Clinical observation on wound measurement grid and perforator flap design / 中华显微外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the application of self-designed wound measuring grid in the measurement of wound and the design of perforator flap.Methods:From February 2018 to February 2020, 31 cases of soft tissue defects of limbs were repaired by free transfer of perforator flap. During the operation, the self-designed membrane with measurement grid was used to measure the wound surface. The flaps were designed and harvested according to the accurate measurement of the wound. The flaps were reviewed at hospital clinic during follow-up.Results:All patients entered 3-15 months of follow-up with an average of 8 months. All 31 flaps survived, of which 2 flaps encountered vascular crisis and were rescued after surgical exploration. There was no infection of flaps and all flaps had stage I healing. The flaps were satisfactory in appearance with the sensation recovery to S 2 in 21 cases and S 3 in 10 cases. Only linear scars were left on the donor sites. Conclusion:The membrane with a measurement grid can accurately measure a wound, and help the design of the flap according to the measured size and profile of the wound. It can reduce the operation time and the risk as well as to improve the operation efficiency. The clinical application is satisfactory. Large scale and multi-centre studies are required to further prove the benefit of the measurement grid.