Application of anterolateral thigh flap in repair of extremity wound of children / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect and characteristics of anterolateral thigh flap in repair of extremity wound in children.Methods A retrospective case series study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 69 patients with limb soft tissue defects admitted to Kunming General Hospital of PLA from January 2008 to December 2016.There were 57 boys and 12 girls,aged 2-15 years (mean,6.7 years).There were 56 cases of lower extremity wounds and 13 cases of upper limb wounds.The wound areas ranged from 3 cm ×4 cm to 14 cm × 15 cm,with an average of 52.4 cm2.All wounds were repaired with the anterolateral thigh flap.The type of flap,number of perforators,type of perforation,closure of donor site,healing of the flap,complications,and reoperation were recorded.Results Seventy anterolateral thigh flaps were harvested in 69 children,including 42 musculocutaneous flaps and 28 perforator flaps.Intraoperative visualization identified 76 perforators,including 14 septocutaneous and 62 musculocutaneous perforators.The donor site was closed primarily in 52 cases,and a split-thickness skin graft was required in 18 cases.After operation,vascular crisis occurred in four cases.After exploration,one flap survived,and partial necrosis was found in three flaps.Except for one flap with total necrosis because of infection,the rest of the flaps survived.Other postoperative complications included flap edge necrosis in six cases,local infection in six,and wound dehiscence in three.The follow-up ranged from 6 to 33 months,averaged 14.9 months.Hypertrophic scar occurred at donor site in 27 children.The number of reoperation was 46,including 23 debulking procedures,seven skin grafts,four debridements,and 12 others.Conclusions The anterolateral thigh flap is a safe,reliable option for reconstruction of soft tissue defects in extremities of children.The anterolateral thigh musculocutaneous flap is used commonly in children.However,hypertrophic scar at donor site occurs more often after flap surgery,with high rate of reoperations.