OBJECTIVE: To provide a new reconstructive method to treat refractory ulcers on the sole of the forefoot. METHODS: The reversed medial plantar flap with the medial plantar pedal artery and vein as pedicle was used to treat the refractory ulcers on the sole of the forefoot in 5 cases. The size of the flap was 3.5-5.0 cm x 4.0-5.5 cm. The deformities were corrected at the same time and the flaps were protected after operation. RESULTS: All flaps survived without complications. There was no recurrence after 6-month following-up. The patients could walk. CONCLUSION: The distal ends of medial plantar pedal artery and vein have plenty anastomoses with dorsal pedal artery and deep plantar arch. The reversed medial plantar flap has reliable blood supply by these anastomoses. The reversed medial plantar flap should be a choice in treating refractory ulcers on the sole of the forefoot.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics of motorcycle spoke heel injury and the effectiveness of sequential therapy of vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) and pedicled flap transplantation for treating motorcycle spoke heel injury in children. MethodsBetween January 2010 and January 2014, 15 children (aged from 3 to 8 years, 5.7 years on average) with motorcycle spoke heel injury received sequential therapy of VSD and pedicled flap transplantation. The interval from injury to admission was 3-7 days, with an average of 4.9 days. The locations were the heel in 8 cases, the heel and lateral malleolus in 2 cases, and the medial malleolus and medial heel in 4 cases, and the medial and lateral malleolus and heel in 1 case. The patients had different degrees of defects of the skin, tendon, and bone. The skin defect size ranged from 3 cm×3 cm to 13 cm×6 cm. VSD was applied for twice in 13 cases and three times in 2 cases. Reversed flow sural flap was applied in 8 cases, lateral supramalleolar flap in 2 cases, medial supramalleolar perforator-based flaps in 4 cases, and posterior tibial artery flap in 1 case. Eight pedicled flaps with neuroanastomosis were selected according to the wound characteristics. The flap size ranged from 4 cm×4 cm to 14 cm×7 cm. ResultsOf 15 cases, 13 flaps survived well except that two had partial skin necrosis at the distal site. Primary healing was obtained, and skin graft at donor site survived. The patients were followed up 9-21 months (mean, 13 months). Mild and moderate bulky flaps were observed in 9 cases and 6 cases respectively. Of 15 cases, 13 could walk with weight loading, and 2 had slight limping. Superficial sensation recovered to S3 in 8 patients undergoing neuroanastomosis, and recovered to S2 in 7 patients not undergoing neuroanastomosis at 6 months after operation. According to AOFAS evaluation system for Ankle-Hindfoot, the results were excellent in 13 cases and good in 2 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 100% at 8 months after operation. ConclusionThe main characteristic of motorcycle spoke heel injury lies in a combination of high energy damage and thermal damage. Sequential therapy of VSD and pedicled flap transplantation can be regarded as a reliable option to obtain good outcome of wound healing and satisfactory functional recovery for the management of motorcycle spoke heel injury.
ObjectiveTo summarize the effectiveness and experience of Wanger grade 3-5 diabetic foot treated with vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) combined with transverse tibial bone transport.MethodsBetween March 2015 and January 2018, 21 patients with refractory diabetic foot who failed conservative treatment were treated with VSD combined with transverse tibial bone transport. There were 15 males and 6 females, aged 55-88 years (mean, 65 years). The diabetes history was 8-15 years (mean, 12.2 years). The duration of diabetic foot ranged from 7 to 84 days (mean, 35.3 days). The size of diabetic foot ulcer before operation ranged from 2 cm×2 cm to 8 cm×5 cm. According to Wanger classification, 8 cases were rated as grade 3, 11 cases as grade 4, and 2 cases as grade 5. Among the 21 cases, angiography of lower extremity before operation was performed in 5 cases, CT angiography of lower extremity in 16 cases, all of which indicated that the arteries below the knee were narrowed to varying degrees and not completely blocked. Preoperative foot skin temperature was (29.28±0.77)℃, C-reactive protein was (38.03±31.23) mg/L, leukocyte count was (9.44±2.21)×109/L, and the visual analogue scale (VAS) score was 6.8±1.5, and ability of daily living (Barthel index) was 54.3±10.3.ResultsAfter operation, 2 patients with Wanger grade 4 and smoking history failed treatment and had an major amputation (amputation above ankle joint) at 30 days and 45 days after operation, respectively. One patient with Wanger grade 5 and chronic heart failure died of cardiac arrest at 60 days after operation. The remaining 18 patients were followed up 6-24 months (mean, 9.2 months). The external fixator was removed at 40-62 days after operation, with an average of 46 days. All the wounds healed, with a healing time of 50-120 days (mean, 62.5 days). The pain of 18 patients’ feet was relieved obviously, and there was no recurrence of ulcer in situ or other parts. There was no complication such as tibial fracture and ischemic necrosis of lower leg skin after operation. After ulcer healing, the foot skin temperature was (30.86±0.80)℃, C-reactive protein was (22.90±18.42) mg/L, VAS score was 2.4±1.2, and Barthel index was 77.3±4.6, all showing significant differences when compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05); the leukocyte count was (8.91±1.72)×109/L, showing no significant difference (t=1.090, P=0.291).ConclusionVSD combined with transverse tibial bone transport can effectively promote the healing of Wanger grade 3-5 diabetic foot wounds, but smokers, unstable blood glucose control, and chronic heart failure patients have the risk of failure.