A 20-year-old man was born with only small meatballs on his
Everyone can feel the world and create life with their hands. However, 20-year-old Ah Zhi (pseudonym) has had a short left palm since birth, with only a few small "meatballs" in the area where he should have grown five fingers, making it impossible to even complete the simplest grasping.
Recently, the limb deformity team of Guangzhou Heping Orthopedic Hospital performed a difficult hand reconstruction surgery for him. Using his own foot tissue and iliac bone, they reconstructed his thumb, ring finger (ring finger), and little finger, helping him regain left hand function and confidence.
A congenital anomaly, causing inconvenience in life for twenty years
Ash's left hand is a typical severe developmental anomaly: the palm is missing, the thumb is underdeveloped, and the other four fingers are congenital. This not only seriously affects the appearance, but also brings huge life obstacles and psychological burden.
Especially in elementary school, I was afraid of being laughed at by others and didn't want to take my hands out. I couldn't eat like others, and it was also very inconvenient to move things, especially heavy ones, which made it difficult to exert force. Over the years, my skin has become thicker and I no longer care much about others' gaze. "Azhi said this casually, unaware that behind his growth were his years of hardship and struggle.
The surgical plan is carefully planned step by step, including "transplanting flowers and trees" and "shifting shapes"
In July of this year, on the recommendation of a friend, Ah Zhi found Director Zhou Yang from the Department of Limb Abnormalities at Guangzhou Heping Orthopedic Hospital. After a detailed evaluation, Director Zhou Yang's team has developed a sophisticated surgical plan for him, consisting of two phases of "transplanting flowers and trees" and "shifting and transforming shapes"
Phase 1: Transplanting Flowers and Trees, Rebuilding the 'Soul Thumb'
The doctor selected the big toe nail flap (toenail flap) of Azhi's left foot and combined it with a piece of his own iliac bone to create a new, flesh and blood, and sensory thumb for him. Thumb function accounts for 50% of hand function and is the key to fine hand movements.
Phase 2: Displacement and Transformation, Rebuilding the "Grip Ring Finger"
Using the second toes of Azhi's feet, the doctor reconstructed his ring finger and little finger. At the same time, iliac bone transplantation was used again to repair the palmar bone defect, increasing the width of the palm and laying a structural foundation for grasping function.
The 'Dance of the Blade' Behind Surgery: Three Major Difficulties Breakthrough
Director Zhou Yang candidly stated that the entire surgical process was full of challenges, with the difficulties mainly focused on three aspects:
1. Blood supply reconstruction is the lifeline: The surgery requires precise anastomosis of the hair like blood vessels on the foot tissue flap with the blood vessels in the hand under a high-power microscope to reconstruct blood supply. This is the primary prerequisite for ensuring the survival of reconstructed fingers.
2. Neural docking restores sensation: Just "surviving" is not enough, to make it "useful", sensation must be restored. It is necessary to align the nerves of the foot tissue with those of the hand, so that the brain can re command and perceive this new finger.
3. Tendon transplantation provides power: Due to the small size of the original tendons in A-Zhi's hand, tendons need to be transplanted from the foot, similar to installing cables, to provide power for finger flexion and extension activities.
After careful preoperative preparation, Director Zhou Yang's team successfully completed the thumb reconstruction surgery in nearly 8 hours. Two weeks later, the team successfully completed the ring finger reconstruction surgery after 13 hours and increased the width of the palm. At this point, a 'stylish' left hand has already taken shape. Looking at the newborn's left hand, Ah Zhi smiled happily.
Expert reminder: Early diagnosis and treatment are recommended for congenital hand deformities
Director Zhou Yang emphasized that the etiology of congenital hand deformities is complex and may be related to genetic and environmental factors during pregnancy. He reminded parents to pay attention to their children's hand development during the neonatal period, and once abnormalities are detected, they should seek medical attention at an experienced specialized medical institution as soon as possible.
Early intervention and rehabilitation training often have better results. Although complex deformities like A-Zhi can be improved through surgery in adulthood, intervening earlier is more beneficial for the development of children's hand function and psychological health, "Zhou Yang said." Currently, A-Zhi's left hand appearance has been fundamentally improved. Next, through systematic rehabilitation training, basic hand functions such as grasping and grasping will be gradually restored to welcome a new life
Article | Reporter Chen Hui, Correspondent Li Meitu | Provided by the hospital
Article source | Yangcheng Evening News APP
