The surgical management of large defects of the Achilles tendon and overlying skin is very demanding and necessitates, as a rule, a free vascularized graft. The ideal characteristics of a thin layer of skin and a strong tendon component, combined with a reliable blood supply and minimal morbidity at the donor site, have only been partially met by all previous grafts used in this situation. The authors performed reconstructions in five patients with large defects of the Achilles tendon and overlying skin by using a perforator flap derived from the tensor fasciae latae flap. A vascularized skin-subcutis-fascia lata flap could be raised by dissecting out two to three perforating arteries through the tensor fasciae latae muscle to the ascending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery; the muscle was left in situ in the process. All the flaps took well without complications. At final examination after an average of 20 months, the reconstructed Achilles tendon showed good functional results, although there was a 50 to 70 percent reduction in power during plantar flexion when compared with the normal side. A very good aesthetic result could be obtained after a debulking operation was performed on the skin flap.

The insufficiency of perforating veins is thought to be crucial in the pathogenesis of varicose and postphlebitic ulcers as well as postoperative varicose vein recurrence. Their eradication is a valid and effective therapeutic concept. No presently available technique has yielded satisfactory results, hence our efforts to develop a new method: the endoscopic subfascial discission of perforating veins (ESDP). It involves performing a small incision in an area remote from the point of trophic disturbance and allows the operator to accurately and atraumatically perform a subfascial discission of the perforating veins where they join the deep veins under direct endoscopic control. Our initial experience with the technique showed promising results: 78%-93% good and very good results depending on the clinical parameters applied. These are the results of a follow-up period of up to 14 months. During that time, none of our patients developed a complication or recurrence. Our technique has many advantages over traditional techniques of perforator vein eradication: (1) more accurate localization; (2) improved wound healing, (3) dependable occlusion; (4) immediate postoperative mobilization of the patient. We feel that ESDP represents a major advance in the development of better methods of subfascial perforator vein eradication. Greater experience and a longer follow-up period will, however, be required to confirm this initial observation.

BackgroundThe purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence of the pronator quadratus (PQ) muscle repair following volar plate fixation of distal radius fractures with special regards to the forearm pronation strength. During the early recovery period of 3 months, an improvement of pronation strength and functional scorings was hypothesized for the PQ repair when compared to no repair.MethodsThe inclusion criteria were (1) men or women between 18 and 80 years, (2) isolated, closed fractures of the distal radius, (3) A2 to B2 types of fracture according to the AO fracture classification system, (4) primary volar locking plate osteosynthesis. Patients were randomized to group A = PQ repair and group B = no repair. Follow-up examinations after 6 and 12 weeks included bilateral isometric pronation strength measurement, range of motion, the QuickDASH and the Mayo-Wrist-Score, and a visual analog scale (VAS).Results60 patients (n = 31 in group A and n = 29 in group B) with an average age of 54 years (range 22–77 years) returned for both follow-up visits. The pronation strength measurements showed no significant differences between groups (PQ repair vs. no repair) neither at 6 weeks nor at 12 weeks. Additionally, no statistical significant differences were noted for ROM, QuickDASH-Score or Mayo-Wrist-Score. The VAS scoring revealed a significant decreased pain level after PQ repair at 6 weeks postoperatively (p = 0.017).ConclusionAn improved pronation strength after PQ repair in the early rehabilitation period could not be confirmed. However, the PQ repair might reduce pain in the early postoperative period.Trial registration number: NCT02595229 (ClinicalTrials.gov, registered 02 November 2015)