[Application of free anterior serratus musculo-fascial flap in bridge style for the soft tissue defect at leg].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the application of free anterior serratus musculo-fascial flap in bridge style for the soft tissue defect at leg. METHODS: From Sept. 2006 to Jan. 2009, the free anterior serratus musculo-fascial flaps were used in bridge style in 7 cases with soft tissue defects at legs. The anterior serratus musculo-fascial flaps were elevated with subscapular and circumflex scapular vessels forming a T-shaped vascular pedicles. The T-shaped pedicle was end-to-end anastomosed with the two ends of the posterior tibial artery at the healthy leg. The musculo-fascial flap and its pedicle were covered with skin graft. RESULTS: All the 7 flaps survived completely with satisfactory result. The patients were followed up for 9-42 months with good functional and esthetic result both in donor site and recipient site. The patency of posterior tibial artery was demonstrated by clinical and Doppler examination. CONCLUSIONS: This technique is particularly useful in leg reconstructive surgery when only one vessel remains. The patency of the posterior tibial artery at the healthy leg is preserved and the morbidity in donor site is minimal.

[Effect of pulsed electromagnetic field on the changes of osteoclasts in ovariectomized rats bone marrow culture in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMs) on inducing osteoclastic like cell (OLC) formation changes and apoptosis in ovariectomized (OVX) rats bone marrow culture in vitro. METHODS: Thirty healthy three-month-old female Wistar rats were either sham-operated (Sham) or ovariectomized (OVX) and randomly divided into three groups: group A (OVX + PEMs, 18 rats), group B (OVX, 6 rats) and group C (Sham, 6 rats); group A was again randomly divided into three groups: A1, A2, A3. The frequencies adopted were 1.5, 2, 75 Hz and 30 minutes for once a day. All rats were fed with normal diet for 3 months, then the bone marrow of all rats were cultured, 2 days later, group A cells (including group A1, A2, A3) were collected and exposed to different frequencies PEMs for 2 weeks (30 min/day). In order to observe the changes of osteoclasts and count their numbers, cells were taken for Wright Giemsa staining, tartrate-resistance acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining and Hoechst 33258 staining. RESULTS: TRAP staining results indicated the number of OLC in group C was the least, then was group A2, A3, A1, B. The number of OLC in group B was remarkably increased (P < 0.01; vs group C, A2). The number of OLC in group B was significantly increased (P < 0.05; vs group A1, A3). Hoechst 33258 staining results indicated the number of apoptosis of OLC in group C was more than other groups, which of group C, A2 was significantly increased (P < 0.05; vs group B). CONCLUSION: PEMs had decreased the formation of OLC and increased the number of apoptosis of OLC in ovariectomized (OVX) rats bone marrow culture in vitro, the effects of 2 Hz was the best. PEMs would be a new way of osteoporosis therapy.