Soft tissue defects around knee joints repaired with thigh distal perforator propeller flap: a report of 72 cases / 中华显微外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To evaluate the clinical effect of soft tissue defects around knee joints repaired with thigh distal perforator propeller flap.Methods:Clinical data of 72 patients with defects around knee joints from January, 2009 to October, 2019 were analyzed retrospectively, including 43 males and 29 females, aged from 17 to 83 years. The sizes of soft tissue defects ranged from 4.0 cm×3.0 cm to 22.0 cm×13.0 cm. Perforator propeller flaps were designed and harvested to repair the defects according to anatomical features of the origin, course, branches, distribution and anastomosis of vascular network of the perforator vessels and location as well as the size and shape of defects. Nine patients repaired with the lateral distal perforator propeller flaps (LDF), 53 with descending genicular artery perforator propeller flaps (DGF) and 10 with direct popliteal artery perforator propeller flaps (DPF). The size of flap was 4.5 cm×3.5 cm to 24.0 cm×14.0 cm. The donor sites were sutured directly or covered with free full-thickness skin. To evaluate the effect, the skin swelling rating in early and later stage were taken. Three to 72 months of followed-up was conducted through outpatient clinic (78%), telephone (15%) and WeChat (7%).Results:The flaps totally survived in 65 patients and 7 patients underwent partial necrosis at the distal end of the flaps ( 2 cases of LDF, 4 cases of DGF, 1 case of DPF) who were treated with dressing, and the donor sites were completely healed. The appearance and shape of the repaired knee joints was good, and the color and elasticity was close to surrounding normal skin, TPD of the flaps were 7-10 mm, and the scar was small after 3 to 72 months' follow-up. The efficacy was satisfactory in 48 cases ( 4 cases of LDF, 39 cases of DGF, 5 cases of DPF), general in 24 cases ( 5 cases of LDF, 14 cases of DGF, 5 cases of DPF). Degree of flap swelling: in early stage, I° in 40 cases ( 4 cases of LDF, 31 cases of DGF, 5 cases of DPF), II° in 20 cases ( 3 cases of LDF, 14 cases of DGF, 3 cases of DPF), III° in 10 cases ( 2 cases of LDF, 7 cases of DGF, 1 case of DPF), IV° in 2 cases(1 case of DGF, 1 case of DPF); in later stage: I° in 55 cases ( 6 cases of LDF, 41 cases of DGF, 8 cases of DPF), II° in 15 cases ( 2 cases of LDF, 12 cases of DGF, 1 case of DPF), III° in 2 cases ( 1 case of LDF, 1 case of DPF). The evaluation of knee joint function: excellent in 17 cases ( 2 cases of LDF, 12 cases of DGF, 3 cases of DPF), good in 35 cases( 4 cases of LDF, 27 cases of DGF, 4 cases of DPF), general in 20 cases( 3 cases of LDF, 14 cases of DGF, 3 cases of DPF). The good rate was about 73%. The range of motion and stability of the knee joint were basically normal and there was no pain found to affect study and life. All the patients were satisfied with the effect.Conclusion:Repairing soft tissue defect around knee joint with thigh distal perforator propeller flap is reliable and clinical applicable.