Anatomy of the perforator propeller flap of superior lateral genicular artery and its clinical application in repair of soft tissue defect of anterolateral knee / 中华显微外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To study the anatomy of the perforator propeller flap of superior lateral genicular artery, and to explore a surgical method and clinical application in repair of the soft tissue defect of anterolateral knee with the flap.Methods:From September 2019 to September 2021, 8 knees of 4 chilled fresh specimen of adults were studied. The perforators of the superior lateral genicular artery were observed. The length, outer diameter of the perforators, and the locations of the skin perforation were recorded. The superior lateral genicular artery perforator propeller flaps were then applied clinically to 5 patients(3 males and 2 females) with soft tissue defects of anterolateral knee. Two of the patients had combined ligament injury and(or) bone joint exposure. The age of patients ranged from 25 to 48 years old, at 33.4 years old in average. The sizes of soft tissue defects ranged from 4.0 cm×4.0 cm to 8.0 cm×5.0 cm. The sizes of perforator propeller flaps of superior lateral genicular artery were 10.0 cm×5.0 cm to 13.0 cm×6.0 cm. The superior perforating vessels of the superior lateral genicular artery were found and marked at the points of skin perforation. Preoperative contrast-enhanced ultrasound were performed to confirm the dominant perforating vessels and had the skin perforating points marked. Intraoperative CDU were further performed to confirm the points of dominant perforating vessels. Perforator propeller flaps were designed depending on the size of the anterolateral soft tissue defect, and flaps were prepared and transferred to the defect sites. Postoperative follow-ups were conducted at outpatient clinic. The survival of the flap and knee function were observed according to the Bai-ly knee scoring.Results:The anatomy showed that an average pedicle length of the superior lateral genicular artery perforator was(8.2±0.9) cm, with an average starting outer diameter at(1.1±0.2) mm. All 5 flaps survived during the follow-up that lasted for 10 to 24 months, with an average of 15.3 months. All flaps healed in 2 weeks after surgery without complications such as soft tissue infection, bone and joint infection were observed. At the last follow-up, no obvious bloated appearance of the flaps were observed. The colour and elasticity of the flaps were similar to the surrounding skin. The knee function was assessed 4 patients were in excellent and 1 in good. The range of knee flexion and extension was from 100° to 150°. The patients were satisfied with the appearance and function of the knees.Conclusion:The size of the perforator of superior lateral genicular artery and the pedicle length are ideal. The propeller flap can be used to repair the soft tissue defect around the anterolateral knee, with satisfactory functional recovery of a knee. It is a good method to repair the soft tissue defect around anterolateral knee.