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Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of free superficial iliac circumflex artery perforator flap with different arterial anastomosis methods for repairing soft tissue defects of limbs.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was used to analyze the data of 60 patients with soft tissue defects of limbs treated in Ningbo No.6 Hospital from March 2017 to March 2020, including 38 males and 22 females, aged 21-57 years［(35.6±3.1)years］. The wounds were located on the upper limb in 33 patients and the lower limb wound in 27 patients. The defect area was 4.5 cm × 2.0 cm-17.0 cm × 8.0 cm. All patients received debridement and vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) in stage I, and free superficial iliac circumflex artery perforator flap transplantation in stage II. The flap area was 4.9 cm × 2.6 cm-17.0 cm × 8.0 cm. According to the different anastomotic vessels, the superficial iliac circumflex artery was anastomosed end-to- side to the radial artery in 25 patients, the ulnar artery in 8, the dorsalis pedis artery in 18 and the anterior tibial artery in 9. Flap healing and healing time were detected. Texture and appearance of the flap were observed at the last follow-up. The appearance of the donor area was evaluated by Vancouver scar scale (VSS), and the satisfaction rate of appearance of the recipient area was measured by numerical score.Results:All patients were followed up for 5-15 months［(7.1±1.3)points］. All flaps survived successfully after operation, including arterial crisis in 4 patients, among which 2 had flap perforator anastomosed with the radial artery, 1 with the ulnar artery and 1 with the dorsalis pedis artery. There was no significant difference in flap crisis after end-to-side arterial anastomosis in different recipient areas ( P>0.05). For patients with flap perforator anastomosed with the radial artery, the ulnar artery, the dorsalis pedis artery and the anterior tibial artery, the flap healing time was 15(14, 16)days, 15(14, 16)days, 14.5(14，16)days and 14(14，15.5)days, respectively (all P>0.05). The flaps showed sufficient elasticity and soft texture at the last follow-up. For patients with flap perforator anastomosed with the radial artery, the ulnar artery, the dorsalis pedis artery and the anterior tibial artery, the VSS of the donor area was (10.2±1.5)points, (10.9±1.6)points, (9.4±1.5)points and (9.8±1.5)points at the last follow-up (all P>0.05), and the satisfaction rate of appearance of the recipient area was 9 (8, 10)points, 9(8, 9)points, 9(8, 9)points and 8(8, 9.5)points at the last follow-up ( P>0.05), showing that all patients were satisfied with the appearance of the wound. Conclusions:The transplantation of free superficial iliac circumflex artery perforator flap with different arterial anastomosis methods is safe and reliable in repairing soft tissue defects of limbs with advantages of low occurrence of postoperative vascular crisis, good flap survival, no influence on flap healing by different anastomotic vessels, hidden donor area with small scar and satisfactory appearance of the recipient area. It can be used as one of the common vascular repair methods for free tissue flap transplantation.
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Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of the anterolateral femoral perforator flap（ALTP）pedicled with the oblique branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery（LCFA）assisted by CT angiography（CTA）examination for repairing soft tissue defects of limbs.Methods:A retrospective case series study was made on 51 patients with soft tissue defects of limbs treated in Ningbo No.6 Hospital from March 2015 to March 2020，including 31 males and 20 females at age of 26-63 years［（42.0±8.9）years］. The defects were located at the forearm in 15 patients，at the hand in 13，at the lower leg in 15 and at the ankle in 8. The size of defects ranged from 9 cm×6 cm to 18 cm×10 cm，with the size of flaps from 10 cm×6 cm to 20 cm×12 cm. A total of 33 patients were examined with CTA scanning and Doppler ultrasound（CTA group）and 18 patients with Doppler ultrasound（Doppler group）. All patients underwent debridement and negative pressure closed drainage（VSD）at stage I and were repaired by ALTP pedicled with the oblique branch of LCFA at stage II. The diameter and length of the vessel pedicle was recorded in CTA group before operationand in both groups during operation. The time of flap harvesting in both groups was recorded during operation. The survival of the flap in both groups was observed one week after operation. Zhang Hao's scoring standard was applied to evaluate the outcome at the last follow-up.Results:All patients were followed up for 6-12 months［（9.1±1.5）months］. In CTA group，the diameter of LCFA vessel pedicle measured before operation had no significant difference from that during operation（ P>0.05），while the length of LCFA vessel pedicle before operation［（12.3±2.1）cm］was longer than（10.9±2.2）cm during operation（ P<0.05）. The two group showed no significant differences in the diameter and length of LCFA vessel pedicle during operation（ P>0.05）. The time of flap harvesting in CTA group was（38.5±6.2）minutes，significantly shorter than（51.4±8.4）minutes in Doppler group（ P<0.05）. One week after operation，all flaps survived. Two patients developed flap arterial congestion in CTA group，among whom one survived after surgical revision and one with partially necrosis was healed after dressing change. One patient was found with flap arterial congestion with partial necrosis in Doppler group，who was healed after dressing change. There was no significant difference in postoperative flap arterial congestion between the two groups（ P>0.05）. The patients' satisfaction score in CTA group was（8.5±1.5）points at the last follow-up，higher than（7.4±2.0）points in Doppler group（ P<0.05）. Conclusion:For repairing soft tissue defects of limbs，free ALTP pedicled with the oblique branch of LCFA assisted by three- dimensional CT angiography can accurately get the information of perforator，shorten the flap harvesting time，and obtain satisfactory clinical results as compared to Doppler ultrasound.
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Objective@#To investigate the feasibility and clinic outcome of the turbocharging technique in repairing large defect with free perforator flap.@*Methods@#From January 2017 to December 2018, 6 patients with defect of over length or large size were repaired with free perforator flaps, anterolateral thigh(ALT) flap in 3 cases and deep inferior epigastric artery perforator(DIEP) flap in 3 cases in Department of Hand Surgery, Ningbo No.6 Hospital. There were 4 males and 2 females, aged from 29 to 54 years old, with an average age of 41 years old.It was found that the size of the flap beyond the perforasome, while multiple perforators in the flaps were not from the same pedicle. The turbocharging technique was applied in the operation. The distal perforator of the flap was anastomosed with the proximal pedicle branch. The flap size ranged from 20 cm×8 cm to 25 cm×12 cm. The donor sites were closed directly for 3 cases and skin grafting for 3 cases.@*Results@#All the flaps survived successfully, no distal necrosis occurred. The patients were followed up for 3 to 12 months, with an average of 9 months. All flaps survived well with satisfactory appearance and pliable texture. The healing of skin graft was satisfactory in 3 cases in donor site. No graft skin contracture occurred. The donor sites closed directly in 3 cases had linear scar in donor site, no obvious contracture occurred. The flap sensation returned to S2-S3.@*Conclusions@#If the size of the flap is super long or large, beyond the perforasome, while multiple perforators in the flaps were not from the same pedicle, the application of turbocharging technique can avoid partial necrosis of the flap and improve the survival rate of the flap, which is an ideal alternative.
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Objective To observe the survival rate of free flaps and incidence of vascular crisis following the perforator flap transfer in end-to-side microvascular anastomosis compared with the traditional method and investigate the scientificity and practicability of this scheme.Methods From February, 2012 to October, 2013, 152 cases of free flaps (including superficial illiac circumflex perforator flap, lateral arm flap, peroneal perforator flap, and anterolateral thigh flap) were performed.The end-to-side anastomosis were performed in 72 cases while end-to-end anastomosis in 80 cases;All patients were followed up for 6-24 months.The occurrence of vascular crisis in all cases were observed and recorded.The results of the two groups were conducted statistical analyzed.Results The average anastomosis time for end-to-side anastomosis (21.3 ± 3.8 min) was significantly higher than the end-to-end anastomosis (14.4 ± 3.2 min) (P ＜ 0.05).The incidence of anastomotic vasospasm after end-to-side anastomosis (5.6％) was significantly lower than traditional method (16.3％) (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the survival rate of the free flaps between the end-to-side anastomosis group (97.2％) and the traditional group postoperatively (96.3％) (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Although anastomosis times were increased in the end-to-side group, this technique showed lower spasm rate and similar flap survival rate.Therefore, this technique is a reliable and technically feasible method and should be considered first as a choice when facing vessel discrepancy and for preserving the recipient artery and vein system.
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Objective To discuss the method and treatment outcome of vascular variation in repairing skin defect of the hand by free transplantation of posterior interosseous perforator flap.Methods Eight cases with vascular variation were adjusted flap position,two cases were repaired by single perforator flap,three cases were repaired by cutting perforator and anastomosing perforator after changing the path,three cases were repaired by designing composition leaves flap.Results Seven flaps survived,one flap partly necrosis and healed by skin-grafting,and all of the patients were followed-up 3 to 18 months.The color,texture and thickness of the flaps were satisfactory.The movements of the fingers were satisfactory.According to the hand function evaluation criteria issued by the Hand Surgery Society of the Chinese Medical Association,outcomes were rated excellent in 1 case,good in 5 cases,fair in 2 cases.The excellent and good rate was 75％.Conclusion When finding vascular variation in repairing skin defect of the hand by free transplantation of posterior interosseous perforator flap,adjust flap position,repair by single perforator flap,cutting perforator and anastomosing perforator after changing the path,or designing composition leaves flap is a good treatment option.
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Objective To provide anatomical landmarks with which to facilitate flap dissection,we studied the perforator artery of the dorsal forearm including its source,quantity,origination,caliber,variation and pedicle length. Methods Ten fresh cadavers were injected with a modified lead oxide-gelatin mixture,and three-dimensional graphics of the perforator vessels of the dorsal forearm were reconstructed with a computed tomography. In addition, twenty upper extremity specimens were injected with red latex via the axillary artery.The integument of the forearm was dissected,and perforators were identified,including type,course,size and location were documented.Surface areas were measured with Scion Image. Results The average number of the posterior interosseous artery cutaneous perforators in the dorsal forearm was (5±2),the average outer diameter of the perforator artories was (0.5 ± 0.1) mm,and the pedicle length was (2.5 ±0.2) cm.The average cutaneous vascular territory was (22.0 ± 15.0) cm2.The dorsal branch of the anterior interosseous artery dispersed on the wrist dorsum or the distal third of the dorsal forearm. It's average diameter was 0.8 mum. Conclusion The free transplantation of the posterior interosseous perforator artery flaps or rotary flap pedicled by the dorsal branch of the anterior interosseous artery for defect reconstruction are feasible.
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ObjectiveTo evaluate the curative effect of reconstruction of the hand and foot defects with bones and tendons exposure using free medial sural artery perforator flap(MSAP). MethodsRadiographs of 2 cadavers injected with a modified lead oxide-gelatin mixture were digitally analyzed. Between April 2007 and December 2010, thirty-four patients with soft tissue defects in the distal limb were treated with the free MSAP flap transplantation. The sizes of the defect ranged 6 cm × 4 cm-13 cm × 8 cm, and the flaps ranged 7 cm× 5 cm-14 cm × 9 cm. These clinical cases included 25 hands and 9 feet, all of them with bones and tendons exposure.In these defects,twenty-two were clean,twelve got infections.In our cases, twenty-three flaps were nourished with single perforator vessel and else 11 with two;perforator vessel fifteen flaps were dissected one superficial vein to anastomose with that of the recipient sites in addition to accompanying vein anastomosis;The sensation of 9 flaps recovered the hands were reconstructed with cutaneous nerve anastomosis. ResultsA partition of the calf skin blood vessels,and three-dimensional reconstruction image of the sural artery were obtained.All flaps survived,five of them appeared partially violet and bubbles. Followed up 6-21 months, the cosmetic results were satisfactory and without apparent bulkiness.The flap colors were similar to recipient sites. The flap senses reconstructed with neural anastomosis recover to S2-S3. ConclusionThe new flap is very suitable to repair the soft tissue defect in the distal limbs,because the fairly constant perforator vessel,the reliable blood supply and the cosmetic shape of the MSAP flap are all advantages of it in addition to no damage to low leg chief artery and gastrocnemius.