Objective To investigate the method, effectiveness, andclinical application of the anterolateral thigh perforator free flaps for reconstruction of the soft tissue defects in the head and the four limbs after tumorresection. Methods From April 2004 to April 2006, 16 patients (13 males, 3 females; aged 26-72 years) with the soft tissue defects in the head (9 patients) and the four limbs (7 patients) underwent reconstructive operations with the anterolateral thigh perforator free flaps after their tumor resection. The defects ranged in area from 8 cm×6 cm to 20 cm×13 cm in the head with the process of diseases from 6 to 24 months, and the defects ranged in area from 10 cm×7 cm to 21 cm× 12 cm in the four limbs with the process of diseases from 2 to 18 months.The technique for the anterolateral thigh perforator flap freegrafting, the degree of the injury in the donor sites, and the appearance of the donor and recipient sites, and the influence on the anatomy and function in the both local sites were analyzed. Results In the 16 patients with the soft tissue defects in the head and the four limbs after tumor resection, 14 had a primary wound healing (Stage Ⅰ), and 2 had a delayed wound healing (Stage Ⅱ) . Fifteen flaps survived completely but two flaps had a partial failure. Theflap appearance was good and smooth without any severe scarring, and there was a minimal effect on the function at the donor and recipient sites. Conclusion Because of the less morbidity at the donor site, the better result at the recipient site, and the use of the anterolateral thigh perforator flap free grafting, this kind of the technique for reconstruction of the head and fourlimb soft tissue defects after tumor resection is well acceptable.
ObjectiveTo explore the application value of infrared thermography (IRT) technique assisted peroneal artery perforator flap in repairing oral and maxillofacial defects. MethodsThe clinical data of 20 patients with oral and maxillofacial malignant tumors treated with peroneal artery perforator flap between October 2020 and December 2021 were retrospectively analysed. There were 13 males and 7 females, with an average age of 56.5 years (range, 32-76 years). There were 8 cases of tongue cancer, 5 cases of parotid gland cancer, 4 cases of buccal cancer, and 3 cases of mandibular gingival cancer; and 12 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, 3 cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma, and 5 cases of mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) and IRT technique were performed before operation to locate the peroneal artery perforator and assist in the design of the flap. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of CDU and IRT technique were compared with the actual exploration during operation. The accuracy of CDU and IRT technique in detecting the number of peroneal artery perforator and the most viable perforating points was compared. The patients were followed up regularly to observe the recovery of donor and recipient sites, the occurrence of complications, and the recurrence and metastasis of tumors. Results The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of peroneal artery perforators detected by IRT technique before operation were 72.22%, 50.00%, 92.86%, and 16.67% respectively, which were higher than those by CDU (64.17%, 33.33%, 84.62%, and 14.29% respectively). Forty-five peroneal artery perforators were found by CDU before operation, and 35 were confirmed during operation, with an accuracy rate of 77.8%; 43 “hot spots” were found by IRT technique, and 32 peroneal artery perforators were confirmed within the “hot spots” range during operation, with an accuracy rate of 74.4%; there was no significant difference between the two methods (χ2=0.096, P=0.757). The accuracy rates of the most viable perforating points found by CDU and IRT technique were 80.95% (17/21) and 94.74% (18/19), respectively, and there was no significant difference between them (χ2=0.115, P=0.734). The localization errors of CDU and IRT technique were (5.12±2.10) and (4.23±1.87) mm, respectively, and there was no significant difference between them (t=1.416, P=0.165). All the perforator flaps survived, and the incisions of donor and recipient sites healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 5-18 months, with an average of 11 months. The skin flap was soft and had good blood supply, and the lower limb scar was concealed and the lower limb had good function. No lower limb swelling, pain, numbness, ankle instability, or other complications occurred, and no tumor recurrence and metastasis were found during the follow-up. Conclusion Compared with the CDU, using the IRT technique to assist the preoperative peroneal artery perforator flap design to repair the oral and maxillofacial defects has a high clinical application value.
Objective To study the influence of the pedicle length on the perforator flaps in hemodynamics. Methods Four mature swine (2 males, 2 females; weight, 23.0±2.0 kg) were applied to the experiment.Two transverse abdominal skin flaps, based on the superior epigastric pedicle orits rectus abdominal muscle perforators, were designed; each swine was used as its own control. At 2 hours and 1, 2, 3 weeks postoperatively, the skin paddle perfusion and the blood stream velocity in the superior epigastric artery were measured by the Laser Doppler Flowmeter and the Color Doppler Ultrasound, respectively. Flap survival percentages were calculated by the grid method at 1 week postoperatively. The swine were euthanatized, and they underwent angiography at 3 weeks postoperatively. Results At 2 hours and 1 week after operation, edema of the perforator flaps with the superior epigastric pedicle was more severe than that of the skin flaps with the rectus abdominal muscle perforator, and the skin perfusion had a statistical difference between the two kindsof flaps (Plt;0.05). The skin paddle viability and the skin perfusion had nostatistical difference after the first week postoperatively (Pgt;0.05). At 2hours and 1 week after operation, the blood stream velocity in the superior epigastric artery in the perforator flap with the superior abdominal artery pediclewas reduced, and there was a statistical difference between the two kinds of flaps (Plt;0.05); however, the velocity was almost the same after the first week postoperatively. Conclusion The excessively long pedicle of the perforator skin flap may have an unfavorable influence on the flap perfusion,especially during the first week after operation, because of the vascular compromise during the dissection of the long pedicle. The blood vessel anastomosis atthis level of the blood vessels may have no relationship with the perforator flap in hemodynamics. This study can also indicate that the ligation of the branches in the recipient vessels cannot make the perforator flaps overperfused.
【Abstract】 Objective To investigate the operative techniques and cl inical results of repairing the soft tissue defectsof forearm and hand with free peroneal perforator-based sural neurofasciocutaneous flap. Methods From May 2006 toJanuary 2007, 6 patients including 5 males and 1 female were treated. Their ages ranged from 22 years to 51 years. They were injured by motor vehicle accidents (2 cases), or crushed by machines (4 cases), with skin defect of hand in 1 case, skin defect of hand associated with tendon injuries and metacarpal fractures in 2 cases, skin defect of forearm in 2 cases, and forearm skin defects with fractures of radius and ulna in 1 case. The areas of soft tissue defect ranged from 16 cm × 7 cm to 24 cm × 10 cm. The debridement and the primary treatment to tendons or bones were performed on emergency. And free flaps were transplanted when the wound areas were stable at 4 to 7 days after the emergent treatment. During the operation, the flaps were designed along the axis of the sural nerve nutrient vessels according to the shape and size of the soft tissue defects, with the peroneal perforator above the lateral malleolus as the pedicle and along with a part of the peroneal artery for vascula anastomosis. Then the flaps were harvested and transferred to the reci pient sites with the peroneal vartey anastomosed to the radial (or ulnar) artery and the peroneal veins to one of the radial (or ulnar) veins and the cephal ic vein, respectively. The flap size ranged from 18 cm × 8 cm to 25 cm × 12 cm. The donor areas were closed by skin grafts. Results The 5 flaps survived after the surgery. Partial inadequate venous return and distal superficial necrosis happened in only 1 case, which also got secondary heal ing by changing dressing and anti-infective therapy. The donor sites reached primary heal ing completely. The followed-up in all the patients for 6 to 13 months revealed that the appearance and function of the flaps were all satisfactory, and no influence on ambulation of donor site was found. Conclusion Peroneal perforator-based sural neurofasciocutaneous flap has the advantages of favourable appearance, constant vascular pedicle, rel iable blood supply, large size of elevation and minor influence on the donor site. And the free transfer of this flap is an ideal procedure to repair the large soft tissue defects of forearm and hand.
ObjectiveTo generalize the application and prospect of computed tomographic angiography (CTA) in deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap transfer for breast reconstruction.MethodsThe related literature using CTA for DIEP flap reconstruction of breast in recent years was reviewed and analyzed.ResultsPreoperative CTA can accurately assess the vascular anatomy of the chest and abdomen wall, precisely locating the perforator in the abdominal donor site, and identifying the dominant perforator; guide the selection of intercostal space to explore internal mammary artery and internal mammary artery perforator in the chest recipient vessels. It can also reconstruct the volume of the abdominal flap with reference to the size of the contralateral breast and pre-shape the abdominal flap, which are crucial to formulate the surgical plan and improve the reliability of flap.ConclusionPreoperative CTA has enormous application potential and prospects in locating donor area perforator, in selecting recipient vessels, and in evaluating breast volume for autologous breast reconstruction with DIEP flap.
Objective To investigate if intercostal neurovascular perforator can nourish lower abdominal flap. Methods Between June 2017 and December 2020, in 39 female patients with predominant perforator originated from intercostal nerve nutrient vessels, main trunk of the deep inferior epigastric vessels was chosen to be the pedicle to harvest free lower abdominal flap for breast reconstruction. The age of the patients ranged from 28 to 52 years, with an average of 38.6 years. There were 16 cases on the left and 23 cases on the right. The duration of breast cancer was 3-32 months, with an average of 21.8 months. Pathological stage was stageⅡin 31 cases and stage Ⅲ in 8 cases. Among them, 25 cases were primary tumor resection and one stage breast reconstruction and 14 cases were delayed breast reconstruction. Results The lower abdominal flap pedicled with one side pedicle was harvested in 32 cases, all of which were supplied by the main trunk of the deep inferior epigastric vessel combined with the intercostal neurovascular perforator; 7 cases were harvested with bilateral pedicled lower abdominal flaps, of which 4 cases were supplied by the main trunk of the deep inferior epigastric vessel combined with intercostal neurovascular perforator on one side and deep inferior epigastric artery perforator on the other side, and the other 3 cases were supplied by bilateral main trunk of the deep inferior epigastric vessel and the intercostal neurovascular perforator. In the flaps nourished with the main trunk of the deep inferior epigastric vessel combined with the intercostal neurovascular perforator, the intercostal neurovascular perforators were one branch type in 15 cases, one branch+reticular type in 19 sides, and reticular type in 8 sides. The size of flap ranged from 26 cm×10 cm to 31 cm×13 cm; the thickness was 2.5-5.5 cm (mean, 2.9 cm); the vascular pedicle length was 7.0-11.5 cm (mean, 9.2 cm); the weight of the flap was 350-420 g (mean, 390 g). All the flaps survived completely and the incisions at donor sites healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 14-35 months (mean, 25.4 months). The shape, texture, and elasticity of reconstructed breasts were good and no flap contracture happened. Only linear scar left at the donor site, the function of abdomen was not affected. No local recurrence happened. ConclusionWhen the direct perforator of the deep inferior epigastric artery may not provide reliable blood supply for the lower abdominal flap, the intercostal neurovascular perforator with deep inferior epigastric vessels can ensure the blood supply of the free lower abdominal flap.
