Investigation of venous drainage patterns of rabbit peripheral nerves.

In this study, the venous drainage patterns of white New Zealand rabbits' peripheral nerves were examined in an effort to provide an animal model for studies focusing on the venous drainage of the healing nerves. Extremities of rabbits sacrificed via intraarterial lead oxide-gelatin solution, and thus had their peripheral bloods pushed out of the arteries and into the veins were dissected for the venous drainage of radial, median, ulnar, femoral, sciatic, tibial and fibular nerves. The observations revealed that white New Zealand rabbit was a feasible model due to its consistent venous anatomy draining the major nerves and accessibility and workability of them. Of those dissected, the most suitable set of nerves suitable for such studies seem to be the Median nerve of the anterior extremity, and Sciatic nerve of the posterior extremity (Fig. 12, Ref. 16). Text in PDF www.elis.sk. Text in PDF www.elis.sk.

The axial bilobed flap for burn contractures of the axilla.

The axial bilobed flap, based on the transverse and descending branches of the circumflex scapular artery, was used to successfully reconstruct burn contractures of the axilla. The main advantages of this flap are that the donor site is closed primarily, it provides an adequate amount of healthy and pliable skin with an excellent blood supply and no chance of contraction, and it is an easy technique. In this paper, two cases are presented.

Chemical burns due to blood pressure cuff sterilized with ethylene oxide.

This paper reports two unusual instances of ethylene oxide burns that were caused by the blood pressure cuff sterilized with ethylene oxide. It is suggested that the mechanical compression caused by the blood pressure cuff facilitated penetration of ethylene oxide residues into tissues and contributed to the degree of tissue damage.

U-I flap.

This article describes the principle, vascular basis, and applications of a new flap derived from the dorsal hand skin. The principle is a pedicle-lengthening procedure that is to revert a "U"-shaped vascular structure into an "I"-shaped vascular structure. By using this principle, a dorsal metacarpal flap, comprising the second dorsal metacarpal artery, the dorsal carpal arch, the dorsal branch of the radial artery, and the first dorsal metacarpal artery, was developed. In this flap, the skin territory was placed over the first dorsal metacarpal artery. The flap was rotated around a web space-connecting vessel between the second dorsal metacarpal artery and the palmar arterial system. We used this flap for resurfacing large defects beyond the proximal interphalangeal joint and degloved fingers in six cases. In two cases, the flap was used as an innervated flap. In one case, the flap was used as a tenocutaneous flap with a segment of the extensor indicis proprius tendon. We found this flap to be useful in selected circumstances.

Axial bilobed flap based on the median and medial superficial sural arteries: a case report.

The anatomy of the sural artery has been adequately described, but its applications are constantly evolving. Based on pre-existing anatomical studies, an axial bilobed flap based on the median and medial superficial sural arteries was developed and used in one patient for the reconstruction of a contracture of the popliteal area. The main advantages of this flap are that the donor site is closed primarily, it provides an adequate amount of healthy and pliable skin with an excellent blood supply and no chance of contraction, and it is an easy technique.

Use of the distally-based radial forearm flap supplied by the dorsal carpal arch, or palmar carpal arch, or both, in mutilating injuries. Two case report.

The distally-based radial forearm flap is safe, easy, and versatile as a regional, one-stage procedure to reconstruct soft tissue defects of the hand. However, there is a general perception that the deep and superficial palmar arches have to be intact to raise a distally-based radial forearm flap. We successfully used two flaps supplied by the dorsal carpal arch, or the palmar carpal arch, or both, despite the fact that the deep and the superficial palmar arches were damaged in mutilating injuries.

A pedicle-lengthening technique for free latissimus dorsi muscle flaps: the "Y-V-I" principle.

This article describes a pedicle-lengthening procedure (the Y-V-I principle) that reverts a Y-shaped vascular structure into an I-shaped vascular structure, and its application to the latissimus dorsi muscle. If the Y-shaped vascular structure is divided proximal to the branching point and ligated, it becomes a V-shaped vascular structure. To obtain a linear I-shaped vascular structure, the V is opened, and the length of the vascular pedicle will become equal to the combined length of both limbs of the V. This report indicates that the latissimus dorsi flap may be transferred based on the circumflex scapular artery or the serratus branch.

A new approach to the reverse dorsal metacarpal artery flap.

The distally based dorsal hand flap on the recurrent cutaneous branch was dissected as a reverse flap based on the connection between the dorsal branch of the proper digital artery and the terminal branches of the dorsal metacarpal artery at the level of the proximal phalanx. The reverse dorsal metacarpal artery flap dissected by this new approach was applied in five cases for coverage of some areas in the fingers. Two flaps were raised on the second and three on the third intermetacarpal space. All flaps survived completely. The donor areas were closed by direct approximation.

Free arterialized venous flap for the reconstruction of defects of the hand: new modifications.

Arterialized venous flaps were used in 13 cases for reconstruction of defects in the hand. The flap was used as a fascial venous flap in three cases, and as a sensory venous flap in three cases. In three cases, the flap was designed as an ipsilateral pedicled flap, similar to a standard free flap, instead of as a contralateral pedicled type. Ten flaps survived completely. Two flaps underwent superficial necrosis, with viable subcutaneous-tissue layers.

Liposuction of the kneecap area under tourniquet: a superdry procedure.

In this paper, we report our experience and describe the technique of liposuction under tourniquet. This technique facilitates liposuction in the kneecap area and makes it bloodless. The approach described is effective and necessitates a relatively brief intraoperative and postoperative period, with inherently less morbidity. We obtained satisfactory results using this simple procedure.

The distally based ulnar artery forearm flap supplied by the dorsal carpal arch.

It is accepted that the ulnar artery forearm flap is dependent on the integrity of the palmar arches for ulnar arterial backflow and the patency of both radial and ulnar arteries. A patient is presented who demonstrates the successful use of the ulnar artery forearm flap supplied by the dorsal carpal arch via the dorsal branch of the ulnar artery. In this patient, the ulnar artery was damaged distal to the dorsal branch of the ulnar artery. A distally based ulnar forearm was dissected up to the dorsal branch of the ulnar artery and pivoted around this branch. This flap survived completely with no postoperative problem.

Use of a subcutaneous pedicle ulnar flap to cover skin defects around the wrist.

A subcutaneous pedicle ulnar flap used to cover a skin defect around the wrist is reported. Unlike the standard ulnar flap, which is isolated around the dorsal branch of the ulnar artery and its associated veins, this flap is based on the ascending branch of the dorsal branch of the ulnar artery more proximally to obtain a longer vascular pedicle. A subcutaneous pedicle flap that contained the ascending branch, its associated veins, and a superficial vein was obtained. The disadvantages of the standard ulnar flap can be overcome by this design, which provides greater mobility, preserves the healthy skin between the rotation point and the defect, and eliminates contour abnormalities.

Preliminary report: the distally pedicled dorsoulnar forearm flap for hand reconstruction.

In this paper, a new flap for the coverage of soft tissue defects in the hand is described. To obtain a distally pedicled dorsoulnar flap, the dissection of the standard dorsoulnar flap is continued distally under the descending branch of the dorsal branch of the ulnar artery onto the dorsum of the wrist after the dorsal branch of the ulnar artery is ligated and divided. Our modification of the standard dorsoulnar flap converts this flap to a distally based flap, which provides a potentially longer pedicle and increases the arc of rotation of the flap. Two successful cases are reported.