BACKGROUND:At present,the treatment methods for necrotizing fasciitis mostly use negative pressure sealing suction after thorough debridement.This method requires repeated debridement to completely remove necrotic infected tissue,causing serious physical and economic burdens to patients. OBJECTIVE:To introduce a rare clinical case of calf compartment syndrome caused by diabetic foot necrotizing fasciitis,and summarize the clinical experience of using antibiotic-loaded bone cement for treatment and comprehensive management. METHODS:A total of 6 patients with calf compartment syndrome caused by diabetic necrotizing fasciitis admitted to Wuxi 9th Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from August 2017 to August 2020 were selected,including 5 males and 1 female with an average age of 54 years.During the perioperative period,the patients'general condition was evaluated and systemic nutritional support treatment was given.In the first stage,all patients received complete debridement to control infection,antibiotic-loaded bone cement packing,and negative pressure sealed drainage.In the second stage,bone cement was removed and wound repair was performed.The wound healing,as well as the occurrence of redness,swelling,and exudation was observed during the follow-up. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The wounds of four patients were fresh after twice antibiotic-loaded bone cement packing,and the membrane formation was good,and one patient was good after three times of antibiotic-loaded bone cement packing,and the wounds of all five patients healed well after the second stage of skin grafting.Due to the difficulty in maintaining intraoperative blood pressure and infection in all four compartments of the lower leg,a patient underwent emergency knee amputation.Meanwhile,the stump wound was placed with antibiotic-loaded bone cement.The wound was closed directly after the secondary bone cement was removed,and the wound healed in the first stage.(2)The six patients were followed up for 6-24 months after discharge.At the last follow-up,all six patients had good wound healing and no symptoms such as redness,swelling,and exudation.The quality of life of the patients was significantly improved,and all of them were satisfied with the curative effect.(3)The occurrence of calf compartment syndrome should be vigilant when diabetic foot necrotizing fasciitis is highly suspected.Early diagnosis and timely incision decompression are of great importance.Besides,the application of antibiotic-loaded bone cement in the treatment of calf compartment syndrome caused by diabetic necrotizing fasciitis has a good short-term effect.

Humans ; COVID-19 Vaccines/therapeutic use* ; COVID-19/prevention & control* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; China ; Antibodies, Viral

Objective:To explore the efficacy of digital and 3D printing technologies on design of superficial iliac circumflex artery flap for coverage the donor site of anterolateral thigh flap(ALTF).Methods:Clinical data of 8 patients were studied retrospectively for treatment of soft tissue defects of hand in the Department of Hand Surgery, Wuxi NO.9 People's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, from April 2017 to October 2021. The patients were 6 males and 2 females, aged from 29 to 59 years(mean, 45.8 years). Cause of injury: 3 patients were crushed, 2 by hot pressing, and 3 by machine strangulation. Site of injury included: 5 cases were dorsal hand defects and 3 cases were palm defects. All the wounds were contaminated to varying degrees with soft tissue defects. The areas of soft tissue defect ranged from 11 cm×10 cm to 22 cm×14 cm. Four patients had combined injuries of open fracture of metacarpals and phalanges and 3 with tendon defects. All wounds were repaired by free ALTF transplantation. And the donor sites in the thigh were repaired by superficial iliac circumflex artery flaps. The secondary wounds caused by flap harvesting on abdominal wall were closed directly. The targeted perforator vessels were detected preoperatively by CTA combined with CDU. 3D printed models of the affected hand were obtained before operation for individualised repairs according to the shape and area of the wounds. After the operation, all patients entered scheduled follow-ups at the outpatient clinic and via internet by observing the flap shape and testing the recovery of sensory and movement of adjacent joint.Results:The shapes and sizes of the wounds and the flaps were found basically in accordance with those in the preoperative simulative designs. All flaps in 8 patients survived and the wounds healed completely. All patients entered follow-ups for 8 to 24(average, 17.5) months. The donor thighs presented good appearance and colour, pliability without bloating. The range of motion of the hips and knees was not affected. Only linear scars remained in the abdominal donor sites, with natural colour and appearance.Conclusion:Digital and 3D printing technologies in preoperative design of flaps can help to locate the perforator vessels intraoperatively and guide the individualised design of the flaps with improved operation efficiency and satisfactory appearance of the flaps.

Objective:To explore the effects of pedicled flap combined with membrane induction technique in repairing foot and ankle wounds in diabetic patients.Methods:A retrospective observational study was conducted. From March 2019 to July 2021, 12 patients with diabetic foot and ankle wounds who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to Wuxi Ninth People's Hospital, including 7 males and 5 females, aged 20 to 92 years. The wound area before debridement was 4.0 cm×2.5 cm to 16.0 cm×12.5 cm. The patients underwent debridement+antibiotic cement tamponade in stage Ⅰ; according to the wound site, peroneal artery perforator flap or posterior tibial artery perforator flap was chosen to repair the wound in stage Ⅱ, with the area of the resected flap ranging from 4.5 cm×3.0 cm to 18.5 cm×14.0 cm. The donor site was directly closed in 4 patients or covered by full-thickness inguinal skin graft in 8 patients. After the operation of stage Ⅱ, the survival of flap and skin graft, the scar in donor and recipient sites of flap, the appearance of flap, and the function of ankle joint of affected extremity were followed up. The recovery of foot and ankle function was evaluated and rated by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Scoring System at the last follow-up.Results:During the follow-up of 4 to 15 months after the operation of stage Ⅱ, both the flap and skin graft survived, without obvious infection recurrence. Linear scars were left in donor and recipient sites of flap, with good appearance in flap. The function of ankle joint in the affected extremity was nearly normal. At the last follow-up, the AOFAS scores of patients were 79 to 93, with excellent in 8 cases and good in 4 cases.Conclusions:The pedicled flap combined with membrane induction technique for repairing foot and ankle wounds in diabetic patients has the advantage of simple operation, preserved ankle joint function, and less postoperative infection recurrence, which is worth popularizing in clinical practice.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of antibiotic bone cement combined with vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) in treating diabetes mellitus complicated with necrotizing fasciitis.Methods:The retrospective observational study approach was used. From January 2020 to March 2022, 12 patients with type 2 diabetes complicated with necrotizing fasciitis who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to Wuxi Ninth People's Hospital, including 7 males and 5 females, aged 27 to 76 years. The initial diagnosis of lesions was in the lower limbs. After admission, bedside incision and drainage were performed timely, and a sample of wound exudate was collected for microbial cultivation. At the same time, the comprehensive supportive treatment was performed. At stage Ⅰ, debridement was performed, and the skin and soft tissue defect area was 40 cm×15 cm to 80 cm×25 cm after debridement. The dead space was filled with bone cement containing gentamicin and vancomycin and VSD was performed. After there was no obvious infection on the wound, the antibiotic bone cement was removed and wound repair surgery was performed at stage Ⅱ. The times of debridement, amputation, infection control, wound treatment method and wound healing at stage Ⅱ, total hospitalization day, and recurrence of necrotizing fasciitis during follow-up after the stage Ⅱ surgery. At the last follow-up, the walking function of patients was evaluated according to the scoring standards of American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Association (AOFAS).Results:Eleven patients had wound infection control with one debridement surgery and did not undergo amputation surgery; one patient had significant foot gangrene, and the infection was controlled after one debridement and amputation of the gangrenous limb. Blood routine and infection indicators gradually returned to normal within 7 days after surgery. At stage Ⅱ, the wounds in 4 patients were sutured directly, the wounds in 6 patients were repaired with full-thickness inguinal skin graft, while the wounds in 2 patients were repaired with pedicled or tongue-shaped flaps at the wound edge. The wounds healed well after surgery, with no ulceration. The total hospitalization day of patients was 20 to 45 days. Follow-up for 3 to 24 months after stage Ⅱ surgery showed no recurrence of necrotizing fasciitis in any patient. At the last follow-up, the walking function was evaluated as excellent in 10 cases and good in 2 cases according to the AOFAS scoring standard.Conclusions:Antibiotic bone cement combined with VSD used in treating type 2 diabetes complicated with necrotizing fasciitis can effectively control infection and reduce the times of debridement, with good wound healing and walking function after surgery.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effectiveness of da Vinci robotics in thyroid surgery.Methods:304 cases of robotic thyroid surgery performed by the same experienced surgeon at the Department of Thyroid Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University during the period from Apr. 3, 2020 to Nov. 5, 2021 were prospectively included, and the operation time, operation type, postoperative drainage, postoperative hospital stay, total number of lymph node dissection and number of positive lymph nodes, operation complications, and postoperative pain level of all patients were counted. The learning curve was plotted by applying the moving average method, divided into the initial stage and the mature stage, and the differences in surgical outcomes and surgical complications between the two stages were compared. SPSS 23.0 was applied for statistical analysis, and t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for comparison of measurement data, and χ2 test was used for comparison of count data. Result:All surgeries were completed successfully without conversion to open cases, including 29 males and 275 females, with a mean age of (33.8±8.9) years and a range of 27-41 years. The mean body mass index (BMI) was (22.9±3.6) kg/m 2 and a range of 20.5-25.4 kg/m 2. The median operative time was 140 min, the median postoperative drainage was 52.5 ml, and the median postoperative hospital stay was 3 days. The mean number of lymph nodes cleared was 4.4±3.5, and the mean number of positive lymph nodes was 0.9±1.7. The incidence of postoperative transient laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury was 3.3%, and the incidence of transient hypoparathyroidism was 0.7%. A significant decrease in operative time occurred after the 26th case and subsequently stabilized. Compared with the initial stage of the learning curve, the mature stage had a shorter operative time (146.0±36.5 vs 198.7±56.7 min, P<0.001) , a lower incidence of temporary RLN injury (2.5% vs 11.5%, P<0.05) , and a lower percentage of benign tumor surgery (12.2% vs 26.9%, P<0.05) . Conclusion:The application of robotic technology in thyroid surgery is safe and reliable, and its successful implementation should follow a corresponding learning curve, from easy to difficult, with different surgical approaches selected according to the patient’s condition, wishes, and the operator’s technical level.

Objective:To analyse the effect of the exposed bone cement technique combined with pectoralis major muscle flap in the treatment of chronic sternal osteomyelitis after coronary artery bypass surgery(CABS), and to summarise the clinical experience of staged surgery and comprehensive treatment.Methods:A retrospective analysis were carried out on 5 patients who had chronic sternal osteomyelitis and treated with exposed bone cement after the CABS from October 2017 to October 2020. Five patients(4 males and 1 female) met the inclusion criteria with a mean age of 65(range from 54 to 72) years old. Duration of all the chronic sternal osteomyelitis was 3 weeks to 3 months at admission. During the perioperative period, the general condition of the patients was controlled and systemic nutritional support was given. At the first stage, all patients underwent complete debridement. Then all the wounds were treated with exposed bone cement and covered by vacuum sealing drainage(VSD) to control the infection. At the second stage, bone cement was removed, and the dead cavity was packed with pectoralis major advancement muscle flap. Close attention was paid to the tension of wound, the patency of drainage catheter and the drainage after surgery. The wound healing, scar hyperplasia and complications were observed during the follow-up.Results:The suture tension was moderate, the drainage catheter was unobstructed, and a little liquid was drawn without turbid. All patients were clinically cured and entered follow-up for 6 to 15 months. During the follow-up, there was neigher recurrence of osteomyelitis nor sinus tract formation. No significant complication occurred at the last follow-up. The quality of life of the patients was significantly improved and all the patients were satisfactory to the treatment.Conclusion:Exposed bone cement technique combined with pectoralis major muscle flap is an effective method in the treatment of chronic sternal osteomyelitis after CABS. It has a good short-term treatment efficacy and is worthy for further clinical trials.

Objective:To investigate the effectiveness of radial dorsal digital artery flap with part short thumb extensor tendon in repairing dorsal skin defects of the thumb.Methods:The clinical data of patients with thumb wounds complicated with extensor tendon defect who were repaired with radial dorsal digital artery flap with part short thumb extensor tendon in the Department of Hand Surgery, Wuxi No.9 People's Hospital from August 2018 to August 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. After the operation, the shape and function of the thumb were followed up by testing the two-point discrimination of chimeric flap, the sensory function and the thumb opposition function. The function of the thumb was evaluated with the reference of the total active movement (TAM) of fingers of the Chinese Medical Association Hand Surgery Branch.Results:A total of 10 cases with soft tissue defect of thumb were treated, whose tendon defect ranged 1.0-1.7 cm in length. There were 6 males and 4 females, aged from 20 to 67 years (mean, 41 years). The left hand was involved in 6 cases and the right in 4 cases. Radial dorsal digital artery flap with part short thumb extensor tendon were used to reconstruct extensor tendon and wound with the size of 2.0 cm×1.5 cm-3.0 cm×2.5 cm. The size of flap harvest was 2.5 cm× 1.8 cm-3.5 cm× 3.0 cm, and the tendon was 2.0-3.4 cm in length. All flaps in 10 patients were survived with primary healing.All patients were followed-up from 6 to 12 months, with the average of 8 months. Flaps presented good appearance and color, pliability. The two-point discrimination of chimeric flap was 7-10 mm (mean, 9 mm), and the thumb opposition function was good. The flap sensory function reached S3. The interphalangeal joint flexion of thumb was 60°-90 °, and the thumb opposition function was good. According to the total active movement system, excellent result was achieved in 8 cases and good in 2 cases.Conclusions:Radial dorsal digital artery flap with part short thumb extensor tendon was an ideal clinical method for repair of dorsal skin defects of the thumb, which can repair skin and tendon defects in one stage. The operation is simple with reliable blood supply. This method could also restore the appearance and function of fingers.

Objective:To investigate the effectiveness of radial dorsal digital artery flap with part short thumb extensor tendon in repairing dorsal skin defects of the thumb.Methods:The clinical data of patients with thumb wounds complicated with extensor tendon defect who were repaired with radial dorsal digital artery flap with part short thumb extensor tendon in the Department of Hand Surgery, Wuxi No.9 People's Hospital from August 2018 to August 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. After the operation, the shape and function of the thumb were followed up by testing the two-point discrimination of chimeric flap, the sensory function and the thumb opposition function. The function of the thumb was evaluated with the reference of the total active movement (TAM) of fingers of the Chinese Medical Association Hand Surgery Branch.Results:A total of 10 cases with soft tissue defect of thumb were treated, whose tendon defect ranged 1.0-1.7 cm in length. There were 6 males and 4 females, aged from 20 to 67 years (mean, 41 years). The left hand was involved in 6 cases and the right in 4 cases. Radial dorsal digital artery flap with part short thumb extensor tendon were used to reconstruct extensor tendon and wound with the size of 2.0 cm×1.5 cm-3.0 cm×2.5 cm. The size of flap harvest was 2.5 cm× 1.8 cm-3.5 cm× 3.0 cm, and the tendon was 2.0-3.4 cm in length. All flaps in 10 patients were survived with primary healing.All patients were followed-up from 6 to 12 months, with the average of 8 months. Flaps presented good appearance and color, pliability. The two-point discrimination of chimeric flap was 7-10 mm (mean, 9 mm), and the thumb opposition function was good. The flap sensory function reached S3. The interphalangeal joint flexion of thumb was 60°-90 °, and the thumb opposition function was good. According to the total active movement system, excellent result was achieved in 8 cases and good in 2 cases.Conclusions:Radial dorsal digital artery flap with part short thumb extensor tendon was an ideal clinical method for repair of dorsal skin defects of the thumb, which can repair skin and tendon defects in one stage. The operation is simple with reliable blood supply. This method could also restore the appearance and function of fingers.

Objective:To investigate the effect and indications of pedicled myocutaneous flap and modified Masquelet technique in the repair of diabetic soft tissue and tibial bone defects.Methods:From January, 2017 to October, 2019, data of surgical treatment of 20 patients with diabetic soft tissue and tibial bone defects were retrospectively studied. The detects were repaired by the pedicled myocutaneous flap combined with modified Masquelet technique. There were 13 males and 7 females aged 40 to 65(average 51) years old. Preoperative ultrasound and CTA had confirmed that there was no occlusion in anterior and posterior tibial arteries. After debridement, the bone defect was 4-9 cm in length and the soft tissue defect was 3 cm×6 cm to 7 cm×10 cm. The initial antibiotic loaded bone cement filling of the bone and soft tissue defects was carried out. Then at 7-10 days later, had the bone cement placed earlier removed the remaining spaces of bone defect were again filled by antibiotic loaded bone cement. Meanwhile, the pedicled myocutaneous flap was transferred to repair the wound. The second stage of Masquelet technique was performed later, with an interval of 8-12(mean 9) weeks. The healing of wound and bone defect, and the complications were recorded. At 12 months after the surgery, the healing and appearance of the flap were evaluated by the standard proposed by Zhang Hao, and the functional recovery of the adjacent joint was evaluated by Johner-Wruhs standard. The treatment was considered successful when the symptoms were disappeared and no recurrence occurred.Results:All patients entered 13 to 28 months of follow-up, 20 months in average. The healing time for bone defect was 6-11 (average 9.0) months. All myocutaneous flaps survived with 18 flaps healed in the stage one and 2 delayed healing. Nine flaps appeared almost normal and 11 shown bloating. Seventeen flaps were found with partial sensation and 3 without sensation at all. The temperature of 7 flaps was found normal and 13 were slightly lower. Fourteen donor site scars were mild and 6 were obvious. The overall curative effect was satisfactory. Two patients had recurred infection. The rates of excellent and good functional recovery, infection control and success of treatment were at 90%(18/20) for each.Conclusion:Pedicled myocutaneous flap combined with modified Masquelet technique can repair diabetic soft tissue and tibial bone defects. It has a good therapeutic effect for short and medium terms.