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Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of Masquelet technique combined with tissue flap transfer in the treatment of infectious composite bone and soft tissue defects in the early and middle stages after internal fixation for tibial fractures.Methods:From October 2017 to November 2020, 12 patients (13 tibial fractures) with infectious bone and soft tissue defects in the early and middle stages after internal fixation were treated in the Department of Orthopaedics, 988th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of CPLA by two-phased surgery with retaining internal fixation. Phase I procedures were thoroughly removal of the infected lesions and failed screws, preserving internal implants as many as possible, implantation of absorbable calcium sulphate and an antibiotics blended string of beads into the distal and proximal medullary cavity of the fractured bones, filling the bone defect and wrapping the internal implants with antibiotics loaded bone cement. The size of defects was 3.5 cm × 5.0 cm-7.5 cm × 14.5 cm, and the flaps for wound coverage sized 4.0 cm × 5.5 cm-8.0 cm × 15.0 cm. As for the repair of donor site, 8 limbs were sutured directly, 5 limbs could not be closed completely, and the remaining wounds were covered by skin grafting after suture. Based on well control of infection and stable clinical signs, fillings of bone cement were then removed in Phase II surgery, or 6-9 weeks after primary surgery. Autologous cancellous bone pieces or composite allogeneic bone were fully implanted around the induction membrane formed by Masquelet technique, and auxiliary steel plates were implanted for internal fixation of unstable fractures. After discharge, the patients visited the outpatient clinic regularly, and combined with Wechat follow-up. The texture, colour and bone healing were observed. At the last follow-up, the function of the affected limbs were assessed according to Johner-Wruhs evaluation standard.Results:After Phase I surgery, 13 flaps survived smoothly without vascular compromise. The wounds healed in Phase I. Two patients (2 sides) had recurrent infections. Re-debridement was performed and external fixation was applied after removal of internal fixation. After Phase II surgery, all patients were included in 12-26 months of follow-up, with an average of 18 months. Thirteen lower leg fractures healed well, and the time of bone healing was 16-25 (average 19.5) weeks. The Johner Wruhs criteria was used in evaluation of the function of affected limbs, and it was found that 6 patients were in excellent, 5 in good and 2 in fair.Conclusion:It is feasible while preserving the internal implants, to use membrane induction technique (Masquelet technique) combined with flap transfer, together with the absorbable calcium sulphate antibiotic sustained-release beads as a carrier in the phased treatment of infectious bone defects and bone exposure in the early and middle stages after the surgery of tibial internal fixation. It also gives a higher rate of excellence in surgical outcome. This study explores a treatment procedure for traumatic bone infection combined with composite soft tissue defects.
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Objective:To investigate the efficacy of the nutrient vessel of medial and lateral sural subcutaneous nerve chimeric tissue flap based on posterior perforating branch of peroneal artery to repair the composite tissue defect in the Achilles tendon area.Methods:From January 2016 to June 2021, 12 patients suffering from infectious wound with defect of Achilles tendon were treated in the Department of Trauma and Microscopic Orthopaedics, 988th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of PLA. The area of soft tissue defect around Achilles tendon was 2.5 cm× 4.5 cm-8.0 cm×12.5 cm, and the length of the defect of Achilles tendon was 3.0-7.0 cm. The defect around the Achilles tendon were repaired with the nutrient vessel of medial and lateral sural subcutaneous nerve chimeric Achilles tendon flap (ATF) and the posterior perforating branch of peroneal artery was used as the vessel of blood supply. The size of flap was 3.0 cm×5.0 cm-9.0 cm×13.0 cm, and the size of the ATF was 3.0 cm×4.0 cm-3.0 cm×8.0 cm. The donor sites were sutured directly (8 cases) or repaired with skin graft (4 cases). External fixation were put on for 6 weeks after surgery. Then the external fixation was removed and the functional exercise gradually started. Outpatient clinic follow-ups were carried out regularly. Thermann Achilles tendon function assessment system was used to evaluate the last follow-up.Results:The chimeric ATF was harvested and the blood supply of each flap was good during the operation. There was no vascular crisis after surgery. The flaps survived smoothly and the wound achieved grade A healing. All patients were entered follow-up that lasted for 10-24 months. There was good appearance of flaps with minor bloating, and the colour of flaps was similar to the skin around the receiving site. The texture was soft with normal function of the lower legs and ankle. Tendon function was evaluated by Thermann Achilles tendon function assessment system, the result were 8 cases in excellent and 4 cases in good.Conclusion:The nutrient vessel of medial and lateral sural subcutaneous nerve chimeric tissue flap based on posterior perforating branch of peroneal artery can accurately repair a composite tissue defect in the Achilles tendon area, and it is one of the effective methods for the repair of a composite soft tissue wound with Achilles tendon defect.
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Objective To investigate the clinical effect of lateral supramalleolar perforator flap with the rotation point down on the repair of forefoot soft tissue defect.Methods From January,2016 to June,2017,23 cases (15 males and 8 females) of forefoot soft tissue defect were repaired by lateral supramalleolar perforator flap with the rotation point down.The age ranged from 8 to 67 (mean,42.9) years.The soft tissue defects were located far from the tarsometatarsal joint of the foot and the areas were 4.0 cm×4.0 cm-8.0 cm×12.0 cm.The areas of flap stitched directly or take blade thick skin repair on the thigh.All cases were followed-up by telephone or Internet,outpatient visit and home visit.Results Twenty-one cases survived successfully.Small area necrosis occurred at the distal end of the flap in 1 case,and healed after changing treatment.In the other cases,tension blister appeared at the distal end of the flap.After cut off some surgical stitches,the flap survived.All cases were followed-up from 6 to 12 months.The shape of flaps were not bloated and had good textures.The walking of affected limbs had no significant effect,and the functional recovery was satisfactory.Conclusion The lateral supramalleolar perforator flap is easy to cut and the perforator of flap is constant,which is a appropriate flap to repair the soft tissue defect of the forefoot.
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To explore the method and effect of repairing the soft tissue defect of the lateral heel with the retrograde lateral supramalleolar flap pedicled with the end perforator of peroneal artery. Methods From May, 2015 to February, 2018, 16 cases of lateral calcaneal soft tissue defect were repaired with the retrograde lateral supramalleolar flap pedicled with the end perforator of peroneal artery.All wounds were treated with one-stage dilata-tion and VSD to control infection. In cases of chronic calcaneal bone infection, the bone defect formed after extensive resection of infected bone was temporarily filled with antibiotic bone cement. The area of soft tissue defect on the lat-eral heel was 3.0 cm×2.0 cm-8.0 cm×5.0 cm, and the area of flaps was 3.5 cm×2.5 cm-8.5 cm×5.5 cm. The small donor area of the flap was sutured directly, and the larger area was repaired by skin grafting. Patients with chronic calcaneal bone infection underwent bone cement removal and autogenous bone transplantation after inducing mem-brane formation 6 to 8 weeks after flap transplantation. All cases were followed-up, including 7 cases outpatient fol-low-up and 9 telephone follow-up. Results All the 16 flaps survived smoothly. The donor and recipient areas of the flaps healed primarily. All cases were followed-up for 3 to 13 months. The flaps had good shape, no swelling, similar color to heel skin and no pigmentation.Ankle flexion and extension were not restricted.Four cases with chron-ic osteomyelitis of calcaneus healed well after second-stage bone grafting, with an average healing time of 8.5 months. Conclusion The retrograde lateral supramalleolar flap with the end perforator of peroneal artery is an ideal method for repairing the soft tissue defect on the lateral heel with simple operation and reliable blood supply.