All 19 patients with superficial temporal fascia flaps survived, while 2 patients had poor skin flap survival due to subcutaneous hematoma. After re-grafting, the wound healed. After follow-up for 6-24 months, all patients were satisfied with the appearance of the anterior tibial region and had good recovery of ankle joint function. The supply valve area was concealed, without obvious scars, hair loss, baldness and other complications.Conclusions:The use of free superficial temporal fascia flap combined with split thick skin transplantation for repairing anterior tibial wounds has the advantages of strong anti infection ability, thin fascia flap, concealed donor site, and reconstruction of supporting ligaments. It is an ideal repair method for repairing difficult to heal wounds in the anterior tibial area.

Objective:To explore the clinical effects of early rehabilitation treatment after repair surgery of skin and soft tissue defects accompanied by extensor tendon injury on the back of hand.Methods:This study was a retrospective non-randomized controlled study. From February 2015 to February 2023, 24 patients (15 males and 9 females, aged 12-55 years) with skin and soft tissue defects accompanied by extensor tendon injury on the back of hand, who met the inclusion criteria and were repaired with flap transplantation and tendon grafting or tendon anastomosis, were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University. According to different intervention time for postoperative rehabilitation treatment of patients, the patients were divided into conventional rehabilitation group and early rehabilitation group, with 12 cases in each group. Patients in early rehabilitation group received rehabilitation treatment immediately after surgery under the rehabilitation guidance of specialized rehabilitation physicians based on the characteristics of different postoperative periods. Patients in conventional rehabilitation group began rehabilitation treatment from the third week after surgery, and their rehabilitation treatment was the same as that of patients in early rehabilitation group from the second week after surgery. The patients in 2 groups were treated in the hospital until the sixth week after surgery. The occurrence of flap vascular crisis and tendon rupture were observed within 6 weeks after surgery. After 6 weeks of surgery, the manual muscle test was used to measure the pinching force between the index finger and thumb, lateral pinching force, three-point pinching force, and grip force of the affected hand; the total action motion method was used to evaluate the finger joint range of motion of the affected hand, and the excellent and good ratio was calculated; the Carroll upper extremity function test was used to score and rate the function of the affected hand.Results:Within 6 weeks after surgery, only 1 patient in conventional rehabilitation group suffered from venous crisis, and the flap survived after the second surgical exploration and anastomosis of blood vessels; there was no occurrence of tendon rupture in patients of 2 groups. After 6 weeks of surgery, there were no statistically significant differences in pinching force between the index finger and thumb, lateral pinching force, three-point pinching force, or grip force of the affected hand between the two groups of patients ( P>0.05); the excellent and good ratio of the finger joint range of motion of the affected hand of patients in early rehabilitation group was 11/12, which was higher than 7/12 in conventional rehabilitation group, but there was no statistically significant difference ( P>0.05); the affected hand function score of patients in early rehabilitation group was 90±6, which was significantly higher than 83±8 in conventional rehabilitation group ( t=2.41, P<0.05); the function rating of the affected hand of patients in early rehabilitation group was obviously better than that in conventional rehabilitation group ( Z=2.04, P<0.05). Conclusions:Early rehabilitation treatment for patients with skin and soft tissue defects accompanied by extensor tendon injury on the back of hand after repair surgery can improve hand function, but it would not increase surgery related complications, which is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Skin fibrosis diseases mainly include hypertrophic scar, keloid, and systemic sclerosis, etc. The main pathological features are excessive activation of fibroblasts and abnormal deposition of extracellular matrix. In recent years, studies have shown that aerobic glycolysis is closely related to the occurrence and development of skin fibrosis diseases. Drugs targeting aerobic glycolysis has provided new ideas for skin anti-fibrosis treatment. This article reviews the role of enzymes and products related to aerobic glycolysis in the occurrence and development of skin fibrosis diseases and the drugs targeting aerobic glycolysis for the treatment of skin fibrosis diseases.

Objective:To explore the influence and its mechanism of allogeneic dermal papilla cells (DPCs) on the wound healing of full-thickness skin defects in mice.Methods:This study was an experimental study. DPCs were isolated from the whisker follicles of five 6-week-old male C57BL/6J mice by combining microdissection with collagenase digestion and were successfully identified. Eighteen 8-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were divided into phosphate buffer solution (PBS) group and DPC group according to the random number table, with 9 mice in each group, and the full-thickness skin defect wound model was created on the back of all mice. On day 2, 4, and 6 after injury, the mice in DPC group were administered 100 μL of cell suspension containing 1×10 6 DPCs of the 4 th passage by subcutaneous injection around the wound, and the mice in PBS group was administered an equal volume of PBS. On day 3, 7, 10, and 14 after injury, the wound healing and hair growth of mice in two groups were observed, and the residual wound area was measured, and the hair coverage area on the wound of mice in two groups was measured on day 14 after injury. On day 14 after injury, the wound tissue samples of mice in two groups were collected. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to observe the condition of newborn hair follicles and the number was counted, Masson staining was performed to observe the collagen deposition in the dermis and the collagen deposition area was measured, the immunofluorescence method was used to detect the protein expressions of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway related molecules β-catenin and lymphoid enhancer binding factor 1 (Lef1), and Western blotting and real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the protein and mRNA expressions of β-catenin and Lef1, respectively. The number of samples in each experiment was 3. Results:Compared with those in PBS group, the mice in DPC group had accelerated wound re-epithelialization at each time point after injury, and more hair growth on day 10 and 14 after injury. On day 7, 10, and 14 after injury, the residual wound areas of mice in DPC group were (13.92±2.90), (3.69±1.78), and (1.09±0.14) mm 2, respectively, which were significantly smaller than (26.19±2.06), (10.84±3.59), and (6.75±2.11) mm 2 in PBS group, respectively (with t values of 5.85, 3.09, and 4.63, respectively, P values all <0.05). On day 14 after injury, the hair coverage area on the wound of mice in DPC group was (62±7) mm 2, which was significantly larger than (35±6) mm 2 in PBS group ( t=2.89, P<0.05). On day 14 after injury, compared with those in PBS group, the number of newborn hair follicles in the wound tissue of mice in DPC group was significantly increased ( t=5.43, P<0.05), and the dermal collagen deposition area was significantly reduced ( t=3.56, P<0.05). On day 14 after injury, both the immunofluorescence method and the Western blotting detection showed that the protein expressions of β-catenin (with t values of 5.49 and 4.25, respectively, P values all <0.05) and Lef1 (with t values of 7.50 and 11.54, respectively, P values all <0.05) in the wound tissue of mice in DPC group were significantly higher than those in PBS group; the mRNA expressions of β-catenin and Lef1 in the wound tissue of mice in DPC group were significantly higher than those in PBS group (with t values of 7.68 and 9.67, respectively, P<0.05). Conclusions:DPCs can accelerate the re-epithelialization of full-thickness skin defect wounds in mice by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and promote hair follicle regeneration during the process of wound healing.

The tissue damage of destructive wounds is severe, and its repair and reconstruction are complex and difficult, making it difficult to achieve the desired goal of the treatment outcomes of function and appearance. In recent years, the repair and reconstruction of destructive wounds have received widespread attention and significant progress has been made. However, some key technical bottlenecks still require to be explored and broken through, and the perfect and effective treatment strategies need to be established and standardized. This article briefly discusses the concept of destructive wounds, etiological diagnosis and treatment, injury assessment, principles and technical methods of repair and reconstruction, as well as the key difficult problems that need to be solved. The aim is to attract the attention and discussion of colleagues in the field, providing a reference for further improving the ability in repair and reconstruction of destructive wounds and optimizing the therapeutic effects.

Objective:To investigate the role of 20 MHz high-frequency ultrasound in evaluating scar thickness and morphology.Methods:The clinical data of patients with the initial stage of scar formation after burn trauma (<1 month), hypertrophic scar (1-6 months) and atrophic scar (>6 months) treated by the Department of Burn and Cutaneous Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from April 2019 to December 2020, were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were evaluated by 20 MHz high-frequency ultrasound, histopathology and Vancouver scar scale (VSS). Three measurement points were randomly selected at the scar during ultrasonic examination, and the average value was recorded as the ultrasonic thickness measurement value. The scar tissue samples were collected from the site of ultrasonic examination, and HE staining and Masson staining were performed. At the same time, scar thickness was evaluated by two physicians using VSS. The difference of scar thickness assessment result among the 3 method in patients at the initial stage of scar formation, hypertrophic scar and atrophic scar was compared. Meanwhile, the relationship between the characteristics of 20 MHz high-frequency ultrasound and histopathology was compared. The measurement data of normal distribution were expressed as Mean±SD. One-way ANOVA was used for comparison among three groups, and SNK- q test was used for pairwise comparison between groups. Counting data were analyzed by Chi-square test. Results:A total of 224 patients were included, including 91 males and 133 females, aged from 1 to 34 years, with an average age of 25.7 years. There were 79 patients at the initial stage of scar formation, 102 at the hypertrophic stage, and 43 at the atrophic stage. (1) In the initial stage of scar formation, the thickness measured by 20 MHz ultrasound was about (2.01±0.68) mm, the thickness evaluated by VSS was (1.72±0.49) mm, and the thickness measured by pathological section was (2.11±0.45) mm. In the hyperplastic scar stage, the thickness measured by 20 MHz ultrasound was (4.11±0.73) mm, the thickness evaluated by VSS was (3.02±0.47) mm, and the thickness measured by pathological section was (4.27±0.44) mm. In the atrophic scar stage, the thickness measured by 20 MHz ultrasound was (1.74±0.64) mm, the thickness measured by VSS was (1.77±0.61) mm, and the thickness measured by pathological section was (1.71±0.67) mm. For scars in the above three periods, there was no statistical significance between scar thickness measured by 20 MHz high-frequency ultrasound and that measured by pathological sections(all P<0.05). In the initial stage of scar formation and hypertrophic stage, the thickness evaluated by VSS was significantly different from that measured by 20 MHz high-frequency ultrasound and pathology (all P<0.05), respectively. (2) Echo intensity was evaluated by ultrasound. In the initial stage of scar formation, the thickness of the epidermis shown by high-frequency ultrasound was close to that of the normal epidermis and presented a high-intensity echo, but there was a strip of echoless or no echo zone of <1 mm between the high-intensity echo epidermis and dermis, which looked like dermal edema. Pathology showed that there were acanthoid changes in the epidermis of the scar at this stage, rich capillaries and a small amount of collagen fibrous tissue in the dermis. In the hyperplastic scar stage, the scar epidermis still showed strong echo, while the dermis showed uneven echo, the superficial dermis showed obvious isoecho, and the deep dermis showed no echo or hypoecho. Pathology showed that the epidermis was thin and smooth, and keratosis was obvious. Collagen fibers parallel to the epidermis could be seen in the superficial layer of the dermis, with regular arrangement. Collagen fibers were increased and thickened in the deep layer of the dermis, in the shape of nodules and swirls. In the atrophic scar stage, the scar epidermis presented a strong echo, and there was no obvious demarcation between the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, presenting a uniform echo. Pathological findings showed that the epidermis became thinner with a "skin nails" -like structure, the junction between the superficial and deep dermis was not obvious, and the collagen fibers were arranged in parallel or oblique direction, and the surface boundary was unclear. Conclusion:20 MHz high-frequency ultrasound is more accurate than VSS in the assessment of thickness of hypertrophic scar, and can reflect the collagen content and moisture ratio in scar. Compared with pathological examination, it has the advantages of non-invasive and fast, and is an effective means to evaluate scar thickness and morphology.

The treatment of burn wounds of special causes and sites is a very challenging clinical work. In this paper, we briefly discussed the incidence rates of chemical burns, electric burns, facial burns, hand burns, and perineal burns, as well as the complexity and severity of pathological injury of the corresponding wound tissue. In addition, we briefly discussed the main principles and methods of clinical treatment, as well as the difficult problems to be solved. It is hoped to attract attention and provide reference for further improving the overall treatment ability of burns.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effects of autologous split-thickness skin grafting for prefabricating urethra combined with scrotal flap in repairing middle urethral defect with penile defect.Methods:The retrospective observational study was conducted. Eight male patients (aged 14 to 58 years) with middle urethral defect and penile defect caused by various injuries who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from January 2015 to January 2022. The length of urethral defect was 3 to 5 cm, and the wound area of penile defect after debridement was 5.0 cm×2.5 cm to 7.0 cm×5.5 cm. All the patients underwent autologous split-thickness skin grafting for prefabricating defect urethra in stage Ⅰ, and urethral anastomosis was performed and unilateral scrotal flap was transferred to reconstruct urethra and penis in stage Ⅱ. The area of scrotal flap was 6.0 cm×3.0 cm to 8.0 cm×6.0 cm. The wound in the donor area of skin graft was covered by oil gauze, and the wound of flap donor area was sutured directly. On the 7 th day after the operation of stage Ⅱ, the survival of the flap was observed. In 3 weeks after the operation of stage Ⅱ, the urinary flow rate was measured by the urinary flow rate detector (urinary flow rate >15 mL/s was regarded as unobstructed urination), the urinary fistula and erectile function were observed, and the self-made therapeutic satisfaction questionnaire was used to investigate the therapeutic satisfaction degree of patients. During follow-up, the appearance of the flap recipient area was observed, the Vancouver scar scale (VSS) was used to evaluate the scar situation in the donor areas of skin graft and flap, the urinary flow rate was detected as before, the urethral stricture, urinary fistula, and erectile function were observed, and the therapeutic satisfaction degree of patients was investigated. Results:On the 7 th day after the operation of stage Ⅱ, the flaps survived completely in 8 patients. In 3 weeks after the operation of stage Ⅱ, the urinary flow rate was 25.3 (18.0, 38.5) mL/s, with unobstructed urination, without urinary fistula and with erectile function, and the score of therapeutic satisfaction degree was 14.3 (14.0, 15.0). During follow-up of 1 to 7 years, the flap recipient area of 8 patients was full in appearance and not swollen, with similar color to the surrounding tissue; the VSS scores of the donor areas of skin graft and flap were 11.5 (10.0, 13.0) and 10.5 (9.3, 12.0), respectively, the urinary flow rate was 24.6 (17.7, 34.1) mL/s, with no urethral stricture, urinary fistula, and erectile dysfunction, and the score of therapeutic satisfaction degree was 13.5 (13.3, 14.8). Conclusions:Autologous split-thickness skin grafting for prefabricating urethra combined with scrotal flap in repairing the urethral and penile defects not only reconstructs the structure of urethra and the shape of penis, but also restores the sensation and erectile function of penis, with few postoperative complications, no obvious scar hyperplasia, and high satisfaction degree of patients, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

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.