A pedicled split extended vertical deep inferior epigastric (s-vDIEP) flap and an adipo-dermal thigh local flap for the reconstruction of the medial thigh compartment after sarcoma resection: A case report

Large upper medial thigh defects in prior irradiated tissue require challenging reconstructions. Several techniques have been reported to reconstruct this region and according to the literature, pedicled perforator flaps are the first reconstructive option. The anterolateral thigh flap is considered the gold standard, while surprisingly the pedicle deep inferior epigastric (DIEP) flap in vertical fashion has not been frequently employed, if compared with its muscular counterpart, the pedicle vertical rectus abdomins flap (vRAM). We report a case of a multilayered flaps reconstruction of the left medial thigh after an excision of a sarcoma involving the whole adductors compartment. A 75-year-old male patient underwent a free margins resection of the sarcoma. After the resection, a soft tissue defect of 24 cm × 14 cm × 14 cm spreading from the groin to the medial tuberosity of the tibia, was left. We performed a reconstructive technique based on a pedicled split extended vertical deep inferior epigastric (s-vDIEP) flap and an adipo-dermal thigh local flap in order to fill and cover the thigh defect. The s-vDIEP had 2 islands: a cranial de-epithelialized island to fill the dead space and a caudal for the skin closure. The postoperative follow-up was complicated by seroma formation and it was managed by sclerotherapy and at the 6 months follow-up the patient showed good cosmetic and functional outcomes with no sign of tumor relapse. Our result suggests that the proposed multilayered reconstruction may be employed for the restoration of large and deep upper medial thigh defects.     

Simultaneous deep inferior epigastric and bilateral anterolateral thigh perforator flap reconstruction of an extended perineoscrotal defect in Fournier's gangrene: A case report

Fournier's gangrene is lethal necrotizing fasciitis that involves the perineum and external genitalia. We describe the case of a 52‐year‐old man with Fournier's gangrene who underwent reconstruction of an extensive perineoscrotal defect using three pedicled perforator flaps. Three debridement procedures resulted in a skin and soft tissue defect of 36 × 18 cm involving the perineum, scrotum, groin, medial thigh, buttocks, and circumferential perianal area and left the perforating arteries originating from these locations unavailable for reconstruction. We repaired the defect using left deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) (29 × 8 cm) and bilateral anterolateral thigh perforator (ALT) flaps (35 × 8 cm and 22 × 7 cm). The flaps reached the defect without tension, and the defect was successfully covered without a skin graft. No postoperative complications occurred except for epidermal necrosis involving a tiny part of the DIEP flap tip. Nine months postoperatively, the patient experienced no impairment of bowel function or hip joint movement. There was also no avulsion or ulceration of the reconstructed perineal skin, and the cosmetic appearances of the healed wound and donor site were satisfactory. The combination of these three perforator flaps enabled us to achieve a satisfactory outcome while avoiding skin grafts.     

Turbocharged bilateral pedicled DIEP flap for reconstruction of thigh defect without recipient vessels: A case report

Reconstruction of thigh defects is usually straightforward, but in cases of poor soft tissue quality, free flap reconstruction is not possible due to the absence of recipient vessels. The turbocharge technique may increase the viable, vascularized area of a flap. In this report we present a case of the use of a turbocharged bilateral pedicled DIEP flap for reconstruction of thigh defect without recipient vessels. A 29‐year‐old woman who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus radiation therapy for a leiomyosarcoma on the left thigh. Six weeks later, complete tumor excision and a femoropopliteal bypass with contralateral saphenous vein was performed. In the following days the wound had dehiscence, infection, necrosis of the surrounding muscles and exposure of femoropopliteal bypass. No recipient vessels were available for free flap and critical limb ischemia due to bypass thrombosis was detected. The reconstruction of a large thigh defect (30 × 12 cm) and the coverage of a femoropopliteal bypass with a turbocharged bilateral pedicled DIEP flap was performed. A flap including the entire infraumbilical tissue was designed and the anastomosis of the proximal stump of the right inferior epigastric vessels with the distal ends of the inferior left epigastric vessels was performed to increase the viable area. The flap survived without any complications during the postoperative period. At 12‐month follow up, coverage was stable with no tumor recurrence. Our result suggests that a turbocharged bilateral pedicled DIEP flap may be an option for reconstructing large tissue defects when no recipient vessels are available for free flap.     

Pedicled posteromedial thigh (PMT) flap: A new alternative for groin defect reconstruction

The posterior medial thigh is mainly vascularized by the profunda femoris artery (PFA), which nourishes the adductor magnus muscle and overlying skin, to supply a number of perforators that can potentially be used as pedicles for local perforator flaps. Here we present two cases utilizing the pedicled posteromedial thigh flap (PMT) to reconstruct the groin defects. Two patients underwent resection for metastatic malignant melanoma resulting in large defects of the groin with exposure of major inguinal vessels; the dimensions of the skin defects were 15 cm × 5 cm and 16 cm × 6 cm, two ipsilateral pedicled PMT flaps were designed to cover the defects. The pedicled PMT flaps were based on perforators arising from the PFA and were transposed through a submuscular tunnel into the defect. The postoperative course was uneventful and the wounds were reconstructed successfully. The pedicled PMT flap may be an option for reconstruction of groin defects and could be incorporated into the armamentarium of the reconstructive microsurgeon. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 37:339–343, 2017.     

Reconstruction of an upper posterior thigh extensive defect with a free split‐anterolateral thigh (s‐ALT) flap by perforator‐to‐perforator anastomosis: A case report

The anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap is one of the most commonly used flap worldwide in reconstructive surgery, as both free flap and pedicled local flap. Here, we report the use of a free split anterolateral thigh (s‐ALT) flap for reconstruction of a 14 cm × 16 cm soft tissue defect of the left upper posterior thigh region due to sarcoma resection in a patient. The ALT flap was harvested based on two musculocutaneous perforators from the right thigh and anastomosed to the contralateral descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA) in perforator‐to‐perforator manner, in order to gain more pedicle length and being able to cover the posterior thigh defect. The post‐operative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged at 1 week post‐operative. Eleven months after the operation, the aesthetic outcome was satisfactory with no functional deficit. Even though it requires technical skills and experience in perforator dissection, we believe that the s‐ALT flap anstomosed to the contralateral LCFA in perforator to perforator fashion, may be a good solution in case of such a difficultly located extensive defect of the posterior thigh.     

Treatment of secondary scrotal and lower extremity lymphedema using combined pedicled lymph node transfer and lymphaticovenous anastomosis: A case report

Combined secondary scrotal and lower extremity lymphedema is an infrequent complication of radical excision of urogenital cancers associated with pelvic lymphadenectomy. Scrotal lymphedema is usually psychologically distressing, and difficult to treat. We report a case of a 41-years old male who presented with scrotal and left lower extremity lymphedema after radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy successfully treated with pedicled superficial inguinal lymph node (SILN) transfer and lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) restoring the lymphatic drainage. The flap consisted of subscarpal adipofascial tissue between the level of the inguinal ligament and the groin crease measuring 11 × 7 cm. The flap composed of afferent lymphatics from the lower abdomen, lymph nodes, and fatty tissue without skin, the right-sided flap was transposed to the root of scrotum while the left one to the proximal left thigh, then two-level LVA were performed in the left extremity. The surgery went uneventful with no postoperative complications. At a 9 month follow-up, there was a significant reduction of the scrotal volume with a reduction of excess volume of the lower extremity from 49.6 to 9.4% compared with the healthy side. No cellulitis was reported during the follow-up period with improvement in the patient's clinical symptoms and quality of life. We believe that pedicled superficial inguinal lymph node flap together with LVA is a reliable and safe treatment option for either scrotal or lower extremity lymphedema following pelvic cancer treatment.     

Use of the deep inferior epigastric perforator flap in a 15-month-old boy after resection of lymphatic malformation

Lymphatic malformations are benign tumors that arise from congenital defects of the lymphatic system. Despite the fact that all lymphatic malformations develop embryologically, their presence may not be detected until the tumor enlarges from hemorrhage or infection. Typical of these tumors is a slow-growing, asymptomatic phase with the potential for rapid and massive expansion and a tendency to infiltrate into surrounding tissues. These tumors are associated with a high rate of recurrence, especially with incomplete excisions. To minimize the chance of recurrence, a complete resection of a groin microcystic lymphatic malformation was performed on this 15-month-old boy, creating a significant defect in the upper thigh. Immediate coverage was felt to be the best option for reducing any associated morbidity. We used a skin-soft tissue flap supplied by perforators of the deep inferior epigastric artery to repair the wound. Using this technique, the musculofascial structures in the abdominal wall were completely spared, and the skin and fat were transferred on a vascular leash to the desired location. The donor site was closed by approximating the fascial edges without tension. The defect on the thigh was filled with tissue of similar thickness and characteristics, avoiding potential contour irregularities and color mismatch. The deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap is a useful option for groin defects and can be applied safely in the pediatric population.     

膝降动脉穿支蒂股内侧皮神经营养血管皮瓣的应用解剖

目的 为膝降动脉穿支蒂股内侧皮神经营养血管皮瓣提供解剖学基础.方法 在40侧动脉内灌注红色乳胶的成人下肢标本上,以股骨内侧髁为观测标志解剖观测:股内侧皮神经走行与分布;膝降动脉穿支与股内侧皮神经营养血管间的吻合关系.另1侧新鲜标本进行摹拟手术.结果 股内侧皮神经体表投影为腹股沟韧带中点与股骨内侧髁的连线;膝降动脉(髌下支)穿支于股骨内侧髁下缘上约4 cm,在股内侧肌、大收肌腱与股骨内侧髁所围成的三角形凹陷内穿过深筋膜至皮下,并分出众多的细小血管与股内侧皮神经的神经旁和神经干血管链(网)密切吻合,在大腿内侧形成顺沿股内侧皮神经纵轴的血管丛.结论 根据膝降动脉穿支与股内侧皮神经营养血管吻合关系,可形成膝降动脉穿支蒂股内侧皮神经营养血管皮瓣转位修复膝部软组织缺损.     

Pedicled superficial femoral artery perforator flaps for reconstruction of large groin defects

Soft‐tissue defects after wide resection of groin sarcomas have been reconstructed with well‐characterized flaps, such as rectus abdominis, gracilis, and anterolateral thigh flaps. To our knowledge, the use of superficial femoral artery perforator (S‐FAP) flaps for this purpose has not been reported. We report on three female patients in whom groin defects after sarcoma resection were reconstructed with pedicled S‐FAP flaps. The dimensions of the skin defects ranged from 13.5 × 11 to 16 × 14.5 cm. Sizable perforators from the superficial femoral arteries were identified preoperatively around the apex of the femoral triangle with computed tomographic angiography or color Doppler ultrasonography. The lengths of the flaps ranged from 17 to 19 cm. The main perforator penetrated the sartorius muscle in two patients and emerged between the sartorius and the adductor longus muscles in the other patient. The postoperative course was uneventful, and results were satisfactory in all patients. The main advantages of the S‐FAP flap over more commonly used flaps are that it is easier to harvest and is associated with less donor‐site morbidity. We believe that the S‐FAP flap may be a versatile option for the coverage of groin defects. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 34:470–474, 2014.     

The free latissimus dorsi flap as primary free flap and crane flap with secondary pedicled transfer

We are reporting a case of a 43-year-old woman, who developed a soft tissue defect of the knee region following complex lower limb trauma. The defect was covered with a microvascular latissimus dorsi (LD) flap. The patient required a total knee replacement and developed a defect at the anterior aspect of the knee. This defect was covered by a second free LD flap from the ipsilateral side with anastomosis to the superficial femoral artery. Thrombosis of the superficial femoral artery resulted in complete flap loss. The soft tissue defect was covered with a pedicled medial gastrocnemius flap. Further surgery was undertaken to reconstruct the extensor mechanism of the knee. The resulting soft tissue defect was covered with a free anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap, which failed. The resulting defect left the knee prosthesis exposed. We used the first free LD flap covering the medial aspect of the lower leg as a pedicled axial myocutaneous flap. The deep portion of the flap remained in situ, covering the original soft tissue defect of the lower leg, and the main bulk of the LD was rotated by 180 degrees to the anterior defect of the knee. The crane flap healed uneventfully with a good outcome.     

岛状股前外侧皮瓣修复腹股沟及会阴部创面

目的探讨一种皮瓣修复会阴部及腹股沟创面的方法。方法设计以旋股外侧动脉降支为血管蒂的岛状股前外侧皮瓣,掀起皮瓣后经过皮下隧道将其转移至会阴部及腹股沟创面。结果临床治疗12例,皮瓣面积为8cm×11cm～18cm×20cm。除1例皮瓣靠近肛门处部分表皮坏死外,其余成活良好,外形恢复满意。结论以旋股外侧动脉降支为血管蒂的岛状股前外侧皮瓣是修复会阴部及腹股沟创面较好的方法。     

Clinical use of a pedicled anterolateral thigh flap.

BACKGROUND: Anterolateral thigh flap is a safe and reliable flap for soft tissue reconstruction. It has successfully been used as free flap reconstruction for defects in the head and neck region, the upper extremities and lower extremities. However, there were only a few reports in the literature concerning the clinical application of this flap for regional reconstruction. METHODS: The authors describe their experience of using the pedicled island anterolateral thigh flap for reconstruction of soft tissue defects in neighbouring areas. Representative cases are presented for illustration. RESULT: Between July 2005 and September 2006, seven patients underwent an immediate reconstruction with pedicled anterolateral thigh flap. The patients were between 49 and 69 years old. The size of the flaps measured from 5 x 8 cm to 15 x 15 cm. They were prepared as myocutaneous flaps in three cases and as perforator flaps in four cases. One patient, who had the largest flap harvested, needed skin grafting of the donor site. Primary closure was performed for all other cases. All flaps survived without any vascular compromise and the donor site healed without complication. CONCLUSION: Our study has shown that the pedicled anterolateral thigh flap is a safe and reliable flap for repair of defects at the internal pelvis, lateral thigh, groin, and genitoperineal region. The long vascular pedicle and having no restriction to the arc of rotation are keys to the successful transposition of the flap for immediate reconstruction of soft tissue defects in neighbouring areas.     

Abdominal wall reconstruction using anterolateral thigh flap with microsurgical pedicle lengthening technique: A case report

Pedicled anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap has been employed for coverage of low abdominal wall defects. However, its use is limited for defects located more on the cranial side because of insufficient pedicle length. We present a case of successful reconstruction of mid-abdominal wall defect using pedicled ALT flap, overcoming the issue of pedicle length shortage with a microsurgical pedicle lengthening technique. A 75-year-old man suffered from a 12 × 8 cm full-thickness soft tissue defect on his mid-abdominal wall originated from colon anastomosis site leakage after ileostomy takedown surgery. A pedicled ALT flap was planned for the defect coverage. After we performed debridement to prepare the wound bed, a 14 × 8.5 cm sized ALT flap based on two lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA) perforators was elevated. During intramuscular dissection of perforators, we dissected the distal portion of the LCFA descending branch. After full dissection of the pedicle to source vessels, we attempted to transfer the flap, but still the flap had short pedicle. We transected the pedicle just distal to the bifurcating point and reconnected it to the distal end of the dissected descending LCFA branch with microsurgical anastomosis. We passed the flap through a subcutaneous tunnel and conducted smooth flap insetting without any tension on the lengthened pedicle. Postoperatively, the wound healed successfully without complications. The patient was discharged 2 weeks after surgery and followed up at postoperative 3 months without adverse events. A local ALT flap with pedicle lengthened might be a reliable option for reconstruction of supraumbilical abdominal defects.     

髂腹股沟皮瓣联合股部皮瓣带蒂瓦合移植在手部大面积套脱伤治疗中的应用

目的 介绍髂腹股沟皮瓣联合股部皮瓣带蒂移植治疗手部大面积套脱伤的手术方法和临床效果.方法 对7例手、腕及前臂部广泛皮肤套脱伤的患者,采用髂腹股沟皮瓣联合股前外侧皮瓣带蒂移植修复4例,联合阔筋膜张肌皮瓣带蒂移植2例,联合股前侧皮瓣带蒂移植1例.髂腹股沟部供区创面直接闭合,股部供区创面取全厚层皮片植皮覆盖.术后半个月拆线,并进行皮瓣夹蒂训练,术后1个月根据皮瓣夹蒂训练情况酌情断蒂.急诊一期修复2例,二期修复5例.结果 术后7例皮瓣全部存活,供区伤口I期愈合,随访2～6个月,皮瓣柔软,质地良好,皮瓣外形较臃肿,无坏死及破溃.结论 髂腹股沟皮瓣联合股部皮瓣带蒂移植,二者瓦合可覆盖全手及前臂大面积皮肤套脱伤,手术操作简单,安全性高,易于推广;该皮瓣缺点是需二期手术断蒂,且移植皮瓣外形臃肿,需后期整形.     

Pedicled deep inferior epigastric perforator flap: an alternative method to repair groin and scrotal defects

With minimal donor-site morbidity and bulky soft tissue supply, deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap is now a preferred free flap in reconstructive surgery. Based on the experiences in free flap procedures, the authors explored a new usage of the DIEP flap to repair groin and scrotal defects. Over the last 2 years, 8 pedicled DIEP island flaps were successfully elevated and transferred in 7 male patients. With intramuscular dissection, the pedicle length could be elongated, with minimal damage to the abdominal fascia-muscular structure. Among these flaps, 5 were used for penoscrotal restore; 3 were raised to repair groin defects. All flaps survived completely. Groin reconstruction with such a flap gave a satisfactory esthetic result. Though somewhat bulky for penoscrotal restoration, it was acceptable for elderly patients. The authors conclude that this flap can be chosen as an alternative option to deal with complex groin and scrotal wounds.     

Post‐traumatic lymphedema treatment with superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator lymphatic free flap: A case report

Post‐traumatic lymphedema is poorly understood. It is rarely considered in limb reconstruction decision‐making approach. We report a case of a 41‐year‐old female who presented with right upper extremity lymphedema after degloving injury and split thickness skin graft, successfully treated with a superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator (SCIP) free flap restoring the lymphatic drainage. Right upper extremity had an excess of 258.7 mL or an excess volume of 27.86% compared to the healthy contralateral limb. A SCIP free flap including lymphatic vessels (SCIP‐L) was performed to replace the skin graft in order to restore the lymphatic flow. Flap size was 19 × 8 cm and pedicle length was 4 cm. No lymph nodes were included and no lymphatic or lymphovenous anastomoses were performed. The surgery was uneventful, and there were no postoperative complications. Fourteen days after free tissue transfer, lymphedema showed clear improvement. At a 4‐month follow‐up, 55.6% reduction of excess volume was obtained. Indocyanine green lymphography performed at that time showed a restitution of lymph flow through the flap. Lymphedema improvements persisted at a 6‐month follow‐up. A successful treatment of post‐traumatic lymphedema can be performed by using the SCIP‐L free flap for soft tissue reconstruction of critical lymphatic drainage areas.     

Versatility of the vertical designed deep inferior epigastric perforator flap

The deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap is one of the most commonly used perforator flaps. However, when horizontally oriented, it has certain pitfalls such as sacrifice of the contralateral donor site, the need to discard soft tissue that will not be adequately perfused, and long operating times. To overcome these handicaps, the flap in a vertical orientation was designed and demonstrated the versatility of this technique in a number of different anatomical tissue restorations in this study. The vertical DIEP flaps were used in 8 patients (7 males and 1 female) in 3 years. Defects were located in the lower limb (4 cases), face (3 cases), and hip (1 cases). All flaps were transferred as free, except one in the hip that was pedicled. Flap sizes varied from 7 × 5 cm to 13 × 9 cm. All donor defects were closed primarily. The mean follow‐up time was 13.6 months. All flaps survived totally, but one which had partial necrosis. A hematoma developed postoperatively in the donor site of the pedicled DIEP flap. Cosmetic outcomes were satisfactory in all patients. All donor site scars were acceptable with minimal contour irregularities. The vertical DIEP flap offers diverse opportunities in various soft tissue reconstructions and is candidate to be an important choice of free flap repertoire. The method can be proposed particularly for restoration of moderate sized defects rather than that of large defects as in postmastectomy breast reconstruction. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2009.     

游离股后侧穿支动脉皮瓣修复腕及手部创面

目的：探讨游离股后侧穿支皮瓣修复腕手部软组织缺损临床疗效。方法2008年3月-2012年12月,对5例上肢皮肤软组织缺损采用股后侧穿支皮瓣修复,组织缺损范围为3 cm×215;8 cm～6 cm×215;12 cm,穿支皮瓣大小为3 cm×215;8 cm～8 cm×215;16 cm。供区直接拉拢缝合。结果本组5例股后侧穿支皮瓣均成活,受区及供区一期愈合。患者均获得6～12个月随访,皮瓣色泽、质地良好。结论游离股后侧穿支皮瓣切取简便,供区隐蔽,质地优良,是修复腕手部软组织缺损的理想皮瓣。     

Pedicled neurocutaneous anterolateral thigh flap for groin reconstruction – A case report

Several different flaps based on the feeding vessels of sensitive nerves have been described in the limbs. This article reports the case of a neurocutaneous flap based on the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN), employed for reconstruction of an inguinal defect. A 61‐years‐old female patient had undergone vulvectomy and bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy for vulvar cancer with postoperative left groin wound breakdown. After a 3 weeks negative pressure therapy course, she presented a 10 × 4 cm skin and subcutaneous defect with undermined edges in the left inguinal area. Reconstruction with 14 × 6 cm pedicled left anterolateral thigh flap was planned. After the dissection of the vascular pedicle and of the sensitive nerve, complete thrombosis of both the veins and arterial spasm of perforating pedicle was detected. As the flap color was good, and slow marginal bleeding was present, we inspected the small vessels surrounding the nerve that were pulsating. To confirm the vascularization coming from the neural pedicle, we clamped the perforator and performed intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence angiography that showed a good fluorescence of the flap with a proximal to distal pattern of progression. The flap was transferred on the neural pedicle, survived completely, and wounds healed normally. Three months after surgery, the patient underwent radiotherapy, with uneventful course. In her last follow‐up, 2 years after surgery, patient was free of disease and the flap showed normal scarring. This is the first case reported of a pedicled neurocutaneous flap based on the LFCN, indicating that in case of unsuitable perforators it could be an alternative pedicle.     

A case of degloving injury of the whole hand reconstructed by a combination of distant flaps comprising an anterolateral thigh flap and a groin flap

A case of degloving injury of the whole hand reconstructed by a combination of an anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap and a groin flap applied as a pedicled distant flap was reported. Despite complications of congestion of the ALT flap and superficial infection, both flaps were severed at 4 weeks after transplantation, and a useful hand was finally reconstructed. The combination of a pedicled groin flap and an ALT flap is not optimal for reconstruction of a whole-hand degloving injury but is considered to be an available procedure for covering a large skin defect without microsurgical procedures.