Spiral free perforator flaps for completely degloved thumb reconstruction / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To determine the effect of resurfacing completely degloved thumbs by free perforator flaps in a spiral fashion.Methods A retrospective case series study was made on 22 patients with completely degloving injury of the thumb treated by different free perforator flaps in a spiral fashion from June 2009 to December 2014,including 19 male and 3 female patients at the age of 18-46 years (mean,27.8 years).A total of 13 patients were reconstructed using the medial arm perforator flaps ranging in size from 8.0 cm × 3.0 cm-14.5 cm × 3.5 cm,and 9 patients were reconstructed using the peroneal artery perforator flaps ranging in size from 6.0 cm × 3.5 cm-21.0 cm × 10.0 cm.Follow-up was made to evaluate the sensation,appearance and function of the thumbs and the recovery of flap donor sites.Results All flaps survived completely,with no occurrence of postoperative vascular crisis and infection.Only one medial arm flap and one soleus perforator flap distal flap showed blood flow disorder in the distal sections and were healed uneventfully after conservative therapy.Function and cosmetic recovery of the reconstructed thumbs were good.Follow-up ranged from 9 to 22 months (mean,14.5 months).Twopoint discrimination test of the flaps was recovered to 6-13 mm.No linear scar contracture was left.Flap donor site wound healed primarily.All patients were satisfied with the overall results.Conclusion The free perforator flap in a spiral fashion can avoid linear scar contracture,maximally decrease donor site morbidity and achieve satisfactory functional recovery and good aesthetic restoration,indicating a good candidate for reconstruction of thumb degloving injury.