OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility and effectiveness of a foldable pedicled latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap to repair soft tissue defects in the shoulder and back. METHODS: Between August 2018 and January 2023, the foldable pedicled latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps were used to repair soft tissue defects in the shoulder and back of 8 patients. There were 5 males and 3 females with the age ranged from 21 to 56 years (mean, 35.4 years). Wounds were located in the shoulder in 2 cases and in the shoulder and back in 6 cases. The causes of injury were chronic infection of skin and bone exposure in 2 cases, secondary wound after extensive resection of skin and soft tissue tumor in 4 cases, and wound formation caused by traffic accident in 2 cases. Skin defect areas ranged from 14 cm×13 cm to 20 cm×16 cm. The disease duration ranged from 12 days to 1 year (median, 6.6 months). A pedicled latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap was designed and harvested. The flap was divided into A/B flap and then were folded to repair the wound, with the donor area of the flap being pulled and sutured in one stage. RESULTS: All 7 flaps survived, with primary wound healing. One patient suffered from distal flap necrosis and delayed healing was achieved after dressing change. The incisions of all donor sites healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 6 months to 4 years (mean, 24.7 months). The skin flap has a good appearance with no swelling in the pedicle. At last follow-up, 6 patients had no significant difference in bilateral shoulder joint motion, and 2 patients had a slight decrease in abduction range of motion compared with the healthy side. The patients' daily life were not affected, and linear scar was left in the donor site. CONCLUSION The foldable pedicled latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap is an ideal method to repair the soft tissue defect of shoulder and back with simple operation, less damage to the donor site, and quick recovery after operation.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Plastic Surgery Procedures ; Myocutaneous Flap/surgery* ; Shoulder/surgery* ; Skin Transplantation ; Superficial Back Muscles/transplantation* ; Soft Tissue Injuries/surgery* ; Wound Healing ; Treatment Outcome ; Perforator Flap

177Lu-prostate specific membrane antigen(PSMA)radio-ligand therapy has been approved abroad for advanced prostate cancer and has been in several clinical trials in China.Based on domestic clinical practice and experimental data and referred to international experience and viewpoints,the expert group forms a consensus on the clinical application of 177Lu-PSMA radio-ligand therapy in prostate cancer to guide clinical practice.

Objective:To explore the clinical effects of nerve-carrying peroneal artery perforator flaps in repairing nerve defects in the late stage of wrist electric burns.Methods:This study was a retrospective observational study. From December 2019 to May 2023, five patients with sensory dysfunction in hands due to nerve defects in the late stage of wrist electric burns were treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University and met the inclusion criteria. There were 4 males and 1 female, aged 7 to 48 years. Four patients had defects in both median nerve and ulnar nerve, one patient had a defect solely in median nerve, and the length of nerve defects ranged from 5 to 12 cm. Four patients underwent transplantation of peroneal artery perforator flaps carrying sural nerve and superficial peroneal nerve, and 1 patient underwent transplantation of peroneal artery perforator flap only carrying sural nerve. The wounds in flap donor sites were all directly sutured. One patient had tendon adhesion and release of tendon adhesion was performed during the same surgery; 3 patients had combined defects in the wrist flexor muscle group, including 2 patients received autologous tendon grafting during the same surgery, and one patient received reconstruction of finger flexion function with a gracilis myocutaneous flap in the second stage; 1 patient had combined wrist flexion contracture which was surgically released in the second stage. During follow-up after surgery, the survival of the flaps was observed, and the healing time of the incisions or sutures in flap donor and recipient sites and the recovery time of hand sensation were recorded. At the last follow-up, the scar formation and loss of sensation in the foot were observed, and flexor strength and sensory function of the fingers were evaluated based on the evaluation criteria for tendon and nerve repair standards of hands in the trial standards for evaluation of partial function of the upper extremity by the Hand Surgery Society of Chinese Medical Association.Results:All patients were followed up after surgery for 12 to 24 months, and all flaps of patients survived. The healing time for the incisions or sutures in flap donor and recipient sites was about 2 weeks, and the hand sensation recovered in 6 months after surgery. At the last follow-up, linear scar was left in the donor site on the lower leg; patients had partial sensory impairment on the dorsum of the foot, but there was no skin ulceration, which did not affect wearing shoes or walking; finger flexor strength was rated as grade 4 in 1 patient, grade 3 in 3 patients, and grade 2 in 1 patient; the sensory function of hands was evaluated as S3 + level in 4 patients, with the two-point discrimination distance of the skin ranging from 8 to 11 mm, while the sensory function of hands was evaluated as S3 level in 1 patient, with the two-point discrimination distance of the skin of 13 mm. Conclusions:Using the nerve-carrying peroneal artery perforator flaps to repair the nerve defects in the late stage of wrist electric burns, the sensation of hands can be restored in 6 months after surgery, with only linear scar in the flap donor sites and hypoesthesia in some areas of the dorsum of the foot. When combined with the reconstruction of finger flexion function, the overall function of hands can be effectively improved.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of tibial transverse transport (TTT) combined with modified neurolysis in treatment of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) through a prospective randomized controlled study. METHODS: The patients with DFU and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, who were admitted between February 2020 and February 2022, were selected as the research objects, of which 31 cases met the selection criteria and were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups by random number table method. The 15 patients in the trial group were treated with TTT combined with modified neurolysis, and the 16 patients in the control group received treatment with TTT alone. There was no significant difference in gender, age, duration of DFU, ulcer area, Wagner classification, as well as preoperative foot skin temperature, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, ankle-brachial index (ABI), motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) of the common peroneal nerve, MNCV of the tibial nerve, MNCV of the deep peroneal nerve, two-point discrimination (2-PD) of heel, and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the common peroneal nerve between the two groups ( P>0.05). The time for ulcer healing, foot skin temperature, VAS scores, ABI, 2-PD of heel, and CSA of the common peroneal nerve before operation and at 6 and 12 months after operation were recorded and compared between groups. The differences in MNCV of the common peroneal nerve, MNCV of the tibial nerve, and MNCV of the deep peroneal nerve between pre-operation and 12 months after operation were calculated. RESULTS: All patients in both groups were followed up 12-24 months (mean, 13.9 months). The surgical incisions in both groups healed by first intention and no needle tract infections occurred during the bone transport phase. Ulcer wounds in both groups healed successfully, and there was no significant difference in the healing time ( P>0.05). During the follow-up, there was no ulcer recurrences. At 12 months after operation, the MNCV of the common peroneal nerve, the MNCV of the tibial nerve, and the MNCV of the deep peroneal nerve in both groups accelerated when compared to preoperative values ( P<0.05). Furthermore, the trial group exhibited a greater acceleration in MNCV compared to the control group, and the difference was significant ( P<0.05). The foot skin temperature, VAS score, ABI, 2-PD of heel, and CSA of the common peroneal nerve at 6 and 12 months after operation significantly improved when compared with those before operation in both groups ( P<0.05). The 2-PD gradually improved over time, showing significant difference ( P<0.05). The 2-PD of heel and VAS score of the trial group were superior to the control group, and the differences were significant ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in ABI, foot skin temperature, and CSA of the common peroneal nerve between groups after operation ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION Compared with TTT alone, the TTT combined with modified neurolysis for DFU can simultaneously solve both microcirculatory disorders and nerve compression, improve the quality of nerve function recovery, and enhance the patient's quality of life.
Humans ; Diabetic Foot/surgery* ; Microcirculation ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome ; Diabetes Mellitus

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility and effectiveness of plantar medial thin skin flaps preserving plantar fascia with its superficial fascia tissue to repair skin defects in hands and feet. METHODS: Between July 2017 and January 2023, 35 cases of hand and foot defects were repaired with plantar medial thin skin flaps preserving plantar fascia with its superficial fascia tissue (13 pedicled flaps and 22 free flaps). There were 18 males and 17 females, with an average age of 38.8 years (range, 8-56 years). Thirty cases of defects were caused by trauma, and the interval between injury and admission ranged from 2 to 6 hours (mean, 3.3 hours). Three cases were ulcer wounds with a course of 3.0, 3.8, and 7.0 months, respectively. Two cases were malignant melanoma. Eight cases of wounds located in the fingers, 13 cases in the palm, 12 cases in the heel, and 2 cases in the distal foot. The size of skin defects ranged from 4.0 cm×3.5 cm to 12.0 cm×10.0 cm, and the size of flap ranged from 5.0 cm×4.5 cm to 13.0 cm×11.0 cm. The donor sites were repaired with skin grafts. RESULTS: All flaps were survived and the wounds healed by first intention after operation. The partial necrosis at the edge of the skin graft occurred in 1 case, which healed after dressing change; the other skin grafts survived successfully. All patients were followed up 6-24 months (mean, 18 months). The flaps exhibited similar color and thickness to the surrounding hand and foot skin. Two-point discrimination ranged from 7 to 10 mm in the flaps with an average of 8 mm. The donor sites had no painful scars or sensory abnormalities. Foot and ankle functions were good and gaits were normal. CONCLUSION Application of plantar medial thin skin flaps preserving plantar fascia with its superficial fascia tissue to repair skin defects in hands and feet had good flap shape, high survival rate of skin graft at the donor site, and no obvious complications.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Adult ; Plastic Surgery Procedures ; Subcutaneous Tissue/surgery* ; Soft Tissue Injuries/surgery* ; Skin Transplantation ; Fascia ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Treatment Outcome ; Perforator Flap

Objective:To investigate the clinical effects of antibiotic bone cement combined with free anterolateral thigh flap in sequential treatment of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) wounds.Methods:A retrospective observational study was conducted. From August 2018 to August 2021, 15 patients with DFU who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, including 12 males and 3 females, aged 42-65 years, with a history of type 2 diabetes for 5-19 years. All the wounds of patients were complicated with local bone, muscle, or tendon defects or exposure. The wounds were covered with antibiotic bone cement after debridement in stage Ⅰ+free anterolateral thigh chimeric perforator flap (perforator flap+muscle flap) or simple free anterolateral thigh flap grafting in stage Ⅱ. The defect area of the wound after bone cement removal and debridement was 9.0 cm×5.0 cm-20.0 cm×7.0 cm, the incision area of the flap was 10.0 cm×5.0 cm-22.0 cm×7.0 cm, and the incision area of the muscle flap was 5.0 cm×3.0 cm-8.0 cm×4.0 cm. The donor sites of flaps were sutured directly. During follow-up, the situations of donor site healing and flap survival were observed. At the last follow-up, the texture and shape of the flap, the presence of new ulcers on both limbs, and the walking ability of the patient were observed.Results:During the follow-up of 8 to 21 months after operation in stage Ⅱ, the donor sites healed well with only residual linear scar; flaps in 14 patients survived completely, and the flap in 1 patient developed partial necrosis at 3 weeks after stage Ⅱ surgery, which was healed after debridement and skin grafting. At the last follow-up, the flaps were good in texture and appearance, there were no new ulcers in the affected limb or opposite limb, and the patients had no obvious impairment in daily walking function.Conclusions:To repair DFU wounds with antibiotic bone cement combined with free anterolateral thigh flap can rapidly control the infection, achieving a high survival rate of flap after operation with no obvious impairment in daily walking function of patients.

Free flaps have been successfully used in the repair of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), which can reduce amputation rate, maintain normal gait of patients, and improve life quality of patients. However, there are still many challenges in the repair of DFUs with free flaps, and many problems need to be solved. This paper summarizes the selection of patients, preoperative cautions, types of flaps, methods of vascular anastomosis, clinical effects, and existing problems in using free skin flaps for repairing DFUs.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and clinical effects of using superficial temporal artery lobulated perforator flaps in repairing skin and soft tissue defects after tumor resection in the temporal region.Methods:A retrospective observational study method was used. From March 2017 to October 2022, ten patients with temporal skin tumors were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, including six women and four men, with age ranging from 42 to 87 years. Among them, three patients had squamous cell carcinoma and seven patients had basal cell carcinoma, with disease duration ranging from 6 months to 5 years. All temporal tumors underwent expanded resection, leaving wound areas of 5.4 cm×4.2 cm to 7.0 cm×4.0 cm after tumor resection. Superficial temporal artery frontal branch flaps with areas of 5.5 cm×1.2 cm to 7.0 cm×1.5 cm, superficial temporal artery descending branch flaps with areas of 4.2 cm×3.5 cm to 5.0 cm×4.0 cm, and superficial temporal artery parietal branch flaps with areas of 4.2 cm×1.0 cm to 5.0 cm×1.0 cm were designed to repair the wounds and reconstruct the hairline. The donor areas of the flaps were closed and sutured directly. The survival of the flaps was observed on 3 to 5 days after surgery, and the healing of wounds on the donor and recipient sites was observed when the stitches were removed on 5 to 7 days after surgery. During follow-up after surgery, the appearance of the temporal area, scar hyperplasia, hairline reconstruction, and tumor recurrence were observed in the temporal region on the affected side.Results:All the flaps survived well on 3 to 5 days after surgery, and all the donor and recipient site wounds healed well on 5 to 7 days after surgery. During follow-up of 3 to 6 months after surgery, the surgical incisions were concealed; the flaps were not swollen, with a consistent color to the surrounding skin; there were no obvious hypertrophic scars; the reconstructed hairline on the affected side was not significantly different from that of the healthy side; there was no tumor recurrence in the local area.Conclusions:For large areas of skin and soft tissue defects in the temporal region, the use of superficial temporal artery lobulated perforator flaps can repair the wounds in different regions and suture the donor sites in the primary stage simultaneously. The surgical operation is simple, and the facial appearance conforms to the aesthetic requirement after surgery with no tumor recurrence in the local area but a good repair effect. This method is particularly suitable for repairing large areas of skin and soft tissue defects in the temporal region in elderly patients.

Objective:To investigate the influence of clinical administration of dobutamine on blood perfusion in free flap repair of diabetic foot wounds.Methods:A prospective self‐controlled study was conducted. From January to November 2022, 20 patients with diabetic foot who met the inclusion criteria were hospitalized in the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery of Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, including 9 males and 11 females, aged from 44 to 75 years, with the foot wounds area ranging from 5 cm×4 cm to 20 cm×10 cm, which were repaired by free anterolateral thigh flaps. Heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded before anesthesia induction, 10 minutes after vascular recanalization, when the target blood pressure (i.e., MAP being 6-10 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) higher than that before anesthesia induction) was reached after infusion of dobutamine, and 10 minutes after tracheal catheter removal. Additionally, indocyanine green, a contrast agent, was injected intravenously at 10 minutes after vascular recanalization and when the target blood pressure was reached after infusion of dobutamine to assess flap blood perfusion using infrared imager, and the area ratio of flaps with hyperperfusion and hypoperfusion was calculated. Other recorded variables included flap harvesting area, surgical duration, total fluid infusion amount, infusion dose and total usage of dobutamine, intraoperative adverse events, postoperative flap complications, and follow‐up outcomes. Data were statistically analyzed with paired sample t test, analysis of variance for repeated measurement, Bonferroni method, and generalized estimating equation. Results:Compared with those before anesthesia induction, HR and MAP of patients were significantly decreased at 10 minutes after vascular recanalization ( P<0.05), while HR and MAP of patients were significantly increased when the target blood pressure was reached after infusion of dobutamine ( P<0.05). Compared with those at 10 minutes after vascular recanalization, HR and MAP of patients were significantly increased when the target blood pressure was reached after infusion of dobutamine and at 10 minutes after tracheal catheter removal ( P<0.05). Compared with those when the target blood pressure was reached after infusion of dobutamine, HR and MAP of patients were significantly decreased at 10 minutes after tracheal catheter removal ( P<0.05). The area ratio of flaps with hyperperfusion of patients was 0.63±0.11 when the target blood pressure was reached after infusion of dobutamine, which was significantly higher than 0.31±0.09 at 10 minutes after vascular recanalization ( t=-9.92, P<0.05). The area ratio of flaps with hypoperfusion of patients was 0.12±0.05 when the target blood pressure was reached after infusion of dobutamine, which was significantly lower than 0.45±0.10 at 10 minutes after vascular recanalization ( t=17.05, P<0.05). The flap harvesting area of patients was (174±35) cm2, the surgical duration was (372±52) min, the total fluid infusion amount was (2 485±361) mL, the infusion dose of dobutamine was 3-13 μg·kg?1·min?1, and the total usage of dobutamine was 5.7 (2.1, 9.7) mg. Two patients showed a significant increase in MAP during the infusion of dobutamine compared with that at 10 minutes after vascular recanalization, but before reaching 6 mmHg higher than that before anesthesia induction, their HR had reached the maximum (over 130 beats/min). The HR gradually returned to around 90 beats/min after the infusion of dobutamine was stopped. On post operation day 2, one patient had partial necrosis at the distal part of the flap, which was repaired by transplantation of thin split-thickness skin graft from the opposite thigh. During the follow‐up of 3 to 6 months after operation, all the flaps survived well, with soft texture and well-formed shape, and no adverse cardiovascular events of patients were reported. Conclusions:The administration of dobutamine in free flap repair of diabetic foot wounds can significantly improve the MAP of patients, expand the area of hyperperfusion, reduce the area of hypoperfusion, and enhance the flap viability, with promising short‐term follow‐up results, which is suitable for promotion in clinical applications.

Objective:To compare the effect on scar in donor area of small-and medium-sized anterolateral thigh perforator flap(ALTPF) harvested from superficial and deep layer of the superficial fascia.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 31 patients who had small-and medium-sized soft tissue defects in the extremities and admitted to the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery of the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University from January 2020 to February 2021. All the patients were repaired with ALTPFs. The sizes of defect ranged from 5.0 cm×3.5 cm to 17.0 cm×6.0 cm, and the flaps sized from 6.0 cm×4.0 cm to 20.0 cm×6.0 cm. Fifteen ALTPFs were harvested from superficial layer of superficial fascia (modified group), and 16 harvested from deep layer of superficial fascia (traditional group). The flap donor sites were sutured directly using the "Zunyi suture method". Appearance of scars was assessed within the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and in addition the width of scars was been recorded. The data of the 2 groups were statistically analyzed. There was statistically significant difference when P<0.05. Results:All flaps were successfully viable. All wounds healed in Ⅰ stage and donor incisions healed in Ⅰ stage at 2-3 weeks after the surgery. All patients entered postoperative follow-up for 6 to 26 months, with a mean of 10.7 months. There was no ischaemic necrosis at the donor margin. There was no significant difference between circumference of thighs between the modified group and traditional group [ (0.10±0.40) cm and (0.03±0.39) cm, respectively]( P>0.05). VSS were found lower in the modified group (2.00±1.46) than that in the traditional group (3.06±1.61)( t=2.132, P=0.039), as well as the scars were found smaller at the widest point[(6.67±3.85) cm and(16.06±6.63) cm, respectively. t=2.807, P=0.005]. The differences were statistically significant( P<0.05). Conclusion:Small-and medium-sized ALTPFs, harvested in the superficial layer of superficial fascia, can reduce the width of the donor scar, improve the surgical outcome and increase patient satisfaction.