Radial artery perforator flap for repair of soft tissue defect after palm postoperative scar contracture / 中国医师进修杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the clinical effect of the radial artery perforator flap on repairing soft tissue defect after palm postoperative scar contracture. Methods Eighteen patients with palm scar contracture were selected. The palm soft tissue defect was repaired by radial artery perforator flap after the operation of scar removal and soft tissue release. The areas of soft tissue ranged from 5 cm × 3 cm to 8 cm × 5 cm. The area of donor flap exceeds 20%of the wounds area, and wounds were repaired by free skin grafting. Six months after operation, the hand function was compared with that before operation. Results All the patients were followed up for 6-15 months (mean 10.8 months), all flaps survived with good shape, and flap donor site wounds were healed by skin grafting. The patients were evaluated 6 months after operation according to the Chinese Medical Hand Surgery Society of upper part of functional assessment criteria excellent in 11 cases, good in 5 cases and general in 2 cases, but preoperative functional evaluation was excellent 0 case, good in 3 cases, general in 7 cases and poor in 8 cases. Compared with that before operation, the postoperative function was significantly improved. Conclusions It is a commendable approach of repairing soft tissue defect after postoperative palm scar contracture by radial artery perforator flap, because it can provide reliable blood supply, and significantly improve hand function with exactly clinical effect.