Ten cases of neurotmesis of posterior interosseous nerve of the forearm were treated with mierosurgical technique from Aug, 1988 to Oct. 1990, of which, 4 cases by autogenous nerve graft and 6 cases by direct neurosuture. Eight cases have been followed-up from 4 months to 1 year after operation concerning with satisfactory results. Some questions the diagnosis, the points for attention in operation, and the relation of the results and the time when the operation done were discussed. The comparison of the results and the recovery time between the autogenous-nerve graft and direct neurosuture was made.
A total of 15 amputated adult upper limbs were used for this experiment by arterial infusion of Chengdu ink in 10% formalin, followed by dissection of the specimens, and then undergoing the process of making the specimens transparent. The speciments were immersed in winter-green oil, and the vascular architecture at the different levels of the flexor tendon of fingers were observed under surgical microscope. It was noted that the vascular supply of the flexor tendons of the fingers had a regular pattern: a richer blood vessels inside te tendon sheath were distributed eccentrically over the tendon; the blood vessels in the interior of the tendon located in the connecive tessues in between the tendon fascicules; the longitudinal blood vessels in the interior of the tendon did not run through the entire length of the tendon, but rather segmentally.
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.
ObjectiveTo investigate the management strategies of clavicular fracture combined with brachial plexus injury and its effectiveness. MethodsBetween January 2006 and January 2012, 27 cases of clavicular fracture combined with brachial plexus injury were treated. There were 18 males and 9 females, aged 18-42 years (mean, 25.3 years). The causes of injury were traffic accident in 12 cases, falling from height in 10 cases, bruise in 3 cases, machinery injury in 2 cases. According to the Robinson classification, the clavicular fractures were rated as type Ⅰ in 2 cases, as typeⅡin 20 cases, and as type Ⅲ in 5 cases; there were 12 cases of total brachial plexus root avulsion injury, 10 cases of bundle branch injury, and 5 cases of hematoma formation and local nerve compression or injury. The injury to operation time was 6 hours to 14 days (mean, 4 days). Brachial plexus injury was repaired by epineurium neurolysis, nerve anastomosis, or nerve transposition after the exploration of the plexus; and fracture was fixed after open reduction. Sensory grading standard (S0-S4) by UK Medical Research Council (MRC) was used to evaluate the recovery of sensory function, and muscle strength grading standard (M0-M5) by MRC to evaluate the innervating muscle strength. ResultsThe incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 18-36 months (mean, 26.3 months). All fracture achieved cl inical healing at 12-17 weeks (mean, 15 weeks). No complication of loosening or breakage of internal fixation occurred. The patients had no pain of shoulder in abduction. At 18 months after operation, the shoulder abduction was more than or equal to 60° in 8 cases, 30-60° in 8 cases, and less than 30° in 11 cases. The recovery of biceps muscle strength was more than or equal to M3 in 18 cases and less than M3 in 9 cases; the recovery of wrist flexion or flexor muscle strength was more than or equal to M3 in 13 cases and less than M3 in 14 cases. The sensory function recovery of median nerve was S3 in 14 cases, S1-S2 in 9 cases, and S0 in 4 cases. The shoulder abduction, elbow and wrist flexor motor function did not recover in 2 patients with total brachial plexus root avulsion injury. ConclusionIt is beneficial to the recovery of nerve function to early repair of the brachial plexus injury by exploration of the plexus combined with open reduction and fixation of clavicular fractures, the short-term effectiveness is good.
OBJECTIVE To introduce a skin flap containing the middle cutaneous branch of the medial plantar artery. METHODS Microanatomic study was performed on 8 fresh cadaveric feet, the arteries were dissected and infused with methylene blue to observe their vascular distribution and the skin area supplied by the middle cutaneous branch. Furthermore, the clinical application was reported. A local pedicled flap containing the middle cutaneous branch was used to repair the soft tissue defects of the foot in 7 patients, and free cutaneous graft was used to repair the skin defects of the fingers in 6 patients. RESULTS The results showed that the medical plantar artery gave off 3 cutaneous branches to supply the medial aspect of the foot, among which the middle branch was the largest one and anastomosed with the other two branches. The skin flaps used clinically were all survived completely. CONCLUSION Medial plantar cutaneous graft had a reliable blood supply, and it’s one of the best choice in repairing small to middle sized skin defects of the foot and the fingers.
ObjectiveTo analyse the microsurgical treatment and facial nerve preservation of giant acoustic neuromas. MethodsUnder the conditions of facial nerve monitoring, 400 patients with giant acoustic neuromas underwent microsurgical removal via suboccipital retrosigmoid approach between January 2005 and January 2013. There were 186 males and 214 females, with the age ranged from 15 to 74 years (mean, 41.6 years). The disease duration was 2-13 years (mean, 2.4 years). The lesions were located at the left cerebellopontine angle region (CPA) in 191 cases, right CPA in 200 cases, bilateral CPA in 9 cases. The clinical manifestations included unilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as first symptoms in 389 cases, facial numbness in 373 cases, unilateral facial paralysis in 370 cases, headache in 269 cases, lower cranial nerve symptoms with drinking cough and dysphagia in 317 cases, and unstable gait in 342 cases. Preoperative skull base thin layer CT showed varying degrees of horn-like expansion in ipsilateral internal auditory canal opening. MRI showed cysts in 78 cases and solid masses in 322 cases; with hydrocephalus in 269 cases. Postoperative cranial MRI or CT was taken to observe the extent of tumor resection. The preservation of facial nerves in anatomy was assessed by intraoperative microscope video and electrophysiological monitoring; the facial nerves function was assessed according to House-Brackmann (HB) classification on the first day after operation; and the rehabilitation of facial nerve function was also assessed at discharge and at 1 year postoperatively by using HB grade. ResultsTotal tumor removal was achieved in 372 cases (93.00%), and subtotal removal in 28 cases (7.00%). One case died of delayed brainstem ischemia at 14 days after operation, and 1 case died of lung infection at 20 days after operation; 398 cases were followed up 6 months to 8 years (mean, 3.5 years). Recurrence occurred in 1 case because of neurofibromatosis at 5 years after operation. The rate of anatomical preservation of the facial nerve during operation was 91.75% (367/400), and the functional preservation rate at the first day after operation was 62.75% (251/400). The HB grade of facial nerve function showed significant difference aomng 3 time points (at the first day, at discharge and at 1 year after operation) (χ2=23.432, P=0.000). Complications included postoperative intracranial infection in 11 cases (2.75%), cerebrospinal fluid leakage in 29 cases (7.25%), aggravated lower cranial nerve symptoms in 18 cases (4.50%), subcutaneous effusion in 13 cases (3.25%), second operation to remove hematoma in 9 cases (2.25%), postoperative circumoral herpes simplex virus infection in 25 cases (6.25%), and all complications were cured after symptomatic treatment. Postoperative hydrocephalus disappeared in 261 cases. ConclusionSurgical operation is the first choice in the treatment of giant acoustic neuromas. Under the auxiliary of neural electrophysiological monitoring, the microsurgery operation via suboccipital retrosigmoid approach for giant acoustic neuromas has extremely low mortality and high preservation rate of facial nerve function.
ObjectiveTo introduce a new method to remove the small foreign body in the hand or foot, and to discuss its feasibility and effectiveness. MethodsBetween May 2007 and March 2012, 78 patients with small foreign bodies embedded in the soft tissue of the hand or foot were treated with the method. There were 51 males and 27 females, aged from 7 to 69 years with an average of 32.5 years. The hand, wrist, and foot were involved in 48, 6, and 24 cases respectively. Foreign body type included fiberglass (57 cases), thorn (11 cases), iron (5 cases), bamboo thorn (2 cases), fishbone (2 cases), and metal needles (1 case). The time between injury and operation was 30 minutes to 16 days (mean, 2.6 days). The position and range of the foreign body were defined using the multipoint centralization method before removal surgery. The skin was cut according multipoint connection for finding small foreign body under a microscope. ResultsAll foreign bodies were successfully removed. The mean operation time was 6 minutes (range, 3-22 minutes). Healing of incision by first intention was obtained in all cases; no blood circulation disorders or infection occurred. All the patients were followed up 3 months-3 years (mean, 9 months). The distal limb had no feeling or movement disorders. ConclusionRemoval of small foreign body in soft-tissue using multipoint centralization method is safe and effective.
Objective To explore the clinical effect of different types of free tissue transplantation on repairing tissue defects and reconstructing functions. Methods From November 2001 to September 2004, 14 types of freetissue transplantation and 78 free tissue flaps were applied to repairing tissue defects and reconstructing functions in extremities and maxillofacial region in 69 cases. Of the 69 cases, there were 53 males and 16 females (their ages ranged from 18 to 56, 31 on average). Five cases were repaired because of skin defects in foot, 22 cases were repaired because of skin defects in leg, 36 cases were repaired as the result of skin defects in hand or forearm and finger reconstruction, 3 cases were restored by virtue of ulna or radius defects, and 3 cases were repaired in maxillofacial region. There were 55 cases of open wound, in which 16 cases were infectious wound, 6 cases were osteomyelitis or pyogenic arthritis. There were 14 cases of noninfectious wound. The area of these tissue flaps ranged from 2.0 cm×1.5 cm to 43.0 cm×12.0 cm. The length of bone transplantation ranged from 10 cm to 15 cm. Results Arterial crisis occurred in 2 cases, venous crisis occurred in 2 cases.Seventysix flaps survived completely and 2 flaps survived partially which werelater healed. Fiftytwo cases were healed at stageⅠ, 13 cases were healed at stageⅡ(healing time ranged from 20 to 30 days), purulent infection occurred to 4cases(healing time ranged from 3 to 11 months). Bone healing time ranged from 6 to 8 weeks in finger reconstruction. Bone healing time ranged from 4 to 6 months in fibula transplantation. The function reconstruction and appearance were satisfying. The functions of all regions, where free tissues were supplied, were not disturbed. Conclusion Tissue transplantation and composite tissue transplantation are effective in repairing tissue defects and reconstructing functions.
OBJECTIVE To improve the clinical result of repair on flexor tendon injury, and recover the defected finger function in children as far as possible. METHODS From January 1990 to October 1997, 12 cases with flexor tendon injury were repaired by microsurgical technique, sutured by modified Kessler method with 3/0 or 5/0 nontraumatic thread and followed by invering suture of the gap edge with 7/0 or 8/0 nontraumatic thread after debridement. Appropriate functional practice was performed postoperatively. RESULTS All the defected fingers were healed by first intention. Followed up 6 months to 1 year, there was excellent in 7 cases, better in 4 cases, moderate in 1 case and 91.67% in excellent rate according to the TAM standard of International Hand Committee. CONCLUSION The important measures to improve the clinical result in children’s flexor tendon injury are prompt and accurate diagnosis and repair of the injured tendon by microsurgical technique, and effective postoperative functional practice.
Microsurgery has always been the main treatment for large vestibular schwannomas. With the progress of microsurgical technique and neuroimaging, the application of the intraoperative physiological monitoring technology, as well as the popularization of the concept of minimally invasive neurosurgery, the current development trend of surgery for vestibular schwannomas is to realize both the maximal tumoral resection and the maximal preservation of facial nerve function, which puts more emphasis on the improvement of quality of life. It is still a challenge for neurosurgeons to resect the tumor to the maximum extent and preserve the nerve function as well. In view of this background, the strategy of " near-total resection” and " subtotal resection” combined with stereotactic radiotherapy has been more and more accepted in the past years. However, as a neurosurgeon, the ultimate goal should be " gross-total resection of tumor” and preservation of the nerve function as well. For those tumors severely adherent to neurovascular structure, " near total resection” might be a rational choice. Meanwhile, long-term follow-up should be conducted to clarify the biological behavior of tumor residues, as well as the necessity and long-term effect of stereotactic radiotherapy.