Pedicled latissimus dorsi flap in reconstruction of large soft tissue defect around elbow: An efficacy evaluation / 中华显微外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of pedicled latissimus dorsi flaps in reconstruction of large soft tissue defects around elbow.Methods:From January 2012 to January 2022, 12 patients with large soft tissue defects around elbow received reconstructive surgery with pedicled latissimus dorsi flaps in Department of Microreconstructive Surgery, The First Affliliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University. Partial latissimus dorsi flaps were employed to reconstruct The soft tissue defects around the posterolateral side of elbow in 6 patients. Functional reconstruction of anteromedial soft tissue defect around elbow with functional latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap combined with biceps muscle dynamic reconstruction was performed on other 6 patients. All patients were males and aged 18 to 57 years old, at 31.4 years old in average. Causes of injury: machine strangulation in 5 patients, traffic accident in 4 patients, machine crush in 2 patients, and fall from height in 1 patient. Injured sites: 5 patients had injury on right elbow and 7 on the left. The size of soft tissue defect ranged from 18.0 cm×10.0 cm to 51.0 cm×13.0 cm. The size of the flaps were at 30.0 cm×7.0 cm-55.0 cm×14.0 cm. The wounds at donor site were directly sutured. Follow-up included postoperative reviews via telephone, WeChat and visit to outpatient clinic. Mayo elbow performance scores(MEPS) at the last follow-up were recorded.Results:All 12 flaps survived, and all donor and recipient sites healed at stage I. The follow-ups lasted for 3 months to 2 years for all patients, with 18 months in average. Three months after operation, 1 patient underwent additional surgery for flap reduction due to a bloated flap and poor appearance. Six patients who received dynamic reconstruction myocutaneous flaps achieved grade IV in elbow flexion. Six patients with lateral elbow repaired with partial latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap showed that the appearance of the flap was not bulky and had no effect on the flexion and extension function of the elbow joint. All flaps survived well at the last follow-up, with soft texture and colour close to the surrounding normal skin. All donor sites healed well, leaving only linear scars. Motion of all elbows was good. The MEPS at the final follow-up was(90.6±6.4), with 10 patients in excellent and 2 in good.Conclusion:According to the location of elbow joint soft tissue defect, different types of latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps are used for reconstruction, which can achieve good clinical results.