Objective To investigate the distribution of the perforating branches artery of distally-based flap of sural nerve nutrient vessels and its clinical application. Methods The origins and distribution of perforating branchesartery of distally-based flap were observed on specimens of 30 adult cadavericlow limbs by perfusing red gelatin to dissect the artery.Among the 36 cases, there were 21 males, 15 females. Their ages ranged from 6 to 66, 35.2 in average. The defect area was 3.5 cm×2.5 cm to 17.0 cm×11.0 cm. The flap taken ranged from 4 cm×3 cm to 18 cm×12 cm. Results The perforating branches artery of distally-based flap had 2 to 5 branches and originated from the heel lateral artery, the terminal perforating branches of peroneal artery(diameters were 0.6±0.2 mm and 0.8±0.2 mm, 1.0±1.3 cm and 2.8±1.0 cm to the level of cusp lateral malleolus cusp).The intermuscular septum perforating branches of peroneal artery had 0 to 3 branches. Their rate of presence was 96.7%,66.7% and 20.0% respectively(the diameters were 0.9±0.3, 1.0±0.2 and 0.8±0.4 mm, andtheir distances to the level of cusp of lateral malleolus were 5.3±2.1, 6.8±2.8 and 7.0±4.0 cm). Those perforating branches included fascia branches, cutaneous branches, nerve and vein nutrient branches. Those nutrient vessels formed longitudinal vessel chain of sural nerve shaft, vessel chain of vein side and vessel network of deep superficial fascia. The distally-based superficial sural artery island flap was used in 18 cases, all flaps survived. Conclusion Distally-based sural nerve, small saphenous vein, and nutrient vessels of fascia skin have the same origin. Rotation point of flap is 3.0 cm to the cusp of lateral malleolus, when the distally-based flap is pedicled with the terminal branch of peroneal artery.Rotation point of flap is close to the cusp of lateral malleolus, when the distally-based flap is pedicled with the heel lateral artery.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the location of transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap perforators on abdomen skin and the peak systolic flow velocities of the perforators. METHODS: A series of 94 consecutive patient’s TRAM flap perforators were detected by color-flow duplex Doppler scanning peroperatively. Perforator locations were tabulated on the abdomen skin according to their vertical position relative to the umbilicus and their lateral location relative to the abdominal midline. RESULTS: The perforators on both left and right side of TRAM flap were quite not symmetry. The peri-umbilical region contained 81.1% of the perforators. All perforators were detected with peak systolic flow velocities ranging from 5 to 81 cm/s. CONCLUSION: The preoperative color-flow Doppler localization of TRAM flap perforators improves the surgeon’s ability to design the flap in order to capture the dominant vessels, and select single- or double-pedicle and free TRAM flaps based on each patient’s individual characteristics.
Objective To explore the application of the improved operative technique and clinical results of sural nerve nutritional vessel axial flap repairing the soft tissue defects of the lower leg,the ankle and the foot. Methods From January 1999 to Novenber 2004,the modified flaps were applied in 22 cases of soft tissue defect on the basis of anatomy of the intermusclar septum perforating branches of peroneal artery and the sural nerve nutritional vessel.There were 14 males and 8 females. Their ages ranged from 5 to 54 years.According to the position and size of the soft tissue defects, the sural nerve nutritional vessel flap pedicled with the perforating branch of the peroneal artery in the lower leg were desingned and obtained to repair the soft tissue defects of the lower leg,the ankle and the foot.The flap size ranged from 13cm×12cm to 30cm×20cm. The vessel pedicle of perforating branches ranged from 1.7cm to 3cm.The distribution of the vessel pedicle of perforating branches ranged from4.5cm to 8cm on the lateral malleolus.The diameters of vessel ranged from 1mm to 1.2mm. Results The flap pedicle with the terminal branch of the peroneal artery was used in 13 cases, the other branches were used in 9 cases. Among of 22 cases,the sural nerve were anastomosed with the acceptor sensory nerve in 4 cases. The skin sense were satisfactory after 1 year of operationnd 2-point discrimination was 10-13mm. All flaps survived completely in 22 cases. The outline andfunction were satisfactory during 6-18 months follow-up. Conclusion The blood supply of this flap is reliable. Flap elevation is easy. The size of flap is large enough to repair skin defects of the lower leg, the ankle and the foot.
Objective To explore the method of the distal perforator-based gluteus maximus muscle V-Y flap to treat the sacral ulcer and to simplify the operative procedures.Methods From March 2002 to March 2005, 11 cases of sacral ulcer were repaired by distal perforatorbased gluteus maximus muscle flaps. The area of sacral ulcer ranged from 13 cm×11 cm to 18 cm×14 cm. Of 11 cases, 7 were female and 4 were male,whose age ranged from 21 to 69 years, and the disease course was 8 months to 3 years.A triangular flap was designed to create a V-Y advancement flap.The length of the base was made almost equal to the diameter of the defect.The apex of the tringle was located near the great trochanter. The medial part of the flap was elevated as a fasciocutaneous flap by dissecting the layer between the fascia and the muscle.The distal part ofthe flap was elevated by dissecting the layer between the gluteus maximus muscle and the fascia of the deeper muscle group.The flap was advanced to the defect. Results All the flaps survived. After a follow-up of 5 months to 3 years, the bilateral buttocks were symmetry and whose appearance was satisfactory. Except for 1 case dying of other disease, no recurrence of ulcer was observed.All the flaps survived. Conclusion The distal perforatorbased fasciocutaneous V-Y flap for treatment of sacral ulcers is a simple and reliable technique, which has several advantages over the conventional V-Y flap technique,such as excelent excursion,viable coverage with the fasciocutaneous component, high flap reliability, preservation of the contralateral buttock, and preservation of the gluteus maximus muscle function.
【摘要】 目的 探讨应用足底内侧动脉穿支蒂皮瓣修复足跟皮肤缺损的临床应用。 方法 1998年9月-2009年3月，应用此皮瓣修复足跟皮肤软组织缺损42例。术前对创面作充分准备，术中以术前彩色多普勒超声探测的足底内侧血管及穿支走向为轴心，根据需要设计皮瓣，沿皮瓣两侧向中间显露，在踇展肌与趾短屈肌之间解剖出足底内侧血管主干，显露动脉穿支及伴行神经。将血管向近端分离获得足够长度后，掀起皮瓣，切取完成并将皮瓣行明道转移修复创面。 结果 除2例术后4 d出现皮瓣远端部分坏死，经换药后愈合，其余40例皮瓣均全部成活。 结论 足底内侧动脉穿支蒂皮瓣是修复足跟软组织缺损的一种理想皮瓣。【Abstract】 Objective To study the clinical application of perforator artery flap of medial plantar in repairing skin defect of the heelstick. Methods From September 1998 to March 2009, skin defects of the heelstick of 42 patients were repaired with the perforator artery flap of medial plantar. Adequate preparations were given on the wound before operation. Based on the results of color Doppler ultrasound of the medial plantar vascellum before or during the operation, the flap was designed according to the size of the defect and transferred to repair the defect. Results All the flaps survived completely except two flaps were partial lynecrotic in the distal, which healed after change of dressing. Conclusion Perforating artery flap of medial plantar is an ideal way to repair skin defect of the heelstick.
Objective To investigate the accuracy and reliability of augmented reality (AR) technique in locating the perforating vessels of the posterior tibial artery during the repair of soft tissue defects of the lower limbs with the posterior tibial artery perforator flap. Methods Between June 2019 and June 2022, the posterior tibial artery perforator flap was used to repair the skin and soft tissue defects around the ankle in 10 cases. There were 7 males and 3 females with an average age of 53.7 years (mean, 33-69 years). The injury was caused by traffic accident in 5 cases, bruising by heavy weight in 4 cases, and machine injury in 1 case. The size of wound ranged from 5 cm×3 cm to 14 cm×7 cm. The interval between injury and operation was 7-24 days (mean, 12.8 days). The CT angiography of lower limbs before operation was performed and the data was used to reconstruct the three-dimensional images of perforating vessels and bones with Mimics software. The above images were projected and superimposed on the surface of the affected limb using AR technology, and the skin flap was designed and resected with precise positioning. The size of the flap ranged from 6 cm×4 cm to 15 cm×8 cm. The donor site was sutured directly or repaired with skin graft. Results The 1-4 perforator branches of posterior tibial artery (mean, 3.4 perforator branches) in 10 patients were located by AR technique before operation. The location of perforator vessels during operation was basically consistent with that of AR before operation. The distance between the two locations ranged from 0 to 16 mm, with an average of 12.2 mm. The flap was successfully harvested and repaired according to the preoperative design. Nine flaps survived without vascular crisis. The local infection of skin graft occurred in 2 cases and the necrosis of the distal edge of the flap in 1 case, which healed after dressing change. The other skin grafts survived, and the incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 6-12 months, with an average of 10.3 months. The flap was soft without obvious scar hyperplasia and contracture. At last follow-up, according to the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Association (AOFAS) score, the ankle function was excellent in 8 cases, good in 1 case, and poor in 1 case. Conclusion AR technique can be used to determine the location of perforator vessels in the preoperative planning of the posterior tibial artery perforator flap, which can reduce the risk of flap necrosis, and the operation is simple.
ObjectiveTo explore the application value of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in repairing foot and ankle wounds with posterior tibial arterial perforator flaps. MethodsBetween January 2010 and May 2014, 12 cases of foot and ankle wounds were repaired using posterior tibial arterial perforator flaps. There were 7 males and 5 females with an average age of 36 years (range, 22-54 years). The causes were machine injury in 2 cases, falling injury in 3 cases, and traffic accident injury in 7 cases. The disease duration ranged from 7 to 45 days (mean, 16 days). The size of wound ranged from 6 cm×4 cm to 10 cm×5 cm. Preoperative DSA was performed to observe the orientation and distribution of the posterior tibial arterial perforator and the relationship between perforator vessels. Correspondently, the flaps were designed and harvested. The size of flap ranged from 7 cm×5 cm to 11 cm×6 cm. The donor sites were repaired with skin grafts. ResultsPosterior tibial arterial perforator vessels send out ascending branches and descending branches while going down in the superficial layer. All branches were connected to form vertical chain-form anastamosis, and its orientation was consistent with limb vertical axis. According to DSA results, the flaps were designed and harvested easily. All flaps survived after operation. Meanwhile, wounds healed by first intention. All skin grafts at donor site survived. All patients were followed up 6 months. The flaps had good appearance, color, and texture. No ulcer was found. Affected feet had normal walking function. ConclusionThe size, distribution, and chain-form anastamosis condition of the posterior tibial arterial perforator vessels can be accurately observed by DSA, which provides imaging evidence for harvesting posterior tibial arterial perforator flaps and improves the success rate for repairing foot and ankle wounds.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of free lobed perforator flaps in repairing of complex wounds of limbs. Methods Between January 2018 and January 2021, 10 patients with complex wounds of limbs were admitted. There were 7 males and 3 females, aged from 32 to 64 years, with an average age of 45 years. There were 4 cases of traffic accident injuries, 3 cases of machine strangulation injuries, 1 case of machine crush injury, and 2 cases of heavy object crush injuries. There were 5 cases of upper limb wounds and 5 cases of lower limb wounds. The size of wounds ranged from 11 cm×10 cm to 25 cm×18 cm. The wounds were repaired with tri-lobed flaps of the descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery in 7 cases, four-lobed flaps in 2 cases, and with tri-lobed flaps of the descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery combined with oblique branch in 1 case. The size of flaps ranged from 12.0 cm×10.5 cm to 28.0 cm×12.0 cm. The donor sites were sutured directly in 9 cases and repaired with superficial iliac circumflex artery perforator flap in 1 case. ResultsSinus formed at the edge of the flap in 1 patient, which healed after dressing change and drainage; other flaps survived well, and the wounds healed by first intention. The skin flap at donor site survived, and the incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 6-24 months (mean, 11 months). All flaps had good appearance and function, and linear scars were left at the donor site without obvious complications. ConclusionFree lobed perforator flap is an alternative method to repair complex wounds of limbs with high safety, good effectiveness, and less complications.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical anatomy and application of free profunda femoral artery pedicled chimeric myocutaneous perforator flap in the defect reconstruction after radical resection of tongue carcinoma. MethodsBetween April 2011 and January 2016, 44 cases of tongue carcinoma underwent radical resection, and tongue defects were reconstructed by free profunda femoral artery pedicled chimeric myocutaneous perforator flaps at the same stage. There were 40 males and 4 females, with a mean age of 46.3 years (range, 32-71 years). The pathologic type was squamous cell carcinoma, which involved the lingual margin in 24 cases, the ventral tongue in 17 cases, and the mouth floor in 3 cases. According to Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) TNM staging, 16 cases were rated as T4N0M0, 11 cases as T4N1M0, 9 cases as T3N1M0, and 8 cases as T3N2M0. The course of disease ranged from 1 to 22 months (mean, 8.6 months). The size of perforator flap ranged from 8.5 cm×4.0 cm to 12.0 cm×6.5 cm, and the size of muscle flap ranged from 4.0 cm×3.0 cm to 7.5 cm×5.0 cm. The adductor magnus myocutaneous flap with a pedicle of (8.3±0.5) cm was used in 11 cases, and the gracilis muscle myocutaneous flap with a pedicle of (8.1±0.8) cm was used in 33 cases. The donor sites were sutured directly. ResultsAll 44 perforator flaps survived uneventfully, and the donor site healed well. The patients were followed up for 12 to 40 months (mean, 23.8 months). The reconstructed tongue had good appearance and function in swallowing and language. No local recurrence was found. Only linear scar was left at the donor sites. ConclusionThe free profunda femoral artery pedicled chimeric myocutaneous perforator flap can be harvested in various forms, and is an ideal choice to reconstruct defect after radical resection of tongue carcinoma.
Objective To explore the feasibility and effectiveness of radial collateral artery polyfoliate perforator flap in repair of resurfacing soft tissue defect of hand. Methods Between September 2017 and September 2018, the radial collateral artery polyfoliate perforator flaps were transplanted to repair 5 cases of two adjacent wounds of hand and wide or irregular wounds. All patients were male, aged from 27 to 52 years, with an average of 42.5 years. The time from injury to admission was 4 hours to 3 weeks, with an average of 7.3 days. Causes of injury included traffic accident in 2 cases, crushing injury in 2 cases, and paint injection injury in 1 case. The wounds were located at the dorsum of hand in 3 cases, the dorsum of finger in 1 case, and the thumb and thumb web in 1 case. The area of wound ranged from 8 cm×6 cm to 10 cm×8 cm. The area of skin flap ranged from 6.0 cm×3.0 cm to 11.0 cm×4.5 cm, all of which carried the posterior cutaneous nerve of the arm, and the donor site was closed directly. Results All flaps survived and healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 3-11 months (mean, 6.5 months). The patients were satisfied with the appearance of hands. The flaps were not bulky, and the color and texture were similar to the hand. There was only linear scar in the donor site, no radial nerve injury occurred, and elbow joint function was not affected. One patient underwent finger-splitting and skin flap thinning at 6 months after operation. Conclusion The radial collateral artery polyfoliate perforator flap is a good method for repairing two adjacent wounds and wide or irregular wounds of hand.