Primary reattachment of avulsed skin flaps with negative pressure wound therapy in degloving injuries of the lower extremity

Large avulsed skin flaps of the lower extremity caused by degloving injuries eventually develop skin necrosis in most cases. The current treatment option involves excision of the degloved skin and reapplication as a full- or split-thickness skin graft. We considered that reattachment of avulsed skin flaps without excision would be theoretically beneficial, since some circulation may remain around the connected pedicle and thus facilitate graft take. Furthermore, securing the skin to the original anatomic position is much easier using retained landmarks. We treated a total of 12 patients (13 cases) with degloving injuries of the lower extremity. In all cases, the avulsed skin flap was defatted and sewn back to the original position, then negative-pressure wound therapy was applied over those grafts as a bolster for approximately 7 days. Most of the avulsed skin flap took excellently, particularly close to the connected pedicle. Nine cases did not need any additional surgical procedures. Four cases required secondary skin graft for a small area of open wound due to partial necrosis of the defatted skin, as well as the raw surface left by the primary skin defect in the initial operation. Primary reattachment of the avulsed skin flaps without excision is convenient and efficient to cover the open wound over the exposed fascia and periosteum in degloving injuries. This would potentially offer a better alternative to definitive wound closure.     

Split-thickness skin excision in severe open fractures

Split-thickness skin excision can be used as a one-stage procedure for the accurate diagnosis of flap viability and the immediate treatment of friction-avulsion injuries in severe open fractures. After cleaning the wound, the avulsed flap is temporarily sutured back to its original bed and a split thickness graft is taken from it and meshed to a 1:3 ratio. Surface dermal capillary bleeding then serves as an indicator of viability, clearly displaying a line for the excision of devascularized skin and correlating well with a concomitant fluorescein test. The wounds are re-opened and, after fixation of the fracture, the viable part of the flap is returned to its original bed and the remaining defects are covered with the meshed graft. We have treated 16 patients with extensive degloving injuries in this way, 15 needing only the single surgical procedure. All retained flaps survived, no other donor sites were needed and the split-thickness grafts took with 90% to 100% success.     

Effectiveness of Integra in the management of complete forearm degloving injury. A case report

A 43-year-old man suffered complete skin degloving of the right forearm in a work accident with a farm machine. Initial treatment using a total skin flap graft after fat removal failed because of nearly complete necrosis after ten days. Artificial dermis (Intégra) was then used to ensure skin cover and reduce adherence phenomena. Postoperative complications were minor, and a split-thickness graft performed after three weeks led to healing five weeks later. At one year of follow-up, scar quality was considered very good, with normal and symmetric mobility. This case suggests that Intégra could be a valid surgical alternative in the management of skin degloving injuries.     

Mesh graft urethroplasty]

Since 1977 124 patients with complicated urethral strictures have been treated by using free-foreskin grafts or split-thickness skin grafts to construct a neourethra in a two-stage procedure. Excellent functional and anatomical results have been achieved in 115 patients. The technique is even useful in exceedingly long or problematic strictures, such as in patients with spinal cord injuries.     

Treatment of degloving injury of three fingers with an anterolateral thigh flap

The degloving injuries of the digits and palm remain a persistent challenge. We used an anterolateral thigh flap to treat an 18-year-old, right-handed male worker with degloving injuries of the index, middle and ring fingers. The flap was designated to wrap the entire circumference of three fingers sustaining degloving injury and to form mitten-hand. The total lengths of the distal phalanxes of three fingers were retained almost complete. The donor defect was covered with split-thickness skin graft. Three months after the first operation, roentgenograms revealed terminal phalanxex resorption in three injured fingers, and the surgical syndactyly between the middle and ring finger was separated at the same time. One month later, the syndactyly between the index and middle fingers was also separated. Good coverage of the soft tissue defects with good function and appearance was achieved. Therefore,we considered that the length of the degloved finger could be preserved using free flap.     

Utilizing a crossover reverse sural artery flap for soft tissue reconstruction of the plantar forefoot after a severe degloving injury

Extensive soft tissue defects involving the weight-bearing areas of the plantar aspect of the foot often require coverage with flaps. The options often include free flaps, free muscle flaps with split-thickness skin grafting, or local flaps. When presented with high-energy-induced soft tissue injuries of the foot, choices become narrow, secondary to the associated zone of injury. Free flaps require a viable recipient vessel suitable for microvascular anastomosis. Split-thickness skin grafts applied to the plantar aspect of the foot are prone to persistent breakdown. Local flaps if available are useful for coverage of plantar soft tissue defects. However, when local flaps of the affected limb are compromised or extension is not sufficient for coverage, crossover leg and foot flaps become invaluable. The reported cases of crossover sural artery flaps are sparse. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the few reported cases of crossover leg and sural artery flaps were described to provide soft tissue coverage over the heel and leg. The authors report a case of a crossover reverse sural artery flap for soft tissue coverage to the plantar aspect of the forefoot after a high-energy-induced degloving injury.     

Useful Adjuncts to Harvest Split-Thickness Skin Grafts

Background. Split-thickness skin grafts are useful for repair of defects that are not amenable to primary closure or secondary intention healing. Because of the thinness of split-thickness skin grafts, damage to the graft and curling are common with standard harvesting techniques. Adjunctive methods for harvesting split-thickness skin grafts have not been well elucidated in the literature.
Methods. Lubrication and a tongue depressor facilitate even harvesting of the split-thickness skin graft. A semipermeable membrane is applied to the split-thickness skin graft donor site before harvesting the skin graft. This aids with harvesting and minimizes trauma to the graft.
Conclusion. Use of lubrication, a tongue depressor, and a semipermeable membrane are useful adjuncts to harvesting split-thickness skin grafts.     

Surgical management of total degloving injuries of the hand

Summary The treatment of degloving injuries of the hand is presented. Older methods are discussed. The only procedures which give good results are a combination of flaps, pedicled of free vascularized, and skin grafts.     

Degloving combined with structural trauma at the digital level: functional coverage with fascial free flaps

Major trauma to the digit that includes skin degloving and tendon loss, as well as fractures, nerve segmental loss, and devascularization can render that digit chronically painful, stiff, insensate, and a detriment to the overall function of the hand to the point that such digits may be candidates for ray resection. Large wounds may exceed the ability to achieve coverage by regional pedicle flaps. When the wound is restricted to the level of the digit, the narrow cylindrical shape and the ability to flex and fold make an absolute requirement for a very thin, as well as supple, flap a requirement that cutaneous free flaps cannot meet. This series reports on 12 male patients with major degloving and structural trauma at the digit level in which bone, tendon, and nerve reconstructions were covered with free fascial flaps and immediate split-thickness skin grafts, followed by early rehabilitation. All patients achieved sufficient functional recovery so that subsequent surgeries were not indicated.     

Severe lower extremities degloving injuries--medical problems and treatment results

Degloving injuries consist in detachment of skin and subcutaneous tissue from underlying fascia and muscles. They mostly address total surface of extremities or trunk, resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Their treatment, due to severity of the injury, high percentage of serious concomitant injuries and massive blood loss is time-consuming and its results are often unfavourable. The authors present results of treatment of three cases of patients with degloving injuries of the lower extremities and trunk. The patients presented poor healing prognosis connected with the extension of the injury. A complicated course of treatment was described. In all patients skin grafts healed well, resulting in acceptable aesthetic and functional outcome.     

High-energy roller injuries to the upper extremity

Eleven cases of high-energy industrial roller injuries treated between 1980 and 1984 were retrospectively reviewed. The dominant extremity was affected in nine. Six patients sustained fractures and/or dislocations, and three of these patients required fasciotomies for clinical signs of impending compartment syndromes. All fracture/dislocations, with the exception of a scapula fracture, anterior dislocation of a thumb interphalangeal joint, and a fractured coronoid process of the ulna, required open reduction with internal fixation. Three patients required split-thickness skin grafting for extensive skin degloving. Two patients required immediate amputation. Late sequelae included prolonged edema, nutritional depletion, neuroma formation of the superficial branch of the radial nerve, late carpal tunnel syndrome, and partial brachial plexus palsy. Industrial roller injuries continue to be an occupational hazard associated with more severe crushing trauma than the low-energy wringer washer injuries first described by MacCollum (11). Attention must be paid to the treatment of crushed skin, muscle, and nerves, fracture stabilization, nutritional support, and occupational therapy. Concurrent monitoring for signs of a developing compartment syndrome and complications of rhabdomyolysis is essential.     

Autologous skin transplantation: comparison of minced skin to other techniques

BACKGROUND: Skin grafting may be necessary to close nonhealing skin wounds. This report describes a fast and minimally invasive method to produce minced skin suitable for transplantation to skin wounds. The technique was evaluated in an established porcine skin wound healing model and was compared to split-thickness skin grafts and suspensions of cultured and noncultured keratinocytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 90 wounds on 3 pigs. Fluid-treated full-thickness skin wounds were grafted with minced skin, split-thickness skin grafts, noncultured keratinocytes, or cultured keratinocytes. Controls received either fluid or dry treatment. The wound healing process was analyzed in histologies collected at Days 8 to 43 postwounding. Wound contraction was quantified by photoplanimetry. RESULTS: Wounds transplanted with minced skin and keratinocyte suspension contained several colonies of keratinocytes in the newly formed granulation tissue. During the healing phase, the colonies progressed upward and reepithelialization was accelerated. Minced skin and split-thickness skin grafts reduced contraction as compared to keratinocyte suspensions and saline controls. Granulation tissue formation was also reduced in split-thickness skin-grafted wounds. CONCLUSIONS: Minced skin grafting accelerates reepithelialization of fluid-treated skin wounds. The technique is faster and less expensive than split-thickness skin grafting and keratinocyte suspension transplantation. Minced skin grafting may have implications for the treatment of chronic wounds.     

Degloving injuries in children

Degloving injuries are uncommon but serious and are being encountered with increasing frequency in children. A 5-year review of experience with degloving injuries on the Orthopaedic Service at the Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada) Children's Hospital revealed 16 patients who had sustained this trauma in association with fractures. Twelve of these children had typical anatomical degloving. However, six patients had an associated concealed degloving or so-called "physiological degloving," with disruption of the underlying skin vasculature but no actual disruption of the skin surface. The most common causes of degloving injuries were being run over by a motor vehicle and farm machinery accidents. The diagnosis and proper management of the degloved extremity, especially when accompanied by underlying fracture, are essential in children if morbidity and limb loss are to be minimized.     

带蒂胸脐皮瓣加部分皮片回植治疗前臂大面积皮肤脱套伤

目的探讨应用带蒂胸脐皮瓣及部分皮片回植治疗前臂大面积皮肤脱套伤的临床疗效。方法对2009年2月-2012年8月收治的10例前臂大面积皮肤脱套伤,根据脱套皮肤损伤情况,采用带蒂胸脐皮瓣修复腕或肘关节,同时根据伤情修剪部分脱套皮肤成中厚皮片、含真皮下血管网皮片或吻合静脉,作原位回植修复其余创面。所有皮瓣均于术后3～4周断蒂。结果10例皮瓣全部成活,2例回植皮片成活面积100％,5例回植皮片成活95％。2例回植皮片成活90％,1例回植皮片成活80％,遗留创面经二期植皮或换药全部愈合。术后随访3～12个月,皮瓣外形较好,质地柔软,回植皮肤无溃疡;腕、肘关节功能恢复良好。结论带蒂胸脐皮瓣加部分皮片回植治疗前臂大面积皮肤脱套伤,有助于肘、腕功能恢复;彻底清创、对脱套皮肤的伤情评估、尽量削薄及静脉修复是提高回植皮肤成活率的关键。     

Methods of burn treatment. Part II: Technical aspects]

The best treatment for burns and scalds depends on the depth of the skin necrosis. Epidermal and superficial dermal burn injuries (IIa) can heal spontaneously with conservative treatment without scar development, but deep dermal or full-thickness burns constitute an absolute indication for surgery. Full-thickness or split-thickness skin grafts are used for wound closure. In the case of extensive burn injuries allografts are used for temporary wound closure. In certain licensed laboratories autologous keratinocytes can be cultured for transplantation. In circumferential burn injuries affecting the extremities or the trunk the rigid eschar has to be incised to relieve the pressure behind it. Following a debridement conservative treatment of superficial dermal burns involving wound coverage with biosynthetic dressings or nanocristalline silver gauze dressings or use of special disinfecting ointments can be implemented.     

Behandlungskonzepte bei Verbrennungen

The best treatment for burns and scalds depends on the depth of the skin necrosis. Epidermal and superficial dermal burn injuries (IIa) can heal spontaneously with conservative treatment without scar development, but deep dermal or full-thickness burns constitute an absolute indication for surgery. Full-thickness or split-thickness skin grafts are used for wound closure. In the case of extensive burn injuries allografts are used for temporary wound closure. In certain licensed laboratories autologous keratinocytes can be cultured for transplantation. In circumferential burn injuries affecting the extremities or the trunk the rigid eschar has to be incised to relieve the pressure behind it. Following a debridement conservative treatment of superficial dermal burns involving wound coverage with biosynthetic dressings or nanocristalline silver gauze dressings or use of special disinfecting ointments can be implemented.     

Effects of ozone on howwell split-thickness skin grafts according to Thiersch take in war wounds

In a prospective study on 35 wounded persons we examined the effects of ozone on howwell split-thickness skin grafts took in war wounds. Each of the 35 wounded persons hat at least two similar gunshot wounds, one on the lower leg or forearm and the other on the upper leg or upper arm. During the first 10 days all wounds were treated with 10% NaCl water solution dressings until the moment when healthy granulations were observed. Thereafter, the defects were covered with split-thickness skin grafts according to Thiersch. For technical reasons we treated grafts on the lower leg and forearm with ozone following the usual scheme. Grafts on the upper leg or upper arm were treated in the conventional way and they served as a control group. The results obtained in the group followed up are presented by percentage of graft takes after 10 days and accordingly compared with the results obtained in the control group. There was a higher percentage of takes in ozone-treated split-thickness skin grafts. More than 74.3% of the split-thickness skin grafts treated with ozone had a take of more than 75% of the covered surface as apposed to only 40% of the grafts treated with the conventional method. The results in these two groups were compared with a chi square matched pair test. Difference in take of the skin grafts in these two groups was statistically significant at P < 0.01.     

Use of ring fixator in the management of degloving injuries of lower limb

High-velocity trauma causes degloving injuries of extremities. Management depends upon the viability of the degloved flap. The degloved area must be covered either with flaps or with split skin grafts. Various methods have been described to provide skin coverage. However, graft uptake depends upon the surgical expertise, graft quality, graft bed circulation and of course immobilization of the grafted area, especially across joints. We describe here a simple technique, which eventually helps graft bed preparation, eases application of graft tissue, facilitates graft care and allows passive mobilization of joints as well.     

Skin grafts used in combination with free flaps for intraoral oncological reconstruction

Surgeons have relied less on skin grafts for intraoral reconstruction by extending free flap tissue onto adjacent areas that could be potentially skin grafted. Split-thickness skin grafts provide thin, reliable epithelial coverage to tissue beds that can be grafted without requiring additional flap tissue. The combined use of split-thickness skin grafts with free tissue transfer may be advantageous in select situations. Four patients underwent intraoral tumor resection with immediate reconstruction using free tissue transfer and split-thickness skin grafts. Skin grafting the tongue component of combined hemiglossectomy and floor-of-mouth (FOM) defects rather than spanning the tongue-FOM junction with flap tissue may prevent excessive bulk, improve tongue mobility, and reduce the size requirement of the flap. A split-thickness skin graft can be applied to the intraoral surface of free flaps used to reconstruct through-and-through orocutaneous defects, reducing the complexity of flap design and inset. Maxillectomy defects reconstructed with muscle flaps can be epithelialized immediately with the application of a split-thickness skin graft to provide a stable obturator cavity. In select cases, the combination of split-thickness skin grafts and free tissue transfer may have advantages over the use of flap tissue alone to cover the adjacent areas of a complex defect capable of being grafted.     

Injury from silage wagon accident complicated by mucormycosis

Infection due to farm machinery injuries may be caused by microorganisms found in soil or decaying vegetable material. A case of injury due to entrapment of a young boy in a silage wagon is reported here. His injuries were complicated by infection with Aspergillus species, Absidia species, Rhizopus species (the latter two are members of the Mucorales order), and Pseudomonas maltophilia. Successful treatment of his infection followed aggressive surgical debridement of the anterior abdominal wall, amphotericin B, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and surgical closure utilizing delayed placement of split-thickness skin grafts.