Dermodress: a temporary skin substitute for coverage of exposed vital structures in the hand

A chemically treated bovine skin, Dermodress, is presented as a new type of biological dressing for exposed tendons, bones, and nerves following extensive thermal or severe soft-tissue injuries to the hand. Its use enables the surgeon to postpone closure of defects with grafts or flaps until the presence of healthy, viable tissue is secured. The vital structures underneath the covering are kept moist, thus preventing necrosis and desiccation. Because of its adherence properties, Dermodress use also allows early mobilization and bathing, thereby accelerating rapid return of function.     

Temporal fascial flap: a versatile free flap for coverage of complex skin defects

The use of temporal fascial flap (TFF) as a microsurgical option permits the covering of skin defects which expose bones, nerves and vessels; it also provides a gliding surface which facilitates tendon excursion. Other advantages of the TFF are a reasonably constant surgical anatomy, minimal donor-site morbidity, and a thin and pliable surface which results in good cosmetic contour. In this paper we present our experience using TFF to cover wounds with significant exposed surfaces in different body areas (hands, feet, popliteal fossa); an average of 7 years follow-up is presented. Eleven patients with various wounds are presented: 91% had a successful surgery, and the TFF was able to solve the primary problem. On follow-up it was seen that the surgical aim had been reached, with excellent skin quality in terms of pliability, range of motion and protection from secondary ulceration. All patients were satisfied with the final result, and were able to return to their normal lifestyle. Scars secondary to flap harvesting were of good quality and were able to be hidden by the hair. No significant areas of alopecia were noticed.     

The application of new biosynthetic artificial skin for long-term temporary wound coverage

Temporary dressings protect wounds from desiccation and infection. In our previous study, we used meshed acellular porcine dermis (APD) to enhance wound healing and decrease wound contraction; however, the wounds showed meshed scar [Wang HJ, Chen TM, Cheng TY. Use of a porcine dermis template to enhance widely expanded mesh autologous split-thickness skin graft growth: preliminary report. J Trauma 1997;42(2):177–82]. In this study, we produced an artificial skin composed of a cross-linked silicon sheet on the surface of APD which we have called silicone acellular porcine dermis (SAPD). This new artificial skin can protect the wound long enough to promote wound healing either by second intention or covered long enough until cultured epithelium autograft (CEA) or autologous skin graft can be harvested for permanent coverage.

We delivered 4 cm × 5 cm full-thickness wound on the back of 350 g Sprague–Dawley rats. Thirty-six rats were divided into two groups. Eighteen rats had SAPD and the other 18 were covered with Biobrane. The wounds were first examined 2 weeks after grafting and followed weekly for an additional 4 weeks to evaluate the wound and study pathological changes by using H.E. and Masson's stains. Wound size was calculated by ruler and analyzed by Student's t-test.

At the 2-week inspection, both SAPD and Biobrane showed tight adherence to the wound with no change of wound size. Both the SAPD and Biobrane dermal templates were pink. In the Biobrane-covered group, the wounds contracted soon after the tie-over dressing was removed. Its dermal layer is a layer of thin porcine dermal substance, which was promptly digested by tissue hyaluronidase and provides no real dermal template. In the SAPD-covered group however, the wound size was maintained significantly from third to sixth week after grafting (p < 0.001). SAPD was designed with thick epidermal silicone and a well-organized porcine dermis so that it incorporates into the recipient wound. Clinically the silicone layer of SAPD dislodged from APD about 6–7 weeks after grafting and was followed by dermal matrix exposure and infection. In pathological examination, much like a human skin graft, new vessels were found in APD about 1 week after grafting with minimal inflammatory cells infiltrated in the graft and wound. Six weeks after grafting, the collagen of APD incorporated into the wound, showing palisade arrangement and no sign of rejection. In the Biobrane group however, the wounds showed severe inflammation, the porcine dermal matrix was digested and disappeared 3 weeks after coverage.

In conclusion, SAPD is a thick biosynthetic artificial skin, which protects the rat wound significantly longer than Biobrane and prevents contraction. We expect that using of SAPD for temporary wound coverage will provide enough time to grow autologous-cultured epithelium or to reharvest skin grafts.     

Upper-extremity free skin flap transfer: results and utility as compared with conventional distant pedicle skin flaps

A group of patients who underwent free skin or muscle flap transfer to the upper extremity are compared with a similar group who were treated by a conventional distant pedicle skin flap. The most frequent indications for using a free flap technique were the presence of an exoskeletal fixation apparatus at the recipient site which precluded a more conventional procedure, or the desire to obtain an innervated flap for sensibility. The free flap group generally had more massive defects. In this group, the mean initial surgical time was 5.37 hours and total cost was $7,692. An average of 1.58 general anesthetics was required, and the mean postoperative hospitalization was 13.08 days. In the conventional distant pedicle flap group, mean initial surgical time was 2.76 hours and total cost was $6,849. An average of 2.54 general anesthetics was required and mean postoperative hospitalization was 19.15 days. All cases had a successful outcome, although the complication rate was slightly higher in the free flap group. Overall, the economic advantage was slightly weighted toward the conventional pedicle flap group, although hospitalization time was longer. Therefore, for the management of soft tissue defects in the upper extremity requiring pedicle flap coverage, a free flap should probably be chosen only for specific indications and special circumstances.     

A new temporary synthetic skin substitute

Eighteen months of experience with a new synthetic temporary skin substitute (Omiderm, Omikron Scientific Ltd., Rehovot, Israel) is presented. The substitute is a thin, transparent, flexible membrane. It is used when a biological dressing would otherwise have been used. Our experience consists of laboratory studies and 75 clinical cases including donor sites application, chronic wounds, ulcers, partial thickness and full thickness burns. The membrane is very elastic, permitting free movement and physiotherapy during the healing process. The material protects the wound and prevents either the accumulation of fluid under it or wound desiccation. It does not interfere with the normal healing process. It reduces pain, prevents bacterial invasion and is very easy to handle. Complications, such as haematoma formation or infection, were quite few. We recommend its use in routine daily practice.     

Biosynthetic skin substitute versus frozen human cadaver allograft for temporary coverage of excised burn wounds

During the past 2 years a multicenter study was performed comparing Biobrane (Woodroof) and frozen cadaver allograft as temporary dressings on freshly excised full-thickness burns before the application of autograft. Each biologic dressing was evaluated with respect to the other on the same patient. Seventy-one patients were evaluated. The mean burn size was 35 +/- 20% with a mean full-thickness burn of 28 +/- 20%. Mean patient age was 34 +/- 21 years. Overall survival was 82%. The mean time of wound coverage was 10.2 +/- 6.7 days. There was no significant difference in the number of dressing changes, area changed, purulence, autograft take, and final results between allograft- and Biobrane-covered sites. There were no complications following use of either Biobrane or allograft. We conclude that Biobrane is as effective as frozen human cadaver allograft for the temporary coverage of freshly excised full-thickness burn wounds before autografting.     

Heel coverage by a plantar myocutaneous island pedicle flap

Defects of the heel represent a difficult reconstructive problem. Previously described methods have not always been ideal especially for the posterior heel. The weight-bearing functional requirements of the heel tissue over the calcaneus are a sensitive, well padded, durable cover. The technique of choice should provide local similar tissue plus involve a single reliable operative procedure. Skin grafts placed on the calcaneus or on a muscle transposition flap, such as the flexor digitorum brevis, abductor hallucis, or abductor digiti minimi muscle, provide a thin, insensitive, and dissimilar surface. The cross-foot, cross-leg, cross-thigh, and buttock flaps provide more bulk and thicker skin. These flaps involve a prolonged hospitalization, multiple procedures, increased morbidity, and insensitive tissue. The dorsal foot island flap and microvascular free flaps are a one-stage procedure with less morbidity. The donor tissue is still too dissimilar to provide the protection and durability to this area. Random plantar flaps have provided a functional replacement with similar tissue having adequate sensation. However, these random flaps are not always reliable, have limited motion, and are limited usually to small defects. Recently the myocutaneous flap has been proposed using the flexor digitorum brevis muscle. This neurovascularized flap is larger and more reliable. Our dissection study of plantar tissue using microlatex injected feet has expanded the plantar flap for easier heel coverage and provided a predictable flap area. By mobilizing the pedicle proximally to the posterior tibial artery, the flap has an expanded coverage arc. Thus the heel is covered with a sensitive and durable tissue to allow weight bearing, frictional trauma, and ambulation.     

远端蒂皮瓣或逆行岛状皮瓣转移术蒂部减张皮瓣的设计与应用

目的 探讨在远端蒂皮瓣或逆行岛状皮瓣蒂部设计减张皮瓣的可行性和临床应用效果.方法 临床应用胫后动脉内踝上皮支逆行岛状皮瓣修复9例,胫后动脉小腿内侧穿支远端蒂皮瓣修复2例,腓动脉外踝上皮穿支逆行岛状皮瓣修复8例,腓浅神经营养血管逆行岛状皮瓣修复4例,远端蒂腓肠神经营养血管皮瓣修复3例,掌背筋膜蒂逆行岛状皮瓣修复2例.蒂部减张瓣呈梭形或圆形,面积为1.0 am×1.0 cm～5.0 cm×3.5 cm.结果 28例皮瓣术后血运良好,无肿胀、淤血,全部成活,随访皮瓣质地良好,外形美观,供区均一期愈合,疗效满意.结论 在远端蒂皮瓣或逆行岛状皮瓣蒂部设计减张皮瓣是可行的.可有效地防止蒂部血管受压或血管网破坏而影响皮瓣的血运,是一种可靠的预防远端蒂皮瓣或逆行岛状皮瓣血供障碍的新方法.     

眶下血管皮下蒂鼻唇沟皮瓣

当内眦动脉与面动脉损伤时,可采用眶下血管皮下蒂鼻唇沟皮瓣修复鼻面部小面积缺损,本组5例,均效果满意。     

眶下血管皮下蒂鼻唇沟皮瓣

当内眦动脉与面动脉损伤时，可采用眶下血管皮下蒂鼻唇沟皮瓣修复鼻面部小面积缺损，本组５例，均效果满意。     

Extended nasal skin reconstruction with a retroauricular free flap harvested on the superficial temporal pedicle

The microsurgical coverage of large nasal skin avulsion was performed in a 40 years old patient after a human bite. Widely exposing the columelle, the alar cartilages and the distal part of the septum, the defect was covered with a retroauricular free flap harvested on the superficial temporal pedicle and transferred on the upper labial vessels in the nasogenian area. Thanks to its excellent colour and texture match with the nose integuments, this flap enjoyed of an optimal integration in the centrofacial area. Its potential indications, advantages, drawbacks and technical variants are discussed in the present paper.     

游离皮瓣移植在整形外科的临床应用

目的 回顾总结游离皮瓣在整形外科应用的范围与经验,方法 收集近８年来临床应用游离皮瓣的病例５０例进行统计分析。结果 ５０例中有４７例用于早晚期严重创伤伴有深部组织缺损与外露者,另３例为肿瘤切除后的创面覆盖,成功且效果良好者４８例（９６％）有２例由于血清栓塞而失败,结论 游离皮瓣的应用提高了整形外科的救治水平,对某些疑难病例的治疗是其它方法不可替代的。     

皮下组织蒂推进皮瓣在面部皮肤软组织缺损修复中的应用

目的：探讨皮下组织蒂推进皮瓣修复面部皮肤软组织缺损的方法。方法：在拟修复区域旁顺皮纹方向设计近似三角形皮瓣，底边位于近缺损侧。于三角形皮瓣两腰切开皮肤，向下潜行分离皮下组织，形成皮下组织蒂皮瓣，向缺损侧推进，修复面部皮肤软组织缺损。结果：应用皮下组织蒂推进皮瓣修复面部皮肤软组织缺损25例，切口Ⅰ期愈合，形态、质地好，瘢痕不明显。结论：皮下组织蒂推进皮瓣修复面部皮肤软组织缺损，效果确定，操作简单，是修复面部小创面较好的方法之一。     

"风筝"皮下蒂皮瓣在面部皮肤缺损中的应用

目的探讨应用"风筝"皮下蒂皮瓣修复面部皮肤缺损的临床效果.方法自2000年6月以来,应用"风筝"皮下蒂皮瓣修复因面部病变组织切除术后的皮肤缺损患者36例.按病变组织的形状将其行圆形或椭圆形切除,于缺损的一侧设计、形成以皮瓣基底部皮下组织为蒂或以皮瓣两侧皮下组织为蒂的皮瓣,皮瓣最大宽度小于或等于缺损直径,长度约为缺损直径的1.5～2.0倍,推进覆盖缺损部位.结果36例患者的皮瓣全部成活.术后随访3个月至1年,瘢痕不明显,皮瓣颜色与周围正常皮肤相近,形态较好.结论此方法具有操作简单、皮瓣的血运可靠及转动灵活、愈后切口瘢痕不明显等优点,对于因直接缝合张力大或可能引起面部器官移位的面部皮肤缺损的修复,是比较理想的手术方法.     

“风筝”皮下蒂皮瓣在面部皮肤缺损中的应用

目的 探讨应用“风筝”皮下蒂皮瓣修复面部皮肤缺损的临床效果。方法 自2000年6月以来，应用“风筝”皮下蒂皮瓣修复因面部病变组织切除术后的皮肤缺损患者36例。按病变组织的形状将其行圆形或椭圆形切除．于缺损的一侧设计、形成以皮瓣基底部皮下组织为蒂或以皮瓣两侧皮下组织为蒂的皮瓣，皮瓣最大宽度小于或等于缺损直径．长度约为缺损直径的1．5～2．0倍，推进覆盖缺损部位。结果 36例患者的皮瓣全部成活。术后随访3个月至1年．瘢痕不明显，皮瓣颜色与周围正常皮肤相近，形态较好。结论 此方法具有操作简单、皮瓣的血运可靠及转动灵活、愈后切口瘢痕不明显等优点，对于因直接缝合张力大或可能引起面部器官移位的面部皮肤缺损的修复，是比较理想的手术方法。     

The use of a bilaminate artificial skin substitute (Integra) in acute resurfacing of burns: an early experience.

Integra artificial skin provides immediate full-thickness reconstruction for cutaneous burns. The clinical outcome appears to be superior in terms of final function and cosmesis. Consequently the use of such a skin substitute is being heralded as the future treatment of choice, particularly for massive burns where autologous donor skin is limited. The three cases reported here describe the senior author's early experience with Integra and highlight some of the difficulties and successes encountered. A high rate of dermal graft loss and slow epidermal engraftment have tempered the original enthusiasm, but with growing experience the final outcome justifies the continued use of Integra in our unit.     

应用SMAS蒂岛状皮瓣修复面部皮肤缺损

目的探讨以SMAS为蒂的岛状皮瓣修复眼睑及口周皮肤缺损的方法。方法根据皮肤缺损的部位,设计以SMAS为蒂的远位岛状皮瓣修复眼睑及口周皮肤软组织缺损。结果自1998年8月起,临床应用已14例,最大皮瓣面积为5cm×3cm,术后皮瓣全部成活,效果满意。结论应用设计供区部位较隐蔽的以SMAS为蒂的岛状皮瓣,远位转移修复眼睑及口周皮肤及软组织缺损,血供良好,皮瓣颜色质地与受损区域皮肤协调,效果满意。