Free intra-osseous muscle transfer for treatment of chronic osteomyelitis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic osteomyelitis is still a big reconstructive challenge. Even with standard care, therapeutic failures and recurrences are common. Multiple techniques of tissue transfer have increased the success rate. This study recommends free muscle transfers into the intramedullary bone cavities for treatment of chronic osteomyelitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The review included 29 patients that were treated for chronic osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis was located at the femur in four patients, the tibia in 22 patients, and the foot in three patients. Dead bone and scar tissue were replaced with durable free muscle flap with special attention to fill the dead space. RESULTS: The average age of these patients was 48.5 years old (range = 23-70 years old). The average duration of osteomyelitis was 8.2 years (range = 1-45 years). Gracilis was applied in 20 cases (69%), latissimus dorsi was used in five cases (17.2%), and rectus abdominis was performed in four cases (13.8%). There was one flap failure, one partial superficial flap necrosis, two arterial thrombosis, and one venous thrombosis. All the remaining 28 muscle flaps survived. From 1-10 years follow-up, there was one recurrence of the osteomyelitis in the distal end of the intra-medullary cavity of a femur after reconstructing using the gracilis flap. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that free intramedullary muscle transfers are effective in providing a high rate of success in the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis. The secondary filling of the intramedullary cavity after extensive removal of all infected bony sequesters has proven to give a long-term arrest of chronic osteomyelitis.

Secondary nerve lengthening to obtain full knee extension in popliteal pterygium syndrome.

Microsurgical nerve lengthening was performed in two siblings presenting a popliteal pterigium syndrome with a knee flexion contracture of 80 degrees. After the first attempt for nerve lengthening and knee extension elsewhere, a repeated lengthening was required due to continuing tip-toe walking and recurrent knee contracture at the age of 3 years. An extensive external and internal interfascicular microsurgical neurolysis resulted in a lengthening of the nerves. A full length of leg procedure had to be performed, inclusive of Achilles tendon lengthening to obtain a complete extension of the knee and a 90-degree ankle flexion. Maintaining the leg in a fully extended position was obtained with a dynamic splinting in the first month after the operation. When timing the operation we have to consider the importance of adequate precision of the microsurgical neurolysis, down to the identification of the Fontana bands, and the adequate postoperative splinting.

Adenocarcinoma of the pouch after silastic ring vertical gastroplasty.

A 52-year-old woman was admitted because of epigastralgia, anorexia and recently increased vomiting, 2 years after silastic ring vertical gastroplasty. On gastroscopy, a tumor mass was visualized in the pouch near the "neo-pylorus". Biopsies confirmed adenocarcinoma. She underwent total gastrectomy, and has no evidence of recurrence at 1 year. The literature on gastric carcinoma after gastroplasty is reviewed.