Clinical application of Flow-through bridge anterolateral thigh flap in repair of complex calf soft tissue defects / 中国修复重建外科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effectiveness of Flow-through bridge anterolateral thigh flap transplantation in the treatment of complex calf soft tissue defects.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of the patients with complicated calf soft tissue defects, who were treated with Flow-through bridge anterolateral thigh flap (study group, 23 cases) or bridge anterolateral thigh flap (control group, 23 cases) between January 2008 and January 2022, were retrospectively analyzed. All complex calf soft tissue defects in the two groups were caused by trauma or osteomyelitis, and there was only one major blood vessel in the calf or no blood vessel anastomosed with the grafted skin flap. There was no significant difference between the two groups in general data such as gender, age, etiology, size of leg soft tissue defect, and time from injury to operation ( P>0.05). The lower extremity functional scale (LEFS) was used to evaluate the sufferred lower extremity function of the both groups after operation, and the peripheral blood circulation score of the healthy side was evaluated according to the Chinese Medical Association Hand Surgery Society's functional evaluation standard for replantation of amputated limbs. Weber's quantitative method was used to detect static 2-point discrimination (S2PD) to evaluate peripheral sensation of the healthy side, and the popliteal artery flow velocity, toenail capillary filling time, foot temperature, toe blood oxygen saturation of the healthy side, and the incidence of complications were compared between the two groups.@*RESULTS@#No vascular or nerve injury occurred during operation. All flaps survived, and 1 case of partial flap necrosis occurred in both groups, which healed after free skin grafting. All patients were followed up 6 months to 8 years, with a median time of 26 months. The function of the sufferred limb of the two groups recovered satisfactorily, the blood supply of the flap was good, the texture was soft, and the appearance was fair. The incision in the donor site healed well with a linear scar, and the color of the skin graft area was similar. Only a rectangular scar could be seen in the skin donor area where have a satisfactory appearance. The blood supply of the distal limb of the healthy limb was good, and there was no obvious abnormality in color and skin temperature, and the blood supply of the limb was normal during activity. The popliteal artery flow velocity in the study group was significantly faster than that in the control group at 1 month after the pedicle was cut, and the foot temperature, toe blood oxygen saturation, S2PD, toenail capillary filling time, and peripheral blood circulation score were significantly better than those in the control group ( P<0.05). There were 8 cases of cold feet and 2 cases of numbness on the healthy side in the control group, while only 3 cases of cold feet occurred in the study group. The incidence of complications in the study group (13.04%) was significantly lower than that in the control group (43.47%) ( χ 2=3.860, P=0.049). There was no significant difference in LEFS score between the two groups at 6 months after operation ( P>0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Flow-through bridge anterolateral thigh flap can reduce postoperative complications of healthy feet and reduce the impact of surgery on blood supply and sensation of healthy feet. It is an effective method for repairing complex calf soft tissue defects.

Repair of complex soft tissue defect in calf by ALTF with a cross-limb bridged "Y" shape vascular anastomosis: a report of 33 cases / 中华显微外科杂志

Objective:To explore the clinical effect of ALTF transfer with cross-limb bridged "Y" shape vascular anastomosis in repair of complex soft tissue defects in calf.Methods:From August 2010 to September 2020, 33 patients(23 males and 10 females) with complex traumatic soft tissue defects in calf were treated. Preoperative angiography and intraoperative exploration confirmed that there was only 1 main vessel remained in the affected calf or the wound surface and the vessel could not be anastomosed with the vascular pedicle of the ALTF. The size of flap were 16 cm × 8 cm to 25 cm × 18 cm. Two patients received bilobed ALTFs. A "Y" shape anastomosis between the artery of ALTF vascular pedicle and the posterior tibial artery of the contralateral lower limbs was made in all 33 patients to establish the blood supply to the transferred free ALTF. The "Y" shape cross-limb bridged blood vessels at the proximal end of the vascular pedicle artery of the flap were embedded at both ends of the cut-off superior ankle posterior tibial artery of the contralateral lower limb. The vein of the flap was anastomosed with the saphenous vein that associates with the posterior tibial artery. The surface of the suspended blood vessel "bridge" was wrapped with a free skin craft, and the lower limbs were fixed in a straight and parallel position with an external fixation frame. The perfused area of the flap was directly sutured or covered with a free skin craft. The vascular bridge was kept for 3 to 6 weeks before being separated. Outpatient follow-up after discharge.Results:All the patients were entered the postoperative follow-up was 13 months to 7 years, in an average of 25 months. Among the 33 flaps, 31 survived completely, except 1 had necrosis and the other 1 had partial necrosis at the distal end of the flap. The flaps received good blood supply, hence with soft texture and satisfactory appearance. Doppler or DSA was performed after the surgery on the posterior tibial artery of the healthy limb, and the vascular pulsation and patency were found normal. Donor sites for the free skin graft healed well.Conclusion:The ALTF transfer with cross-limb bridged "Y" vascular anastomosis is one of the effective techniques and it was employed in the repair of complex defects of calf soft tissue. It solved the tissue that there was only 1 main vessel or even without a suitable vessel could be anastomosed with the pedicle of the flap.

Clinical efficacy of different flaps for repairing soft tissue defects of heels / 中华创伤杂志

Objective To evaluate the clinical outcomes of different flaps for repairing the soft tissue defects of heels.Methods A total of 26 patients with soft tissue defects around the heel treated modified propeller perforator flap,medialis pedis flap,or anterolateral thigh flap from March 2012 to June 2016 were analyzed retrospectively.There included 19 males and 7 females,aged 4-64 years (mean,38.1 years).There were 9 patients with posterior heel defect,3 with weight-bearing defect,6 with posterior medial defect and 8 with posterolateral defect.The wound areas were from 6.0 cm × 4.0 cm to 12.0 cm × 9.5 cm,while the flap areas were from 7.0 cm × 5.0 cm to 13.5 cm × 10.5 cm.According to the principle of flap selection,the pedicled skin flap instead of free skin flap was selected in order to minimize damage to the donor site area.Modified propeller perforator flap was applied in 13 patients,medialis pedis flap in 3 patients and anterolateral thigh flap in 14 patients.The flap donor site was directly sutured in 23 patients and a simultaneous skin graft was applied in 3 patients.The survival rate,appearance,texture and feeling recovery of flaps,complications,walking ability,and the status of donor sites were compared.Besides,postoperative functions of all cases were estimated according to foot scoring scale of American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS).Results All flaps survived well in 26 patients.The wounds of flaps and flap donor sites were healed at Ⅰ stage.A total of 24 patients were followed up for 12-36 months (average 16 months).The appearance,color and texture of the flaps were good.There was no ulcer in flaps or flap donor sites.The protective feeling of flaps was recovered and the feeling of distinguishing two points was 6-13 mm.Modified propeller perforator flap donor site was directly sutured,the wound of which showed a linear healing.There was no fat deformity or obvious scar formation around ankle.The skin graft of the medialis pedis flap donor site was healed well,without scar hyperplasia,rupture,or deformity of arch.The anterolateral thigh flap was healed linearly without scar,and the anterolateral skin felt slightly depressed.The muscle strength of the four biceps femoris muscle was 4.According to AOFAS score,the feet's functions were evaluated as excellent in 5,good in 16,fair in 4,and poor in 1,with excellence rate of 81％.Conclusions For different soft tissue defects of the heels,propeller perforators flap,medial plantar flap or anterolateral thigh flap can not only attain appearance reconstruction of the defects and good functional recovery,but also minimize the injury of flap donor site.