Clinical effect of using free-style perforator flap based on aesthetic units on facial reconstruction after tumor resection / 中华整形外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To introduce the application of free-style perforator flap based on aesthetic units to repair facial defect after tumor resection.@*Methods@#By following the concept of free-style perforator flap and the principle of facial aesthetic unit, the design of a free-style perforator flap allowed over any nearby cutaneous vessel chosen purely on the characteristics of its Doppler signal. Conventional knowledge of anatomical landmarks and possible vascular variations were less relevant. A greater freedom in flap selection was gained to recover defect in different forms such as rotation flap, advanced flap and propeller flap, which were all based on free-style perforators. The flap size ranged from 1.5 cm×1.0 cm to 12.0 cm×6.0 cm with the perforator diameter of 0.3-3.0 mm in pedicle, and some of the pedicles are "perforator clusters" .@*Results@#A total of 72 cases underwent surgery, and 68 cases survived completely with satisfactory appearance. 1 case healed two weeks later through dressing due to undesired healing, which result ed from high tension secondary postoperative blooding. 3 cases healed in a delay due to congestion and gained acupuncture treat.@*Conclusions@#The free-style perforator flap, which depended on Doppler-discerned perforator and facial aesthetic unit, represents safe, reliable and versatile for repairing facial defect after extended resection, and it not only offers a greater freedom in flap selection but also provides good aesthetic result.