Fiftyone thumbs with complete or partial loss of the distal segment in 50 patients has been reconstructed with transplantation of great or second toe by microsurgical technique from 1985 to 1993. All cases were survived and regained favourable functions. Ninteen cases had been followup after operation, with an average of 51 months. In the group Ⅱ° of thumb loss, the overall functional impairment inproved from 11% to 1.7%, and in the remaining cases, from 5% to 0%. Sensation examination found S+3 in 42%, S4 in 37% and the two point discrimination between 4mm to 10mm. The merits of reconstruction of the distal thumb segment was stated and emphasized. The choice of operative procedures, the advantagesof emergency reconstruction, the selection emphasized of anastomosis site of blood vessels and the complications and sequelae of the donor foot were discussed in detaill.
Objective To evaluate the function of the reconstructed thumbs and the donor feet after thumb reconstructions with modified wrap-around flap. Methods A total of 65 patients who accepted thumb reconstruction with the modified wrap-around flap between January 2003 and October 2007 were followed up, including 54 males and 11 females with an average age of 33 years (range 15-46 years). There were 12 cases of skin degloving injury and late class I B defect, 44 cases of class II defect and 9 cases of class III A defect. The reconstructed thumbs and donor feet were examined andevaluated. Foot function index-verbal rating scales (FFI-5pt), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) forhallux metatarsophalangeal-interphalangeal score, gait analysis and dynamic pedobarography were conducted to 20 patients who were followed up recently. Results Sixty-five patients were followed up 6-60 months with an average of 22 months. The reconstructed thumbs had aesthetic appearance and satisfactory range of motion. The two-point discrimination was (9.7 ± 2.8) mm, showing statistically significant difference (P lt; 0.05) when compared with that of the contralateral normal thumb [(4.2 ± 1.1) mm]. Full or most length of the donor toes were preserved in 63 patients. The width of remaining plantar strip skin that covered the plantar weight-bearing area was (24.5 ± 3.7) mm, and its two-point discrimination was (9.0 ± 2.6) mm; showing no statistically significant difference (P gt; 0.05) when compared with that of contralateral normal one [(8.1 ± 1.9) mm]. Of the 20 patients who were followed up recently, the evaluation of the FFI-5pt score showed that the pain scale score was 5.6 ± 4.5, the disabil ity scale score was 1.2 ± 2.7, and the FFI-5pt total scale score was 3.2 ± 2.9. The results of AOFAS cl inical rating scale showed that the pain scale score was 34.0 ± 5.0, the function scale score was 38.7 ± 4.2, the al igment scale score was 15.0 ± 0, and the total AOFAS scale score was 87.7 ± 7.4. There was no statistically significant difference (P gt; 0.05) in the durations of subphases of the gait cycle between the donor foot and the contralateral normal foot, and in the peak force and force-time integral of the two whole foot. The peak force of the donor toe was significantly smaller than that of the contralateral normal toe (P lt; 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the peak pressure (P gt; 0.05); and there were no significant differences in the peak forcesand peak pressures of other six anatomical sites of the two feet (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion Using the modified wrap-around flap for thumb reconstruction, aesthetic and functional thumbs can be obtained, and most of the function of the donor feet can be preserved.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of dorsalis pedis flap series-parallel big toe nail composite tissue flap in the repairment of hand skin of degloving injury with tumb defect. MethodsBetween March 2009 and June 2013, 8 cases of hand degloving injury with thumb defect caused by machine twisting were treated. There were 7 males and 1 female with the mean age of 36 years (range, 26-48 years). Injury located at the left hand in 3 cases and at the right hand in 5 cases. The time from injury to hospitalization was 1.5-4.0 hours (mean, 2.5 hours). The defect area was 8 cm×6 cm to 15 cm×11 cm. The thumb defect was rated as degree I in 5 cases and as degree II in 3 cases. The contralateral dorsal skin flap (9 cm×7 cm to 10 cm×8 cm) combined with ipsilateral big toe nail composite tissue flap (2.5 cm×1.8 cm to 3.0 cm×2.0 cm) was used, including 3 parallel anastomosis flaps and 5 series anastomosis flaps. The donor site of the dorsal flap was repaired with thick skin grafts, the stumps wound was covered with tongue flap at the shank side of big toe. ResultsVascular crisis occurred in 1 big toe nail composite tissue flap, margin necrosis occurred in 2 dorsalis pedis flap;the other flaps survived, and primary healing of wound was obtained. The grafted skin at dorsal donor site all survived, skin of hallux toe stump had no necrosis. Eight cases were followed up 4-20 months (mean, 15.5 months). All flaps had soft texture and satisfactory appearance;the cutaneous sensory recovery time was 4-7 months (mean, 5 months). At 4 months after operation, the two-point discrimination of the thumb pulp was 8-10 mm (mean, 9 mm), and the two-point discrimination of dorsal skin flap was 7-9 mm (mean, 8.5 mm). According to Society of Hand Surgery standard for the evaluation of upper part of the function, the results were excellent in 4 cases, good in 3 cases, and fair in 1 case. The donor foot had normal function. ConclusionDorsalis pedis flap series-parallel big toe nail composite tissue flap is an ideal way to repair hand skin defect, and reconstructs the thumb, which has many advantages, including simple surgical procedure, no limitation to recipient site, soft texture, satisfactory appearance and function of reconstructing thumb, and small donor foot loss.
Objective To introduce the free multiple flaps of lowerextremity based on the anterior tibital vascular pedicle for primary repair of the complex burned hand deformities.Methods From September 2000 to February 2003, the lateral leg flap, dosalis pedis flap and trimmed first toe based on the anterior tibial vascular pedicle were utilized to reconstruct the thumb and repair the first web, thenar, wrist or palmar scar contracture simultaneously in 6 patients. The flap size of lateral leg and dosalis pedis ranged from 4 cm×10 cm to 7 cm×10 cm and from 5 cm×10 cm to 9 cm×12 cm, respectively.Resutls Six cases were treated and followed up for 6 weeks to 1 year. The transplanted flaps survived with satisfactory recovery in function and appearance of theburned hand. The function of donor lower extremity was not damaged. Conclusion The procedure of the free multiple flaps of lower extremity based on the anterior tibial vascular pedicle is reliable and effective for primaryrepair of burned hand.
OBJECTIVE In order to inquire the methods of thumb reconstruction by transferring the index finger with incomplete conditions of nerve or blood vessels. METHODS From April 1987 to October 1997, 6 cases were treated by 3 kinds of operative methods according to the damage type of thumb and complications injures of the rest of hand: 1. transferring the index finger with pedicle without proximal phalanx, 2. transferring the index finger with palmar nerve and blood vessels, and dorsal skin pedicle, 3. transferring the index finger with compound pedicle. RESULTS All 6 cases of thumb reconstruction were successful. Followed up 6 months to 2 years, the pinching and gribing functions in 6 cases were completely recovered, and the sensation were partly recovered. CONCLUSION The operative method of thumb reconstruction had following advantages: Simple operation, high survival rate and certain function recovery. It can enlarge the indications of thumb reconstruction.
Objective To evaluate a new reconstruction method for grades Ⅴ and Ⅵ defect with flap by skin soft tissue expansion technique. Methods From May 1998to September 2003, 8 cases of serious thumb defect were treated, including 6 males and 2 females, aging 18-27 years. The defect was caused by crush injury ofmachine in 6 cases and hot crush injury in 2 cases( 5 cases of grade Ⅴ and 3 cases of grade Ⅵ). The expander was placed under the tenor skin and softtissue.And then normal saline was infused to expand the skin and soft tissue graduallytill it was available for thumb reconstruction. Iliac autograft was fixed to residual thumb stump and covered with flap produce by expanded skin and soft-tissue.Postoperative rehabilitation was carried out. Results Allreconstructed thumbs were alive. After3-24 months follow-up, all reconstructed thumbs were with good sensation, appearance and durable. Twopoint discrimination was less than 5 mm. The functions of opposition, extend, abduction and endoduction were better in grade Ⅴ thumb defect than in grade Ⅵ thumb defect. Bone union was achieved within 3 to 4 months. Conclusion It is a convenient-to-operate and reliablemethod for thumb reconstruction. It is an alternative new reconstruction methodfor grades Ⅴ and Ⅵ thumb defect.
The replantation of amputated finger (or limb) and the reconstruction of the thumb and fingers started in 1960s in China. With the development of microsurgical techniques, both finger replantation and reconstruction achieved worldwide significant success. And now it is not the survival rate but the function of replanted finger that attracted more attention. Moreover, the breakthrough of particular type of digital replantation has broadened its indications. In terms of reconstruction, not only that a great deal of experiences in dealing with different types of thumb defects was accumulated, but also more micro-surgeons focus on minimal invasion and reducing the damage to the donor area.