Objective To summarize the method and the cl inical outcome of repairing both toe extensor tendon and dorsal foot wounds with anterolateral thigh flap. Methods Between February 2007 and May 2009, 11 patients with toe extensor tendon and dorsal foot defect were treated with anterolateral thigh flap. There were 8 males and 3 females with a medianage of 45 years (range, 10-60 years). The causes of injury were sharp injury in 3 cases, machine crush injury in 3 cases, and traffic accident injury in 5 cases, including 7 cases of fresh wounds with a disease duration of 2-8 hours and 4 cases of old wounds with a disease duration of 3-15 days. The size of wound ranged from 6 cm × 5 cm to 25 cm × 15 cm. All cases compl icated by toe extensor tendon defect, which were located at the 2nd-5th toes in 1 case, 3rd-5th toes in 1 case, 2nd-4th toes in 2 cases, 2nd and 3rd toes in 3 cases, 1st and 2nd toes in 1 case, and 1st toe in 3 cases. In the first stage, the anterolateral thigh flap ranged from 8 cm × 7 cm to 27 cm × 15 cm was used to repair defect and fascia lata was used to bridge two ends of digitorum longus tendon; the donor site was sutured or repaired with the skin graft. The second stage was performed after 2-3 months, tenolysis for tendon was performed, and fascia lata was spl it into tendon-l ike shape; and the toe functional exercises were done. Results All flaps survived completely after the first stage, wounds healed by first intention; the donor skin graft survived and incisions healed by first intention. At 7 days after the second stage, marginal necrosis occurred in 3 flaps (0.5-2.0 cm in width), and healed after 15-20 days of dressing change; the other flaps survived, and incisions healed by first intention. Eight patients were followed up 12-18 months (mean, 15 months). Excepts 4 sl ight bulky flaps, the other flaps had satisfactory appearance and soft texture with two points discrimination of 1-3 cm. During the follow-up, part of the dorsiflexion function recovered in 5 patients (5-40°), andflexion function was normal; 3 dorsiflexion function disappeared without effect on the function of toe flexion, and the patients could walk normally. No toe ptosis occurred. Conclusion Appl ication of the anterolateral thigh flap can repair toe extensor tendon and dorsal foot wounds with short treatment time and less damage at the donor site, so it can avoid toe ptosis after surgery and achieve excellent cl inical results.
Objective To evaluate the results of thumb opposition function by transferring the extensor carpi ulnaris and the extensor poll icis brevis muscle tendons. Methods Between March 2006 and August 2009, 35 patients with dysfunction of thumb opposition were treated and the thumb opposition function was reconstruced by transferring the extensor carpi ulnaris and the extensor poll icis brevis muscle tendons. There were 25 males and 10 females with an average age of 33.5 years (range, 20-53 years); 20 had median nerve injury in the wrist and 15 had median nerve injury with ulnar nerve injury. The causes were sharp instrument injury in 24 cases, blunt injury in 9 cases, and hot crush injury in 2 cases. Six cases complicated by shaft fractures of radius and ulna. All the patients underwent an operation of nerve repair at 1 to 3 hours after injury (mean, 2 hours). The time from injury to reconstructing operation was 6-14 months (mean, 7.5 months). Two cases was able to abduct thumb sl ightly, the others had no functions of thumb abduct and thumb opposition. Results All the wounds gained the primary healing. The patients were followed up 12-18 months (mean, 14 months). The wrist joint angle and thumb dorsal extension were satisfactory. Thumb abduct and thumb opposition function returned to normal in 20 patients with simple median nerve injury; in 15 patients with median nerve injury and ulnar nerve injury, thumb abduct and thumb opposition function returned to normal in 15 and 13, respectively. According to ZHAO Shuqiang’s standard, the results of thumb opposition function were normal in all patients at 12 months after operation. Conclusion It is a convenient and efficient procedure to reconstruct thumb opposition function by transferring the extensor carpi ulnaris and the extensor poll icis brevis muscle tendons.
Objective To assess the long-time results of reconstruction of the extensor pollicis longus (EPL) function by transfer of the extensorindicis(EI). Methods From August 1978 to March 2003, 46 cases of loss of the EPL function were treatedby transfer of the extensor indicis. Of 46 cases, there were 32 males and 14 females, aged 16-51 years with an average of 36 years; there were 24 cases of oldtraumatic rupture and 22 cases of secondary rupture. The disease course was 2 days to 5 months, averaged 74 days. A specific EIEPL evaluation method (SEEM) wasused to measure the EPL function after transfer.Results Fortyone cases were followed up 9 years and 3 months on average (7 months to 23 years). Based on the SEEM, the results were excellent and good in 39 of 41 patients. The elevation deficit and combined flexion deficit were 0-2.2 cm (1.8 cm on average) and 0-3 cm (1.6 cm on average); the independent extension deficit was 0°-8° (5° on average). Conclusion Restoration of the extensor pollicis function by transfer of the extensor indicis is an effective and safe treatment option and the SEEM is a valid method for assessing EPL function.
ObjectiveTo discuss the effectiveness of operative treatments for different kinds of old injury of extensor tendon in zone II so as to choose the best surgical approach based on the classification of injury. MethodsBetween May 2006 and May 2014, 68 cases of old injury of extensor tendon in zone II were treated. Among them, there were 50 males and 18 females with an average age of 36 years (range, 18-52 years). The causes included contusion injury in 50 cases, avulsion injury in 11 cases, and burn injury in 7 cases. The left side was involved in 21 cases and the right side in 47 cases. The injured finger involved the index finger in 18 cases, the middle finger in 21 cases, the ring finger in 24 cases, and the little finger in 5 cases. The disease duration was 1.5 months to 1 year (mean, 6.75 months). The central slip of extensor was repaired directly in 32 patients who had normal passive motion. Side cross stitch (8 cases) or Littler-Eaton (10 cases) method was used in 18 patients who can not extend actively and passively. Tendon graft was performed in 11 patients with tendon defect. Joint release was given in 7 patients with contracture after burn injury. ResultsPrimary healing of incision was obtained in all cases. Sixty-eight cases were followed up 3-12 months (mean, 6.9 months). Three cases had tendon adhesion in varying degrees and suffered from pain, which was treated conservatively by functional exercise. Recurrence was observed in 2 cases, and extensor tendon was repaired again. According to total active motion (TAM) function assessment, the results were excellent in 52 cases, good in 11 cases, fair in 3 cases, and poor in 2 cases with an excellent and good rate of 92.6%. ConclusionAdaptive operation method for old injury of extensor tendon in zone II should be selected based on the type of injury. The results will be satisfactory if correct method is chosen.
ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of absorbable anchor combined with Kirschner wire fixation in the reconstruction of extension function of old mallet finger. MethodsBetween January 2020 and January 2022, 23 cases of old mallet fingers were treated. There were 17 males and 6 females with an average age of 42 years (range, 18-70 years). The cause of injury included sports impact injury in 12 cases, sprain in 9 cases, and previous cut injury in 2 cases. The affected finger included index finger in 4 cases, middle finger in 5 cases, ring finger in 9 cases, and little finger in 5 cases. There were 18 patients of tendinous mallet fingers (Doyle type Ⅰ), 5 patients were only small bone fragments avulsion (Wehbe type ⅠA). The time from injury to operation was 45-120 days, with an average of 67 days. The patients were treated with Kirschner wire to fix the distal interphalangeal joint in a mild back extension position after joint release. The insertion of extensor tendon was reconstructed and fixed with absorbable anchors. After 6 weeks, the Kirschner wire was removed, and the patients started joint flexion and extension training. Results The postoperative follow-up ranged from 4 to 24 months (mean, 9 months). The wounds healed by first intention without complications such as skin necrosis, wound infection, and nail deformity. The distal interphalangeal joint was not stiff, the joint space was good, and there was no complication such as pain and osteoarthritis. At last follow-up, according to Crawford function evaluation standard, 12 cases were excellent, 9 cases were good, 2 cases were fair, and the good and excellent rate was 91.3%. Conclusion Absorbable anchor combined with Kirschner wire fixation can be used to reconstruct the extension function of old mallet finger, which has the advantages of simple operation and less complications.
In order to investigate the effect of repair of paratendon in tendon healing, two different ways were performed to repair the transected extensor tendons of chick’s toe. End to end suture of the extensor tenon was performed in group 1 while the paratendon was also repaired simultaneously in addition to suture of the tendon in group 2. Gross observation and histological examination were undertaken in the 3rd and 6th week after operation. The result showed, in group 1, extensive adhesion and irregular proliferation of fibroblasts was found in the 3rd week, severe adhesion and irregular arrangement of fibroblasts with less collagen fiber was found in the 6th week; while in group 2, smooth and regular "fusiform structure" was formed, slight adhesion and regular proliferation of fibroblasts were found in the 3rd week, adhesion disappeared and the structure of paratendon and tondon recovered in the 6th week. It was concluded that repair of extensor tendon and paratendon simultaneously could promote the intrinsic tendon healing and prevent tendon adhesion.
In this article it was reported that there were 14 patients sufferingfrom traumatic or spontaneous rupt-ure of tendon of extensor pollicislongus at the level of the 3rd comp-artment of the dorsal aspect of thewrist where repair by direct suturecould not be used of the Listertubercle which might cause adhesionand re-rupture of the repaired tendon.It was proposed that this tendonrupture could be repaired by transferof extensor indicis proprius tendon.Of the 14 cases, 10 of them werefollowed with on average of 4.5 tears. The range of flexion and extension of the thumb all returned to normal with little disturbance of the motion of the index finger.