Objective To provide a comprehensive review for development and existing problems of the perforator flaps. Methods The related home and abroad l iterature concerning perforator flaps was extensively reviewed. Results The perforator flaps are defined as the axial flaps nourished solely by small cutaneous perforating vessels (perforating arteriesand veins), which are exclusively composed of skin and subcutaneous fat. The perforator flaps have the advantages as follows: less injury at donor site, less damage to the contour of the donor site, good reconstruction and appearance of the reci pient site flexible design, and short time of postoperative recovery, which have been widely used in reconstructivesurgery. Conclusion The perforator flaps are the new development of the microsurgery, which usher an era of small axial flaps; However, the controversies of the definition, vascular classification, the nomenclature, and the cl inical appl ication of the perforator flaps still exist, which are therefore the hot spot for future study.
ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility of the free descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery perforator tissue flap (fascia flap plus skin flap) to repair large soft tissue defects of the extremities and its impact on the donor site.
MethodsBetween January 2013 and February 2015, 9 cases of large tissue defects of the extremities were repaired with the free descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery perforator tissue flap. There were 8 males and 1 female, aged from 13 to 56 years (median, 36 years). The causes included traffic accident injury in 6 cases and crushing injury by heavy object in 3 cases. Soft tissue defect located at the lower limbs in 7 cases and at the upper limbs in 2 cases, including 2 cases of simple tendon exposure, 2 cases of simple bone exposure, and 5 cases of tendon and bone exposure. After debridement, the soft tissue defect area ranged from 13 cm×7 cm to 20 cm×18 cm. The tissue flaps ranged from 14 cm×8 cm to 23 cm×19 cm. The donor site was directly sutured, scalp graft was used to cover the fascia flap.
ResultsAfter operation, partial necrosis of the skin grafting on the fascia flap occurred in 2 cases and healed after dressing change. Arterial crisis occurred in 1 case and the flap survived after anastomosis. The other tissue flaps survived and wounds healed by first intention. The skin grafting healed by first intention in 7 cases, by second intention in 2 cases. The patients were followed up 4-24 months (mean, 10 months). The appearance and function of the tissue flaps were satisfactory, only linear scar was observed at the donor site, which had less damage and no effect on walking.
ConclusionFree descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery perforator tissue flap can repair large soft tissue defect of the extremities. The donor site can be sutured directly, which reduces damage to donor site and is accord with the principle of plastic surgery.
Objective To introduce the new progress of perforator flaps as an new reconstruction technique. Methods The literature both at home and abroad was reviewed, and the research findings of different perforator flaps were summarized. Results The advantage of perforator flaps versus musculocutaneous flaps was the reduced morbidity of the donor site with preservation of the nerves, muscles and deep fascia. The postoperative complications at donor sites reduced. Conclusion Perforator flap was the new and reliable technique forreconstructionof tissue defect and may be one of the primary choices in the future.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of radial-lateral forearm free perforator flap on repairing of soft tissue defects in the finger.MethodsBetween January 2017 and May 2018, 26 cases of finger skin defects were treated with radial-lateral forearm free perforator flap based on the radial branch of the posterior interosseus artery. There were 21 males and 5 females, with an average age of 26.6 years (range, 19-56 years). The cause of injury included the cutting injury in 16 cases and crush injury in 10 cases. The interval between injury and admission was 30 minutes to 4 hours (mean, 1.5 hours). The injury located at thumb in 6 cases, index finger in 8 cases, middle finger in 6 cases, ring finger in 3 cases, and little finger in 3 cases; and at the dorsum of finger in 6 cases, the lateral side in 6 cases, and the palm in 14 cases. All wounds were accompanied with the tendon and bone exposures, and phalangeal fractures occurred in 10 cases. The size of the defects ranged from 2.0 cm×1.0 cm to 4.0 cm×2.5 cm. And the size of the flap ranged from 2.5 cm×1.5 cm to 4.5 cm×3.0 cm. All wounds at donor sites were sutured directly.ResultsAll the 26 cases were followed up 4-12 months (mean, 7 months). The 24 flaps survived uneventfully after operation, and the wounds healed by first intention. Partial necrosis occurred at the distal part in 2 flaps, and secondary healing achieved after debridement and dressing. All incisions at donor sites healed by first intention. The appearance and texture of all flaps were satisfactory. The two-point discrimination of the flaps was 5-10 mm (mean, 8 mm) at 4 months after operation. Sensory of the flaps was grade S3. Only linear scar was noted at the donor site.ConclusionThe radial-lateral forearm free perforator flap in repairing of the soft tissues in finger can shorten the disease duration, reduce the damage of the donor site, and improve the patients’ quality of life.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of the perforator-based propeller flaps (PPFs) based on digital artery (DA) and dorsal metacarpal artery (DMA) in repairing hand wounds. Methods The clinical data of 45 patients with hand wounds between January 2018 and March 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 27 males and 18 females with an average age of 41.2 years (range, 14-72 years). The causes of injury included twist injury in 15 cases, crush injury in 19 cases, and cut injury in 11 cases. The injured parts included 32 cases of digits, 10 cases of dorsal hand, and 3 cases of palmar hand, all of which had tendon, joint, and bone exposure. The time from injury to operation ranged from 2 to 8 hours (mean, 4.3 hours). The wound sizes after debridement ranged from 1.8 cm×1.0 cm to 5.0 cm×3.5 cm. Twenty-eight cases were repaired by the PPFs based on DA and 17 cases were repaired by the PPFs based on DMA. The flap size ranged from 2.5 cm×1.1 cm to 8.5 cm×4.0 cm. The defects of the donor sites in 14 patients were closed directly and the defects in the left 31 patients were resurfaced with free full-thickness skin graft from the proximal medial forearm.Results All the flaps survived after operation. Two cases of the PPF based on DA and 1 case of the PPF based on DMA underwent partially blisters at the distal end and healed after dressing change. The incisions in the donor site healed by first intention and the skin grafts survived. All patients were followed up 10-33 months, with a mean of 15.4 months. At last follow-up, the static two-point discrimination of the PPFs based on DA and DMA were 4-14 mm and 8-20 mm with the averages of 8.1 mm and 13.3 mm, respectively. According to the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire, 20 patients were very satisfied with the appearance of the PPF based on DA and 8 patients were satisfied; 8 patients were very satisfied with the appearance of the PPF based on DMA and 9 patients were satisfied. Based on the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), the appearance scores of the donor site of the PPFs based on DA and DMA were 2-7 and 4-9, with the averages of 4.2 and 6.1, respectively. ConclusionThe two kinds of PPFs are reliable in blood supply and easy to harvest, which provide a good method for emergency repair of small and medium area wounds in the hand.
Objective To explore the feasibility and effectiveness of radial collateral artery polyfoliate perforator flap in repair of resurfacing soft tissue defect of hand. Methods Between September 2017 and September 2018, the radial collateral artery polyfoliate perforator flaps were transplanted to repair 5 cases of two adjacent wounds of hand and wide or irregular wounds. All patients were male, aged from 27 to 52 years, with an average of 42.5 years. The time from injury to admission was 4 hours to 3 weeks, with an average of 7.3 days. Causes of injury included traffic accident in 2 cases, crushing injury in 2 cases, and paint injection injury in 1 case. The wounds were located at the dorsum of hand in 3 cases, the dorsum of finger in 1 case, and the thumb and thumb web in 1 case. The area of wound ranged from 8 cm×6 cm to 10 cm×8 cm. The area of skin flap ranged from 6.0 cm×3.0 cm to 11.0 cm×4.5 cm, all of which carried the posterior cutaneous nerve of the arm, and the donor site was closed directly. Results All flaps survived and healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 3-11 months (mean, 6.5 months). The patients were satisfied with the appearance of hands. The flaps were not bulky, and the color and texture were similar to the hand. There was only linear scar in the donor site, no radial nerve injury occurred, and elbow joint function was not affected. One patient underwent finger-splitting and skin flap thinning at 6 months after operation. Conclusion The radial collateral artery polyfoliate perforator flap is a good method for repairing two adjacent wounds and wide or irregular wounds of hand.
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.
Objective?To investigate the method and effectiveness of perforator flaps in repairing soft tissue defects of extremities.?Methods?Between June 2002 and December 2009, 81 patients with soft tissue defect of extremities were treated. There were 69 males and 12 females with an average age of 54 years (range, 13-75 years). Defect causes were injury in 35 cases (the disease duration ranged from 1 hour to 45 days), tumor resection in 19 cases, and scar resection in 27 cases. The defect located at limb and foot in 56 cases, forearm and hand in 25 cases. The defect size ranged from 3 cm × 3 cm to 23 cm × 18 cm. The perforator flaps included the peroneal artery perforator flap in 26 cases, the radial artery perforator flap in 18 cases, the medial plantar artery perforator flap in 18 cases, and the lateral circumflex femoral artery perforator flap in 19 cases. The flap size ranged from 4 cm × 3 cm to 25 cm × 18 cm. The donor site was sutured directly or repaired by free skin graft.?Results?Partial necrosis of the flaps occurred in 4 cases at 3-7 days after operation, then the flap survived after expectant treatment. The other flaps and free skin grafts survived successfully, and the incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 1 to 16 months with an average of 9 months. The appearance, texture, and colour of the flaps were similar to those of the donor site.?Conclusion?It is an effective method to use the perforator flap for repairing soft tissue defect of the extremities.
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.
Objective To investigate the anatomic variations of the perforator vessels of anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap and the clinical indications. Methods From March 1985 to August 2004, the anterolateral thigh flapgraft was performed in 112 patients. The clinical data were analyzed. There were 67 males and 45 females, aging from 5 to 65 years with an average of 38.5 years. According to recipient site condition, four methods of flap harvesting were as follows:① 78 received free fasciocutaneous flaps;② 22 received free adipofascial flaps;③ 5 received pedicled island fasciocutaneous flaps; ④ 7 received pedicled reverse-flow island fasciocutaneous flaps. Facial, neck, breast, extremityjoint, plantar, and perineum defects were repaired and the effectiveness and donor site morbidity were evaluated. Results The blood supply of ALT flap came from the descending branch or transverse branch of the lateral circumflex femoralartery. The skin vessels were found to be septocutaneous perforators in 33% of flaps and to be musculocutaneous perforators in 77% of flaps. Of 112 flaps, 107 survived completely, the survival rate was 95.6% with little donor site morbidity. Conclusion ALT flap is a versatile softtissue flap. If refined to perforator flap, it can achieve better results in reconstructing defect and minimizing donor-site morbidity.
