Application of Artificial Dermal Graft Combined with Fascia Sleeve Flap in the Treatment of Chronic Bone and Steel Plate Exposed Wounds of Lower Extremities

Abstract

Background:Bone tendon or graft exposure such as steel plate is common after severe trauma of lower extremity.The traditional repair method is to use a variety of skin flaps to cover the exposure, but the wound can not heal after operation, or the wound dehiscence, ulcer, sinus, etc. occur again after short healing, and the bone plate is exposed again.The reason for this result is that the space around the bone plate is not well closed when the flap is covered，dead space is formed, blood and exudate accumulate, hematoma forms or infection occurs, and finally the wound breaks.Also due to swelling and contracture after flap operation,the tension of the suture between the flap and the receiving area is too large and becomes thin and cracked, forming an exposed state.In order to solve the above problems, we have carried out the research on "Application of artificial gradient combined with fascia sleep flap in the treatment of chronic bone and steel plate exposed woods of lower extremes".Methods:In this paper, 11 cases of chronic wounds with bone exposure and skin necrosis after steel plate implantation were selected. First stage is the wound bed preparation including primary wound expansion,removal of necrotic tissue and incision of sinus wall, removal of deep necrotic bone and fibrotic scarred skin on the outer wall of steel plate to normal tissue on the outer edge of the wound, removal of precipitated peptone and purulent fur in the hole, periphery and bone space of the steel plate, and removal of tendon tissue with basal necrosis and disintegration of the wound. After vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) 1~2 weeks, the peritraumatic basal granulation tissue grew well and there was no necrotic tissue in the wound. In the second stage, the exposed bone was covered with artificial dermis, the steel plate hole or the periphery and the basal space were filled, and the exposed steel plate was completely embedded, and then the fascia sleeve flap was transplanted to cover the wound. The sural neurovascular flap was performed in 6 cases and the lateral superior malleolar artery perforator flap in 1 case. Results:The flap survived well in all 11 cases. During the follow-up of 6 months to the removal of the plate, there was no case of rupture, exposure and sinus formation.Conclusions:Artificial dermal covering combined with fascial sleeve flap transplantation can effectively avoid wound dehiscence or sinus formation caused by foreign body retention, infection and flap contracture,It has good effect in repairing chronic wounds with bone plate exposure after severe trauma of lower limbs,.