[Open pertrochanteric fracture of the femur and post-traumatic osteitis in a child : Interposition of a pedicled vascularized fibula to preserve the femoral head]. / Offene pertrochantäre Femurfraktur und posttraumatischer Osteitis beim Kind : Interposition einer gefäßgestielten Fibula zum Hüftkopferhalt.

The free microvascular fibula diaphysis transplant as femoral neck replacement with preservation of the patient's own femoral head due to a severe infection situation represents a rare indication in the treatment of young patients. In the current literature, such surgical methods do not exist. In the case described here, the free microvascular fibula transplant serves as femoral neck replacement with preservation of the patient's own femoral head without any postoperative mobility restrictions. The depicted course of the disease not only shows the effectiveness of this form of treatment in aseptic femoral head necrosis, but also represents a possible treatment in severe infection situations after trauma.

V-Y Bilateral gluteus maximus myocutaneous advancement flap in the reconstruction of large perineal defects after resection of pelvic malignancies.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of the V-Y bilateral gluteus maximus myocutaneous flap (GLM) in the reconstruction of large perineal defects after wide surgical resections for pelvic malignancies. METHOD: Twelve consecutive patients (seven females and five males), of mean age 59 years (36-78), with primary or recurrent pelvic malignancies (rectal, anal and vulvar carcinoma), underwent either abdomino-perineal rectum excision with partial sacrectomy or total pelvic exenteration. The perineal defect was reconstructed by means of a GLM flap. Intra-operative blood loss, operative time, hospital stay, postoperative complications and long-term outcome were retrospectively assessed. RESULTS: One patient died postoperatively. All the remaining patients had at least one early and/or late complication. After a mean follow-up of 31.2 months, seven patients were alive. No major functional impairment in daily activities was observed. Five patients experienced a slight discomfort in either walking, sitting or cycling. CONCLUSION: Gluteus maximus myocutaneus flap is a useful technique for the repair of perineo-pelvic defects after abdomino-perineal rectum excision with partial sacrectomy.

[Vascularized bone transfer]. / Die vaskularisierte Knochentransplantation.

Vascularized pedicled bone grafts are known since the beginning of the last century. Microvascular bone grafts (free vascularized bone transfer) are known since the beginning of the seventies. In many experimental and clinical studies vascularized bone grafts were compared to their non-vascularized analogues. Because of their own non-interrupted blood supply and thus nearly normal vitality vascularized bone grafts show more rapid fracture healing, more pronounced adaptation to the new mechanical loadings (e. g. graft hypertrophy), higher survival and consolidation rate in poor or bad recipient bed conditions (infection, bad vascularization) and some neovascularization potential on the surrounding tissue. Because of those properties, it became possible to successfully treat a large segmental bone defect by only few operations. As the treatment of complicated combined soft tissue/bone defects led to high complication rate up to 40 to 60% the indications of this method were altered.

[Bite injuries of the hand]. / Bissverletzungen der Hand.

Bite injuries of the hand have a clearly increased risk for infection compared with other regions. Surgical treatment of the wound is indicated, and the debridement must be done thoroughly and with consideration of the wound closure. Antibiotic therapy may be indicated in addition to the surgery if signs of infection exist. Antibiotics alone are not a suitable treatment. Common complications in cases of deficient primary therapy are flexor tenosynovitis, purulent arthritis, and phlegmons of the dorsal hand. These are emergencies and need immediate surgical intervention.

[Degloving injuries of the lower limb]. / Die Décollementverletzung im Bereich der unteren Extremität.

Although seldom dangerous to life, these degloving injuries are all potentially infected and, unless treated as acute surgical emergencies, inevitably lead to serious complications. Diagnostic is done according to a standardized protocol, which eventually must be integrated in the standard polytrauma management. Multidisciplinary (orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, dermatology, physiotherapy) defect management is of utmost importance and requires an "integrated therapy concept". The success or failure of primary treatment of degloving injuries is determined by an adequate primary care including debridement, osteosynthesis (if necessary) and soft tissue and skin management. If the skin is no more vascularised, it should be thinned out and refixed as a full thickness skin graft at the day of injury. Still vascularised skin flaps should be replaced and fixed with few stitches. A second look operation 24 to 72 hours later should be planned. Secondary surgery is necessary in almost every patient in order to improve the functional or aesthetic result. Adjuvant procedures such as physiotherapy, standardized scar treatment, orthesis, orthopedic shoes, etc. may be useful at any time of treatment.

Did the partial contralateral C7-transfer fulfil our expectations? Results after 5 year experience.

OBJECTIVE: Within the last decade contralateral C7-transfer has become a new source of axon donor in complete brachial plexus lesions. METHODS: Ten adult patients with a complete posttraumatic brachial plexus lesion and a follow-up of more than 5 years are analyzed. As shown by GU we are using a two stage procedure with exploration and extraplexuel neurotization of the suprascapular nerve using 1/2 spinal acessory nerve. Depending on the intraoperative findings, the musculocutaneous nerve is neurotized by the phrenic nerve at the time of primary operation or secondarily neurotized by the contralateral C7 root. If the musculocutaneous nerve could be neurotized by the phrenic nerve, C7-transfer is used to reinnervate the median nerve. If ever possible, the vascularized ulnar nerve graft or if not availabe two sural nerves are used. Neurotization of the musculocutaneous nerve was carried out in 6, and of the median nerve in 4 patients. There are 6 patients in the MC group and 4 patients in the Median group. Criterias for evaluation used are: donor site (morbidity, classification), time for recovery, time for autonomization, and functional result. Successful elbow flexion is achieved if muscle power > M3, successful median nerve motor function is achieved if a primitive power grip pattern is achieved. RESULTS: All patients were complaining of temporary paresthesia in the dorsal part of P3 of the thumb, index and middle finger. There was complete sensory at the 3-month postoperative examination. There was no evident clinical motor loss at the donor extremity. A successful elbow flexion, i.e. muscle power > M3 was achieved in all 6 patients after 9-15 months. 4 of 6 patients are able to use this function individually. In the other two patients a start command must be given voluntarily from the contralateral side (contraction of the contralateral latissimus dorsi muscle). A functional primitive grip pattern could be achieved in 1 out of 4 patients after 18 months. In three patients, although there is movement, this mouvement must be judged "academic" at the present state. CONCLUSIONS: The C7-transfer proved to be a safe transfer if at the time of operation no fascicles innervating wrist and finger extension are taken. Provided adequate biceps muscle organ function, active elbow flexion can be reconstructed in most of the patients. However, for median nerve reinnervation motor results are moderate up to now.

The "bioartificial living nerve graft".

INTRODUCTION: Nerve tubes seeded with cultured Schwann cells have become a promising alternative to nerve autografts. However, the functional results of these bioartificial cellular grafts remain to be improved. To imitate the three-dimensional structure of peripheral nerves, we designed a Schwann cell-seeded intrinsic framework within a semipermeable biodegradable collagen nerve tube (Integra). MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 90 rats a 25 mm gap was created at the sciatic nerve of the right lower limb. In group I, the gap was treated using the "bioartificial nerve graft". In group II, the tube filled with non-seeded filaments was implanted in order to evaluate the influence of the Schwann cells on regeneration. In group III, the gap was bridged using an autologous nerve graft. For evaluation clinical testing, gait analysis, electrophysiological conduction testing, tibialis anterior muscle weight recording and axon counts from the distal nerve stump were used. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the "bioartificial nerve graft" (group I) and the non-seeded bioartificial nerve graft (group II) indicating the importance of the living Schwann cells. Comparing the results of the "bioartificial nerve graft" (group I) with the autologous nerve grafts (group III), there was a significant difference in all the examinations indicating a still slower regeneration in the artificial graft. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the unique three-dimensional net allowed the settlement of Schwann cells onto the biodegradable filaments, which can be used as "artificial Bünger bands". With further refinements of the "artificial Bünger bands" and Schwann cell cultures there should be improved functional and histological results in the "bioartificial nerve graft" group.

[Vascularized joint transfer for finger joint reconstruction]. / Die vaskularisierte Gelenktransplantation zum Fingergelenkersatz.

In a retrospective clinical study 16 vascularized joint transfers to the hand with an average follow-up of 8.2 (3 - 15) years were evaluated. The finger joint defect was caused by trauma in 12 patients, tumour in 2 patients and infection and congenital deformity in 1 patient each. There were 14 men and 2 women. The mean age range was 26 (2 - 42) years. In 6 cases a partial vascularized joint transfer was carried out, with the transplant being harvested in two cases from non-replantable finger according to the "tissue bank concept" according to Chase and in the other two cases from the PIP-joint of the second toe. In 10 patients a complete vascularized joint transfer was carried out, with the joint being harvested from the hand in 6 cases and from the 2nd toe in 4 cases. The following criteria were evaluated: active range of motion (neutral-0-method), postoperative arthritis, growth and complications. Active range of motion of the transplanted joint was for partial PIP-joint transfer Ex/Flex 0/20/65 degrees und for partial MP-joint transfer 0/20/30 degrees . After DIP-to-PIP-joint transposition active range of motion was measured Ex/Flex 0/20/60 degrees , after PIP-to-PIP transposition 0/30/60 degrees , PIP-to-MP-transposition 0/20/80 degrees and after MP-to-MP-transposition 0/20/57 degrees . The results after microvascular PIP-joint transfer from the 2nd toe for PIP-joint reconstruction were 0/25/58 degrees for PIP-joint reconstruction and 0/15/70 degrees for MP-joint reconstruction. Arthritic changes could be seen in 3 out of 4 patients with partial vascularized joint transfer. In all complete joint transfers there was no clinical and radiological evidence of arthritis even after 15 years. In the two skeletal immature patients at the time of transfer, normal growth compared to the contralateral donor site could be seen. In 8 out of 14 patients complications occurred. In 4 cases tendolysis of the extensor tendon was necessary. In 4 patients skeletal malalignment (3 x sagittal plane, 1 x rotation) was diagnosed. In one patient flexor pulley reconstruction was necessary in order to correct a bowstring deformity. Indications for vascularized joint transfer at the finger in children is set because of lack of therapy option offering normal growth potential. In adults vascularized joint transfer is indicated in case of contraindication for prosthetic joint replacement or arthrodesis.

[Indications and results of operative treatment in birth-related brachial plexus injuries]. / Indikationen und Ergebnisse der operativen Therapie bei geburtstraumatischer Läsion des Plexus brachialis.

INTRODUCTION: A review of the literature reveals that under conventional treatment alone or in combination with secondary muscle/tendon transfer about 4 to 43 % of cases show incomplete recovery with severe functional and/or aesthetic impairment. When these patients undergo early microsurgical brachial plexus revision, a regeneration without any significant functional and/or aesthetic impairment can be achieved in 80 to 90 % of the cases. Moreover, microsurgical reconstruction of the brachial plexus does increase the possibilities of secondary muscle/tendon transfers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our concept is based on our experience with more than 1700 patients presenting with brachial plexus lesions between 1981 and 2000 who were treated in our institution. Patient selection is done according a standardized algorithm which is presented. There were 418 obstetrical brachial plexus lesions. 189 could be treated conservatively. In 225 cases operative treatment was necessary. 104 cases underwent early revision of the brachial plexus and secondary tendon transfer was done in 121 patients. RESULTS: Personal results and an analysis of the literature reveal that in C5/C6 lesions good shoulder function can be achieved in 60 to 80 %, especially if the accessory nerve is routinely used. Good elbow function can be expected in over 90 %. In C5/C6/C7 lesions, there are only slightly inferior results. In both groups there is a significant functional improvement by secondary tendon transfer at the age of two to three years. In the rare C5 - Th1 lesions, the functional results depend on the number and quality of the remaining roots. CONCLUSIONS: Provided there is good patient selection, severe obstetrical brachial plexus injuries should be scheduled for early microsurgical revision. There is no need to wait for a frustrating spontaneous recovery.

Botulinum toxin treatment of cocontractions after birth-related brachial plexus lesions.

The authors studied botulinum toxin type A therapy of severe biceps-triceps cocontractions after nerve regeneration following birth-related brachial plexus lesions. Six children (age, 2 to 4 years) were treated two to three times over a period of 8 to 12 months with 40 mouse units of botulinum toxin at two sites of the triceps muscle. Elbow range of motion improved from 0 to 25 to 50 deg to 0 to 25 to 100 deg (p < 0.05), and muscle force of elbow flexion increased from a mean of Medical Research Council classification 1.7 to 3.7 (p < 0.05). After a 1-year follow-up, there was no clinical recurrence.

Plastic surgical management in tissue extravasation of cytotoxic agents in the upper extremity.

Extravasation injuries in subcutaneous tissues during peripheral intravenous administration can result in extensive soft-tissue defects. Early treatment (surgical removal of the extravasated material within 24 h) and late treatment (debridement and coverage) are two possible approaches for this kind of injury. Eighteen patients who suffered a significant extravasation injury were treated surgically between 1/1996 and 5/2001. All patients were referred late (mean 22 days after the event) to our clinic with soft-tissue defects or skin necrosis and were accordingly only amenable to late treatment. The patients with defects over the dorsum of the hand, forearm or cubital fossa area underwent debridement, temporary wound coverage and skin grafting or coverage with a local flap. Spotted infiltrating lesions and necrosis are typical histologic features of a cytotoxic agent extravasation. A safe margin of resection is only achievable with a wide three dimensional excision. The healing time of defects was a mean of 15 days after either skin grafting or flap coverage with no significant difference between the two differing treatment groups. Early referral of patients with extravasation injuries to a specialized department for plastic and hand surgery may in future enable earlier surgical treatment, reduce time of illness and costs.

[Tendovaginitis stenosans of the thumb in small children (pollex flexus congenitus). The authors' results and review of the literature]. / Tendovaginitis stenosans des Daumens beim Kleinkind (Pollex flexus congenitus). Eigene Ergebnisse und Literaturübersicht.

Our personal treatment concept for trigger thumb in children is presented. The guiding symptoms are fixed flexion deformity, (painful) restriction of motion (with a click phenomenon) or persistent extension deformity. Although it is a simple pathology, careful diagnosis is mandatory to rule out other reasons with the same symptoms as trigger thumb, as some of these will lead to severe aesthetic and functional impairment. In 26 patients with persistent symptoms, the A1 ring ligament of the thumb was cut. Free active and passive joint motion was comparable to the opposite side in 92.7% of patients. In 2 cases a secondary operation was necessary because of incomplete A1 ring ligament release. If it is diagnosed and operated on early with a careful operative technique, nowadays no aesthetic or functional impairment should occur in children because of trigger thumb.

New trends in posttraumatic soft tissue defect coverage.

Posttraumatic soft tissue defects, alone or combined with fractures, still present challenging problems of diagnosis and choice of treatment, unless they are suitable for primary closure. The reasons are to be found in their varied ethiology and degree of severity. In order to apply the optimal therapy to the patient, a complete understanding of the defect present, an optimal timing of surgery and a full knowledge of all treatment options are mandatory. The treatment concept presented is based on our personal experience between 1981 and 1995 after more than 5000 skin transplantations, some 3000 local tissue fransfer, over 200 distat flap transfers and more than 1200 free microvascular tissue transfer to all regions of the body. New therapy concepts do not entirely replace the elder ones, but are integrated into the treatment schedule.

Secondary operation for elbow flexion reconstruction after brachial plexus lesion.

Elbow flexion plays a key role in the overall function of the upper extremity. In the case of unilateral complete brachial plexus lesion, restoration of elbow flexion will dramatically increase the patient's chances of regaining bimanual prehension. Furthermore, depending on the type of reconstruction, stability of the glenohumeral joint as well as some supination function of the forearm can be restored to a varying degree at the same time. Depending on the level of brachial plexus lesion and/or reinnervation, different reconstructive procedures are available. In order to select the best treatment option for the patient it is necessary to known the extent of the lesion of the brachial plexus and/or ventral upper arm muscles, to time the operation appropriately, to be aware of all treatment possibilities and to recall the special problems of tendon transfer for brachial plexus patients. Our concept is based on our experience with more than 1100 patients presenting a brachial plexus lesion between 1981 and 1996 and treated in our institution. There were 528 operative revisions of the brachial plexus. Some 225 patients underwent secondary muscle/tendon transfers. In 35 patients elbow flexion was reconstructed by bipolar latissimus dorsi transfer (n = 10), triceps-to-biceps transfer (n = 15), modified flexor/pronator muscle mass proximalization (n = 6) and multiple-stage free functional muscle transfer after intercostal nerve transfer (n = 4).

Early microsurgical treatment of obstetrical brachial plexus lesions. Patient selection and results.

A review of the literature reveals that with conventional treatment alone or in combination with secondary muscle/tendon transfer, about 4-43 % of cases show incomplete recovery with severe functional and/or aesthetic impairment (group III). If these patients undergo early microsurgical brachial plexus revision, regeneration without significant functional and/or aesthetic impairment (shift from group III to group II) can be achieved in 80-90 % of cases. Moreover, microsurgical reconstruction of the brachial plexus increases the possibilities of secondary muscle/tendon transfers. Therefore, provided patient selection is good, severe obstetrical brachial plexus injuries should be scheduled for early microsurgical revision. There is no need to wait for a frustrating spontaneous recovery. Our concept is based on our experience with more than 1100 patients presenting with brachial plexus lesions between 1981 and 1996 and treated in our institution. There were 217 obstetrical brachial plexus lesions, 133 of which were treated conservatively. In 84 cases operative treatment was necessary. Fifty-one cases underwent early revision of the brachial plexus, and secondary tendon transfer was done in 33 patients.

[Callus distraction for progressive lengthening of the capitate bone after resection of the lunate bone in stage III lunate malacia. Surgical technique and 1 year results]. / Kallusdistraktion zur progressiven Verlängerung des Os capitatum nach Resektion des Os lunatum bei Lunatummalazie im Stadium III. Operationstechnik und Einjahres-Ergebnisse.

Inspite of the excellent subjective judgement and functional results of Graner's operation in case of Kienbock's disease stage III, this technique is rarely used nowadays because of its high rate (20 to 30%) of disturbed fracture healing due to impaired blood supply. To avoid the risk of complete devascularization in the capitate region, we are using the callotaxis lengthening technique of Ilizaron, carrying out a segmental shifting. After percutaneous temporary SC- or STT-arthrodesis with the scaphoid in the horizontal or high position, the lunate is completely resected using a dorsal approach. Osteotomy of the capitate is carried out at the corpus-collum interval in order to disturb a minimum of the vascular supply to the bone. Seven to ten days postoperatively, distraction is started with a rate of 1 min/day. The desired distraction length is accomplished, when the capitate articular surface fits perfectly into the curvature of the proximal row articular surface. In order to reduce or prevent soft tissue related complications during the consolidation period, the external distractor is replaced by two percutaneous Kirschner-wires. The consolidation period takes twice as long as the distraction period. Since November 1993, fourteen patients presenting a stage III Kienböck's disease have been treated by this new technique. The operative technique, postoperative care, as well as the potential and real complications are described and illustrated by one clinical case.

[Vascularized periosteal transplant. A review of a new therapeutic possibility]. / Das vaskularisierte Periosttransplantat. Ein Uberblick über eine neue Therapiemöglichkeit.

The idea of using vascularized periosteal flaps in reconstructing bone defects is more than one hundred years old. Up to now, experimental and clinical results regarding their osteogenic capacity have been a subject of debate. Experimental and clinical studies over the last ten years were able to demonstrate osteogenic capability of such vascularized periosteal flaps, provided the periosteum is well vascularized. To insure intact microcirculation, vascularized periosteal flaps must be freed up by sharp dissection. Small pieces of bone may be removed with the periosteum, whereas the periosteum must remain uninjured. There are many known donor sites in man: the iliac crest, the distal femur, the distal humerus and the tenth rib. There are no reports concerning donor site morbidity. Besides its osteogenic capacity, the periosteal flaps have "shape giving" and "space limiting" functions. The given volume within a periosteal flap rolled into a tube is the basis for the "Concept of the Given Space": the space within the tube defines where bone formation will occur, there being no loss of bone into the surrounding soft tissue. Because of the vascularized periosteal flap's fragility and the good results of other reconstructive procedures for segmental bone defects, there are few indications for extremity reconstruction using periosteal flaps: pseudarthrosis in the upper extremity is one example. In the lower extremity, a combination of vascularized periosteum with conventional and mainly vascularized bone grafts offers interesting possibilities for reconstruction.

[Callus distraction for lengthening of mid-hand and finger stumps in congenital hand abnormalities--personal results and review of the literature]. / Kallusdistraktion zur Verlängerung von Mittelhand- und Fingerstümpfen bei angeborenen Handfehlbildungen--Eigene Ergebnisse und Literaturüberblick.

Distraction-lengthening technique is quite useful in a variety of congenital hand deformities with hypoplastic, or primary normal but secondary shortened (constriction ring syndrome) finger rays. It appears that around the age of two years is the earliest practical time to start distraction; certainly distraction and secondary surgical procedures to improve function should be completed before school entry age whenever possible. Between June 1990 and March 1993, nine distraction lengthening procedures (5 thumbs, 1 index, 3 little fingers) in five patients presenting with congenital hand deformities, were carried out. Although restoring length to the finger, lengthening does not provide normal circumference or, of course, interphalangeal joint motion. Amelioration in function seems to be more important than the esthetic gain. Distraction lengthening tolerates only few errors of indication, operative technique, and/or postoperative management. A high compliance of the patient and her/his parents as well as a close follow-up by an experienced surgeon, are mandatory for a good result. A variety of possible complications have been described. Generally, complication risk increases in cases of simultaneous and multiple level lengthening. Provided adequate operative technique and postoperative care, superficial pin infection and fracture in the region of distraction are the major complications. Contrary to adults, sufficient bone formation by distraction is the rule in children. Therefore, the distraction-lengthening technique is preferred to the distraction-interposition technique in the treatment of congenital hand deformities. The latter should only be used as a salvage procedure in the rare cases of insufficient callus formation. Because of the missing growth potential and reduced joint mobility, distraction lengthening is the therapy of second choice when compared to microvascular second toe transplantation.