Closure or reduction of the donor defect of a sural flap with a purse-string suture: long-term results.

We aimed to reduce the defect with a purse-string suture to minimise the deformity of the flap donor area and to assess the later efficiency at long-term follow-up. We studied 20 patients who required a sural flap for the reconstruction of defects of the lower extremity. The mean (SD) area of the donor defect was roughly 28.

The hatchet flap for reconstruction of fingertip amputations.

Background: Emmett has described a single triangular flap that contains a partial skin bridge on one of its sides and called it the hatchet flap. It was successfully used for defects located on various body parts. The aim of this study was to present the authors' experience and results obtained with this flap in fingertip amputations.

The thenar index: an objective assessment and classification of thenar atrophy based on static hand imprints and clinical implications.

Background: The aims of this study were to test the effectiveness of the subjective clinical evaluation and to search for any possibility of constituting an objective assessment system for the diagnosis of thenar atrophy based on static hand imprints.

Methods: Static hand imprints were obtained from normal subjects (group A, n = 116) and carpal tunnel syndrome patients with thenar atrophy (group B, n = 26). Thenar index and the bilateral thenar index ratio were defined.

The propeller flap for postburn elbow contractures.

Flexion contracture of the elbow is a common sequela of burn injury. Numerous methods have been suggested for release, including grafting, Z-plasty, Y-V flaps, local or distant fasciocutaneous flaps, muscle or myocutaneous flaps, free flaps, tissue expanders and non-surgical orthotics. In this article the authors present their experience with the propeller flap method in seven cases of elbow flexion contracture.

[The relationship between the fracture site and etiology in mandibular fractures].

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the fracture site and etiology in mandibular fractures.

Patients And Methods: The study included 37 patients (61 fracture sites) (29 males, 8 females; mean age 26 years; range 1.5 to 77 years) who underwent surgical treatment for mandibular fractures between May 2001 and November 2003.

Transverse carpal muscle in association with carpal tunnel syndrome: report of three cases.

Anomalous muscles of the upper extremity are common, however, symptomatic anomalies causing CTS are rare. Three cases of CTS that are believed to be caused by an anomalous muscle located palmar to the transverse carpal ligament with transversely oriented muscle bundles is presented. Despite the arguments in literature, this is certainly an anomalous muscle that can be encountered during carpal tunnel release and be problematic to manipulate when minimally invasive approaches are chosen.