Reconstruction of the soft tissue defects of limbs using the free thoracodorsal artery perforator flaps / 中华显微外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinical effects of reparing the complicated soft tissue defects of limbs with free thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flaps.Methods From April,2009 to March,2014,19 limbs (including 8 upper limbs and 11 lower limbs) soft tissue defects with bone and tendon exposure were repaired with free TDAP flaps in the secondary stage.There were 12 thoracodorsal artery perforator flaps,5 polyfoliate perforator flaps,1 chimeric muscle flap,and 1 chimeric muscle polyfoliate flap.The sizes of the flaps ranged from 5.0 cm×6.0cm-20.0 cm×l 1.0 cm.Seventeen wounds of the dornor site were closed directly,and the other 2 were closed with skin grafts.Results Sixteen flaps survived successfully.Two flaps had venous congestion and survived at last after taking the stitches out.One flap had partial necrosis and repaired by skin graft finally.The clinical results were satisfactory after 12-18 months following-up,and the scars of the dornor sites of all but 3 patients were not obvious.All the shoulder function were normal.Conclusion The TDAP flap has dependable blood supply,good texture,less dornor site morbility.The polyfoliate TDAP flap can be used for repairing irregular defect.The chimeric latissimus TDAP flap can be used for the function reconstruction.The free TDAP flap is suited for repairing soft tissue defects of the limbs.