A modified single-trunk venous flap in reconstruction of soft tissue defect in hand and foot: a report of 25 cases / 中华显微外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the clinical effect of a modified single-trunk arterialised venous flap in reconstruction of soft tissue defect in hand and foot.Methods:From January 2019 to June 2022, 25 patients with soft tissue defect in hand and foot were treated in the Department of Hand and Foot Plastic Surgery of Lecong Hospital of Shunde in Foshan. The soft tissue defects were reconstructed with a venous flap, of which a single trunk of vein was ligated and then a blood flux of the flap was re-established via a modified single vein trunk. One patient had soft tissue defect in dorsal foot and toes, 3 patients had defects in dorsal hand, 3 patients had defects in 2 digits and 18 patients had defects in single-digit. The sizes of defects were 2.0 cm×1.0 cm-10.0 cm×4.5 cm. The sizes of flaps were 2.0 cm×1.0 cm-12.0 cm×5.5 cm. Donor sites of the 19 cases were directly sutured and 6 were covered by skin grafts. The postoperative follow-ups were conducted at outpatient clinics and via telephone reviews to observe the survival of flaps. Functional recovery of 23 cases whose soft tissue defects in hand were evaluated according to the Evaluation Standard of Upper Limb Partial Functional of Hand Surgery of Chinese Medical Association. The sensory recovery of flaps was evaluated according to the comprehensive flap scale.Results:All 25 single-trunk venous flaps survived successfully. There were small number of blisters on 5 flaps, due to tissue oedema. One patient lost in follow-up. The other 24 patients had 2-18 months of follow-up. The appearance of flaps was soft and thin, with wear-resistant. According to the Evaluation Standard of Upper Limb Partial Functional of Hand Surgery of Chinese Medical Association, the function recovery were excellent in 12 cases, good in 9 cases and poor in 2 cases. Sensations of the flaps were 90-99 point with an average of 97 point according to the comprehensive flap scale, of which 22 flaps were in excellent and 2 in good.Conclusion:The method of ligation of single vein-trunk to make a arterialised venous flap is a simple surgical procedure. There are many selections of donor site with minimum damage. It is an effective method and with satisfactory outcomes.