OBJECTIVE To study the compression factor and clinical manifestation of the compression of the palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve. METHODS Anatomic study was done on both sides of 2 cadavers and 6 cases of hand injury in the debridement, the origin, course, branch of the palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve were observed. From 1995 to 1998, 12 patients of compression of the palmar cutaneous branch were treated by local blockade injection. Among them, there were 8 males and 4 females, aged from 23 to 65 years and the course of disease ranged 3 to 12 months. RESULTS The palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve was (1.3 +/- 0.1) mm in diameter, it could be pulled when the wrist dorsi-extension. All cases showed good recovery of hand function and no recurrence after 4 to 12 months follow-up. CONCLUSION The palmar cutaneous branch compression syndrome is closely related to the local anatomy. The diagnosis is definite according to the clinical symptoms and signs, and local blocking is effective on the most patients.
OBJECTIVE: To discuss the method to repair the defects of palm with the improved flaps pedicled with the dorsal carpal branch of ulnar artery. METHODS: The improved flaps were designed on the basis of anatomical distribution of the dorsal carpal branch of ulnar artery and the medial antebrechial cutaneous nerve, the ulnar artery was ligated and cut at the beginning of its dorsal carpal branch. The flap pedicled with dorsal carpal branch including the distal ulnar artery was achieved and applied clinically to repair 15 cases of the skin and soft tissue defects of palm from August 1997 to November 2001. The size of flaps ranged from 7 cm x 5 cm to 12 cm x 8 cm. RESULTS: All of the cases were followed up 3 weeks to 6 months, and the flaps completely survived. There was no ischemia and necrosis at the distal part of flaps and the appearance and function was satisfactory. CONCLUSION: The improved flap has long vascular pedicle, abundant blood supply and sensitive sensation, so it can be used to repair defect of palm.
Objective To investigate the prevalence and related factors of primary palmar hyperhidrosis in adolescents in Yangzhou. Methods On-site questionnaire survey was performed on students selected by cluster random sampling from the two colleges and two high or middle schools, with each class as a unit. Data were collected through the questionnaire to make the diagnosis and severity grading. Results A total of 3 487 copies of the questionnaire were distributed in the survey and 3 299 were finished, among which 3 083 were effective with an effective rate of 88.41%. Among them, 1 358 respondents were males and 1 725 were females; 933 were middle school students, 809 high school students, and the remaining 1 341 college students. According to the diagnostic criteria, 104 respondents were diagnosed with palmar hyperhidrosis with an overall prevalence of 3.37%. There were 60 (4.41%) males and 44 (2.55%) females. Although the prevalence of palmar hyperhidrosis in males was higher than that of females (χ2=8.130, P<0.05), severe palmar hyperhidrosis was more often to be observed in females than in males, and females were also more likely to have hyperhidrosis in other parts of the body. In addition, the age of the first onset of the disease was mainly 10 to 20 years old and 36.54% of the patients had a family history. Conclusion The prevalence of palmar hyperhidrosis in adolescents in Yangzhou was 3.37%, and there is a significant difference in the gender. The palmar hyperhidros is often accompanied by hyperhidrosis symptoms of other parts of body, and the disease shows an obvious genetic predisposition.
Objective To investigate the operative procedure and the short-term therapeutic effects of medial plantar venous flaps for estoration of soft-tissue defects on the volar aspect of fingers. Methods From May 2007 to July 2009, 13 cases (15 fingers) of volar soft tissue defects were treated with medial plantar venous flaps, including 7 males (9 fingers) and 6 females(6 fingers) with an average age of 30 years (range, 17-55 years). Soft tissue defects were caused by electric saws in 4 cases (5 fingers), by crush injury in 6 cases (6 fingers), and by burned scar removal in 3 cases (4 fingers). The size of soft tissue defects ranged from 1.0 cm × 0.9 cm to 5.8 cm × 3.3 cm, included 5 thumbs, 3 index fingers, 3 l ittle fingers, 2 ring fingers, and 2 middle fingers. The emergency surgical treatment was performed in 10 traumatic cases after 2 to 12 hours (4 hours on average); and the elective surgical treatment was performed in the other 3 cases of scar after burn. The 15 medial plantar venous flaps, with size of 1.0 cm × 1.0 cm to 6.0 cm × 3.5 cm, were harvested to restore defects. Of them, 12 venous flaps had 1 superficial vein and the other 3 had 2 veins; and the veins of 13 venous flaps bridged a single digital artery and the veins of the other 2 flaps bridged both arteries. The donor sites were sutured directly or were covered with skin graft. Results All 15 venous flaps survived completely, and the donor and reci pient sites healed by first intention. Eleven cases (11 fingers) were followed up for 2 to 12 months. The texture and color of the flaps were similar to those of adjacent normal skin with a satisfactory appearance. The two-point discrimination was 6-9 mm. According to criterion for joint junction of total active range of motion/total active range of flexion, the results were excellent in 10 cases and good in 1 case; the excellent and good rate was 100%. Conclusion The medial plantar venous flap has advantages of easy-to-operate, rich blood supply and high survival rate. So it is an ideal and rel iable choice for volar soft tissue defects of fingers.
ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) sympathectomy under monitored anesthesia care (MAC) and local anesthesia (LA) without endotracheal intubation as a new fast track recovery surgical strategy for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis. MethodsA total of 124 patients with intermediate or severe hyperhidrosis who were admitted to Guangdong General Hospital were enrolled in this study. With SPSS18 random number generator, all the patients were divided into MAC+LA group and general anesthesia (GA) group with 62 patients in each group. There were 43 males and 19 females in MAC+LA group with their age of 22.25±6.22 years, and 42 males and 20 females in GA group with their age of 23.98±6.67 years. During the surgery, MAC+LA group patients received MAC and oxygen via nasal tube or face mask instead of endotracheal intubation, and GA group patients received GA, endotracheal intubation and controlled ventilation. Clinical outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. ResultsAll the patients received their operations safely. None of MAC+LA group patients received conversion to GA and controlled ventilation. There was statistical difference in operation time (47.18±12.06 minutes vs. 39.33±13.21 minutes, P=0.002) and length of theatre stay 84.52±22.56 minutes vs. 134.68±26.12 minutes, P=0.000) between MAC+LA and GA group patients. There was no statistical difference in blood loss, incidence of intraoperative SpO2 lower than 95% (2 patients vs. 0 patient), postoperative hospital stay, incidence of postoperative compensatory sweating (86.5% vs. 89.0%) and patient satisfaction rate (94.59% vs.95.12%) between the 2 groups. No intraoperative pain, postoperative complication or symptom recurrence was observed in either group. There was statistical difference in anesthetic preparation time (20.52±10.55 minutes vs. 36.47±12.16 minutes), duration between operation finish and returning to ward (11.26±7.09 minutes vs. 59.39±19.89) minutes and hospitalization cost (RMB 6 376.86±746.00 yuan vs. RMB 8 812.04±867.93 yuan) between the 2 groups. The incidence of postoperative sore throat (0% vs. 100%), monitor time (4 hours vs. 12 hours) and time to resume oral intake (2 hours vs. 6 hours) of MAC+LA group were significantly lower or shorter than those of GA group. ConclusionVATS sympathectomy under MAC and LA can avoid complications of GA and endotracheal intubation, and provide a safe, feasible, effective and more minimally invasive fast track alternative for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of the terminal extensor tendon reconstrution by palmaris longus tendon graft for the treatment of old mallet finger deformity. Methods Between February 2009 and February 2011, 32 patients with old mallet finger deformity were treated with palmaris longus tendon graft. There were 28 males and 4 females with an average age of 32.5 years (range, 22-58 years). The injury causes included sports injury in 26 cases and punctured injury in 6 cases. The index finger was involved in 8 cases, the middle finger in 3 cases, the ring finger in 16 cases, and the little finger in 5 cases. According to the Rockwell’s classification, all patients were classified as type I. The time from injury to operation was 4-16 weeks (mean, 6 weeks). Results Primary healing was obtained in all incisions; no necrosis, infection, or nail bed injury occurred. All patients were followed up 12-20 months (mean, 14 months). The patients had no pain or paresthesia of volar finger. According to Patel’s functional assessment system, the results were excellent in 8 cases, good in 21 cases, fair in 2 cases, and poor in 1 case at last follow-up, with an excellent and good rate of 90.6%. Conclusion Reconstruction of the terminal extensor tendon by palmaris longus tendon graft is a reliable method to treat old mallet finger deformity.
ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility and clinical outcomes of bilateral endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) through single hole for palmar hyperhidrosis (PHH). MethodsFrom August 2012 to April 2013, 19 PHH patients were admitted in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu. There were 7 male and 12 female patients with their age of 24.7(15-33) years. All the patients underwent bilateral ETS through single hole under general anesthesia. ResultsAll the operations were successfully performed. Average operation time was 28.4 minutes, and postoperative hospital stay was 1.6 days. Seventeen patients were followed up for 2 to 10 months. PHH symptoms all disappeared without Horner's syndrome or hemopneumothorax. ConclusionBilateral ETS through single hole is a minimally invasive, reliable and safe procedure for PHH with low morbidity.
Objective To investigate the safety and feasibility of day surgery for patients with palmar hyperhidrosis based on the principles of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy (ETS) in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from March 2020 to December 2021. Patients were divided into a day surgery group and a conventional group according to their perioperative management methods. The patients in the day surgery group underwent an optimized perioperative procedure under the guidance of ERAS, and were ventilated with a laryngeal or face mask during the operation. The patients in the conventional group completed the preoperative examination, operation and postoperative observation according to the conventional procedures, and were intubated with a single-lumen endotracheal tube. The demographic characteristics, operation time, hospital stay, postoperative complications, and hospitalization cost were compared between the two groups. Results Finally 172 patients were collected, including 90 males and 82 females, with an average age of 25.97±7.43 years. There were 86 patients in each group. All patients ceased suffering from palmar sweating after surgery. No patient experienced massive bleeding or conversion to thoracotomy. There was no statistical difference in operation time between the two groups (P=0.534). Patients in the day surgery group were discharged within 24 hours. The average hospital stay in the conventional group was 2.09±0.41 days. Incidence of postoperative respiratory complications, and the hospitalization cost of the day surgery group were significantly lower than those of the conventional group (P＜0.001). The satisfaction rate in both groups was greater than 95%. Conclusion Day surgery for patients with palmar hyperhidrosis based on the principles of ERAS is safe and feasible, which can reduce postoperative complications, shorten the length of hospital stay and save the cost of hospitalization.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of medial tarsal combined with medial plantar flap pedicled with free dorsalis pedis artery in the repair of palm soft tissue defect. MethodsBetween September 2013 and December 2015, 9 cases of palm soft tissue defects were repaired with medial tarsal combined with medial plantar flap pedicled with free dorsalis pedis artery. There were 7 males and 2 females with a mean age of 33 years (range, 21-52 years). The causes included traffic accident injury in 4 cases, crushing injury by heavy object in 3 cases, and electrical injury in 2 cases. The time between injury and admission was 3 hours to 2 days (mean, 9 hours). Five cases had pure soft tissue; combined injuries included tendon exposure in 2 cases, median nerve defect in 1 case, and exposure of tendon and nerve in 1 case. After debridement, the soft tissue defect area ranged from 6 cm×4 cm to 11 cm×6 cm. The flap size ranged from 7.0 cm×4.5 cm to 13.0 cm×7.0 cm. The vascular pedicle length was from 6 to 10 cm (mean, 7.5 cm). The donor sites were covered with ilioinguinal full thickness skin graft. ResultsNine flaps survived, primary healing of wound was obtained. Partial necrosis occurred at the donor site in 1 case, and the other skin graft successfully survived. All patients were followed up 6-20 months (mean, 10 months). All flaps had soft texture and satisfactory appearance; the cutaneous sensory recovery time was 4-7 months after operation (mean, 5 months). At last follow-up, sensation recovered to grade S4 in 4 cases, to grade S3+ in 3 cases, and to grade S3 in 2 cases; two-point discrimination was 7-10 mm (mean, 8.5 mm). According to Society of Hand Surgery standard for the evaluation of upper part of the function, the hand function was excellent in 5 cases, good in 3 cases, and fair in 1 case. The donor foot had normal function. ConclusionThe medial tarsal combined with medial plantar flap pedicled with free dorsalis pedis artery can repair soft tissue defect of the palm, and it has many advantages of soft texture, satisfactory function, and small injury at donor site.
ObjectiveTo compare the short- and long-term effects of R4 versus R3+R4 endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy (ETS) for acrohyperhidrosis. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with acrohyperhidrosis admitted to the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Gansu Provincial Hospital for surgical treatment from April 2014 to April 2021. The patients were divided into two groups according to the methods of ETS, including a R4 group and a R3+R4 group. Perioperative clinical data and postoperative follow-up data were collected to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of the two groups. ResultsA total of 155 eligible patients were included. There were 60 patients in the R4 group, including 23 males and 37 females, with a mean age of 22.55±2.74 years. There were 95 patients in the R3+R4 group, including 40 males and 55 females, with a mean age of 23.14±3.65 years. There were no statistical differences between the two groups in terms of baseline indicators such as gender, age and positive family history (P>0.05). Total operative time was 38.67±5.20 min in the R4 group and 40.05±5.18 min in the R3+R4 group; intraoperative bleeding was 7.25±3.25 mL in the R4 group and 7.95±3.90 mL in the R3+R4 group; postoperative hospital stay was 1.28±0.52 d in the R4 group and 1.38±0.57 d in the R3+R4 group, the differences between the two groups in the above indicators were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Postoperative hand hyperhidrosis symptoms were significantly relieved in both groups, and the complete remission rate was better in the R3+R4 group than that in the R4 group (98.0% vs. 93.3%), but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.358). The R3+R4 group was superior to the R4 group in terms of the relief of plantar hyperhidrosis symptoms, patient satisfaction and quality of life index at 6 months postoperatively (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the overall incidence of compensatory hyperhidrosis at 12 months postoperatively between the two groups (P=0.867), but the incidence of compensatory hyperhidrosis was higher in the R3+R4 group than that in the R4 group (72.6% vs. 70.0%). ConclusionThe perioperative outcomes of R4 and R3+R4 ETS are similar, but R3+R4 ETS has a higher rate of symptomatic relief of acrohyperhidrosis, and patients have a better postoperative quality of life. R3+R4 ETS is a reliable option for the treatment of acrohyperhidrosis. However, patients need to be informed that this procedure may increase the risk of compensatory hyperhidrosis.