Journal of plastic surgery and hand surgery
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J Plast Surg Hand Surg · Dec 2012
Experience of 56 patients using a retrograde sural neurovascular flap to repair lower limb tissue defects.
This study was made to investigate the clinical effects of repairing lower limb defects with an improved retrograde sural nerve flap. From November 1996 to September 2010, a total of 56 patients with soft-tissue defects of the lower limb received improved retrograde sural neurocutaneous flap repair. There were 21 women and 35 men ranging in age from 12-73 years (average age 45.9). ⋯ Through clinical treatment of the 56 patients, good experience was accumulated. The operation methods made the flap blood supply more abundant, improved the survival rate, and retained the sensory function of the donor site of the lower limb flap. This reduced the damage to the donor site and made the operation safer.
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J Plast Surg Hand Surg · Dec 2012
Open accurate reduction for irreducible mallet fractures through a new pulp traction technique with primary tendon repair.
Sixteen patients with bony mallet fingers were treated by a new technique of open reduction through a T-shaped dorsal incision and oblique wire fixation via pulp traction with additional primary extensor repair. Surgical indications included fractures with intra-articular involvement over 1/3 of the articular surface, distal phalanx subluxation, and displacement greater than 3 mm irreducible by extension block pinning. The cases were analysed prospectively for a mean follow-up period of 12 months. ⋯ Eleven cases were evaluated as excellent, three cases as good, and two cases as fair. Complications included three cases with transient nail deformity, two cases with flexion limitation of 5° and 10°, and three cases with extension lag between 5°-10°. This new method of accurate reduction achieves good clinical outcomes, with comparatively less complications in mallet fractures irreducible to closed extension block reduction.
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J Plast Surg Hand Surg · Sep 2012
Axillary nerve injury in young adults--an overlooked diagnosis? Early results of nerve reconstruction and nerve transfers.
An injury to the axillary nerve from a shoulder trauma can easily be overlooked. Spontaneous functional recovery may occur, but occasionally reconstructive surgery is required. The time frame for nerve reconstruction procedures is from a neurobiological view crucial for a good functional outcome. ⋯ Functional recovery was observed in 9/10 cases (median follow up 11 months, range 7-64) with EMG signs of reinnervation in seven patients. Axillary nerve function should not be overlooked in young patients with a minor shoulder trauma. Nerve reconstruction can successfully recreate function.
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We treated fingertips injured through the proximal half of the nail bed using artificial dermis in 22 patients from 2004 to 2009. We classified the injuries to the nail bed into three types according to where the wounds were. ⋯ Regeneration and elongation of the nail was achieved in every patient by applying artificial dermis. All patients were satisfied with the results.
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J Plast Surg Hand Surg · Apr 2012
ReviewImportance of mesenchymal stem cells in autologous fat grafting: a systematic review of existing studies.
Autologous fat grafting (lipofilling) enables repair and augmentation of soft tissues and is increasingly used both in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. Autologous fat has several advantages, including biocompatibility, versatility, natural appearance, and low donor site morbidity. The main limitation is unpredictable graft resorption, which ranges from 25%-80%, probably as a result of ischaemia and lack of neoangiogenesis. ⋯ This effect of high-level enrichment with ASC is thought to have been caused by paracrine signalling, cellular differentiation, or both. The surgical and tissue handling techniques used in lipofilling are well proved, but the added effect of high-level enrichment with ex vivo expanded ASC still needs to be investigated properly in human lipofilling studies, combined with a thorough follow up and matched control groups. In conclusion, ASC-enriched lipofilling theoretically has the potential for transforming lipofilling from a relatively unpredictable intervention into one in which the resorption rate, quality of tissue, and safety can be predicted, and possibly superior to prosthetic implantation.