The brachioradialis muscle flap: anatomy,flap variation,modes of application

Summary Due to its superficial course and axial vascular supply, the brachioradialis muscle is particularly suitable for soft tissue defect grafting in the elbow region. The vascular and nervous supply are illustrated by an anatomical study. A review of the literature and two case reports emphasize the merits of this surgical modality.     

Free lateral supramalleolar flap transfer as a small,thin flap

Lateral supramalleolar flaps were elevated as free flaps and transferred with microvascular anastomoses in 3 patients. The peroneal vessels were used for the vascular anastomosis. In all patients, the flaps survived completely. The free lateral supramalleolar flap is thinner than the peroneal flap and is as thin as the radial forearm flap. This flap is useful when thin, small flaps are required, and may be a valuable alternative to the radial forearm flap because it necessitates less donor site morbidity.     

The history of surgery of empyema, thoracoplasty, Eloesser flap, and muscle flap transposition

This article discusses the surgical history of empyema, thoracoplasty, the Eloesser flap, and muscle flap transfer. Little has changed in the 2000 years since the treatment of empyema was originally described by Hippocrates. The basic concepts of drainage of the infected empyema and obliteration of the space by allowing the lung to come up to the chest wall, taking the chest wall down to the lung, or by using muscle flaps or antibiotic solution remain the stabilizing forces in the treatment of postresection or postinfectious empyemas.     

Cranioplasty with an autoclaved bone flap,with special reference to tumour infiltration of the flap

Summary The results of a total of 25 cranioplasties are reported. In 10 patients, a reinforced acrylic prosthesis was utilized. In the remaining 15 cases, the patient's own autoclaved bone flap was re-implanted. Six of these bone flaps were autoclaved to kill tumour cells, and was re-implanted during the same surgical procedure. In the remaining 9 patients, the flaps were removed to allow brain swelling, preserved in a freezer and re-implanted several months later. All the prostheses and re-implanted flaps were accepted by the patients without complications such as infections or resorption, and with cosmetically satisfying results. The tumour infiltrated flaps remained tumour free for the entire period of observation.     

Successful repair using innominate vein flap, pericardial flap and thymus pedicle flap for tracheo-innominate artery fistula.

Tracheo-innominate artery fistula (TIF) is a rare but frequently fatal complication after tracheostomy. Without operation, the mortality is nearly 100% because of acute massive tracheal hemorrhage. Although the survival rate is extremely low, survival is possible only when an immediate operation is performed. Many surgeons have chosen ligation or resection of the innominate artery because repair with blood flow maintained in the innominate artery carries a high risk of postoperative fatal recurrent bleeding. We report on a successful surgical management of one case by patch closure with an innominate vein flap, wrapping of the innominate artery with a pericardial flap, and interposition of a thymus pedicle flap between the innominate artery and the trachea. Our surgical procedure is effective in maintaining the patency of the innominate artery preventing neurological deficits, and in preventing postoperative recurrent bleeding.     

The trifurcated SMAS flap: Three-part segmentation of the conventional flap for improved results in the midface,cheek, and neck

While SMAS surgery revolutionized facelift procedures, the single flap created by conventional dissections suffers the drawback that it can only be advanced in one direction and sutured in place under uniform tension. Division of the flap into three segments overcomes this problem and allows independent pull to be applied in different directions to the upper midface, cheek, and neck.Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, April 1993     

Flag flap - Kite flap Dorsal metacarpal flap

The flag flap is a pedicled dorsal digital flap, combining a skin paddle (the “flag”) and a vascular pedicle (the flag “pole”). Its vascularisation depends on the dorsal metacarpal arteries (DMCA). It has been described in 1963, by Holevitch [1] with harvest of a cutaneovascular pole; it has been brilliantly modified in 1979 by Foucher et al. [2–4] under the form of a unipedicled “kite” flap, although we would like to point out that Vilain has been using it since 1952 [5]. Usually harvested from the dorsum of the metacarpophalangeal region of the index finger, this flap is reliable, but it is more uncertain and less movable at the level of the other digits. Owing to its small size, it proves useful in hand traumatology because it does not sacrifice any major vascular axis. The kite flap is considered as a sensory flap (presence of a nerve supply) with a two-point discrimination, which can be assessed from 11 to 16 mm [1–6].     

Bilateral, extended V-Y advancement flap

A modification of the V-Y advancement flap for the closure of circular skin defects is presented to decrease the tension in the closure and to break the midline vertical scar. Bilateral, extended V-Y advancement flaps with additional limbs extending to the advancing edges of the standard flaps were marked on both sides of the wound. After advancement of the V-Y flaps on their subcutaneous pedicle, the upper and lower extensions were hinged downward as transposition flaps to close the middle portion of the circular defect, where maximum tension occurs. This procedure was applied to 10 patients with sacral and trochanteric pressure sores. No complications or recurrences were noted during the 2 to 10 months of follow-up. Bilateral, extended V-Y advancement flaps enable the reconstruction of large defects without midline tension. Also, the resulting scar where the flaps meet is a zigzag line, so a straight midline scar is avoided.     

Upper transverse rectus abdominis flap: the flag flap

A flap is described that consists of skin from the upper abdomen, based on the ipsilateral rectus muscle and fed by the inferior epigastric vessel (the " flag flap"). The flap has an arc of rotation of 360 degrees, and its safety appears to be equal, and perhaps superior, to the lower transverse rectus abdominis flap. In addition, the " flag flap" avoids the potential disadvantage of creating a hernia below the semicircular line in the lower abdomen. The secondary defect is also acceptable. In all cases direct closure was possible by performing a reverse type of abdominoplasty and placing the scar at the submammary fold. The flap has been used in 8 patients for coverage of postradiation and postexcisional tumor defects in the lower trunk and extremities. The complications have been few, although it is not advised that the flap be used for reconstruction of the upper chest area by stretching the pedicle.     

Modified bilateral advancement flap: the slide-in flap.

The bilateral V-Y advancement flaps are used commonly in the closure of circular skin defects. We modified the standard bilateral V-Y advancement flap technique to reduce the tension along the closure, and used it in 10 patients between 1995 and 1997. In the presence of a circular defect, bilateral V-Y advancement flaps were marked on the skin, with the height of the V flaps measuring 1.5 to 2 times the diameter of the defect. The limbs of the V were not drawn as straight lines, but were curved outward slightly, making the flap and its two extensions broader than the standard V-Y flap. The broad extensions of the V flaps encircled the defect from above and below. Skin incisions were made vertically down to the muscle fascia. Additional undermining was carried out to elevate the upper and lower extensions of the V flaps for a distance that equaled the radius of the defect. The upper and lower extensions of the V flap on one side were transposed into the defect and sutured to the concave base of the opposing flap V flap at its midpoint. These extensions were then sutured to each other. The extensions of the opposing V flap were then transposed into the defect; the upper being superior and the lower being inferior to the extensions of the first flap. The rest of the operation was completed by advancement of the V flaps and closure in a Y configuration. The efficient redistribution of available tissue by the combined use of transposition and advancement principles resulted in the repair of relatively large skin defects with reduced tension along the closure. Satisfactory results were obtained in all patients in this series without any surgical complication.     

Transformation of the glabellar flap into an island flap

Summary Glabellar flaps have traditionally been used to cover nasal skin and soft tissue defects. The narrowing of its vascular pedicle to the cutaneous arterial branch of the angular artery categorizing it as an axial flap pattern. Three cases are presented, the first of which typifies the standard glabellar flap with an intact skin and subcutaneous pedicle. The other two cases utilize a glabellar island flap based on a subcutaneous pedicle containing cutaneous arterial branch of the angular artery. This technique extends the mobility of this flap to allow one-stage reconstruction of adjacent defects.     

介绍一种桡动脉皮瓣切取新技术

<正>前臂桡动脉皮瓣自杨果凡等首次报道以来,在临床应用较为广泛。该皮瓣具有较薄、柔软、血运丰富、血管蒂长以及口径粗等优点。然而其最大的缺点是供区裸露。为了解决这个问题,Kajikawa等报道一种新的桡动脉皮瓣切取方法(见Plast Reconstr Surg,2009;123(1):284-287),使供区的外形明显改善,现介绍如下。