Objective To investigate the effect of repairing bone defect with tissue engineered bone seeded with the autologous red bone marrow (ARBM) and wrapped by the pedicled fascial flap and provide experimental foundation for cl inicalappl ication. Methods Thirty-two New Zealand white rabbits (male and/or female) aged 4-5 months old and weighing2.0-2.5 kg were used to make the experimental model of bilateral 2 cm defect of the long bone and the periosteum in the radius. The tissue engineered bone was prepared by seeding the ARBM obtained from the rabbits on the osteoinductive absorbing material containing BMP. The left side of the experimental model underwent the implantation of autologous tissue engineered bone serving as the control group (group A). While the right side was designed as the experimental group (group B), one 5 cm × 3 cm fascial flap pedicled on the nameless blood vessel along with its capillary network adjacent to the bone defect was prepared using microsurgical technology, and the autologous tissue engineered bone wrapped by the fascial flap was used to fill the bone defect. At 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after operation, X-ray exam, absorbance (A) value test, gross morphology and histology observation, morphology quantitative analysis of bone in the reparative area, vascular image analysis on the boundary area were conducted. Results X-ray films, gross morphology observation, and histology observation: group B was superior to group A in terms of the growth of blood vessel into the implant, the quantity and the speed of the bone trabecula and the cartilage tissue formation, the development of mature bone structure, the remolding of shaft structure, the reopen of marrow cavity, and the absorbance and degradation of the implant. A value: there was significant difference between two groups 8, 12, and 16 weeks after operation (P lt; 0.05), and there were significant differences among those three time points in groups A and B (P lt; 0.05). For the ratio of neonatal trabecula area to the total reparative area, there were significant differences between two groups 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after operation (P lt; 0.05), and there were significant differences among those four time points in group B (P lt; 0.05).For the vascular regenerative area in per unit area of the junctional zone, group B was superior to group A 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after operation (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Tissue engineered bone, seeded with the ARBM and wrapped by the pedicled fascial flap, has a sound reparative effect on bone defect due to its dual role of constructing vascularization and inducing membrane guided tissue regeneration.
ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility of the free descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery perforator tissue flap (fascia flap plus skin flap) to repair large soft tissue defects of the extremities and its impact on the donor site.
MethodsBetween January 2013 and February 2015, 9 cases of large tissue defects of the extremities were repaired with the free descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery perforator tissue flap. There were 8 males and 1 female, aged from 13 to 56 years (median, 36 years). The causes included traffic accident injury in 6 cases and crushing injury by heavy object in 3 cases. Soft tissue defect located at the lower limbs in 7 cases and at the upper limbs in 2 cases, including 2 cases of simple tendon exposure, 2 cases of simple bone exposure, and 5 cases of tendon and bone exposure. After debridement, the soft tissue defect area ranged from 13 cm×7 cm to 20 cm×18 cm. The tissue flaps ranged from 14 cm×8 cm to 23 cm×19 cm. The donor site was directly sutured, scalp graft was used to cover the fascia flap.
ResultsAfter operation, partial necrosis of the skin grafting on the fascia flap occurred in 2 cases and healed after dressing change. Arterial crisis occurred in 1 case and the flap survived after anastomosis. The other tissue flaps survived and wounds healed by first intention. The skin grafting healed by first intention in 7 cases, by second intention in 2 cases. The patients were followed up 4-24 months (mean, 10 months). The appearance and function of the tissue flaps were satisfactory, only linear scar was observed at the donor site, which had less damage and no effect on walking.
ConclusionFree descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery perforator tissue flap can repair large soft tissue defect of the extremities. The donor site can be sutured directly, which reduces damage to donor site and is accord with the principle of plastic surgery.
Objective To evaluate a modified anterolateral thigh fascial flap designed for the treatment of the soft tissue defects in the forearmsand hands. Methods From September 2000 to December 2003, a modified anterolateral thigh fascial flap combined with the intermediate split thickness skin graft was applied to the treatment of 13 patients with the soft tissue defects in the forearms or the hands. There were 8 males and 5 females, aged 19-43 years (average, 27.6 years). Three patients had a mangled injury, 4 had a belt injury, and 6 had a crush injury; 6 patients had their tissue defects on the palm side of the forearm, 6 had their tissue defects on the dorsal side of thehand, and 1 had the defect in the index finger (dorsal side of the hand). The tissue defects ranged in size from 17.5 cm×7.7 cm to 4.6 cm×3.4 cm.In addition, 4 of the patients had an accompanying fracture in the forearm or the hand,and the remaining 9 had an extenor tendon injury. All the patients underwent emergency debridement and reposition with an internal fixation for the fracture; 3-5 days after the repair of the injured nerves, muscle tendons and blood vessels, the tissue defects were repaired with the anterolateral thigh fascial flap combined with the intermediate split thickness skin graft. Results No vascular crisis developed after operation. All the flaps survived except one flap that developed a parial skin necrosis (2.0 cm ×1.0 cm) in the hand, but the skin survived after another skingrafting. The follow-up for 3-12 months revealed that all the flaps and skin grafts had a good appearance with no contracture of the skin. According to the evaluation criteria for the upper limbs recommended by the Hand Society of Chinese Medical Association, 9 patients had an excellent result, 2 had a good result, 1 had a fair result, and 1 had a poor result, with a good/excellence rate of 85%. Conclusion The modified anterolateral thigh fascial flap combined with the skin graft is one of the best methods for the treatment of the soft tissue defects in the forearms and the hands. This method has advantages of no requirement for a further flap reconstruction, no skin scar or contracture in the future, easy management for the donor site, and less wound formation.
Objective To investigate the effect of free anterolateral thigh adipofascial flap in correcting the hemifacial atrophy. Methods From January 1997 to May 2006, 35 patients suffering from hemifacial atrophy were corrected with microvascular anastomotic free anterolateral thigh adipofascial flap and other additional measures according to the symptoms of the deformities. There were 11 males and 24 females, aging 1547 years. The locations were left in 12cases and right in 23 cases. The course of disease was 4 to 28 years. Their hemifacial deformities were fairly severity. Their cheeks were depressed obviously. The X-ray films and threedimensinal CT showed the 28 patients’ skeletons were dysplasia. The size of adipofascial flap ranged from 8 cm×7 cm to 20 cm×11 cm. Donor sites weresutured directly. Results Recipient site wound of all patients healed by first intention. All adipofascial flaps survived. The donor sites healed well and no adiponecrosis occurred. Thirty-five cases were followed up for 6 months to 8 years. The faces of all patients were symmetry, and the satisfactory results were obtained. There were no donor site dysfunction. Conclusion The anterolateral thigh adipofascial flapprovides adequate tissue, easytosurvive, no important artery sacrificed and the donor scar ismore easily hidden. Combining with other auxiliary methods, it can be successfully used to correct the deformity of hemifacial atrophy.
