Distally based sural flaps for soft tissue defects following traumatic osteomyelitis of lower leg and foot.

This retrospective study aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors for osteomyelitis recurrence and present our experiences in treating traumatic osteomyelitis in the lower leg and foot. We retrospectively reviewed data from 174 patients with distally based sural flaps for treating traumatic osteomyelitis with soft tissue defects in the lower leg and foot from November 2003 to February 2021. Possible risk factors for osteomyelitis recurrence were compared between the osteomyelitis control and recurrence groups. A total of 162 (93.1%) flaps survived uneventfully, while 12 (6.9%) flaps developed partial necrosis. Five patients had a bone defect with an average length of 5 cm. The free vascularized bone grafts were performed in two patients, and bone transportations were performed in three patients. All patients were followed up with an average period of 72.8 months. There were 152 patients (87.4%) in control group and 22 patients (12.6%) in recurrence group. The recurrence rates of osteomyelitis were significantly higher when the patient's age was 40 years or more and the duration was 10 weeks or more (P < 0.05). Cierny-Mader (C-M) classification type IV osteomyelitis was also significantly associated with osteomyelitis recurrence (p = 0.049). This flap combined with appropriate osteomyelitis treatment was an effective method to treat traumatic osteomyelitis of lower leg and foot with a soft tissue defect. Both patient age ≥ 40 years old and C-M type IV osteomyelitis were nonnegligible risk factors for osteomyelitis recurrence.

The BRD4-SRPK2-SRSF2 signal modulates the splicing efficiency of ACSL3 pre-mRNA and influences erastin-induced ferroptosis in osteosarcoma cells.

Lipid metabolism is the key to ferroptosis susceptibility. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms in osteosarcoma cells. Functional restriction of bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) reduced the susceptibility to erastin-induced ferroptosis of osteosarcoma cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanically, BRD4 controls the splicing efficiency of the RNA precursor (pre-mACSL3) of ACSL3 (ACSL3) by recruiting serinerich/threonine protein kinase 2 (SRPK2) to assemble the splicing catalytic platform. Moreover, the AMP-binding domain of ACSL3 significantly influences arachidonic acid synthesis and thus determines the susceptibility to erastin-induced ferroptosis. Overall, we found a BRD4-mediated pre-mACSL3 splicing influences erastin-induced ferroptosis by affecting arachidonic acid synthesis in osteosarcoma cells. Data in this study fills some of the gap in understanding the post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of ACSL3 and provides new insights into the mechanisms of lipid metabolism regulation and its effect on susceptibility to ferroptosis in osteosarcoma cells.

A Study on the Effect of Nursing Intervention Based on Health Behavior Change Integration Theory on Patients with Limb Fracture and Its Effect on Limb Function and Self-Efficacy.

Objective: To assess the impact on nursing care based on the theory of health behavior change integration in patients with limb fracture and its effect on limb function and self-efficacy. Methods: The starting and ending time of this study is from February 2021 to February 2022. In this study, 116 hospitalized patients with limb fracture were selected as the object of study. According to the method of random number table, the patients were divided into study group and control group. The patients of the study cohort were given nursing healthcare based on the theory of health behavior change integration, while those in the control cohort were given common nursing. The scores of self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), self-rating depression scale (SDS), Frankl compliance scale, self-efficacy scale (GSES), activity of daily living scale (ADL), and Fugl-Meyer limb motor function assessment (FMA) were studied before and 3 months after nursing. Results: After 3 months of nursing, the SAS and SDS scores of the study group were lower than those of the control group, and the difference between groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). After 3 months of nursing, the scores of Frankl scale, GSES, ADL scale, and FMA scale in the study group were higher than those in the control group, and the difference between groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The value of nursing interventions based on the integration of health behavior change theory is even more significant in patients with limb fractures. It is more helpful in reducing patients' anxiety and depression, increasing compliance and improving limb function. Self-efficacy and daily living skills were also significantly improved.

[Effect of length-width ratio on partial necrosis in distally based sural neurofasciocutaneous flap: 157 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of length-width ratio (LWR)on partial necrosis in distally based sural neurofasciocutaneous flap. METHODS: Clinical data and operative pictures of 157 distally based sural neurofasciocutaneous flaps were reviewed and analysed. LWR of the flaps ranged from 2.83:1 to 7.14:1. Based on the LWR of the flaps, the flaps were divided into 5 groups: Group A(LWR≤3:1), Group B(3:10.05). Partial necrosis ratio was higher in Group D than that in Group C(P<0.05). It was lower in the LWR<5:1 group (Group A+Group B+Group C) (6.8%, 6/88) than that in the LWR≥5:1 group (Group D+Group E) (17.4%, 12/69) (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: When LWR of the flap is less than 5:1, probability of partial necrosis occurring in distally based sural neurofasciocutaneous flaps is low, and the flap can survive more reliably. The maximum LWR of the surrival flaps can reach 6-7:1.

Do Dose-Dependent Microbial Changes Occur during Spine Surgery as a Result of Applying Intrawound Vancomycin Powder?: A Systematic Literature Review.

We analyzed dose-dependent effects of vancomycin on wound infection bacteria and investigated the relationship between dose and microbial imbalances in patients treated with intrawound vancomycin powder during spine surgery. Numerous trials have confirmed that using intrawound vancomycin powder during spine surgery may decrease postoperative wound infection rates. However, potential risks include changes in wound infection bacteria, inhibition of bone fusion, and systemic toxicity. We searched PubMed for articles published since October 2016 with the following terms: "local vancomycin" or "intrawound vancomycin" or "intraoperative vancomycin" or "intrawound vancomycin" or "topical vancomycin" and "spinal surgery" or "spine surgery." We also screened the reference lists of included articles for additional studies and extracted data related to dose, infecting bacteria, sample size, infection rate and types, location of spine surgery, and perioperative antibiotics used. Our review includes one prospective and nine retrospective studies. Overall, 1 or 2 g local vancomycin powder was used in 2,394 patients. Gram-negative bacteria were dominant in patients in whom 1 g vancomycin powder was used, whereas gram-positive bacteria were dominant in those in whom 2 g powder was used. The exact mechanism underlying this dose-dependent trend remains unclear, although it may be attributed to the pharmacological characteristics of vancomycin. The included studies showed that trends in infection bacteria may change after the use of topical vancomycin powder. In addition, the observed increase in gram-negative bacteria when intrawound vancomycin powder is used has generated considerable attention. The present results differ from previous results but do not provide additional information regarding vancomycin dose and microbial changes in infected wounds. Additional large randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the relationship between vancomycin dose and the types of wound infection bacteria in patients treated with intrawound vancomycin powder during spine surgery.

Effect of Intra-wound Vancomycin for Spinal Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Intra-site prophylactic vancomycin in spine surgery is an effective method of decreasing the incidence of postsurgical wound infection. However, there are differences in the prophylactic programs used for various spinal surgeries. Thus, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of using intra-wound vancomycin during spinal surgery and to explore the effects of dose-dependence and the method of administration in a subgroup analysis. A total of 628 citations or studies were searched in PubMed, Ovid, Web of Science, and Google Scholar that were published before August 2016 with the terms "local vancomycin", "intra-wound vancomycin", "intraoperative vancomycin", "intra-site vancomycin", "topical vancomycin", "spine surgery", and "spinal surgery". Finally, 19 retrospective cohort studies and one prospective case study were eligible for inclusion in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The odds of developing postsurgical wound infection without prophylactic local vancomycin use were 2.83-fold higher than the odds of experiencing wound infection with the use of intra-wound vancomycin (95% confidence interval, 2.03-3.95; P = 0.083; I2 = 32.2%). The subgroup analysis including the dosage and the method of administration, revealed different results compared to previous research. The value of I2 in the 1-g group was 27.2%, which was much lower than in the 2-g group (I2 = 57.6%). At the same time, the value of I2 was 0.0% (P = 0.792, OR = 2.70) when vancomycin powder was directly sprinkled into all layers of the wound. However, there is high heterogenicity (I2 = 60.0%, P = 0.007, OR = 2.83) when vancomycin powder is not exposed to the bone graft and instrumentation. There are differences found with the method of local application of vancomycin for reducing postoperative wounds and further studies are necessary, including investigations focusing on the dose-dependent effects during spinal or the topical pharmacokinetic and other orthopaedic surgeries.

Influence of flap factors on partial necrosis of reverse sural artery flap: a study of 179 consecutive flaps.

BACKGROUND: Partial necrosis is a main complication of reverse sural artery flap. The purpose of this article is to evaluate effect of flap factors on partial necrosis in the flap. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data of 175 patients with 179 flaps used to reconstruct soft tissue defects in the distal lower leg, heel, and foot between April 2001 and April 2010. Posterior aspect of the lower leg was equally divided into nine zones. The flap factors were compared between the survival flaps and the partial-necrosis flaps. RESULTS: There were 141 flaps surviving completely; distal de-epithelialization and wound dehiscence developed in 12 flaps and 6 flaps, respectively; partial necrosis occurred in 20 (11.2%) flaps. Partial-necrosis rate was significantly higher in the flaps with top-edge locating in the upper 1/9 of the calf (32.3%, 10 of 31), in the flaps with length-width ratio (LWR) ≥5:1 (17.8%, 13 of 73), or in the flaps with width of skin island (width) ≥8 cm (15.2%, 16 of 105); it was significantly lower in the flaps with top-edge locating in the lower 7/9 of the calf (3.8%, 3 of 80). Seventeen (80.9%) of 21 flaps with LWR ≥6:1 survived, and the maximal LWR of completely survival flap was 7.00:1. CONCLUSION: Probability of partial necrosis occurring in reverse sural artery flap significantly increase when top-edge of the flap locates in the upper 1/9 of the calf, when LWR of the flap is 5:1 or more, or when width is 8 cm or more. The flap with top-edge locating lower 7/9 of the calf is safe and reliable.

[Relationship between proximal-tip location and partial necrosis in distally based sural neuro fasciocutaneous flap: an analysis of 157 flaps].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of proximal-tip location on partial necrosis in distally based sural neuro fasciocutaneous flap. METHODS: From April 2001 to May 2009,157 distally based sural neuro fasciocutaneous flaps were conducted to repair the soft tissue defect in distal region of lower leg, ankle and feet in 153 patients. Date of the flaps and the patients were retrospectively analyzed. From the tip of lateral malleolus to the popliteal crease, posterior aspect of the lower leg was equally divided into 9 regions that were 1st to 9th region from inferiorly to superiorly, respectively. The flaps were divided into 2 groups: survival group (including uneventfully survived flaps, flaps with distally epidermal necrosis and with wound dehiscence) and partial necrosis group. Based on the location of the proximal tip of flaps, the flaps were stratified into 4 groups: flaps with the proximal tip locating in the 6th or lower region (group A), the 7th region (group B), the 8th region (group C) and the 9th region (group D). Harvesting the flaps started from exploring the perforator of peroneal vessel in the adipofascial pedicle, then the flaps were elevated retrogradely. RESULTS: Of the 157 flaps, 125 survived uneventfully,8 showed distal epidermal necrosis,wound dehiscence occurred in 6 flaps, 18 flaps (11.5%) showed distal partial necrosis. Partial necrosis occurred in zero of 19 flaps in group A (0), 1 of 44 flaps in group B (2.3% ), 7 of 62 flaps in group C (11.3% ) and 10 of 32 flaps in group D (31.3% ). The differences in partial necrosis rate between group A and group B , group B and group C, were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Partial necrosis rate was higher in group D than in group C (P = 0.012), it was lower in group A + group B (1.6%) than in group C + group D (18. 1% ) (P = 0. 001). CONCLUSIONS: Distally based sural neuro fasciocutaneous flap can survive reliably when the proximal tip of flap is not beyond the junction between lower 7/9 and upper 2/9 of the lower leg, whereas probability of partial necrosis occurring in the flap increase significantly when the proximal tip of flap locates in upper 1/9 of the lower leg.