The experience of the treatment of 5 thoracic ulcers and 1 large and deep neck ulcer was reported. Vascularized latissimus dorsi and rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps were used to treat the ulcers with one failure. No recurrence was foundduring the followup from one to five years. In the early stage of acute inflammatory necrosis, treatment was focused on debridement. In order to remove the necrotic tissue and provide good drainage, it was not appropriate to cover the wound immediately. In the chronic stage, the radiation ulcers with their adjacent tissues should be excised. Island myocutaneous flap and axial pattern skin flap were selected to repair the wound. If the wound was too large, two flaps may be combined to cover it. No matter what kind of flap was chosen, the donor site should be far away from the ulcer.
Objective To evaluate the feasibil ity and cl inical significance of the computed tomography angiography (CTA) for the latissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) flap transplantation. Methods From September 2007 to August 2008, 3 cases of soft tissue defects in l imbs were treated with LDM flap transplantation. Three patients included 2 males and 1 female whowere 23 to 42 years old. All of soft tissue defects were caused by trauma. The locations were the forearm in 2 cases and the leg in 1 case. The area of defect was 17 cm × 8 cm-20 cm × 10 cm. All cases received CTA to observe the distribution and anastomosis of thoracodorsal artery. Subsequently, three-dimensional computer reconstruction were carried out to display the stereoscopic structure of the LDM flap and to design the LDM flap before operation. Results The anatomy characteristic of LDM flap can be displayed accurately by the three-dimensional reconstruction model. The distribution of thoracodorsal artery in 3 cases of flaps was in concordance with preoperative design completely. All the flaps were excised successfully, the area of the flap was 19 cm × 10 cm-22 cm × 12 cm. All the transferred flaps survived completely. All cases were followed up from 4 months to 12 months. The color and texture of the flaps were good. Conclusion The three-dimensional reconstructive images can provide visible, stereoscopic and dynamic anatomy for cl inical appl ication of LDM flap. The digitized three-dimensional reconstructive models of LDM flap structures can be appl ied in cl inical training and pre-operative design.
A new method of transfer of the nasolabial skin flap, the myocutaneous flap with pediculated guadratus labii superioris muscle was introduced. It was applied in 9 cases mid-face defects with satisfactory results. The applied anatomy and the its operative technique were briefly discussed.
Objective To investigate cl inical effect and prognosis of the modified sternocleidomastoid (MSCM) myocutaneous flap for reconstruction of tissue defects in patients with oral carcinomas undergoing tumorectomy. Methods From April 2001 to January 2007, 43 patients with large or medium-sized tissue defects because of oral carcinomas radical operation were treated with MSCM myocutaneous flap. There were 31 males and 12 females with an average age of 58.5 years(25-76 years). The disease course was 25 days to 14 months (4.5 months on average). There were 27 cases of well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SC), 14 cases of poorly-differentiated SC, 1 case of rhabdomyosarcoma, and 1 case of adenoid cystic carcinoma. Affected locations were tongue in 25 cases, mouth floor in 11 cases, lower gingiva in 4 cases, and buccal mucous membranes in 3 cases. According to 2002 International Union Control Cancer criterion for cl inical stage, there were 3 cases of stage I, 13 cases of stage II, 7 cases of stage III, and 20 cases of stage IV. Both the ranges of soft tissue defects and the flap were from 4 cm × 3 cm to 8 cm × 6 cm. The vital ity of the flaps and the heal ing of wounds were observed postoperatively. The function restoration of deglutition and dehisce were observed during the follow-up period. Results Necrosis of quarter MSCM myocutaneous flap occurred in 3 cases 1 week after operation, wounds healed by secondary intention after dressing; other flaps were survival. Infection with fluidify occurred at the donor site of 2 cases, wounds healed by incision and drainage; other incision at the donor sites healed primarily. No arterial or venous crisis occurred in all 43 flaps after 48 hours of operation. Thirty-nine patients were followed up for 6 months to 6 years. The 3 patients with buccal carcinoma could open their mouths normally. The function of deglutition and pronunciation were recovered in 24 patients with tongue carcinoma. Only 3 patients needed to have soft diet after operation. In 26 patients who were followed up above 2 years, oral metaplasia of the the skin flaps epithel ium was observed. Four patients and 2 patients recurred and died after 6 months and 1 year of operation, respectively.Two patients received the second operation after 6 months because of the metastatic lymph node, and survived up to now. The 2-year survival rate was 85%. Conclusion MSCM myocutaneous flap is simple to perform and effective in reconstruction of tissue defects for patients with oral carcinomas. It has active effect to recover the function of oral and axillofacial region and elevate l iving qual ity of patients.
Rectus femoris muscle of the lower abdomen was used as myocutaneous flap in the reconstruction of the breast in 4 patients, of which, in 2 cases the reconstruction was carried out immediately following the radical mastectomy for breast cancer by using trancfer of the pedicled myocutaneous flap, and in the other two cases, the vascularized free myocutaneous flap was used 2 months and 5 years after the radical mastectomy, respectively. The vascularized free myocutaneous flaps were survived, however, in the pedicled myocutaneous flap group, the fat of the flaps had liquefaction 23 weeks after operation. The latter were healed after repeated dressings. The external appearance of the 4 reconstructed breasts lookedsattisfactory. The patients wete follwed up for 10 to 18 months, 2 patients hadno ill effects, while the 2 pedicled myocutaneous flaps, in which 1 patient hadbulging of the weakened abdominal wall, and the other had lost from follow up.
Objective To study the therapeutic effect of combining vacuum seal ing drainage (VSD) with gluteus maximus myocutaneous flap on the repair of soft tissue defect caused by the resection of sacral tumors. Methods From June2007 to June 2008, 6 patients with skin and soft tissue necrosis in the sacrococcygeal region, deep infection, and formation of cavity at 3-6 weeks after sacral tumors resection were treated. There were 4 males and 2 females aged 17-51 years old. The size of skin and soft tissue defects ranged from 15 cm × 11 cm × 6 cm to 20 cm × 18 cm × 7 cm. Every patient underwent VSD treatment for 7-10 days, and the recombinant bovine bFGF was injected into the wound intermittently for 7-14 days (250-300 U/ cm2 once, twice daily). The wound was repaired by either the gluteus maximus myocutaneous flap (5 cases) or the lumbar-gluteus flap (1 case), and those flaps were 9 cm × 9 cm-20 cm × 18 cm in size. The donor site were sutured or repaired with spl itthickness skin graft. Results All the flaps survived uneventfully. The wound healed by first intention in 5 cases, but 1 case suffered from fat l iquefaction 2 weeks after operation and healed after drainage and dressing change. All the donor sites healed by first intention, and all the skin grafts survived uneventfully. All the patients were followed up for 6-10 months, there was no relapse of sacral tumor, and the flaps showed no obvious swell ing with good color and elasticity. Conclusion With fewer compl ications, the combination of VSD and gluteus maximus myocutaneous flap is a safe and rel iable operative method for repairing the skin and soft tissue defects caused by the resection of sacral tumors.
OBJECTIVE To introduce the method using the gracilis myocutaneous flaps to repair of vulvar defect after radical vulvectomy. METHODS The gracilis myocutaneous flaps were applied in 4 cases with vulvar carcinoma which located vestibule of vulva and bulk, and the carcinoma was large after radical resection to repair vulvar defect simultaneously. RESULTS The incision of 3 cases was healing by first intention, and 1 case with type II diabetes mellitus was healing by second intention. After followed up 3-6 years, 1 case was recurrent in 2 years after operation, 3 cases were survival without complication. CONCLUSION Vulvar reconstruction with the use of gracilis myocutaneous flaps in radical vulvectomy could markedly decrease the rate of complication.