Moving car-tire injury of the foot is a condition that appears to be a new clinical entity in Istanbul, in which the non-weight-bearing surface of the foot is prone to be injured. Between 1992 and 1995, eight moving car-tire injuries of the foot were managed. Patient age averaged 10.25 years (range: 7 to 21 years). All patients presented with soft-tissue loss combined with extensor tendon and bone lesions. In 6 patients, immediate flap coverage after initial debridement and, in 2 patients, delayed coverage after multiple debridements, were performed. All the flaps survived. Although in all patients, the weight-bearing region was always intact, some had gait-pattern abnormalities due to the bone and soft-tissue injuries. Early removal of all devitalized tissues and closure of the wounds with transfer of healthy tissue have a higher rate of success, lower incidence of infection, require fewer operative procedures, and shorter hospitalizations.

We investigated the long-term functional results of ray resection (14 cases) and amputation (nine cases) for ring avulsion injuries of ring finger which could not be replanted or underwent failed replantation. The mean follow-up was 37 (range, 24-63) months in the ray resection group and 32 (range, 24-40) months in the amputation group. Grip strength, key pinch strength, chuck pinch strength, hand circumference and palmar volume were decreased in the ray resection group but only grip strength and pulp pinch strength were significantly decreased in the amputation group. These results suggest that ray resection should be avoided in patients with occupations that need strong key and chuck pinch functions.

We reviewed seven thumbs in six children at a mean of 43 months after repair of the flexor pollicis longus tendon in zone 2. Using the classification of Buck-Gramcko et al. (1976) the results were excellent in six and good in one.