平山 貴浩

Polycythemia vera is a myeloproliferative neoplasm that can cause opposite complications: thrombosis and bleeding. Since arterial or venous thrombosis is often fatal, prevention of thrombogenesis is the main treatment measure for polycythemia vera, both in daily life and perioperatively. However, reports of bleeding are less frequent than reports of thrombosis. Herein, we report a case of polycythemia vera in which significant postoperative bleeding was a perioperative complication. A 72-year-old woman with polycythemia vera had a subcutaneous hematoma after bruising her left lower leg, and was admitted to another hospital. As skin necrosis gradually appeared, the patient was transferred to our hospital. Following debridement and wound bed preparation, we applied a split-thickness skin graft using the right inguinal region as the donor site. After surgery, significant bleeding was observed at the donor and recipient sites, and this persisted until the next morning, which required transfusion of four units of blood. Hemostasis was difficult but finally achieved with strong and firm pressure. The skin graft survived, and the troublesome wound healed. Regarding the perioperative complications of polycythemia vera, not only thrombosis, but also bleeding should be considered. Strict control of patients' hematocrit and platelet count with phlebotomy and/or hydroxyurea as cytoreduction therapy is essential.

BACKGROUND: Many approaches have been reported to repair soft-tissue defects of the hand using dorsal metacarpal artery flaps. Use of a perforator-based propeller flap from the first intermetacarpal space to the dorsum of the hand has been described. The aim of this study was to confirm the functional anatomy of a first dorsal metacarpal artery (FDMA) perforator flap. METHODS: Twenty-nine fixed cadaveric hands were dissected to determine the origin, course, and branches of the FDMA. Clinically, five cases of soft tissue defects of the hand underwent reconstructive surgery using an FDMA perforator-based propeller flap. RESULTS: The FDMA was found in 27 specimens (93%). The ulnar branch of the FDMA always supplied the cutaneous perforator (mean ± SD, 4.3 ± 1.6), and the most distal cutaneous perforating branch was found along the metacarpal long axis within 25 mm of the tip of the metacarpal head with high frequency (28/29, 97%). In the two hands that had aplasia of the FDMA, well-developed perforators arose directly from the radial artery and advanced to the metacarpal head. Seven hands (24%) had perforators arising from the palmar arterial system, penetrating through or passing close by the second metacarpal bone. In clinical application, all the flaps survived completely without major complications. CONCLUSIONS: The FDMA perforator-based propeller flap is minimally invasive and technically simple. It is expected to be a new option for hand reconstruction.

The local flap method is a minimally invasive, quick, and common technique of closing skin defects. Several methods using multiple local flaps are employed for the purpose of closing relatively large defects, and minimizing the resultant scar and deformity. We present a combined local flap method using a banner flap with an adjacent rotation flap (B-R flap) with the potential for closing circular defects. A retrospective analysis was performed in 15 patients treated with the B-R flap for circular skin defects over a 2-year period. The sizes of the flap and the healthy skin excision area were evaluated using image analysis software, and were compared to a model of a conventional rotation flap that would be necessary to close the same defect. All flaps were successfully engrafted. The B-R flap required a 39.1% smaller rotation flap and an 85.9% smaller area of healthy skin compared to the conventional rotation flap technique. There was one adverse event, partial epidermal necrosis that was conservatively treated and healed. The B-R flap is comparatively less invasive; it allows a smaller area of healthy skin to be excised. It can be a useful option for closing a circular defect.