Dominique Martin

Bone reconstruction of the lower extremity: complications and outcomes.

A study was performed to analyze the results and final outcomes of bone reconstruction of the lower extremity. Twenty-six patients presented with type IIIB open fractures, nine with type IIIC open fractures, and 15 with chronic osteomyelitis. Seven patients underwent primary amputation, and reconstruction was attempted for 43 patients. The mean bone defect size was 7.7 cm (range, 3 to 20 cm). Bone reconstruction was achieved with conventional bone grafts in 16 cases, in association with either local (13 cases) or free (three cases) flaps. Vascularized bone transfer was performed in 24 cases, with either osteocutaneous groin flaps (10 cases), soleus-fibula flaps (12 cases), or osteocutaneous lateral arm flaps (two cases). For three patients, bone reconstruction was performed with a technique that combines the induction of a membrane around a cement spacer with the use of an autologous cancellous bone graft. Infections were observed to be responsible for prolonged hospital stays and treatment failures. The cumulative rates of sepsis were 4.6 percent at 1 week after injury and 62.8 percent at 2 months. Vascular complications were also related to infections and were responsible for four secondary amputations. One patient asked for secondary amputation because of a painful nonfunctional lower limb. Bone healing occurred in 37 of 43 cases, and the average time to union was 9.5 months, with an average of 8.7 procedures. The mean lengths of stay were 49 days for conventional bone grafts and 62 days for vascularized bone grafts. All of the 50 patients were able to walk, with an average time of 14 months. All of the patients with amputations underwent prosthetic rehabilitation. Patients mostly complained about the reconstructed limb (62.8 percent). Joint stiffness was present in 40 percent of the cases. Other long-term complications were pain (nine cases), lack of sensation (five cases), infection (five cases), and pseudarthrosis (one case). However, all of the patients with successful reconstructions preferred their salvaged leg to an amputation. Of 41 patients who were working before the injury, 26 returned to work.

reverse Dorsal Digital and Metacarpal Flaps: A Review of 27 Cases

Reverse dorsal digital and metacarpal flaps use the dorsal skin of the digital or metacarpal areas, and they are based on the arterial branches anastomosing the volar and dorsal arterial networks of the fingers. These flaps are transposed as reverse island flaps. Dissection of the flap is easy, fast, and preserves the collateral nerve and artery to the fingertip. A series of 27 flaps is reviewed, with more than 6 months of follow-up. Skin defects in all patients were located over or beyond the proximal interphalangeal joint as far as the fingertip and were combined with bone, joint, or tendon exposure. The flaps we used were reliable, and a joint or extensor tendon reconstruction could be performed at the same time. Patients were discharged the day after surgery and allowed to mobilize the finger early. No flap necrosis was observed, and donor site morbidity was minimal; primary closure or a skin graft was used in all patients. These flaps combine the advantages of an extended skin paddle and a versatile pivot point on the phalanx, and they allow coverage of wide and distal defects. When conventional local flaps are inadequate, this fast and simple procedure should be considered for its reliability and low associated morbidity.

Soleus-fibula free transfer in lower limb reconstruction.

Free-fibula transfer has been widely used since 1975. Many modifications have been described; one of them, association of the lateral part of the soleus muscle to the fibula, is reported here through a 14-case series. This composite flap is intended for extensive defects of the lower limbs involving bone and soft tissues. The flap is considered by the authors to be reliable, with a constant vascularization. A 20-cm length of fibula may be harvested associated either with the lateral part of the soleus muscle or with the whole muscle. Moreover, the soleus muscle represents a vascular security inasmuch as it preserves both medullar and periosteal bone supply. Fourteen cases have been performed by the authors since 1978 and could be reviewed with a minimum 2-year follow-up. Average length of bone defect was 12 cm, and average length of fibula harvested was 18.6 cm. Soft-tissue defect was always associated and ranged from 8 × 4 cm to 20 × 30 cm. The fibula was harvested with the lateral part of the soleus muscle in 10 cases and with the whole soleus muscle in 4 cases. One total treatment failure was reported and was related to intimal degenerative lesions on veins used for arteriovenous bypass. In other patients, mean time for bone healing was 11 months. Patients could walk again, on average, 17 months after reconstruction. Sequelae at the donor site were minimal.

Internal use of n-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate (Indermil) for wound closure: an experimental study.

n-Butyl 2-cyanoacrylate glue (Indermil) was used for the closure of dorsal wounds on rabbits. A 4-cm-long and 1-cm-wide laceration was created bilaterally on the back of 15 rabbits. One side was closed with absorbable 2-0 subcutaneous sutures and fast absorbable 3-0 skin sutures, whereas the other side was closed with cyanoacrylate glue applied on both deep and superficial tissues. A partial wound dehiscence occurred on the glue side in one animal at 2 weeks. The animal was killed at this time and considered a bad result in the glue group. In all other animals, no seroma, partial dehiscence, or wound infection occurred. Histopathologic analysis revealed that Indermil induced edema and a mild acute inflammatory reaction and resorbed almost completely within 2 months when applied to well-vascularized tissues. The application of glue on the cutaneous wound edges is a fast and easy procedure that does not seem to delay or inhibit the healing process or its quality.

Vascular Blood Supply of the Dorsal Side of the Thumb, First Web and Index Finger: Anatomical Study

Twenty-nine hands were dissected in order to define the dorsal blood supply of the thumb, the first web and the index finger. The main objective was to determine if it is possible to create a local osteocutaneous flap to cover partial and complex tissue defects in the distal part of the thumb. We found that the thumb metacarpal could be used as a donor site in these situations, with either a radiodorsal pedicle or an ulnadorsal pedicle.

The quadrifoliate flap: a combination of scapular, parascapular, latissimus dorsi and scapula bone flaps

A short arm stump was lengthened with a composite flap with four different tissue units based on the subscapular artery.

Reconstruction of short lower leg stumps with the osteomusculocutaneous latissimus dorsi-rib flap.

&NA; To avoid a more proximal amputation at the distal part of the thigh, and when the knee joint is preserved, it is possible to lengthen short lower leg stumps. The authors report five cases in which the latissimus dorsi‐rib flap was used to achieve a satisfactory functional prosthetic result. The bone segment is long enough to both lengthen the stump and allow its extremities to be firmly fixed to the tibia. Depending on the remaining tibia length, one or two ribs were included in the flap. The procedure allowed achievement of a 5‐cm to 9‐cm lengthening of the tibia. Bone healing time was 5 to 6 months and allowed prosthetic rehabilitation and ambulating 5 to 7 months after surgery. Final range of motion of the knee joint is compatible with normal ambulating, and the prosthesis is well tolerated. This procedure, which provides a large amount of skin, muscle, and bone, is very effective for reconstruction of short lower leg stumps. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 109: 1013, 2002.)

DORSO-ULNAR OSTEOCUTANEOUS REVERSE FLOW FLAP OF THE THUMB

Three cases of distal thumb reconstruction with a reverse pedicled osteocutaneous flap taken from the dorso-ulnar aspect of the first metacarpal are presented. Even though the indications are rare, this flap is useful for the reconstruction of distal osteocutaneous defects of the thumb where more complex procedures are not feasible or considered as excessive.

Second to third phalanx vascularized bone transfer.

T ideal fingertip reconstruction should provide no pain in daily activities, good sensibility, and excellent aesthetic recovery. Achieving the above criteria has always been a formidable challenge for plastic surgeons, but many problems have not been solved satisfactorily, particularly in case of distal phalanx bone loss. In fact, historically, bony grafts often present problems of resorption, especially if inserted “on top” rather than between bones.1–4 Allograft demineralized bone may also be used but does not represent the first-choice treatment in many cases.5 Recently, because of dissatisfaction with the functional and aesthetic results, microsurgical free flaps were introduced.6,7 However, the significant variability in the functional outcome and the donor-site morbidity make long-term results sometimes disappointing.8–10 The aim of the present case report is to demonstrate that a new surgical technique using a middle phalanx reverse pedicle bone flap allows, in some selected cases, complete reconstruction of the distal bone phalanx, with a good functional and aesthetic result.

One-stage complete phalloplasty with forearm free flap after severe electrical burns

The development of techniques for phalloplasty has paralleled the evolution of flap development in reconstructive surgery itself. Gillies and Harrison,1 in 1948, were among the first to take up the challenge. They used two abdominal tubes in a multistage procedure, taking several months to reconstruct a phallus. Tubed pedicled skin flaps were followed by local myocutaneous flaps.2–6 Because of dissatisfaction with the length of time, number of operative procedures, and functional and aesthetic results, in the mid-1980s, microsurgical free flaps were introduced.7–10 The aims of penile reconstruction are to enable urination in the standing position; to enable sexual intercourse; and to reconstruct an aesthetically acceptable penis, with adequate tactile, protective, and, ideally, erogenous sensation. Construction of a phallus with the above criteria has always been a formidable surgical challenge, and many problems have not been solved satisfactorily, even with the introduction of free-flap transfer.