Surgical correction of the hand in epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica.

Epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica (polydysplastic type) is a rare congenital skin anomaly which, in the hands, because they are exposed to repeated trauma, results in a severe "mitten"-like deformity. Functional benefit was obtained in three patients by separation of the digits and application of split-thickness grafts. Wolfe grafts or "split-off" (epidermis) grafts. Arthrodesis of the interphalangeal joints and filleting of the little finger to provide a flap which could be turned in to the palm, resulted in an improvement in hand function.     

Distally based venous flap: a new technique for the correction of syndactyly without skin graft in adult patients

Skin grafts and local flaps are conventional methods for repairing simple syndactyly. Skin grafts usually leave unsightly appearance and contracture formation. In this study, unipedicled distally based venous flap were raised from third or fourth metacarpal area of the hand for syndactyly treatment. The distally based venous flap was to provide skin coverage to one side of the finger, in order to avoid complications arising from using skin graft. Nine patients’ syndactylies (5 simple incomplete and 4 simple complete syndactyly) were treated using this method. The mean follow-up period of the flaps was 14 months, ranging from 12 to 16 months. Mild edema and venous congestion occurred in all flaps. Superficial necrosis involving two flaps did not affect flap survival. All flaps survived completely. In this article, we have described a new surgical technique for the correction of syndactyly in a single surgical procedure that utilizes a distally based venous flap to provide skin coverage without skin graft.     

Pedicled and "flow-through" venous flaps: clinical applications

Recently, the pedicled venous flap and "flow-through" venous flap have been the focus of increasing attention for skin defects of the fingers and hands. For successful venous flap use, the following approaches have been suggested: (1) a pedicled venous flap with preservation of the draining veins alone; (2) a "flow-through" flap with preservation of a flow-through vein in the flap; and (3) an arterialized "flow-through" venous flap which ensures arterial blood flow into the flap. Based on findings that venous blood is helpful in flap survival, the authors made use of the first two flap types, the pedicled venous flap and the "flow-through" venous flap and attempted to establish and clarify reasonable conditions for flap survival. Venous pressure of the finger and elbow was measured and venographies of the finger and hand were also carried out. The following conditions are regarded as essential in successful venous flap procedures: (a) use of a venous flap with a rich venous network; (b) preservation of many "flow-through" veins; (c) harvesting a pedicled venous flap where the veins have afferent (reversed) venous pressure; and (d) anastomosing veins of the "flow-through" flap with recipient veins where high efferent venous pressure exists and differential pressure is observed. Clinical cases are presented and the authors attempt to explain flap failure from previously unknown causes. Conditions for flap harvesting are also discussed.     

Cervicomental "Turkey Gobbler": A New Source for Full-Thickness Grafts

A LARGE NUMBER of sources for full-thickness grafts have been described. The concepts of adapting liposuction techniques from cosmetic surgery to reconstructive surgery, especially with flap reconstructions, have been well documented by this author and others in many forums over many years. ^1–7 However, obtaining the excess skin of the lower neck in those patients with "turkey gobbler" deformities utilizing liposuction aspiration and dissection techniques has not been previously documented. This same approach might at times be valuable in very obese necks with excessively redundant skin as well.     

Microcirculation of a venous flap: an experimental study with microspheres in rabbits.

In recent years, it has been found that maintenance of venous circulation alone may support a small flap with no direct arterial inflow. The clinical application of a venous flap has potential in the field of microsurgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the haemodynamics within a pedicled venous flap in rabbits, compared with those of a composite graft. Pedicled venous flaps and composite grafts were raised from the abdominal walls of 30 adult New Zealand rabbits. Flap survival was measured and recorded and blood flow studies with microspheres were done for seven days. The viability of the pedicled venous flaps was much better than that of the composite grafts. At two weeks 24 of the venous flaps (80%) showed more than 75% surviving, but 29 (97%) of the composite grafts had less than 25% surviving. The results suggest that the blood flow through a patent vein maintained in a venous skin flap can provide enough nutrients for the flap to survive during the initial three days until neovascularisation. The venous flap receives more blood flow than a composite graft. We conclude that a venous flap depends on blood supply from the axial vein in addition to neovascularisation to maintain its survival.     

Reconstructive Surgery in Hand Mutilation (Edited by Guy Foucher): Martin Dunitz Ltd,London, 1997

Many of the methods and techniques used throughout the whole field of reconstructive plastic surgery owe their origins to problems first encountered in the severely burned patient. Gillies first used the tubed pedicle flap in reconstructing the face of a naval seaman burned in World War I. Axial pattern flaps such as the deltopectoral are widely used in the treatment of head and neck cancer and the one-stage free flap obviously has an exciting future. In many burned patients such flaps cannot be utilised owing to the non-availability of suitable vessels in either donor or recipient areas. Random pattern flaps such as the tube pedicle must therefore continue to play an important role in treating these cases. The plastic surgeon who undertakes the repair of the burned face must have wide experience of all methods of tissue replacement, whether by free graft or flap transfer. In resurfacing the nose the author has used Wolfe grafts when the cartilages are not involved or a tubed flap from the arm if this is not so. A long tubed pedicle flap from the back is preferred for resurfacing the chin and upper neck providing contour as well as excellent skin cover. Some extremely deep burns such as occur in epileptics or alcoholics may need bone-grafting, and the help of a good prosthetics department will be needed when the orbit has been destroyed.     

An extended latissimus dorsi "non-free" flap

A case is reported in which perfusion of a latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap was maintained through its secondary blood supply during transfer to a sacral defect, while its thoracodorsal pedicle was being lengthened by saphenous vein grafts. The secondary blood supply was divided only when the microvascular anastomoses were seen to be functioning so this flap was never a truly "free" flap.     

Reparation of sequelae of penile-scrotal and perineal gangrene. Apropos of 4 cases

The authors report different techniques for surgical reconstruction of the sequelae of penile, scrotal and perineal gangrene. The repair of skin defects and the reconstruction of the scrotum requested several interventions. Where the scrotal skin loss was limited to a 1/2 of scrotum, the testis could be covered by mobilising the surrounding rim. When the disease was confined to the penis or inguinal region, skin cover has been provided by free grafts. More elaborate techniques of skin cover were necessary when the disease was extended to the whole scrotum: a fasciocutaneous flap from the thigh was used for reconstruction of the scrotum. The scrotal myocutaneous flap was used to cover skin and anterior urethral loss of tissue.     

Use of an arterialized venous flap for resurfacing a circumferential soft tissue defect of a digit.

Circumferential defects of digit are uncommon but present a challenging problem to the clinician. The use of simple skin grafts tends to cause tendon adhesions and can limit digital range of motion. The use of local skin flaps, such as a cross-finger flap, is limited by the considerable skin loss in a defect that is circumferential in nature. Other options have included the use of reversed forearm flap or some free tissue transfer. We report a case in which the circumferential defect of an index finger, measuring 6 cm around the digit and 3 cm long, is resurfaced by the use of a free arterialized venous flap raised from the volar forearm skin.     

A novel solution for venous congestion following digital replantation: a proximally based cross-finger flap

Digital replantations are often complicated by problems of venous congestion. Conservative management is not always successful. Furthermore, the skin edge around the replanted digit is frequently inflamed and necrotic, leading to difficulties in restoring venous flow by direct venous anastomosis or interpositional vein grafts. We introduce a novel solution using the proximally based cross-finger flap. We used this flap in 10 patients who had venous congestion with inflamed, necrotic skin at their digital replant site. Their initial injuries were amputation injuries. The flap had an average length of 3.98 cm and width of 2.59 cm and was harvested from the dorsum of the adjacent, uninjured digit. There was only 1 failure, due to massive crush injury. Of the remaining 9 cases, 7 met or exceeded the sensory threshold (Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test). The 2-point discrimination test was less than 6 mm in 8 cases. Three patients complained of residual pain (based on the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire), and only 1 was unsatisfied with the appearance. The proximally based cross-finger flap is pedicled and requires only a single level of venous anastomosis distally, leading to a higher success rate. It offers a simple yet effective solution for venous congestion.     

Clinical application of the retrograde arterialized venous flap

Retrograde arterialized venous flaps were applied to skin and soft-tissue defects in 13 patients with an average age of 34.4 years. Ten defects were located on the hand, and three on the lower leg. All flaps were harvested from the flexor aspect of the forearm; they ranged in size from 2 x 1 to 11 x 7 cm. There was venous congestion with superficial epidermolysis in six flaps, but not in the other seven. Partial skin necrosis in two of the lower-extremity flaps necessitated secondary skin grafts. Our results suggest that retrograde perfusion enhances blood flow in the periphery of arterialized venous flaps and gives good results in terms of flap survival, especially on the upper extremity.     

Clinical applications of venous flaps in the reconstruction of hands and fingers

In recent years, the venous flap has been highly regarded in microsurgical and reconstructive surgeries, especially in the reconstruction of hand and digit injuries. It is easily designed and harvested with good quality. It is thin and pliable, without the need of sacrificing a major artery at the donor site, and has no limitation on the donor site. It can be transferred not only as a pure skin flap, but also as a composite flap including tendons and nerves as well as vein grafts. All these advantages make it an optimal candidate for hand and digit reconstruction when conventional flaps are limited or unavailable. In this article, we review its classifications and the selection of donor sites, update its clinical applications, and summarize its indications for all types of venous flaps in hand and digit reconstruction.     

Beauty of skin-grafted free muscle flaps in head and neck reconstruction

In the era of perforator flaps, muscle flaps might seem "out of fashion" for use in microvascular reconstructions. In this presentation, the advantages of pure muscle flaps covered with full-thickness (FTSG) or split-thickness (STSG) skin grafts employed in certain head and neck reconstructions shall be demonstrated. The free vastus lateralis muscle flap (n = 13) and latissimus dorsi flap (n = 1), covered with either FTSG (n = 8) or STSG (n = 6), were used for major head and neck reconstructions in a total of 13 patients. There was no revision, no partial flap necrosis, and no flap loss. All skin grafts healed in. After initial swelling, all flaps developed an adequate form according to the respective skin level, with adequate texture and color match. This was especially the case when FTSG was used. No cosmetic corrections were necessary. Donor-site morbidity was negligible. In conclusion, a free muscle flap covered with FTSG is a safe and fast reconstruction that provides good cosmetic and functional results, combined with negligible donor-site morbidity.     

Management of necrotic neck wounds with a "sandwich" pectoralis myocutaneous flap

A modified pectoralis major myocutaneous flap was used to stabilize necrotic neck wounds rapidly in irradiated patients. The flap was a "sandwich" flap that included an overlying "parasternal" pectoral skin paddle for pharyngeal reconstruction, the pectoralis muscle for carotid protection, and a meshed skin graft applied to the undersurface of the muscle to replace cervical skin. This flap has been used to reconstruct seven patients with severe wound necrosis from pharyngeal fistula and infection. All patients had carotid exposure in the infected wound. Reconstruction in all patients accomplished restoration of pharyngeal continuity, carotid protection, and cervical skin replacement. Some patients required more than one procedure for closure. There were no carotid "blowouts" in any of the patients. This technique enables the head and neck surgeon to stabilize these contaminated wounds rapidly and to reconstruct complex defects of the pharynx and cervical skin.     

The full-thickness forehead flap for complex nasal defects: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: To report a new technique using a bivalved, full-thickness paramedian forehead flap. The unique vascular anatomy of the supratrochlear artery allows the skin and subcutaneous tissue to be separated from the frontalis muscle and pericranium. The deep layers serve as a pliable, vascularized intranasal lining. Bone and cartilage grafts can be placed as "sandwich" grafts between the deep and superficial layers of the flap. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of 5 cases. RESULTS: All flaps survived. Four minor complications occurred in 3 patients. These resolved with minimal treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The full-thickness forehead flap is a viable option for large defects or for the difficult situation in which intranasal local flaps are not an option. SIGNIFICANCE: The gold standard for replacement of the intranasal lining is a septal mucosal or vestibular local flap. The full-thickness forehead flap is an option in patients for whom other lining flaps are not available. EBM rating: C-3.     

Free SCIA/SIEA skin flap: a dual blood supply approach to groin region

Free groin flap donor skin is unequaled in generous skin supply and inconspicuousness. We reliably utilize this region by taking advantage of the dual blood supply from superficial circumlex iliac (SCIA) and superficial inferior epigastric (SIEA) arteries and name the flap "Free SCIA/SIEA skin flap." The arterial pedicle is selected between SCIA and SIEA according to vascular anatomy which is explored through an incision along the inguinal ligament prior to skin island planning. Among 57 free SCIA/SIEA skin flap transfers, two flap failures occurred; circulatory impairment was restored by taking the patient back to the operating room in four cases; major size discrepancy was noted in one end-to-end arterial anastomosis; and no vein grafts were required. Mostly an extended length of skin island is harvested irrespective of wound size in order to utilize the proximal skin as a vascular carrier that compensates for short pedicle. We conclude that, with the current microsurgical expertise, free SCIA/SIEA skin flap is versatile even when the skin quality is considered.     

Reconstruction of defects after excision of facial skin cancer using a venous free flap

After extensive excision of skin cancer on the face, or when skin cancer is located on the 3-dimensional structures of the face, reconstruction with a local flap can be impossible, or clinicians are reluctant to reconstruct defects with a skin graft because of postoperative contraction, hyperpigmentation, or other complication. Instead, an arterialized venous free flap can be used as an alternative method of reconstruction to prevent distortion and recurrence. Eight patients underwent surgery with an arterialized venous-free flap. We evaluated the cosmetic results using ordinary scale methods on the basis of 4 categories (color, contour, texture, and distortion of surrounding structures) and recurrence and metastases of skin cancer physically. The follow-up period ranged between 24 and 48 months, with an average of 33 months. All of the soft-tissue defects made by excising the tumor were reconstructed with good outcomes, except for 1 case. Regarding the cosmetic evaluation, the color was fair, the contour and texture were good, absence of distortion of surrounding structures was excellent, and the overall results in most all cases were good. There were no recurrences or metastases during the follow-up period. The arterialized venous free flap is an alternative plan among several reconstruction methods when skin cancer on the face is extensively excised.     

Defektdeckung durch freie Lappenplastiken am Fußrücken

Background

Large complex soft-tissue defects on the dorsum of the foot, with exposed tendons, joints, bones, nerves and vessels, have to be reconstructed by transplantation of free tissue grafts with good blood flow.

Patients and methods

Evaluation of 19 patients with an average age of 38 years who underwent closure of defects on the dorsum of the foot with free muscle flaps (with split-thickness skin grafts) in 14 cases and with free fasciocutaneous flaps in 5 is presented. In 10 patients a gracilis muscle flap was used, in 4 patients a latissimus dorsi flap, and in 2 patients a groin flap, while in 1 patient each an anterolateral thigh flap, an anteromedial thigh flap and a lateral arm flap was used. The aesthetic outcome was evaluated with reference to skin texture, pigmentation, thickness of the free flap and scar formation. The Stanmore system was used to determine the postoperative functional results.

Results

On average, patients were followed up for 29 months. We had no flap loss. A flap debulking procedure was performed in 6 patients. Better aesthetic results were obtained with muscle flaps plus skin graft than with fasciocutaneous flaps. Functional results were excellent in 6 patients, good in 5 and poor in 8 patients.

Conclusion

Free muscle flaps with skin grafts, particularly the free gracilis muscle flap, are superior to fasciocutaneous flaps and perforating flaps in aesthetic outcome and donor site morbidity.     

Lower extremity reconstruction using a long-cryopreserved venous allograft for free flap venous outflow.

Vein grafts are used frequently in microvascular surgery, but an adequate supply of autogenous veins is not always available. The search for an ideal substitute for autogenous vein continues. We present a case of lower extremity reconstruction made difficult by lack of suitable autogenous vein for venous outflow from a rectus abdominus free flap. A 36 cm cryopreserved allograft saphenous vein was used on an emergency basis for this problem.     

Resurfacing of lower face scars with a pre-expanded flap from the neck

Postburn scars of the lower face often cause serious deformities and dysfunction. Conventional methods including skin grafts and free flaps always lead to unsatisfactory outcomes. In this article, we describe a series of 8 patients with scars of the lower face treated with an expanded neck flap. Tissue expanders were implanted into the neck and inflated for 3 to 5 months. The expanded flap was then advanced cephalically to resurface the scars of the lower face. The mean follow-up period was 13 months. All 8 flaps survived well except 2 patients developed slight necrosis at the distal edge. The flaps were well matched to the surrounding skin with respect to color, texture, and thickness. The cervicomental angle appears normal. The range of mouth opening increased. In patients with lower face scars and a sufficient unharmed neck flap, use of a pre-expanded neck flap was suitable.