To summarize the effectiveness of the improv ed surgical techniques in fasciocutaneous flaps of the limbs. MethodsFrom February 1999 to December 2005, 58 patients (39 males, 19 females, aged 1068 years) underwent repairs of the skin defects with improved fasciaocu taneous flaps of the limbs. Twentyone patients had the skin defects in front of the tibial bone in the middle and lower parts, 12 patients had the skin defect s in the heels, 16 patients had the skin defects in the ankles, 3 patients had t he skin defects around the knees, 1 patient had a wide sacrococcygeal bedsore, and 5 patients had the skin defects in the wrists and hands. The wounds ranged in size from 5 cm×3 cm to 18 cm× 12 cm. According to the wound lo cations, the following flaps were selected: 4 cutaneous antebrachii medialis nerve and basilic vein fasciocutaneous flaps, 1 cutaneous antebrachii lateralis nerve and cephalic vein fasciocutaneous flap, 3 saphenous nerve and great saphenousvein fasciocutaneous flaps, 1 cutaneous nerve of thigh posterior fasciocutaneous flap, 32 reverse sural nerve and saphenous vein fasciocutaneous flaps, and 17 reverse saphenous nerve and great saphenous vein fasciocutaneous flaps. The dissected flaps ranged in size from 6 cm× 4 cm to 18 cm× 13 cm. The donor wounds underwent straight sutures in 39 patients, and the skin grafting (6 cm×3 cm to 13 cm× 6 cm) was performed on 19 patients after the donor wounds were closed. Results The wounds healed by first intention, and the flaps survived completely in 54 patients. The flaps developed partial necrosis in 4 patients. The followup for 120 months (average, 8 months) revealed that the flaps had a satisfactory appearance with a soft texture and the function was also satisfactory. Conclusion A fasciocutaneous flap of the limbs is an ideal flap for repairing defects in the skins and soft tissues of the limbs. The survival rate of the flap can be further improved by an improvement of the surgical techniques.
Objective To repair defects at both ends of theblood vessels with a considerable disparity in the diameter of the both sides or with a large diameter in extremities by phleboplasty of branched and double autogenous veins. Methods Three kinds of phleboplasties——funnel-shaped, raincape-shaped and transposed Y-shaped were designed. Experiments in fresh blood vessels in vitro were completed successfully. These methods were used clinically to repair injured external iliac veins, femoral arteries and veins, and popliteal arteries and veins, to replant severed fingers and to transplant toenail flaps on thumbs by harvesting autogenous great saphenous veins,small saphenous veins and forearm veins in 36 cases, including 35 cases in emergency operation and 1 case in selective operation.The length of grafted blood vessels ranged from 1.0 cm to 15.0 cm. Results The phleboplasties of funnel-shaped could enlarge the diameter by 1.0-1.25 times inanastomotic stomas. The phleboplasty of raincape-shaped could enlarge the diameter large enough to meet the demands for various blood vessels in extremities. The phleboplasty of transposed Y-shaped could provide large vein transplants. In36 grafted veins, 35 were in patency. The blood supply in extremities was normal.ConclusionThe funnel-shaped and raincape-shaped phleboplasties of branched veins can enlarge the anastomotic stomas of grafted veins. The transposed Y-shaped phleboplasty of double femoral veins is an ideal way to repair injured primaryblood vessels with a considerable disparity in the diameter of the both sides or with a large diameter in extremities.
ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility and technical essentials of soft tissue defect reconstruction following malignant tumor removal of limbs using perforator propeller flaps.
MethodBetween July 2008 and July 2015, 19 patients with malignant limb tumor underwent defect reconstruction following tumor removal using the perforator propeller flaps. There were 13 males and 6 females with an average age of 53.4 years (range, 20-82 years). The disease duration ranged from 1 to 420 months (mean, 82 months). The tumors located at the thigh in 10 cases, at the leg in 2 cases, at the arm in 1 case, at the forearm in 1 case, around the knee in 2 cases, and around the elbow joint in 3 cases. Totally 23 flaps (from 8 cm×3 cm to 30 cm×13 cm in size) were used to reconstruct defects (from 4 cm×4 cm to 24 cm×16 cm in size). The potential source arteries included the femoral artery (n=2) , profunda femoral artery (n=3) , superficial circumflex iliac artery (n=1) , lateral circumflex femoral artery (n=6) , superior lateral genicular artery (n=2) , peroneal artery (n=2) , anterior tibial artery (n=1) , brachial artery (n=4) , and radial artery (n=1) . The remaining one was a free style perforator flap.
ResultsPartial distal flap necrosis occurred in 3 cases after surgery with rotation angles of 180, 150, and 100° respectively, which were reconstructed after debridement using a free-style perforator flap in 1 case and using free skin grafting in the other 2 cases. The other 20 flaps survived completely after surgery. Primary healing of incisions was obtained at the donor and recipient sites. There was no severe complication such as infection, hematoma, and total flap failure. All patients were followed up 3 months to 5 years (mean, 19 months). One patient with malignant melanoma around the elbow joint had tumor recurrence, and underwent secondary tumor resection. The appearance, texture, and color of the flaps were similar to those at the recipient site.
ConclusionsFor patients with malignant tumor of the limb, the perforator propeller flap can be an alternative option for soft tissue defect reconstruction after tumor resection, with the advantages of relatively simple operation and remaining the main vessels.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of free lobed perforator flaps in repairing of complex wounds of limbs. Methods Between January 2018 and January 2021, 10 patients with complex wounds of limbs were admitted. There were 7 males and 3 females, aged from 32 to 64 years, with an average age of 45 years. There were 4 cases of traffic accident injuries, 3 cases of machine strangulation injuries, 1 case of machine crush injury, and 2 cases of heavy object crush injuries. There were 5 cases of upper limb wounds and 5 cases of lower limb wounds. The size of wounds ranged from 11 cm×10 cm to 25 cm×18 cm. The wounds were repaired with tri-lobed flaps of the descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery in 7 cases, four-lobed flaps in 2 cases, and with tri-lobed flaps of the descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery combined with oblique branch in 1 case. The size of flaps ranged from 12.0 cm×10.5 cm to 28.0 cm×12.0 cm. The donor sites were sutured directly in 9 cases and repaired with superficial iliac circumflex artery perforator flap in 1 case. ResultsSinus formed at the edge of the flap in 1 patient, which healed after dressing change and drainage; other flaps survived well, and the wounds healed by first intention. The skin flap at donor site survived, and the incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 6-24 months (mean, 11 months). All flaps had good appearance and function, and linear scars were left at the donor site without obvious complications. ConclusionFree lobed perforator flap is an alternative method to repair complex wounds of limbs with high safety, good effectiveness, and less complications.
