Management of sacral soft tissue defects with combined bilateral gluteus maximus musculocutaneous flap and postoperative negative pressure wound therapy / 中华显微外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To demonstrate the clinical outcome of bilateral gluteus maximus musculocutaneous flap in conjunction with continuous postoperative negative pressure wound therapy in reconstruction of sacral soft tissue defects.Methods From January, 2008 to April, 2013, 18 patients (8 males and 10 females, aged from 34 to 78 years old) with full-thickness sacral soft tissue defects were treated.The size of the defects after initial debridement ranged from 3.0 cm × 2.0 cm to 18.0 cm × 14.0 cm, with the exposure of sacrum or ligament.Bilateral gluteus maximus musculocutaneous flap were applied in all the patients.Two drainage tubes were placed on each side of the flaps during the surgery and suck for 10 to 12 consecutive days after the operation.Results The size of the harvested flaps ranged from 12.0 cm × 8.0 cm to 18.0 cm × 12.0 cm, and all the donor sites of the flaps were closed with primary suture.Thirty-five flaps in 17 patients survived without any complication.Partial necrosis of one flap was found in 1 patient and managed successfully with conservative dressing change.Fourteen patients were followed-up ranged from 8 months to 2.5 years (mean follow-up was 18 months).Color and texture of the flaps were satisfactory and no recurrence of sacral defect was noted.Conclusion Bilateral gluteus maximus musculocutaneous flap in conjunction with continuous postoperative negative pressure wound therapy may serve as a useful option for fullthickness sacral soft tissue defects.