Microsurgical Foot Reconstruction Using Endoscopically Harvested Muscle Flaps

PURPOSE: Reconstruction of soft tissue defects of the foot often requires free-flap transfer. Free muscle flap transfer and skin grafts on the muscle has been an option for these defects. Here we present our experiences of foot reconstruction using an endoscopy-assisted free muscle flap harvest. METHODS: Using endoscopy-assisted free muscle flap harvests, four patients with soft tissue defects of the foot were treated with a free muscle flap and skin graft. The gracilis muscle was used for two patients and the rectus abdominis muscle for two. A single small transverse skin incision was placed on the lower abdomen for the rectus abdominis muscle. A small transverse skin incision on the proximal thigh was the only incision for harvesting the gracilis muscle flap. The small incisions were enough for the muscle flap to be pulled through. RESULTS: The flaps survived successfully in all cases. Contours were good from both functional and aesthetic aspects. No breakdowns or ulcerations of the flap developed during long-term follow-up. Resultant scars were short and relatively hidden. Functional morbidities such as abdominal bulging were not noted. CONCLUSION: Endoscopy-assisted harvest of muscle flap and transfer with skin graft is a good option for soft tissue defects of the foot. Morbidities of the donor site can be minimized with endoscopic flap harvest. This method is preferable for young patients who want a small donor site scar.

Endoscopic Harvest of Greater Saphenous Vein for Leg Artery Bypass

PURPOSE: The autologous greater saphenous vein (GSV) is the most frequently used graft for leg artery bypass. But vein harvesting with long open incision as traditional method can be complicated by wound problem. Since we experienced endoscopic vein harvesting in leg artery bypass, we reviewed its advantage and indication. METHOD: Six patients received the endoscopic saphenous vein harvesting procedure for their leg artery bypass surgery. The endoscopic procedure was limited above knee avoiding of the injury to saphenous vein because it has more branching at below knee. We studied endoscopic using time, number of branch ligated, wound closure time, wound complication, postoperative pain and admission duration. RESULT: In one patient the procedure was failed because many branch and small GSV. In five patients mean endoscopic using time was twenty two minutes and 2.2 branch was ligated. There was no wound complication. Wound closure time and operation time was decreased but the statistical variables difficult to decide. In one patient for redo operation, contralateral GSV was harvested. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic GSV harvesting is technically simple procedure, which can reduce wound size in using reversed way of GSV in leg artery bypass. We also believe it reduce operation time, wound pain, hospital stay. But it needs further study and skill in our study.