Flexion contractures of fingers: Contracture elimination with trapeze-flap plasty

Scar flexion contracture of fingers is one of the most serious consequences of hand burns and patient disability after burn. Many kinds of reconstructive techniques are currently used and new procedures are being investigated. The author presents a new method of finger contracture reconstruction developed in the process of burn reconstructive operations on hands of over a thousand patients. Finger flexion contractures are caused by a semilunar fold, both sheets of which are scars. The sheets have a surface deficiency in length, which causes a contracture, and excess of skin in width, which allows contracture elimination with local flaps. The length deficiency extends from the crest of the fold to the joint rotation axis and has a trapezoid form. To compensate for skin deficiency and to address the contracture, it is necessary to convert both fold sheets into trapezoid flaps by radial incisions. Because the fold is of semilunar (crescent) shape, the flaps accept a trapezoid form. One or several pairs of the flaps are mobilized with the split fat layer from the fold's crest to the joint rotation axis level. The oppositely transposed flaps fully or partially cover the wound in the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) zone first. The remaining smaller wounds are covered with full-thickness skin grafts. The flaps have a reliable blood circulation; partial flap loss is an exception. The flap's surface does not decrease, the skin grafts shrink insufficiently, and the distant results, as a rule, are good. Two hundred and seventy-five patients were operated upon. Scar contractures were satisfactorily addressed in all patients. Incomplete extension was found in 46 patients; this was caused by interphalangeal joint injuries (ligaments, capsule, cartilage), ankylosis or boutonniere deformity.     

Methods for the surgical treatment of postburn contractures of the shoulder joint

Based on their experience with the treatment of 93 patients with postburn adduction contracture of the shoulder the authors propose a classification related with localization of scars. Marginal contractures are successfully treated by plasty with a trapezoid skin-fat flap from the axillary cavity with/without a combination with the displacement of scarry tissues or free skin plasty; the medial contracture--by one or several pairs of trapezoid skin-fat flaps cut from leaves on the sides of the scar fold; the total contracture with the absence of intact skin in adjacent fields can be adequately eliminated by mobilization a quadrangular island in projection of the dropped axillary cavity to the normal level of the cupola, fixation of narrow sides to the wound margins on the anterior and posterior surface of the humeral articulation and closure of wounds on the shoulder and chest with the splitted skin; the anterior-posterior contracture is eliminated either in the same way as the marginal one, or by cutting a quadrangular flap in the center of the axillary cavity as in the total contracture.     

Shoulder adduction contracture after burn: Anatomy and treatment with quadrangular local scar subcutaneous pedicled flap,a new approach

Background

Axillary adduction contracture is caused by scars that tightly surround the shoulder joint impairing the function of the upper limb. Due to severe scar surface deficiency, contracture release presents a challenge for surgeons since a method of release is transfer of tissue in the form of a large pedicled or free flap(s). Thus, development of simpler, less traumatic techniques, using local tissues, persists.

Methods

Anatomic studies of shoulder adduction contractures after burn (pre-operative, during surgery, post-reconstruction) were done in 346 pediatric and adult patients. All were divided into three groups according to contracture types: with edge contractures (80%), medial (6%) and total (14%). Anatomical study covered peculiarities of total contractures and possibilities for their treatment using local scarred tissue.

Results

Total contractures (48 patients) were caused by scars tightly surrounding the joint on three sides: anterior, posterior, and axillary. There were two specific forms of contracture: (a) shoulder close to the chest wall (22 of 48 patients) which was treated with thoracic pedicled or free flaps; (b) in 26 out of 48 patients a flat scar and skin graft surface laid along the shoulder and chest wall, in axillary projection, which were used for contracture release in the form of a subcutaneous pedicled quadrangular flap. The flap was mobilized only peripherally, descending to the apex of the axilla, forming the central axillary zone, and suspension of the axilla on a normal level. Wounds aside the flaps were covered with skin graft. Acceptable functional and cosmetic results were achieved in all 26 patients.

Conclusion

Total shoulder adduction contractures have two forms: (a) shoulder close/fused with the chest wall; and (b) along the chest wall and shoulder there is a flat surface, the tissue of which can be used for reconstruction in a form of scar subcutaneous pedicled quadrangular flap. Based on this flap, a new technique is described which is relatively easy to perform.     

Ankle dorsiflexion postburn scar contractures: anatomy and reconstructive techniques

Background

Postburn ankle scar contractures cause functional limitations of all lower extremities and create a serious cosmetic defect, not allowing patients to use normal foot wear, and, therefore, needing surgical reconstruction. The anatomic features of ankle dorsiflexion contractures and their treatment have been covered in the literature far less than other joint contractures, and their treatment is still a challenge for many surgeons. A common treatment method is incisional release of the contracture and defect resurfacing with skin graft. Rarely, distally based sural or free flaps and Ilizarov fixator are used.

Methods

Anatomy of postburn ankle scar contractures in 55 patients was studied and contractures were surgically treated using a specific approach and technique. Follow-up results were observed from 6 months to 16 years.

Results

According to the anatomic features, dorsiflexion scar contractures were divided into three types: edge, medial, and total. Edge contractures were caused by burns and scars located on the lateral or medial ankle surface and were characterized by the presence of the fold along the anterior edge ankle; the skin of the anterior ankle surface was not injured. Medial contractures were caused by scars located on the anterior ankle surface and were characterized by the presence of the fold along the medial ankle line. Total contractures were caused by scars tightly surrounding the ankle. In fold's sheets of edge and medial contractures there is a trapeze-shaped surface deficit in length (cause of contracture) and a surface surplus in width which allows contracture release with local trapezoid flaps. For total contractures, wide scar excision and skin grafting were indicated.

Conclusion

Three anatomic types of ankle dorsiflexion scar contractures were identified: edge, medial, and total. An anatomically justified technique for edge and medial contractures is trapeze-flap plasty; total contractures are effectively eliminated with scar excision and skin grafting.     

The windblown hand: correction of the complex clasped thumb deformity.

The complex clasped thumb deformity associated with a windblown hand requires correction of three distinct deficits: an adduction contracture of the thumb-index web space, a flexion-volar subluxation contracture of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint, and severe hypoplasia of the superficial thenar muscles. Severe contractures of the thumb web space are best released by an extensive soft-tissue release and skin coverage with a large, dorsal ration-advancement flap. The thumb metacarpophalangeal joint flexion contracture is corrected by an extensive soft-tissue release, often accompanied by metacarpophalangeal joint fusion. An opponensplasty substitutes for the lack of thenar muscle. Correction of all of the deficits is required to achieve good thumb function.     

外伤性拇指指蹼挛缩的临床分型与治疗

目的介绍外伤性拇指指蹼挛缩的临床分型与用不同皮瓣覆盖虎口挛缩处皮肤缺损的疗效。方法根据虎口挛缩的病理机制分为5种类型。Ⅰ型拇指指蹼皮肤无挛缩而拇内收肌群挛缩。Ⅱ型拇指指蹼仅有皮肤挛缩。Ⅲ型皮肤挛缩及拇内收肌群挛缩。Ⅳ型皮肤、拇内收肌群挛缩伴拇外展功能严重障碍。Ⅴ型软组织挛缩合并骨、关节损伤。针对不同类型在充分解除其挛缩因素后,为69例采用8种皮瓣转位或游离移植重建拇指指蹼。对合并拇内收肌群挛缩、拇外展功能障碍及骨、关节损伤患者,一期同时行拇对掌功能重建或矫形手术。结果67例皮瓣全部成活,2例皮瓣远端坏死。术后经3至24个月(平均7.5个月)的随访,虎口开大的优良率为85.5%。结论采用皮瓣转位或游离移植是修复严重外伤性拇指指蹼挛缩的有效方法。     

Lateral chest wall fasciocutaneous flaps in the management of burn contractures on the dorsum of the hand

Summary Post-burn contracture involving the dorsum of the hand with hyperextension and volar subluxation of the metacarpophalangeal joints of the fingers plus adduction contracture of the thumb is a crippling disability. Adequate release of such contractures leaves raw areas on the dorsum of the hand, forgers and in the first web space. Fasciocutaneous flaps from the contralateral chest wall (the lateral thoracic flap and the subaxillary flap) have been used in eight patients. The comfortable fixation position, the non-hairy nature of the flaps, the excellent vascularity and a concealed donor site, which can often be primarily closed, make these flaps attractive for the defects. Within a follow-up period of five to twelve months, all the patients returned to their previous vocation.     

Use of surgical flaps for plastic surgery in posterior adduction cicatricial contracture of the thumb

Methods of flap and combined plastics in dorsal adduction cicatricial contracture of the thumb are discussed. Different variants of plastics are substantiated on the basis of study of the anatomical features of the contracture. The formation of a commissure by a trapeziform flap of skin and fatty tissue of the palmar layer and palm is the foundation of the operation. Depending on the degree of deficiency of the cicatricial layer of the fold in the first interdigital space, the wounds to the sides of the main flap are closed with local tissues or by free dermatoplasty. The operative methods were approved in more than 200 patients and good functional and cosmetic results were produced in all of them.     

复杂指蹼挛缩和皮肤缺损的显微外科重建

目的：研究复杂指蹼挛缩和缺损的显微外科重建技术。方法：应用７种岛状皮瓣和１０种游离皮瓣重建指蹼４４例，其中应用联合移植方法同时重建虎口和拇指８例。结果：皮瓣全部成活，平均经１５个月随访，疗效优２５例，良１７例，可２例。结论：指背和手背岛状皮瓣适合修复小面积指蹼缺损，骨间背侧动脉皮瓣是修复中等指蹼创面的较佳选择，脐旁皮瓣和股前外侧皮瓣能重建大面积和不规则指蹼缺损。本组经验显示，缝合皮神经的皮瓣疗效稍优，趾蹼皮瓣重建的指蹼综合效果最佳，联合移植能有效地一期再造拇指和指蹼。     

A three-flap web-plasty for release of short congenital syndactyly and dorsal adduction contracture

This article describes a technique for interdigital web space deepening, which is applicable to incomplete syndactyly proximal to the proximal interphalangeal joint and to dorsal web space adduction contracture resulting from thermal injury. It consists of a dorsal rectangular flap and two palmar triangular flaps. The flaps are reversed to release dorsal adduction contracture. This procedure provides a broad commissure with a natural slope. A skin graft is avoided. A mathematical model shows that when the length-width ratio of the flaps is 1:1, the surface area of each flap is greater than or equal to the surface area of the defect it covers and the length of every flap edge is equal to or greater than its corresponding defect edge. If a web has a low apex angle and the skin is elastic, the length-width ratio may be as great as 1.5:1. The flaps will still cover the defects and small inequalities between certain flap and defect edges will be accommodated.     

应用改良的示指近节背侧皮瓣修复轻中度虎口挛缩

目的 介绍改良的示指近节背侧皮瓣在轻中度虎口挛缩治疗中的应用体会.方法 将原来的示指背侧岛状瓣或舌状瓣改成连同虎口一起的示指背侧局部转移皮瓣重建虎口,使皮瓣游离和虎口开大整体进行,简化了手术方法.结果 临床应用111例皮瓣全部成活,术后经3～18个月(平均8.5个月)的随访,局部外形美观,拇指功能恢复良好.虎口开大的优良率为94.6%.结论 改良的示指近节背侧皮瓣转位重建虎口是修复虎口挛缩的有效方法.     

应用改良的示指近节背侧皮瓣修复轻中度虎口挛缩

目的 介绍改良的示指近节背侧皮瓣在轻中度虎口挛缩治疗中的应用体会.方法 将原来的示指背侧岛状瓣或舌状瓣改成连同虎口一起的示指背侧局部转移皮瓣重建虎口,使皮瓣游离和虎口开大整体进行,简化了手术方法.结果 临床应用111例皮瓣全部成活,术后经3～18个月(平均8.5个月)的随访,局部外形美观,拇指功能恢复良好.虎口开大的优良率为94.6%.结论 改良的示指近节背侧皮瓣转位重建虎口是修复虎口挛缩的有效方法.     

应用改良的示指近节背侧皮瓣修复轻中度虎口挛缩

目的 介绍改良的示指近节背侧皮瓣在轻中度虎口挛缩治疗中的应用体会.方法 将原来的示指背侧岛状瓣或舌状瓣改成连同虎口一起的示指背侧局部转移皮瓣重建虎口,使皮瓣游离和虎口开大整体进行,简化了手术方法.结果 临床应用111例皮瓣全部成活,术后经3～18个月(平均8.5个月)的随访,局部外形美观,拇指功能恢复良好.虎口开大的优良率为94.6%.结论 改良的示指近节背侧皮瓣转位重建虎口是修复虎口挛缩的有效方法.     

The abdominal flap using scarred skin in the treatment of postburn hand deformities of severe burn patients

PURPOSE: To present a random-pattern flap technique using scarred skin from the abdominal wall to cover the defect after burn scar was released from the hand and the scarred skin raised from the hand was transferred to the abdominal wall to cover the flap-donor area in patients who suffered from severe burns involving the entire body and had no available healthy skin to be used for coverage. METHODS: Ten hands of 7 patients (5 males, 2 females) were treated in our department between April 1994 and February 2001. The total body surface area involved with second-or third-degree burns was 85% to 96% and there was no available healthy skin to be used for reconstruction. All hands had severe scar contracture on the dorsum and lost most of their function and the patients lost the ability to take care of themselves. The scarred skin on the dorsum of the hand was elevated integrally as a flap based on the ulnar border of the hand. The tendons were released, the stiff metacarpophalangeal joints were mobilized by closed capsulotomies, and the contracture of the thumb web space was released. A random-pattern abdominal flap using scarred skin was designed and elevated to cover the defect of the scar-released hand and the scarred skin raised from the dorsum of the hand was transferred to cover the defect of the abdominal flap donor site. RESULTS: The flaps that were transferred to the dorsum of the hands survived entirely and the defects of the flap donor area were covered perfectly without further skin graft. All patients were evaluated for 0.5 to 4 years after surgery. The range of motion of the metacarpophalangeal joints and the space capacity of the thumb web were improved greatly. All patients regained the ability to take care of themselves. CONCLUSIONS: This method is simple and has satisfactory results. It appears from our experience that the mature postburn scarred skin on the abdomen can be used for a flap procedure for reconstructing the burned hand and that the scarred skin raised from the dorsum of the hand can be transferred to cover the flap donor sites on the abdomen. Under circumstances in which there is no normal skin for reconstruction the function of the burned hand could be improved greatly by this method.     

Postburn shoulder medial-adduction contracture: Anatomy and treatment with trapeze-flap plasty

Background

Shoulder-adduction contractures after burn, most frequent among big joints, cause functional deficiency of the upper limb and, therefore, benefits from surgical correction. Many reconstructive techniques and flaps have been suggested for contracture treatment, but the problem in choosing an adequate reconstructive technique based on the anatomy of the contracture remains. Shoulder-adduction contracture has been given less emphasis in research than any other type and its surgical reconstructive technique remains of concern.

Methods

Anatomic features of scar shoulder-adduction contractures were studied in 346 patients, personally operated upon. This allowed us to classify all contractures into three types: edge, medial and total. New surgical techniques specifically for medial contractures were developed.

Results

Eighty percent of patients had edge contractures in which the axillary fossa was spared. In 20% of patients, axilla, including the hairy dome, was involved. These cases were anatomically classified into two types: medial, making up 30% of the cases, when contracted scars involved only axilla, and total caused by scars, tightly surrounding the shoulder joint. The scars, causing medial contracture, form a crescent-shaped fold along the medial axillary line. The fold's sheets are scars in which there is skin surface surplus in width, which allows the contracture release with local tissues. Surface deficiency in length has a trapezoid form. Medial contracture can be successfully treated with opposite transposition of trapezoid adipose-scar flaps prepared from both sheets of the fold.

Conclusion

Medial shoulder-adduction contracture is a newly described type with specific anatomic features. Contracture can be successfully treated with local tissues using trapeze-flap plasty.     

Use of free dorsoulnar perforator flap in the treatment of postburn contractures of the fingers

BACKGROUND: Burns of the hand cause not only the impairment of hand function but also cosmetic deformity. Cases with dysfunctional hands with severe contractures increase if rehabilitation of the acutely burned hand is not done properly. PURPOSE: We present the use of free dorsoulnar perforator flap in the treatment of postburn contractures as an alternative when local flaps cannot be used. METHODS: Free dorsoulnar perforator flap was used in the treatment of seven hands with postburn contracture. Five of them had multiple digital postburn flexion contractures. Combined use of cross-finger and side finger transposition flaps was preferred when the adjacent finger was suitable for being cross-finger flap donor. When the adjacent finger was not suitable for being cross-finger flap donor, the free dorsoulnar perforator flap was preferred. Two of the patients had postburn web contractures. Free dorsoulnar perforator flap was used to release the web and to form a new web commissure. CONCLUSION: The free dorsoulnar perforator flap could be a good alternative to cover the defects created with the hand contracture release.     

显微外科治疗重度虎口挛缩的疗效分析

目的 探讨髂腹股沟皮瓣与桡动脉鼻烟窝上行穿支逆行皮瓣治疗重度虎口挛缩的手术疗效.方法 2007年3月至2009年6月,采用髂腹股沟皮瓣和桡动脉鼻烟窝上行穿支逆行皮瓣治疗虎口重度挛缩45例,其中采用髂腹股沟皮瓣治疗33例,采用桡动脉鼻烟窝上行穿支逆行皮瓣治疗12例,开大虎口同时行拇外展功能重建21例,术后进行6～12个月随访.结果 除3例选择桡动脉鼻烟窝上行穿支逆行皮瓣患者和1例选择髂腹股沟皮瓣患者皮瓣远端出现远端浅表坏死,其余患者皮瓣均一期愈合,虎口开大距离均可达健侧虎口90%以上.术后随访患者对掌功能恢复良好,髂腹股沟皮瓣稍臃肿,部分出现轻度色素沉着,其余皮瓣颜色均与手部皮肤相近.结论 对儿童、青少年及50岁以下成人病例开大虎口宜首选髂腹股沟皮瓣修复,对50岁以上成人及老年病例宜首选桡动脉鼻烟窝上行穿支逆行皮瓣修复.     

显微外科治疗重度虎口挛缩的疗效分析

目的 探讨髂腹股沟皮瓣与桡动脉鼻烟窝上行穿支逆行皮瓣治疗重度虎口挛缩的手术疗效.方法 2007年3月至2009年6月,采用髂腹股沟皮瓣和桡动脉鼻烟窝上行穿支逆行皮瓣治疗虎口重度挛缩45例,其中采用髂腹股沟皮瓣治疗33例,采用桡动脉鼻烟窝上行穿支逆行皮瓣治疗12例,开大虎口同时行拇外展功能重建21例,术后进行6～12个月随访.结果 除3例选择桡动脉鼻烟窝上行穿支逆行皮瓣患者和1例选择髂腹股沟皮瓣患者皮瓣远端出现远端浅表坏死,其余患者皮瓣均一期愈合,虎口开大距离均可达健侧虎口90%以上.术后随访患者对掌功能恢复良好,髂腹股沟皮瓣稍臃肿,部分出现轻度色素沉着,其余皮瓣颜色均与手部皮肤相近.结论 对儿童、青少年及50岁以下成人病例开大虎口宜首选髂腹股沟皮瓣修复,对50岁以上成人及老年病例宜首选桡动脉鼻烟窝上行穿支逆行皮瓣修复.     

重度虎口挛缩的改良修复

目的探讨重度虎口挛缩行虎口开大皮瓣修复术同时拇对掌功能重建的治疗效果。方法12例病人分别用食指近节背侧皮瓣、鼻烟窝皮瓣、前臂骨间背侧动脉逆行岛状皮瓣修复虎口，同时用环指指屈浅肌腱、尺侧伸腕肌腱 拇短伸肌腱、尺侧伸腕肌腱 掌长肌腱，行拇对掌功能重建，术后配合训练。结果12例病人皮瓣全部成活，经6～15个月随访，拇指内收得到彻底或部分矫正，对掌和抓握力获得了很好的恢复。结论重度虎口挛缩在行虎口开大皮瓣修复同时一期拇对掌功能重建，术后功能恢复好，操作技术容易，值得推广。     

The post-burn elbow medial flexion scar contracture treatment with trapeze-flap plasty

A medial flexion elbow contracture is characterized by the presence of a fold which has a semi-lunar shape, the sheets of which are scars. The shortage in skin length and the excess in width occurs in the sheets. To estimate the size and form of length deficiency in the fold is the section from the top of the fold to the rotation axis of the joint. As a rule, the wound receives a trapeze form. To convert the sheets of the fold into trapeze-shaped flaps, several radial cross-sections from the tops of the fold to joint rotation axis are used. The flaps are mobilized with the full fat layer, and then transposed toward one another causing tension, therefore, covering the wound on the flexion surface of the joint. Flaps and the adjacent skin, displaced forward from lateral and back surfaces of the joint, participate in wound coverage. Trapezoid flaps have a wide end, stable blood circulation; they do not undergo rotation, therefore, do not undergo necrosis. Contractures are eliminated in full without relapse. As a rule, in all 35 patients the functional outcome was perfect.