Vastus medialis muscle flap and hemi V-Y skin flap for knee extensor and soft tissue reconstruction

Simultaneous reconstruction of extensor mechanism and skin defect of the knee joint is a difficult problem. We present a case of a 55-year-old man with loss of patella and 9 x 6 cm skin defect after total patellectomy for infected open patellar fracture. Vastus medialis muscle flap and hemi V-Y skin flap were elevated. Vastus medialis muscle flap was advanced and sutured to the remaining patellar tendon. Hemi V-Y skin flap covered the skin defect. The wound healed uneventfully. After a follow-up period of 30 months, active range of motion of the knee joint is 0-120 degrees, and extension strength of the knee joint is [4] in a manual muscle test. He can stand on his right leg without any assistance. The combination of vastus medialis flap and hemi V-Y skin flap is a valuable option in knee reconstruction after total patellectomy.     

Gastrocnemius muscle flap including Achilles tendon after extensive patellectomy for soft tissue sarcoma.

A 72-year-old man developed a soft-tissue sarcoma anterior to his left knee. The tumour was excised widely combined with an extensive patellectomy. A gastrocnemius flap including Achilles tendon was used successfully to cover the soft-tissue defect and to reconstruct the knee extensor mechanism.     

Latissimus dorsi pedicled flap for upper extremity soft-tissue reconstruction

The latissimus dorsi often is used as a functional muscle transfer to restore elbow and shoulder motion. Although less common, its use as a pedicled muscle flap with a split-thickness skin graft provides excellent soft-tissue coverage of large upper extremity wounds. Seven male patients ranging in age from 6-71 years were treated with a pedicled latissimus dorsi muscle flap and split-thickness skin graft for coverage of open wounds of the shoulder, arm, or elbow with exposed vital structures (mean wound size: 15x10 cm). The flap also was used as a functional muscle transfer in one patient to replace destroyed anterior and middle portions of the deltoid. Wounds resulted from trauma in three patients, infection following trauma in two, and sarcoma excision in two. All flaps healed well, and donor site morbidity was minimal. At mean 16-month follow-up (range: 3-41 months), all muscle flaps had contoured well, producing satisfactory cosmesis. Functional results were good, and all patients were satisfied with their outcome. The tendinous insertion is left intact to guard against excessive traction on the pedicle when the flap is used for soft-tissue coverage only.     

腓肠内侧动脉穿支蒂皮瓣修复膝和小腿上1/3软组织缺损

目的 报道应用腓肠内侧动脉穿支带蒂皮瓣修复膝和小腿上1/3软组织缺损的临床应用效果. 方法 应用腓肠内侧动脉穿支带蒂皮瓣修复膝和小腿上1/3软组织缺损16例.其中,髌前4例,前外侧2例,前内侧l例;小腿上1/3 9例.供区均选用同侧小腿.结果 手术后经过顺利,1例术后发生表浅感染,经更换敷料逐渐愈合,皮瓣全部成活.随访3.0个月至3.5年,平均1.7年.供区愈合良好,未见明显的供区功能障碍.受区皮瓣质地、厚薄及颜色均较好,功能恢复较好,取得了较满意的效果. 结论 腓肠内侧动脉穿支带蒂皮瓣以腓肠内侧动脉的肌皮穿支为血供,具有血供丰富、血管解剖恒定、血管蒂长以及皮瓣较薄的优点.带蒂移植适宜修复膝和小腿上1/3软组织缺损.     

Free flap choice for soft tissue reconstruction of the severely damaged upper extremity

Reconstruction of complex wounds of the hand associated with severe bone, tendon, nerve and soft-tissue injuries has been a major problem in hand surgery. Early definitive soft-tissue coverage of this kind of extensive wound with well-vascularized tissue is one of the most important stages of reconstruction for salvage of the extremity and restoration of function. Although multiple free flap donor sites have been described for complex upper extremity wounds, the authors think that anterolateral thigh (ALT) and lateral arm (LA) flaps are good choices for soft-tissue reconstruction in the upper extremity because of their reconstructive characteristics. These flaps can be used as flow-through and also sensate flaps. There is no need for position change intraoperatively and two teams may work simultaneously. Donor sites can be hidden and there is no required sacrifice of major artery or muscle.     

Use of the pedicled latissimus muscle flap for upper-extremity reconstruction

Tissue with a blood supply derived from a single constant vascular pedicle may be raised as a flap and rotated within the reach of its blood supply to cover and reconstruct a variety of complex wounds. The latissimus dorsi muscle makes an ideal pedicled flap because of its long neurovascular pedicle, large size, ease of mobilization, and expendability. It can be rotated, with or without overlying skin, to cover soft-tissue defects involving the shoulder, arm, and elbow, or it can be transferred as an innervated muscle to improve shoulder abduction as well as elbow flexion and extension. The major clinical applications of the pedicled latissimus dorsi muscle flap for upper-extremity reconstruction include use as a bipolar transfer to improve elbow flexion after trauma or brachial plexus injury and as a nonfunctioning myocutaneous transfer for coverage of nerves, bones, and joints after soft-tissue loss due to trauma, tumors, infection, or irradiation.     

眼轮匝肌蒂颞区皮瓣修复中面部软组织缺损

目的：探讨应用眼轮匝肌蒂颞区皮瓣修复中面部小面积软组织缺损（包括眼睑、鼻部及邻近颜面部缺损）的方法及效果。方法：2004年～2010年应用眼轮匝肌蒂颞区皮瓣修复中面部缺损25例,其中鼻尖鼻翼缺损4例,鼻背缺损3例,下睑缺损9例,上睑缺损5例,邻近颜面部缺损4例。结果：1例转移至鼻尖部的皮瓣远端出现坏死,经换药后创面愈合,其余皮瓣完全存合;随访4个月～5年,受区功能形态恢复满意,供区瘢痕不明显,无面神经额支损伤,无眼睑闭合不全,无下睑退缩、外翻等并发症发生。结论：眼轮匝肌蒂颞区皮瓣厚薄适宜,蒂较长,转移灵活,供区隐蔽,是修复中面部小面积缺损的一种较为理想的皮瓣。     

Versatility of the pedicled thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flap in soft tissue reconstruction

For the last decades, the latissimus dorsi skin-muscle flap has contributed to the efficient reconstruction of the loss of skin cover (especially in breast surgery) and in long-distance tissue defects. Unfortunately, the nonuse of such an important muscle as the latissimus dorsi for the patient, as well as the resulting thickness of the flap after reconstruction, has turned it into a second choice flap. However, this flap is still indicated in the reconstruction of areas which need a great amount of cutaneous and muscular tissue. The appearance of the perforator flaps and, specifically, thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flap, has meant a radical change in relation to lower morbidity of the donor site, thus highly ranking the use of these flaps in the reconstruction for similar defects. The aim of this publication is to present our experience with the pedicled TDAP flap in a series of 17 different cases. Of those, there were 14 cases of mammary reconstruction after sparing surgery, 2 cases of axillary reconstruction following severe recurrent hidradenitis, and a case of extensive substance loss in a patient's upper limb following a severe crush injury.     

Soft tissue and bone defects of the tibia. Treatment with pedicled muscle transfer and a microvascular anastomosed myocutaneous flap

The free tissue transfer by microvascular anastomoses has opened new dimensions in reconstructive surgery. However a free microvascular myocutaneous flap should only be used in case of a local pedicled flap being impossible. In treating complicated defects of soft tissue and bones a clear cut gradation of therapeutic steps has to be observed: 1. control of wound infection, 2. wound debridement, 3. soft tissue repair, 4. bone reconstruction.     

Medial hemisoleus muscle flap: a reliable flap for soft tissue reconstruction of the middle-third tibial wound

Although the medial hemisoleus muscle has been considered a local reconstructive option for soft-tissue reconstruction of the middle-third tibial wound, its reliability and usefulness has been debated among plastic surgeons. This study reports one surgeon's experience with medial hemisoleus muscle flaps and shows their application for soft tissue reconstruction of middle-third tibial wounds. Over the past 2 years, 10 patients underwent soft tissue reconstruction of a middle-third tibial wound with a medial hemisoleus muscle flap and skin graft. The flap was elevated with emphasis on the preservation of as many perforators to the flap as possible while allowing adequate arch rotation of the flap to cover the exposed tibia and/or hardware. All patients were followed for up to 2 years. There was no total flap loss, and limb salvage was achieved in every patient in this series. Only two patients with peripheral vascular disease developed small partial but insignificant distal flap necrosis and were treated with debridement and flap advancement. The tibial wounds of all patients subsequently healed with excellent cosmetic outcome during follow-up. The results from this study indicate that the medial hemisoleus muscle flap is reliable for soft-tissue reconstruction of a middle-third tibial wound. Meticulous flap elevation with the preservation of perforators to the flap is the key for such success.     

应用胫前肌瓣修复胫骨骨髓炎合并软组织缺损

自1999年1月-2005年3月,应用胫前肌瓣修复胫骨骨髓炎合并软组织缺损13例,同时辅以中药治疗,获得较满意的效果,现报告如下。1临床资料本组13例,男9例,女4例;年龄18⁶7岁,平均32岁。致伤原因:车祸伤6例,挤压伤4例,烧伤1例,坠落伤2例。胫骨上1/3段1例,中1/3段2例,下1/3段5例,中下2/3段5例。病程12d³0个月,外露骨有干燥、硬化、发白、变黑,周围有肉芽、瘢痕组织、脓性分泌物等。外露骨纵形长0·6⁸·0cm,皮肤缺损面积最大为4cm×10cm。2治疗方法2·1手术方法在硬膜外麻醉下,股部上止血带,术区常规消毒。首先切除溃疡及外露胫骨周围瘢痕,清除髓腔内分泌物及     

应用胫前肌瓣修复胫骨骨髓炎合并软组织缺损

自1999年1月-2005年3月,应用胫前肌瓣修复胫骨骨髓炎合并软组织缺损13例,同时辅以中药治疗,获得较满意的效果,现报告如下。1临床资料本组13例,男9例,女4例;年龄18~67岁,平均32岁。致伤原因:车祸伤6例,挤压伤4例,烧伤1例,坠落伤2例。胫骨上1/3段1例,中1/3段2例,下1/3段5例,中下2     

An evaluation of the pedicled thoracoumbilical flap in upper extremity reconstruction

A pedicled thoracoumbilical flap was evaluated in 5 patients for upper limb reconstruction. The flap appears to be a reliable axial flap that can be elevated safely to the midaxillary line. It has the capacity to transfer a large amount of tissue, allowing the damaged limb, during the attached period, to be elevated and to receive physiotherapy. Although the working portion of the flap uses the thin, hairless skin over the lateral ribs, the base of the flap is thick and difficult to tube in all but the thinnest of individuals. The donor scar is much more conspicuous than that of a groin flap.     

Use of suture anchors in the reconstruction of soft tissue defects with pedicled muscle flaps

Suture anchors have been commercially developed to facilitate stable attachment of soft tissues to bone. Although their use is well characterized in orthopedic literature, suture anchors may also be of benefit in the reconstruction of large soft tissue defects by plastic surgeons. Suture anchors (Mitek Surgical Products, Inc., Westwood, MA) were used to fasten pedicled muscle flaps to exposed bone in 7 patients at Duke University undergoing reconstruction of large soft tissue defects. The suture anchor appeared to provide stability for the advancement flap, and there were no suspected postoperative muscle dehiscences or suture breakages. The suture anchor provides an easy, secure method to attach soft tissue to exposed bone, and preliminary experience appears to support their use in certain soft tissue reconstruction procedures by plastic surgeons. Suture anchors should be reserved for cases in which a large muscle flap is needed to cover exposed bone and poses a risk of shearing away from the bone, or adequate periosteum and soft tissue is not available for standard suture techniques.