Tip anchor flap in decubital surgery.

ABSTRACT

Anchoring a flap remains a key procedure in decubital surgery because a flap needs to be stable against shearing forces. This allows an early mobilization and undisturbed primary wound healing. This study evaluated a uniform group of eight paraplegic patients with sacral decubital ulcers and covered the lesions using gluteal rotation flaps with a deepithelialized tip to anchor the flap subcutaneously on the contralateral ischial tuber. Initial wound healing and recurrence after one year were evaluated. All but one flap showed uneventful wound healing, and all the flaps presented without any signs of recurrence or instability. The authors suggest that sufficient anchoring using a deepithelialized part of the flap helps to integrate and stabilize sacral rotation flaps.