Reconstruction of the wrist pseudoarthrosis due to radioulnar fractures with vascularized fibular graft in a child with neurofibromatosis

Nonunion in the forearm following a radioulnar fracture is one of the nightmares of the orthopedic surgeon. Fortunately, it is rare. We treated a large bone defect of the forearm, using a vascularized fibular graft after excision of the unhealed bone segment in a 10-year-old boy with neurofibromatosis. This situation followed a double fracture that had been operated on several times using conventional methods. Following the debridement of the unhealthy tissues in the pseudoarthrotic region, the vascularized fibula was placed on the dorsal surface of the proximal radius fragment. The distal fragment of the radius was inserted into the fibular cavity and fixation was established with a Kirschner wire distally and with a plate proximally. Only two screws were used to fix the plate. The peroneal artery was anastomosed with the radial artery; one of its venae comitantes was anastomosed with the cephalic vein in an end-to-end fashion. After surgery, the elbow was immobilized at 90 degrees of flexion with a splint for 6 weeks. One year after surgery, forearm stabilization and elbow and hand functions were very satisfactory. However, because the distal epiphyses of the bones were destroyed following the repeated surgery and the original trauma itself, a very prominent difference between the two forearms occurred, suggesting the need for bone lengthening in the future. By presenting this case we would like to conclude that one can expect good bone healing with a vascularized bone transfer in these cases when there is not enough space to place screws, but support can be provided by an external splint and K wire.     

带血管蒂前臂后皮神经电缆式移植修复上臂桡神经缺损

目的：介绍带血管蒂前臂后皮神经电缆式移植修复上臂桡神经缺损的应用解剖、手术方法及临床效果。方法：在２０侧成人上肢标本上，观测前臂后皮神经及桡侧副动脉的行程及外径，设计以桡侧副动脉为蒂的前臂后皮神经电缆式移植修复上臂桡神经缺损的新术式并应用于临床。结果：前臂后皮神经与桡侧副动脉伴行关系密切，具有形成带血管蒂前臂后皮神经转移的解剖学条件；前臂后皮神经横径２．０ｃｍ左右，可切取长度１５．０ｃｍ左右，折叠后可以修复７．０ｃｍ左右的桡神经缺损。同时，术中发现神经供体断端出血活跃，说明带血供的前臂后皮神经移植的血供是可靠的。临床应用８例，神经缺损３．５～６．０ｃｍ，随访１０个月～３年，效果满意。按陆裕朴介绍的评定标准：优４例，良３例，可１例。结论：该术式转移灵活，操作简单、安全、可靠，对供区影响小，是修复上臂桡神经缺损的一种有用的方法。     

外固定架在前臂严重粉碎及多段骨折中的应用

目的：探讨应用单侧多功能外固定支架治疗前臂骨干严重粉碎性及多段骨折的临床疗效。方法：回顾性分析本院1993至2002年间收治的前臂骨干严重粉碎性及多段骨折患共22例。其中开放性骨折5例，均急诊清创复位外固定架固定；闭合性骨折17例，以切开复位单侧多功能外固定架固定结合简单内固定为主要治疗方法。运用Anderson标准进行前臂功能评价。结果：22例患中发生1例骨延迟愈合，1例骨不愈合，均经二次手术植骨后得到愈合。按Anderson标准评价，优7例，良10例，不满意3例，失败2例，优良率78％。结论：单侧多功能外固定支架在前臂尺桡骨骨干严重粉碎性及多段骨折的治疗中有独特的优势，闭合复位外固定架固定或切开复位外固定架固定结合运用简单的内固定可发挥内外固定各自长处，在取得良好固定作用的同时，减少骨折端血运的破坏，达到生物学固定的要求．     

前臂桡侧复合血管网皮瓣的临床应用

目的　报道前臂桡侧神经血管复合岛状皮瓣的解剖方法及临床应用效果。　方法　对手部创面及瘢痕挛缩以该皮瓣进行修复 2 2例 2 3处 ,切取皮瓣面积最大 13cm× 6cm ,最小 8cm× 4cm ,旋转点至皮瓣顶端最长 2 2cm ,旋转点设计在鼻烟窝或其近端 ,蒂部及皮瓣下筋膜中含有桡神经浅支、头静脉及桡动脉鼻烟窝上行支 ,含或不含前臂外侧皮神经。　结果　临床应用 2 2例 2 3块皮瓣 ,其中皮瓣全部成活 2 2块 ,部分坏死 1块。术后随访 1～ 3个月 ,成活的皮瓣质地优良 ,外观比较满意。　结论　前臂桡侧复合皮瓣的临床应用 ,皮瓣切取面积大 ,旋转点更远 ,可达手部较远端创面 ,给手部创面的修复提供了一种新选择。     

Radical forequarter amputation with hemithoracectomy and free extended forearm flap: Technical and physiologic considerations

Background: A radical forequarter amputation with partial chest wall resection (one to four ribs) has been reported for benign and malignant lesions involving the shoulder and chest wall region. Concerns about reconstruction and postoperative pulmonary function have previously limited more extensive chest wall resections. The current report describes the first case in which a complete unilateral anterior and posterior chest wall resection and pneumonectomy (hemithoracectomy) accompany a forequarter amputation. A novel reconstructive technique used the full circumference of the forearm tissue with an intact ulna as a free osseomyocutaneous flap. Methods: In this case, a 21-year-old patient presented with an extensive recurrent desmoid tumor that involved the shoulder, brachial plexus, subclavian vein, and chest wall from the lateral sternal border to the midportion of the scapula and down to the eighth rib. The operative technique involved removal of the entire right hemithorax from the midline sternum to the transverse process posteriorly, down to the ninth rib inferiorly. Due to the absence of a rigid hemithorax, the uninvolved ipsilateral lung was also removed. The forearm flap was prepared before final separation of the specimen and division of the subclavian vessels. Results: Postoperatively, the patient maintained excellent oxygenation without atelectasis or fever and was extubated on the 15th postoperative day. As expected after pneumonectomy, significant decreases from preoperative to immediate postoperative values were noted for the vital capacity (VC) (from 4.87 L to 1.29 L), forced 1-s expiratory volume (FEV1) (from 3.77 L to 1.02 L), and inspiratory capacity (IC) (3.33 1 to 0.99 1). Rehabilitation included a specially designed external prosthesis to provide cosmesis and prevent scoliosis. By the 15th postoperative week the patient had returned to normal social and physical activities, with a gradual improvement in all respiratory parameters: VC 1.52 L, FEV1 1.29 L, IC 1.04 L. There has been no evidence of tumor recurrence at 1 year. Conclusions: This report provides evidence that a complete hemithoracectomy, pneumonectomy, and forequarter amputation can be safely performed for selective tumors involving the shoulder region with extensive chest wall invasion. Reconstruction may be achieved with an extended forearm osseomyocutaneous free flap with an excellent functional outcome. Presented at the 46th Annual Cancer Symposium of The Society of Surgical Oncology, Los Angeles, California, March 18–21, 1993.     

Noninvasive measurement of human forearm oxygen consumption by near infrared spectroscopy

Summary This study reported on the application of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to noninvasive measurements of forearm brachio-radial muscle oxygen consumption ( O₂) and recovery time (t _r) in untrained volunteers. Seven healthy subjects were submitted to four consecutive protocols involving measurements made at rest, the induction of an ischaemia, and during a maximal increase of metabolic demand achieved with and without vascular occlusion. Two isometric maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) of 30-s duration were executed with and without vascular occlusion and a 50% MVC lasting 125 s was also performed. The protocols were repeated on 2 different days. The results showed that, during vascular occlusion at rest, the time to 95% of the final haemoglobin (Hb) + myoglobin (Mb) desaturation value was independent of O₂. The MVC, performed during vascular occlusion, caused complete Hb + Mb desaturation in 15–20 s, which was not followed by any further desaturation when the second contraction was performed. No difference was found between O₂during MVC with and without vascular occlusion. A consistent difference was seen between O₂measured during occlusion at rest and O₂measured during MVC with and without occlusion. During prolonged exercise (125 s) Hb + Mb desaturation was maintained for the whole contraction period. The results of this study show that O₂can be measured noninvasively by NIRS. The O₂during MVC was very similar both in the presence and absence of blood flow limitation in most of the subjects tested. This would suggest that muscle O₂might be accurately evaluated dynamically without cuff occlusion.     

前臂后皮神经营养血管远端蒂筋膜皮瓣修复手部软组织缺损

目的：探讨前臂后皮神经营养血管远端蒂筋膜皮瓣修复手部软组织缺损的临床效果。方法：对18例手部创伤性软组织缺损创面采用带前臂后皮神经营养血管远端蒂筋膜皮瓣进行修复,其中机器绞伤11例,压砸伤5例,电锯伤2例,皮瓣面积最大为12cm×8cm,最小7cm×5cm。结果：17例皮瓣完全成活;1例皮瓣边缘部分坏死,经清创换药痊愈。术后随访6～12个月,皮瓣质地良好,外观满意。结论：前臂后皮神经营养血管远端蒂筋膜皮瓣切取简便、成功率高,是修复手部软组织缺损的理想供区。     

The Psychological Significance of Task-Induced Tonic Changes in Somatic and Autonomic Activity

Two experiments tested the view that task-induced autonomic-somatic gradient parallelism does exist and that the steeper the physiological gradients, over the course of a task, the more involved the subject and the greater the effort. Thirty-three male subjects performed easy and difficult versions of a continuous reaction time task. In both experiments the difficult task prompted steeper electromyographic (EMG) activity gradients than did the easy version. Scores on heart rate (HR) and skin conductance did not show clear gradients. However, task-dependent effort was positively related to the magnitude of the initial HR acceleration and to the steepness of the EMG gradient. The autonomic-somatic coupling hypothesis of Obrist did not explain the results. Instead, evidence for ventilatory-somatic parallelism was found.     

Acute changes in forearm haemodynamics produced by cigarette smoking in healthy normotensive non-smokers are not influenced by propranolol or pindolol

Summary The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of cigarette smoking in healthy non-smokers on blood pressure and forearm haemodynamics after acute oral administration of non-selective -adrenoceptor blockers with and without intrinsic sympathomimetic activity, viz. pindolol 15 mg and propranolol 80 mg. A preliminary study was done to compare cigarette smoking and sham smoking to evaluate the time-course of the haemodynamic effects of cigarette smoking. The second experiment was then carried out in the same six volunteers, according to a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled crossover design, to evaluate the possible effect of pre-treatment with -adrenoceptor blockers on blood pressure, heart rate and forearm haemodynamics (forearm blood flow, brachial artery diameter and brachio-radial pulse-wave velocity) measured at baseline, during smoking and every five minutes up to 1 h afterwards.No major difference from placebo in blood pressure or forearm haemodynamics was found and pre-treatment with beta-blockers did not prevent the acute vascular effects of cigarette smoking.