Possibilities of using microsurgical autotransplantation of tissue complexes in children

Background. Applications of traditional treatment methods in children with congenital and acquired pathology of the musculoskeletal system are often limited, as wound defects of significant area and depth with a soft tissue and bone deficit may occur during the reconstruction of the segment. Microsurgical techniques, including autotransplantation of blood-supplied tissue complexes, make it possible to realize the aims of musculoskeletal segment reconstruction and reduce surgical treatment time. Aim. This study aimed to perform a retrospective (statistical) analysis of using microsurgical autotransplantation of tissue complexes in children. Materials and methods. Treatment outcomes of 871 patients with congenital and development deformities of the musculoskeletal system who underwent 1048 microsurgical autotransplantations of various tissue complexes in 19842018 were analyzed. Complications associated with impaired blood supply to transplanted autografts, requiring revision microsurgical interventions, were also statistically processed. Results. The mean patient age was 5.8 years (range, 10 months to 17 years). In children with congenital pathology (n = 597), transplantation of blood-supplied tissue complexes in 85.9% of the cases was performed in cases with hand deformities. In 285 cases of acquired deformities, post-traumatic finger stumps accounted for 45.5%, scar changes of soft tissues for 39.6%, and other pathological conditions for 14.9%. Most of the microsurgical operations were toe-to-hand transfers, which accounted for 81.8% of the total number of surgeries. In 79.4% of the cases, the second toe was used for the toe-to-hand transfer. Accordingly, the remaining toes were transferred in 20.6% of the cases. When replacing soft tissue defects, a thoracodorsal flap was used in 84 cases, which was 5.6% (of the total number of autotransplantations), and a groin flap was used in 22 patients. To replace bone defects, a blood-supplied fibula graft was used in 47 patients and a metatarsal bone graft in 41 children. Circulatory disorders in the postoperative period were noted in 5.9% of the total operations, which in 3.1% of cases resulted in the necrosis of the transplanted autograft. Conclusion. The treatment outcomes of using microsurgical autotransplantation of blood-supplied tissue complexes in the reconstruction of tissues and segments of the musculoskeletal system confirm their high efficacy.