Improving the repairing effect of thoracodorsal artery perforator flap through ultra-thin flap technology / 中华显微外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To discuss the application of ultra-thin flap technology in the thoracodorsal artery per forator flap,and appraise the effectiveness in clinical practice.Methods From May,2013 to December,2015,10 patients with soft-tissue defects of the four limbs were treated with ultra-thin thoracodorsal artery perforator flap.The classification of the perforating vessels was done by Kimura method.The flap blood supply was measured and the patients' satisfaction of the appearance of flap was investigated through questionnaires.Results The flap of 8 cases (5 cases of type Ⅰ and 3 cases of type Ⅱ) could be evenly thinned,and the flap of 2 cases (type Ⅲ) could only be thinned at the edge beyond the part with perforator as the center and a radius of 3 centimeters.The flap of 9 cases completely lived.While in 1 case (type Ⅲ),a small part of the edge of the flap was necrosed(2 cm×1 cm),and coalesced well after change dressing.The donor site was sutured directly in 7 cases and covered with skin graft in 1 case.Eight patients were followed-up from 6 to 12 months.The treatment effect was satisfied.And there were no side effects on the functioning of donor sites.Seven patients were highly satisfied with the appearance of the flap (satisfaction rate was 87.5％).Conclusion Ultra-thin flap technology can be adopted to cut thin thoracodorsal artery perforator flap,and can remarkably improve the effect in clinical practice.