Effective Management of Difficult Surgical Defects Using Tissue-Engineered Skin

BACKGROUND: Graftskin, a bilayered living skin construct, is an effective therapeutic option in the management of chronic venous ulcerations and simple acute surgical excisions. However, it is not routinely used in the management of complicated surgical wound defects. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of graftskin as a therapeutic modality in difficult surgical defects. METHODS: Two patients with complex surgical wound defects after Mohs micrographic surgery underwent a single application of graftskin. The engineered skin was fenestrated and sutured in place. The wounds were examined on a weekly basis. One hundred percent healing was defined as complete reepithelialization (wound coverage). RESULTS: Graftskin was well tolerated by these patients and resulted in complete wound healing within 9 weeks of application. CONCLUSION: Graftskin is an excellent alternative for difficult surgical wounds not amenable to other therapies. Graftskin results in a shortened healing time and decreased morbidity. It should be considered for wounds in which healing by secondary intention is preferably avoided.     

Pedicled sensate composite calcaneal flap to achieve full weight-bearing surface in midshaft leg amputations: case report

Of the possible levels of amputation, transtibial amputations result in functionally excellent outcomes. However, in contrast to hind foot amputations, such as Syme and especially Boyd amputation, acute or late complications related to the amputated stump are frequent with the various described techniques. The aim of this study was to describe a hind foot (including the calcaneum and fat pad) pedicled sensate flap with a surface that allowed full terminal weight-bearing in transtibial amputations in adults. One male patient, 66 years old with schizophrenia and chronic distal tibial osteomyelitis, underwent a leg amputation with sensate composite calcaneal flap construction. The stump was painless and able to bear total terminal weight at 12 weeks. Calcaneum tibial fusion was observed at 12-week postoperative follow-up. A below-knee prosthesis was adapted in 12 weeks, and at the 1-year follow-up, the patient was completely satisfied with the functional performance of his stump. The flap described provides proprioceptive feedback with the best bone and skin to support weight bearing. Another advantage is the possibility to use the same prosthesis commonly used in Boyd or Syme amputation due a longer arm leverage, which also allows full terminal weight-bearing. In the current study, a transtibial amputation covered with a pedicled sensate plantar flap preserving the calcaneum was proposed. In theory, the anatomic structures spared in this technique provide a strong full weight-bearing terminal surface of the stump that will last a lifetime.     

Amputation after Development of Collateral Circulation: An Arteriographic Study in Rabbits

The vascular changes in the amputation stump after amputation on an extremity which is vascularized by collaterals were studied by arteriography in adult rabbits.

Amputation on the eras immediately after ligature of the femoral artery caused a retardation in the development of collaterals and a protracted vasoconstriction in the amputation stump. Osseous plugging of the medullary cavity in the amputation stump counteracted the vasoconstriction, and the development of collaterals was improved. When amputation on the crus was performed 3-6 days after ligature of the femoral artery, immediate function of the collaterals and a rapid dilatation of the arteries in the below knee amputation stump were seen, and 3-4 weeks postoperatively arteriovenous shunts developed in the stump. Amputation 7-10 weeks after ligature of the artery involved a more pronounced shunt development in the amputation stump.

After amputation on the femur only slight differences were observed in the development of collaterals and the vascularization in the amputation stump compared with findings after amputation on the crus.     

An economic assessment of Apligraf® (Graftskin) for the treatment of hard-to-heal venous leg ulcers

Several recent advances in wound care may offer promise for the treatment of hard-to-heal venous leg ulcers. One such treatment is Apligraf (Graftskin), a bilayered, living human skin construct. To assess the economic impact of Graftskin, a model was constructed to compare the annual medical costs and cost-effectiveness of treating hard-to-heal venous leg ulcers with Graftskin vs. compression therapy using Unna's boot. A semi-Markov model was used to describe the pattern of ulcer treatment, healing, and recurrence among patients with venous leg ulcers. Patients received 1 of 2 treatment regimens, Graftskin or Unna's boot, and were followed in the model for a 12-month period. The analysis was done from the perspective of a commercial health plan; therefore, only direct medical costs were included. Health care resource use included the primary therapeutic intervention, additional compression dressings, physician office visits, home health visits, laboratory tests and procedures, management of adverse events, and hospitalizations. The model estimated the annual medical cost of managing patients with hard-to-heal venous leg ulcers to be $20,041 for those treated with Graftskin and $27,493 for those treated with Unna's boot. In addition, treatment with Graftskin led to approximately 3 more months in the healed state per person per year than did treatment with Unna's boot. Because patients treated with Graftskin experienced improved healing compared with those treated with compression therapy using Unna's boot, they required fewer months of treatment for unhealed ulcers. As a result, the use of Graftskin for treating hard-to-heal venous leg ulcers resulted in lower overall treatment costs.     

A clinical standard of stump measurement and classification in lower limb amputees

The dimensions and healing of 93 consecutive below-knee stumps were studied and based on observations a standard formula of stump classification was constructed (and discussed at the ISPO Meeting in Bologna 1980). Muscular atrophy and redistribution of oedema caused a mean reduction of calculated arbitrary stump volume of about 7% during the first 12 post-operative weeks accompanied by a change in distal circumferential measurement ranging between 7 centimetres reduction and 5 centimetres increase. The classification formula was tested in 135 examinations in 86 patients with 96 stumps in Lund. A new proportional definition of stump length was used. Eighty per cent were ordinary in length and shape. Ten of 59 were conical before one year compared to 12 of 42 after more than one year following amputation. Pain was a problem in 20%. Scar problems are common early but other skin damage increases with time. Skin problems are separated according to cause, i.e. pressure, suction, infection and allergy. One third of below-knee stumps had unhealed wound or damaged skin. Surgical correction was indicated in 2% and prosthetic correction in 7%. Prosthetic correction seemed to be more often needed in below-knee stumps and surgical correction in above-knee stumps.     

Skin problems of the stump and hand function in lower limb amputees: A historic cohort study

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between liner-related skin problems of the stump in patients with a lower limb amputation and impaired hand function. Sixty patients who were treated in a rehabilitation hospital from 1998-2006 were included in an historic cohort study. Data were collected concerning the amputation, skin problems of the stump, co-morbidity, hand function, the prosthesis, liner use and mobility score. The study population consisted of 50 trans-tibial and 10 knee disarticulation amputees, 43 male and 17 female, with a mean age of 62.3 years. The majority (63%) had a vascular reason for amputation. Blisters, folliculitis, rash and surface wounds on the stump were operationalized as being liner related. In patients with an impaired hand function, 70% had experienced liner-related skin problems of the stump, whereas 32% of the patients with a normal hand function had experienced skin problems (p = 0.035). This study shows that impaired hand function poses an increased risk for skin problems in the amputation stump in patients with a lower limb amputation and liner use in their prosthesis.     

A salvage composite free flap for improved prosthetics

A post-traumatic composite skin, muscle and bone defect in the left thigh with a 14-cm bone gap in the femur was secondarily reconstructed with a salvage osseomyocutaneous microvascular free tissue transfer of the tibia (18 cm), calf muscles and overlying skin (26×13 cm) harvested from the lower leg. The latter was amputated for chronic trophic ulceration of the foot and causalgia resulting from damage to the femoral and sciatic nerve in the primary injury. This situation resulted in an above-the-knee amputation stump with a better fitting and a more convenient prosthesis, rather than amputation at the hip joint.     

Below-knee amputation using a medial saphenous artery-based skin flap

BACKGROUND: A modified below-knee (BK) amputation with the medial saphenous artery-based skin flap coverage was designed to preserve a functional BK stump for those who were unable to receive the conventional long posterior flap or skew-type amputation. METHODS: In designing, the medial skin flap was outlined with the margins beginning 1 to 2 cm medial to the tibial crest to close to the middle of the posterior calf, with the length of the flap being equal to the transverse diameter of the leg at the anticipated level of bone section. The posterior margin of the flap was placed close to the middle of the posterior calf or adjacent to the interrupted posterior skin incision line. After elevation of the medial skin flap and performance of the rest of the procedure with the standard BK amputation methods, the posterior muscle mass was carried anteriorly to cover the bony stump and the medial skin flap was brought laterally to cover the defect. RESULTS: This modified BK amputation was successfully done in a total of nine patients during the period January 1998 to January 2004. There were four females and five males, with ages ranging from 44 to 74 years (average 59.1 years). All the skin flaps survived completely without major complications, except for one patient who developed a wound infection. CONCLUSIONS: With a skin flap that was perfused by a direct cutaneous vessel, saphenous artery, and innerved by the saphenous nerve, the medial saphenous artery-based flap used in the modified BK amputation comprises one valuable alternative when conventional techniques are unsuitable.     

Predicting stump healing following amputation for peripheral vascular disease using the transcutaneous oxygen monitor.

In patients with peripheral vascular disease requiring amputation, a below-knee stump is likely to result in improved function compared to above-knee. Unfortunately, clinical assessment of skin circulation is inaccurate, making the decision of amputation level difficult. The transcutaneous oxygen monitor has been investigated as a method of assessing skin circulation. A prospective study using the monitor in 51 amputations based on clinical assessment has shown that a transcutaneous oxygen tension (tcPO2) greater than 40 mm Hg is associated with stump healing, while measurements below that level lead to an unpredictable outcome. Half of the patients undergoing above-knee amputation had a tcPO2 level greater than 40 mm Hg at the below-knee site, suggesting that a successful distal amputation might have been performed. A further prospective study of 50 patients requiring amputation for peripheral gangrene showed that when amputations were performed at the lowest level in the limb with a tcPO2 greater than 40 mm Hg there was a higher rate of below-knee amputations (72%) and a higher rate of successful stump healing. Review of the literature confirms the potential of the monitor as a non-invasive, simple and accurate method of predicting stump healing.     

Penile stump advancement as an alternative to perineal urethrostomy after penile amputation

PURPOSE: We describe a method for avoiding perineal urethrostomy, and maintaining penile cosmesis and function after penile amputation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Penile reconstruction was performed in 1 patient with traumatic total amputation of the penis and 1 undergoing near total penectomy for carcinoma by advancing the penile stump and covering the resultant phallus with rotational full thickness scrotal flaps. RESULTS: Both patients were able to void while standing, and have intact sensation and erectile capability in the residual neophallus. CONCLUSIONS: Perineal urethrostomy is not necessary after penopubic penile amputation. Advancement of residual cavernosal tissue and skin coverage with scrotal flaps minimize altered body image, and maintain sensation and normal voiding position.     

Skin grafts for the salvage of degloved below-knee amputation stumps.

We present a series of six patients in whom a traumatic below-knee amputation was associated with significant degloving, such that there was inadequate local skin to achieve primary stump closure. In each case, skin grafts were used to cover the stump muscle flaps. The patients ranged in age from 21 years to 73 years; the mean hospital stay was 72 days and the mean follow-up was 48 months. Despite an average of five procedures to achieve stump healing and an average of 118 days to first limb fitting, all patients have achieved independent mobility with their prosthesis. All have had minor stump problems necessitating periods of time off their prosthesis. Three patients have required minor stump-revision surgery. The advantages of a below-knee amputation over an above-knee amputation compensate for these problems. The forgiving nature of modern prostheses has contributed to acceptable results in these patients, who had what may previously have been considered insufficiently durable stump cover.     

The value of stump split skin grafting following amputation for trauma in adult upper and lower limb amputees

One hundred and twenty adult patients were reviewed in whom split skin grafts were applied to the stump following traumatic amputation of the upper limb (44 amputees) or lower limb (76 amputees). The average follow-up period was seven and a half years after initial amputation. There was delay in prosthetic fitting in all patients. Approximately one third of patients complained of occasional minor ulceration, controlled by removing the prosthesis for a few days or modification of the prosthesis. Further revision surgery, including excision of the grafted skin often combined with proximal bone resection, but not removal of the proximal joint, was necessary in 29% of below-elbow amputees and approximately 50% of below and above-knee amputees. At the above-elbow level, use of skin grafts allowed prosthetic fitting because of preservation of sufficient length of the stump. Despite the fact that revision surgery may often be necessary, split skin grafting has a definite place in the early management of the stump following traumatic limb amputation in the adult. Preservation of stump length with the knee or elbow joint allows easier rehabilitation and lower energy expenditure when using the prosthesis. Partial foot amputation, when combined with skin grafting usually requires subsequent revision to a more proximal level to obtain a satisfactory result.     

Buerger’s Disease (Thromboangiitis Obliterans)- Management by Ilizarov’s Technique of Horizontal Distraction. A Retrospective Study of 60 Cases

In Buerger’s disease conservative treatment is questionable. Arterial reconstructive surgery is not feasible and sympathectomy has limited role. Progression of the disease invariably leads to amputation. Ilizarov’s method increases the vascularity of the ischaemic limb. Retrospective analysis of Ilizarov’s technique in 60 patients was done. Immediate results took into account rest pain, colour of skin, venous return, temperature, pulse oxymeter measured oxygen saturation and ulcer/amputation stump wound healing. Early and late results took into account rest pain, healing of ulcers/amputation stump with or without plastic coverage, claudication distance, resumption of previous occupation and domestic ambulation. The mean follow up of patients was 63 months. Immediate results were promising except two amputations. Early result were excellent to good in 56 and late results were excellent to good in 48 patients. Deterioration had significant correlation with smoking. Ilizarov’s method is an excellent and cheap procedure in treatment of Buerger’s disease.     

Amputationen am R��ckfu?

Objective

Obtaining a durable, weight-bearing stump with minimal or no loss of limb length, and stable soft tissue coverage with preservation of the original sensation of the sole of the foot at the heel.

Indications

Complex trauma to the foot with devitalized or nonreconstructable forefoot and midfoot, deep bony and soft tissue infection, infected Charcot foot with threatening sepsis, necrosis or gangrene of the forefoot and midfoot with vasculopathy, malignant tumors, certain infections, gigantism of the forefoot.

Contraindications

Possible reconstruction of the midfoot and forefoot beyond the midtarsal (Chopart) joint, loss or irreversible destruction of the sole of the foot or the distal tibial metaphysis.

Surgical technique

The skin incision is designed to retain a long plantar flap with a maximum amount of weight-bearing sole 5?C7?cm below amputation level and a shorter anterior flap 1?C2?cm below amputation level. Exarticulation or bone resection is performed from anterior to posterior, while preserving the posteromedial vessels to supply the heel flap. The Chopart stump is held in a neutral position avoiding equinus with a tibiotalar external fixator and additional tendon balancing with a noninfected posterior tibialis and one of the peronaeal tendons from medial and lateral through the talar head and Achilles tendon lengthening. Alternatively, a Pirogoff stump with minimal limb length loss (about 2?cm) is achieved with minimal resection at the anterior calcaneal process. The calcaneus is rotated 70?C80° and fused to the distal end of the tibia with lag screws or an external frame. Alternatively, a Syme stump is covered with the heel skin after resection of the malleoli flush to the tibial plafond. If anterior wound closure cannot be obtained without tension, temporary vacuum-assisted closure and later definitive coverage with skin grafts, local or free flaps is obtained. In cases of deep infection, the amputation is performed as a staged procedure.

Postoperative management

Nonweight bearing until stable scar formation, early mobilization in a total contact cast. Interim prosthesis after 2?C4?weeks, fitting of the definitive prosthesis with special shoewear after 2?C3?months.

Results

Over a 12-year period, 15?Chopart, 7?Pirogoff, and 2?Syme amputations were performed. A total of 15?patients had sustained a complex foot trauma, 9?had a deep infection, among them 7 in a diabetic Charcot foot. In 16?patients, among them all with deep infection, 1?C4 planned revisions were performed. In 5?patients (20.8%), the stumps were revised subacutely to a more proximal amputation level. In 2?patients with Chopart amputation, a hindfoot fusion was performed to correct equinus, while 1?Chopart and 1?Pirogoff stump were subjected to resection of a prominent exostosis. Except for 2?patients with Charcot foot, all patients with hindfoot amputation could walk barefoot over short distances.     

Bone vascularization and bone healing in the amputation stump. An experimental study.

The osseous healing process of the amputation stump was investigated in adult rabbits. Histological investigation showed that the medullary cavity was closed after 2-3 weeks, chiefly by endosteal callus. After closure of the cavity there was a gradual spongious change in the bone tip and simultaneously the cortex atrophied and the medullary cavity dilated. After amputation on the crus bone rebuilding dominated, whereas after amputation on the femur deterioration of bone was most noticeable. A combination of amputation and medullary plugging caused a change in the course of healing. The medullary cavity did not close until 7-10 weeks after operation and there was distinct periosteal callus formation. The microangiographic investigation showed a transient hypervascularization in the cortex 3-4 weeks after amputation; whereas after simultaneous plugging of the medullary cavity the hypervascularization continued for up to 7 weeks after operation. Following amputation proximally on the crus the arterial supply of the cortex came mainly from the periost, whereas the cortex after distal amputation was vascularized from the medullary cavity. This finding can be due to an interruption of the arterial supply from the nutrient artery associated with proximal amputation, whereas this artery remains intact with amputation distally on the crus.     

负压封闭引流术联合游离植皮修复创伤性小腿截肢残端皮肤缺损

目的：观察全厚皮植皮联合负压封闭引流术在治疗小腿截肢残端皮缺损的临床疗效.方法：2009年9月至2012年12月,采用全厚皮植皮联合负压封闭引流术治疗15例小腿截肢残端皮缺损患者,其中男11例,女4例;年龄25～62岁,平均41.5岁;车祸伤10例,重物砸伤5例;左侧9例,右侧6例.小腿毁损伤6例,无保肢价值,急诊行清创、小腿上段截肢并负压吸引术;因小腿感染、坏死转行清创、小腿上段截肢并负压吸引术9例,Ⅱ期均行全厚皮游离移植.小腿残端创面皮肤缺损面积40 cm×20 cm～25 cm×15 cm.结果：所有患者术后获得随访,时间3个月～1年,小腿残端创面移植全厚皮全部成活,均顺利佩戴假肢,行走满意.残端皮肤逐渐增厚,耐磨,无破溃,无疼痛.结论：全厚皮联合负压封闭引流术治疗小腿截肢皮缺损创面,保留了残肢功能长度,植皮成活率高,成活皮瘢痕少,耐磨性好,有利于假肢的佩戴,是一种简单、易行的治疗方法.     

Bone Vascularization and Bone Healing in the Amputation Stump: An Experimental Study

The osseous healing process of the amputation stump was investigated in adult rabbits. Histological investigation showed that the medullary cavity was closed after 2-3 weeks, chiefly by endosteal callus. After closure of the cavity there was a gradual spongious change in the bone tip and simultaneously the cortex atrophied and the medullary cavity dilated. After amputation on the crus bone rebuilding dominated, whereas after amputation on the femur deterioration of bone was most noticeable. A combination of amputation and medullary plugging caused a change in the course of healing. The medullary cavity did not close until 7-10 weeks after operation and there was distinct periostea] callus formation.

The microangiographic investigation showed a transient hyper-vascularization in the cortex 3-4 weeks after amputation; whereas after simultaneous plugging of the medullary cavity the hypervasculari-zation continued for up to 7 weeks after operation. Following amputation proximally on the crus the arterial supply of the cortex came mainly from the periost, whereas the cortex after distal amputation was vascularized from the medullary cavity. This finding can be due to an interruption of the arterial supply from the nutrient artery associated with proximal amputation, whereas this artery remains intact with amputation distally on the crus.     

Graftskin Treatment of Difficult to Heal Diabetic Foot Ulcers: One Center''s Experience

BACKGROUND: Chronic diabetes-related foot ulcers result from predisposition, tissue injury, and inadequate reparative mechanisms. Standard care for diabetes-related foot ulcers includes weight off-loading, pressure-relieving footwear, aggressive surgical debridement, and frequent dressing changes. Graftskin is a recently developed living skin construct. OBJECTIVE: To compare Graftskin and standardized wound care to standardized wound care alone in the treatment of difficult to heal diabetes-related neuropathic foot ulcers, and to assess the handling and application characteristics of Graftskin. METHODS: A university dermatology clinic was part of a 24-center prospective, randomized, controlled, parallel group comparative trial of Graftskin for the treatment of difficult to heal neuropathic diabetes-related foot ulcers. Patients were randomly assigned to treatment with Graftskin with aggressive debridement and standardized wound care, or aggressive debridement and standardized wound care alone. Blinding was not feasible due to device visibility during application. RESULTS: Five of nine patients (56%) treated with Graftskin therapy had complete healing. Three of eight control patients (37%) had complete healing. CONCLUSION: Graftskin as an adjunct to aggressive debridement and standardized wound care appears to be a valuable treatment adjunct in patients with difficult to heal diabetes-related neuropathic foot ulcers. The application learning curve was steep and the ease of application exceptional.     

Aortobifemoral bypass for the critically ischaemic limb--is it worth while?

Little is written of the place of aortobifemoral bypass as a limb or below-knee-level amputation stump salvage procedure in patients presenting with critical ischaemia with threat of limb loss. Over a 4-year period 151 patients referred to the Vascular Service of the University of Natal Hospitals with aorto-iliac occlusive disease and a threatened limb were studied. All were submitted to aortobifemoral bypass. Patients were divided into two subgroups: group 1 patients presented with rest pain or focal necrosis and were submitted to aortobifemoral bypass with concomitant digital or transmetatarsal amputation; and group 2 patients were submitted to a guillotine-type below-knee amputation in view of ascending infection or extended necrosis that made below-knee amputation impracticable. The objective was to obtain healing of the stump at the below-knee level. Early results within 1 month of operation were as follows: 5 patients (3.3%) died of myocardial infarction. There was no graft sepsis, and groin wound sepsis occurred in 7 (4.5%). Of the group 1 patients 8 required major amputation (8.2%). Three patients in group 2 required proximal above-knee revision (14.3%). The overall limb or stump salvage rate within 1 month of surgery was 89.4%. It was possible to follow up 105 patients in group 1 and 18 in group 2 for between 2 years and 5 years. In group 1, 2.9% required major proximal amputation and 3.8% a subsequent femoral-to-distal bypass. In group 2 none required subsequent major proximal amputation. Overall in those available for long-term follow-up 97% retained the use of a salvaged limb or stump.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Randomized prospective study comparing preoperative epidural and intraoperative perineural analgesia for the prevention of postoperative stump and phantom limb pain following major amputation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Acute stump pain and phantom limb pain after amputation is a significant problem among amputees with a reported incidence of phantom limb pain in the first year following amputation as high as 70%. Epidural analgesia before limb amputation is commonly used to reduce postamputation acute stump pain in the immediate postoperative period and phantom pain in the first year. We investigated whether immediate postamputation stump pain and phantom pain in the first year is reduced by preoperative epidural block with bupivacaine and diamorphine compared with intraoperative placement of a perineural catheter infusing bupivacaine. METHODS: In a randomized prospective trial, 30 patients scheduled for lower limb amputation were randomly assigned epidural bupivacaine at the standard rate used in our hospital (0.166%, 2 to 8 mL/h) and diamorphine (0.2 to 0.8 mg/h) for 24 hours before and during operation (14 patients; epidural group) and 3 days postoperatively, or an intraoperatively placed perineural catheter (16 patients; perineural group) for intra and postoperative administration of bupivacaine (0.25%, 10 mL/h). All patients had general anesthesia for the amputation and were asked about stump and phantom pain in the first 3 days and then at 6 and 12 months by an independent examiner. Study endpoints were rate of stump and phantom pain, intensity of stump and phantom pain, and consumption of opioids. The groups were well matched in baseline characteristics. RESULTS: Stump pain scores in the first 3 days were significantly higher in the perineural group compared with the epidural group (P <.01). After 3 days, 4 (29%) patients in the epidural group and 7 (44%) in the perineural group had phantom pain (P =.32). Numbers of patients with phantom pain for epidural versus perineural group were: 5 (63%) versus 7 (88%) (P =.25) at 6 months; 3 (38%) versus 4 (50%) (P =.61) at 12 months. Stump pain and phantom sensation were similar in both groups at 6 and 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Using our regimen, perioperative epidural block started 24 hours before the amputation is not superior to infusion of local anaesthetic via a perineural catheter in preventing phantom pain, but gives better relief of stump pain in the immediate postoperative period.