The authors reported nine patients with burn scar contracture of head and face treated by operation. The varieties of operations ineiuded: (1) excision of the scar and primary closure of the wound; (2) excision of the scar and coverage of the wound with split or full thickness skin grafts; (3) excision of the scar and repaired by pedicled flap, and (4) skin expansion by expander, followed by excision the scar and transfer of the "more available skin flap" to the wound. According to certain characteristics of children, the choice of the time for operation, the indications of each methods, and some problems related to operation ahd been discussed.
ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibil ity and effectiveness of using scar spl it thickness skin grafts combined with acellular allogeneic dermis in the treatment of large deep Ⅱ degree burn scar. MethodsBetween January 2013 and December 2013, 20 cases of large deep Ⅱ degree burn scar undergoing plastic operation were enrolled. There were 14 males and 6 females, aged 4 to 60 years (mean, 40 years). Burn reasons included hydrothermal burns in 10 cases, flame burns in 9 cases, and lime burns in 1 case. The burn area accounted for 70% to 96% total body surface area (TBSA) with an average of 79% TBSA. The time from wound healing to scar repair was 3 months to 2 years (mean, 7 months). Based on self-control, 0.7 mm scar spl it thickness skin graft was used to repair the wound at the right side of joints after scar resection (control group, n=35), 0.5 mm scar spl it thickness skin graft combined with acellular allogeneic dermis at the left side of joints (trial group, n=30). Difference was not statistically significant in the scar sites between 2 groups (Z=-1.152, P=0.249). After grafting, negative pressure drainage was given for 10 days; plaster was used for immobilization till wound heal ing; and all patients underwent regular rehabil itation exercises. ResultsNo significant difference was found in wound heal ing, infection, and healing time between 2 groups (P>0.05). All patients were followed up for 6 months. According to the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), the score was 5.23±1.41 in trial group and was 10.17±2.26 in control group, showing significant difference (t=8.925, P=0.000). Referring to Activities of Daily Living (ADL) grading standards to assess joint function, the results were excellent in 8 cases, good in 20 cases, fair in 1 case, and poor in 1 case in trial group; the results were excellent in 3 cases, good in 5 cases, fair in 22 cases, and poor in 5 cases in control group; and difference was statistically significant (Z=-4.894, P=0.000). ConclusionA combination of scar spl it thickness skin graft and acellular allogeneic dermis in the treatment of large deep Ⅱ degree burn scar is feasible and can become one of solution to the problem of skin source tension.
OBJECTIVE: To reduce amputation rate of severe electrical burn of wrist and to promote partial recovery of the injuried hand. METHODS: From 1987 to 1999, 44 cases, with 55 limbs of severe electrical burn were classified into 4 types, according to criteria of Dr Shen Zuyao, and were all treated by primary adequate decompression, timely debridement, reconstruction of blood circulation in cases complicated with blood vessel injury, and skin flap grafting from chest, abdomen or inguinal area, followed by treatment of anti-coaggluation and anti-infection. Once the wound healed, auto- or allo-transplantation or transferring of tendons were performed to repair tendon defect, and auto-nerve or fetal nerve transplantation performed for nerve defect. RESULTS: After the primary treatment of the 55 burned limbs, all limbs of type IV were amputated, and most of other 3 types survived. The function, including sensation and movement, of survived hands partially recovered. CONCLUSION: Primary reconstruction of blood circulation, cover of wound with skin flap, and timely repair of sensation and motor function are very crucial approach to reduce amputation rate and to promote the survived hand function of severe electrical burns of wrists.
In order to correct the dysfunction of head and neck with scar contracture, since 1980, sixty-two cases were undertaken the operation by using local skin flap to repair the soft tissue defect after scar resection. The skin flaps included pedicled delto-thoracic skin flap in 26 cases, cervico-thoracic skin flaps in 25 cases, cervico-shoulder flaps in 6 cases, pedicled vascularized extralong delto-thoracic skin flap in 4 cases and free parascapular flap in 1 case. Sixty cases had total survival of the flaps and 2 flaps had partial necrosis. After 1 to 10 years follow-up, the appearance and function of neck were excellent. It was suggested that grafting local skin flap was a good method to treat cicatricial deformity of neck especially using the skin flap with pedicle and vascular bundle.
Abstract Postburn deformities, including hypertrophic scars, scar contracture and defect or deformity of tissue or organ, are the commonest disorders in plastic surgery. It is also difficult to deal with. If the diformity involved multiple organs, oftentimes the teatmentis very difficult because the material for repair is limited and the donorsite usually could not provide adequate amount of skin for repair. Since 1978,2496 cases of various postburn deformities were admitted. In this article, theoptimal time to operate was discussed. The use of flap transfer and soft tissueexpander was described. Prolonged traction in the treatment of severe contracture of large joint was also described.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the application of skin and soft tissue expansion in the treatment of deformity due to extensive severe burn injury and repair of severe deep electrical burned scalp and skull with fresh wound. METHODS: From 1988, 83 cases of application of skin and soft tissue expansion were reported. In those patients with deformity due to severe burn of large area and with whole nasal defect, soft tissue expander was used under the forehead skin graft and venter frontalis, followed by reconstruction of nose with the expanded vascularized skin flap and carved cartilago costalis as nasal frame. In patients of severe deep electrical burned scalp and skull with fresh wound, skin and soft tissue expansion were used to repair the wound simultaneously with scalp burn alopecia, anesthetics and antibiotics injected into the extracapsular space of the expander in case of pain and infection. RESULTS: All of the cases were successfully treated with little pain and minimized infection. CONCLUSION: Skin and soft tissue expansion in a safe and reliable measure in the treatment of deformity due to extensive severe burn injury and repair of severe deep electrical burned scalp and skull with fresh wound.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of nerve growth factor(NGF) on the burn wound healing and to study the mechanism of burn wound healing. METHODS: Six domestic pigs weighting around 20 kg were used as experimental animals. Twenty-four burn wound, each 2.5 cm in diameter, were induced on every pigs by scalding. Three different concentrations of NGF, 1 microgram/ml, 2.5 micrograms/ml, 5 micrograms/ml were topically applied after thermal injury, and saline solution used as control group. Biopsy specimens were taken at 3, 5 and 9 days following treatment and immunohistochemistry method was used to detect the epidermal growth factor(EGF), EGF receptor (EGF-R), NGF, NGF receptor (NGF-R), NGF, NGF-R, CD68 and CD3. RESULTS: The expression of EGF, EGF-R, NGF, NGF-R CD68 and CD3 were observed in the experimental group, especially at 5 and 9 days, no expression of those six items in the control group. CONCLUSION: NGF can not only act directly on burn wound, but also modulate other growth factors on the burn wound to accelerate the healing of burn wound.
In order to solve the difficult problems of repair and reconstruction for severe deep burns with compound tissue defects of upper limb, 26 cases were treated with transplantation of compound tissue flap, vascularized by anastomosis of blood vessel or by vascular pedicle. Several kinds of reparative and reconstructive procedure could be performed simultaneously. Not only the tissue defect was repaired, but also the upper limb function was reconstructed in one stage operation. Owing to the presence of abundant vascular supply from the vascularized compound tissue and primarily closing the wounds, the anti-infection potency was high, then it was suitable for such conditions as fresh severe deep burn with infection and compound tissue defects. As a result, this technique provided the best chance to save upper limb from amputation. The duration required for treatment could be markedly shortened. All the cases successed. The long-term functional recovery was satisfactory. This method provided the possibility to solve effectively the difficult problem dealing with the severe deep burns with compound tissue defects of upper limb.
The surgical treatment of 20 cases (58 fingers) of swan-neek deformity of fingers after burns was reported. The operativc techniques included: (1) The cicatrix at the dorsal aspect of the finger was relcased and the raw surface thus formed was covered by skin graft, while the palmar skin was tightened; (2) Thc extensor mechanism of the finger was partially resected with relcase of the interosscous muscles and shortening of tcnodesis of the tendon of flexor digitorum superficialis; and (3) Fusion of the interphalangeal joint. The results of various methods of treatment were analyzed, and the pathogenesis of swan-neck deformity of fingers was discussed. The importance of prevention of its occurrence was emphasized.