Application of perforator pedicled propeller flaps for soft-tissue coverage of the lower leg and foot defects: 25 cases report / 中华显微外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinical efficiency of perforator pedicled propeller flaps for soft-tissue coverage of the lower leg and foot defects.Methods From July 2007 to December 2011,twentyfive cases with soft-tissue defects of the lower leg and foot were cured by using the perforator propeller flaps.The origins of the perforator were 18 cases from peroneal artery,six cases from posterior tibial artery and 1 case from dorsal foot artery.The minimum of the flap scale was 4-9 cm,and the maximum was 10-33 cm.Results All cases were followed-up from 1 to 26 months.All the flap pedicles were smooth with a satisfied appearance.The donor sites were sutured directly in 9 cases and cured with skin-grafting in 16 cases.Three cases suffered from vein congestion,two cases were cured by incisions in the distal parts of the flaps,one flap had necrosis of the distal 1/3 part and was cured by skin-grafting.Conclusion The perforator pedicled propeller flap is a simple,safe and useful flap.It has more advantages than other pedicled flaps for softtissue coverage of the lower leg and foot defects.