Compound flap from the great toe and vascularized joints from the second toe for posttraumatic thumb reconstruction at the level of the proximal metacarpal bone.

The purpose of this study is to describe the harvesting technique, anatomic variations, and clinical applications of a compound flap from the great toe and vascularized joint from the second toe used for thumb reconstruction. Five fresh cadaver dissections were studied, focusing attention on the dorsal or plantar vascular dominance, position of the communicating branch between the dorsal and plantar system, the Gilbert classification, and the size of the first dorsal metatarsal artery (FDMA) and first plantar metatarsal artery (FPMA) to the great toe and second toe. Five compound flaps were performed on five patients with traumatic thumb amputation at the level of proximal metacarpal bone.

[Impact of loss of sympathetic innervation on peripheral nerve regeneration: an experimental study with rats].

Objective: To investigate the impact of loss of sympathetic innervation on peripheral nerve regeneration.

Methods: Thirty-two SD rats underwent resection of the right middle cervical ganglion and excision and re-anastomosis of bilateral medium nerve, and then were randomly divided into 4 equal groups to undergo the following experiments. One, 2, 3, and 4 weeks later the sensory nerve action potentials (SNAPs) of bilateral medium nerves 5 mm from the anastomotic stoma and the compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) of bilateral superficial digital flexor muscles were measured with stimulating and recording electrodes.

[Early microsurgical treatment of upper obstetrical brachial plexus injury].

Objective: To search for the operation timing and methods for obstetrical brachial plexus injury (OBPI).

Methods: Thirty-two children with upper OBPI were treated by microsurgical procedure from October 1997 to April 2001. The average age of patients was 10 months, ranged from 3 months to 24 months; of them, 19 were below 6 months while 13 were over 6 months.