外踝上动脉皮瓣修复前足皮肤软组织缺损

2000年6月～2009年1月,我院对18例足外伤致足远端皮肤软组织缺损患者行外踝上动脉皮瓣修复术,取得满意疗效。     

Reverse sural artery flap: a reliable alternative for foot and ankle soft tissue reconstruction

European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology - Soft tissue defects of foot and ankle are challenging due to the susceptibility of the area to trauma and the complexity of the region....     

Distally based perforator medial plantar flap: a new flap for reconstruction of plantar forefoot defects

In this article the author describes 2 cases of a distally based perforator medial plantar flap that were transferred successfully from the nonweight-bearing instep region to the weight-bearing plantar forefoot (defects, 8 x 5 cm and 6 x 5 cm respectively). This flap is nourished solely by perforators of the medial plantar vessels. The advantages of this flap are the protection of the vascular supply of the foot (because both posterior tibial and medial plantar vascular systems are preserved), anterograde flow of the vascular supply (which gives an additional advantage of expecting less venous insufficiency compared with reverse-flow flaps), no dependence on retrograde vascular communications, minimal donor site morbidity, and transport of structurally similar tissues to the plantar forefoot.     

足底内侧岛状皮瓣联合腹股沟游离皮瓣修复足跟部软组织缺损

目的探讨足底内侧岛状皮瓣联合腹股沟游离皮瓣修复足跟部皮肤软组织缺损的临床效果。方法回顾性分析2015年10月至2020年12月榆林市第二医院烧伤整形手足外科收治的足跟部皮肤软组织缺损患者的临床资料。患者经急诊清创或扩创后,应用足底内侧岛状皮瓣修复足跟部创面,腹股沟游离皮瓣修复足底内侧供区创面,腹股沟供区直接缝合。术后观察皮瓣血运及存活、皮瓣供区愈合情况,并对足跟外形与功能恢复情况进行随访。结果共纳入8例患者,男7例,女1例,年龄20~71岁,平均32.2岁。其中5例为足跟外伤,1例足跟鳞状细胞癌,1例足跟冻伤,1例足跟溃疡。足跟部创面面积4 cm×3 cm~7 cm×6 cm。手术过程顺利,足跟岛状皮瓣及腹股沟皮瓣切取范围较足跟创面扩大0.5~1.0 cm。8例患者术后皮瓣血运良好,创面均一期愈合。术后随访3~12个月,所有患者足跟弹性佳,外形无臃肿,耐磨、耐压,感觉及行走功能满意;足底内侧供区无凹陷,无瘢痕增生及挛缩,无局部皮肤溃疡;腹股沟供区仅见线性瘢痕。结论足底内侧岛状皮瓣联合腹股沟游离皮瓣修复足跟部缺损,足部外观及功能恢复良好,效果满意。     

Bipedicled distally based medial plantar artery perforator flap for forefoot reconstruction: A case report

Reconstruction of soft-tissue defects in the foot weight-bearing area should encompass sensate and robust skin. Regarding forefoot defects, distally based medial plantar artery (MPA) flap is an ideal option. However, considering variation of the terminal branches of the MPA, reverse flow flaps can be unreliable with an increasing risk of venous congestion or insufficient arterial flow. In this report, we present a case of the use of reverse flow MPA flaps with dual flow vascularization. The patient was a 37-year-old female who presented a 7 × 3 cm soft-tissue defect of the right forefoot after wide local excision following melanoma. Reconstruction happened with a perforator distally based bipedicled flap (8 × 4 cm) on the MPA though keeping an enhanced vascularization through both superficial (sMPA) and deep (dMPA) medial plantar arteries. Donor site was closed with skin graft. Patient was discharged from hospital at postoperative Day 10 and healed uneventfully with progressive start walk was possible again. A full weight bearing with normal shoes was possible after 8 weeks. Good healing and no functional impairment were present after 9 months of follow-up. We believe this dual vascularization concept may be adopted when possible to improve the overall circulation of the flap and to prevent risks of vascular insufficiency or vein congestion.     

Instep free flap for plantar soft tissue reconstruction: indications and options

Pedicled instep flaps are frequently used in weight-bearing plantar reconstruction, but may not be available after severe foot injuries. Although free instep flaps offer a viable option, they have scarcely been reported. A posttraumatic plantar forefoot defect was reconstructed with a sensate, instep free flap, because local flaps were not available and defect size did not require a distant free flap, and the current literature was reviewed for therapeutic options. The instep free flap yielded an excellent functional and aesthetic long-term result. In the literature, pedicled instep flaps are advocated for moderate size defects of the weight-bearing heel and sole, while free flaps from distant sites are preferred for large defects. Although skin-grafted muscle flaps and fasciocutaneous flaps yield similar results, reconstruction by like tissues appears favorable. We suggest the instep free flap for weight-bearing plantar foot reconstruction, when pedicled instep flaps are not available and distant free flaps are avoidable.     

The reverse sural artery adipofasciomuscular flap for the reconstruction of a heel sinus with underlying calcaneal osteomyelitis

The reverse sural artery fasciomusculocutaneous flap has become an acceptable technique of lower-limb reconstruction despite the grafted appearance of the donor site in the upper leg. In an attempt to reduce the donor-site morbidity, we describe the use of the adipofasciomuscular reverse sural artery flap in a patient with a heel sinus and underlying calcaneal osteomyelitis.     

The reverse sural artery flap for the reconstruction of distal third of the leg and foot

Soft tissue defects around the distal third of the leg and the foot present a major reconstructive challenge. There is limited expertise with free tissue transfers in many developing countries, necessitating consideration of other options for the closure of such defects. The versatility and reliability of sural artery flap have made it an emerging popular option for the reconstruction of such defects. Twenty patients comprising of 13 males and 7 females with soft tissue defects of the lower third of the leg and foot requiring soft tissue cover were treated between January 2006 and December 2010. The age range was 7–58 years with a mean age of 30 years. Nineteen (95%) of the defects were post‐traumatic while one (5%) was post‐infective. All the defects were covered with reversed sural artery flaps, which were raised on the posterior aspect of the junction of the upper and middle third of the leg. The smallest flap was 4 × 4 cm² while the largest measured 20 × 12 cm². The donor defect was closed directly in 7 (35%) patients, while split skin graft was applied in the remaining 13 (65%) patients. There was satisfactory flap healing in 17 patients (85%), while 3 patients (15%) had complete flap necrosis. Two of these patients had significant comorbidities of haemoglobinopathy and poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. Sural artery flap remains a viable option for the reconstruction of soft tissue defects of the distal third of the leg and foot. Caution should, however, be exercised in patients with some significant systemic diseases.     

腓肠神经营养血管逆行皮瓣修复下肢软组织缺损

目的:探讨腓肠神经营养血管逆行皮瓣的临床应用价值。方法:2007年1月至2009年5月,10例下肢软组织缺损,男6例,女4例;年龄16～55岁,平均32岁。其中足部软组织缺损6例,骨折术后骨外露2例,小腿慢性溃疡2例。对腓肠神经血管逆行皮瓣通过显微技术吻合及结扎小隐静脉,将皮瓣近侧腓肠神经断端与患处附近的神经行端侧吻合,根据皮瓣外观、血运、质地、弹性及皮肤两点辨别觉评价术后疗效。结果:术后患者伤口愈合,无明显的并发症发生。术后随访6～24个月,平均15个月。皮瓣外观、血运、质地、弹性佳,皮肤两点辨别觉为9～12mm2PD。结论:此皮瓣切取方便,血供丰富且不牺牲主要动脉,静脉血回流通畅,成活可靠,术后恢复保留了皮瓣的感觉功能,足跟及足外侧缘无感觉丧失区,提高了生活质量。     

A case of heel reconstruction with a reverse sural artery flap in a hemophilia B patient

Hemophilia B is a rare blood coagulation disorder. Complications such as bleeding and hematoma can cause necrosis of flaps, wound disruption, and the disturbance of wound healing. In particular, guidelines for flap operations in hemophilia B patients have still not been defined, and case reports are rare. We reconstructed the heel of a 41-year-old male hemophilia B patient using a reverse sural artery flap operation. The patient presented with mild hemophilia, having 27% of the normal value of coagulation factor IX. Coagulation and the changing value of the coagulation factor were regularly measured, and 70% of the normal value of coagulation factor IX was maintained through the injection of recombinant coagulation factors and antihemorrhagics. Hematoma developed twice (postoperative day [POD] 5 and POD 7) and in each case the hematoma was removed. Injections of recombinant coagulation factors and antihemorrhagics were continuously administered until postoperative week 2. When the coagulation factors were within normal ranges. In this article, a hemophilia B patient underwent reverse sural artery flap surgery and the healing progress was analyzed. We conclude that higher than baseline levels of coagulation factors are needed for successful healing in reverse sural artery flap surgery.     

Single-stage reconstruction of Achilles tendon injuries and distal lower extremity soft tissue defects with the reverse sural fasciocutaneous flap.

OBJECTIVE: Complex wounds of the lower extremity with concomitant Achilles tendon injury can be difficult to reconstruct. We favour the reverse sural artery fasciocutaneous flap because in a single step, flap elevation affords Achilles tendon exposure and adequate soft tissue for reconstruction. It also provides significant time and resource savings for both plastic and orthopaedic surgical teams. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our case series involved four consecutive patients who presented with Achilles tendon injuries and concomitant complex soft tissue defects. The reverse sural artery flap was planned in conjunction with the orthopaedic service to facilitate their approach for Achilles tendon repair. Outcome was measured as flap survival, time for flap elevation and total operative time. RESULTS: Partial flap loss occurred in one patient. The Achilles repair was performed successfully in all cases. The mean time for flap elevation and Achilles exposure was 43 min (range, 37-52 min). Total operative time was 287 min (range, 211-347 min). CONCLUSION: The reverse sural artery fasciocutaneous flap is a durable, efficient option for simultaneous Achilles tendon reconstruction and wound coverage. Simple flap elevation provides necessary exposure of the Achilles tendon for repair while the flap itself provides ample soft tissue with a reliable blood supply. In our experience, the reverse sural artery fasciocutaneous flap affords a practical method to address two reconstructive challenges in a single procedure.     

Island medial plantar artery perforator flap for reconstruction of plantar defects

Three cases in which island medial plantar artery perforator flaps were successfully transferred for coverage of the plantar defects are described. This perforator flap is different from the medial plantar flap based on the medial plantar artery. The flap has no fascial component and is nourished only with the perforator of the medial plantar vessel. Therefore, transection of the medial plantar artery is usually unnecessary. This flap can cover defects on the forefoot and heel without transaction of the medial plantar system. The advantages of this flap are no need for deep or long dissection for the medial plantar vessel, no exposure of the plantar sensory nerve, a short time for flap elevation, minimal donor-site morbidity, relatively large flap survival, and no damage of both the posterior tibial and medial plantar neurovascular systems.     

Medial plantar artery island flap for heel reconstruction

Coverage of soft tissue defects of the heel has been a challenge to reconstructive surgeons in the past. The medial plantar artery flap has facilitated heel coverage since its development in the 1980s. This was a prospective study in 2 centers assessing the complications and durability of this flap primarily in patients with sensory impairment. All patients but 1 had chronic plantar ulceration due to sensory loss, and 5 patients also had developed squamous cell carcinoma. Fifty-one flaps were carried out in 48 patients. One flap underwent necrosis, and delayed healing was seen in 4 cases. Total flap survival was 98%. Minor revision of the flap or its pedicle was required in 3 cases. With a mean follow-up of 14 months, there were recurrences of ulceration in 7 feet (14%). The relevant literature is reviewed. The medial plantar artery flap is a reliable flap for heel coverage in both our centers and others. It is durable and long lasting even in insensate.     

The bipedicled medial plantar flap: Vascular enhancement of a reverse flow Y–V medial plantar flap by the inclusion of a metatarsal artery perforator for the reconstruction of a forefoot defect—A case report

The pedicled medial plantar (MP) flap is an optimal solution for defects involving the weight‐bearing areas of the foot. However, venous congestion is a frequently encountered complication, especially with the reverse‐flow variants of the flap, and several strategies have been reported in literature both to prevent and to manage it. In this article, we present the use of a medial plantar flap based distally on the lateral plantar artery with the adjunct of an extra metatarsal perforator from the dorsalis pedis artery as a vascular enhancement to avoid the venous congestion and to improve the overall circulation. This bipedicled flap was successfully advanced to cover a 5 × 3 cm soft‐tissue defect located at the level of the first and second metatarsal heads of the right foot resulting from the excision of a squamous cell carcinoma in an 80‐year‐old male patient with a history of cardiovascular disease. The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient was discharged 7 days after the operation and was able to walk after 6 weeks wearing normal shoes. We believe that preserving plantar metatarsal perforators during the harvesting of an MP flap based distally on the lateral plantar artery may be a precious adjunct as it increases blood supply, especially the venous drainage of the flap.     

Reverse-flow submental artery flap for periorbital soft tissue and socket reconstruction

BACKGROUND: The submental artery island flap is a recently described local flap that may be used for reconstruction of the lower and middle thirds of the face and oral cavity. The reverse-flow manner of the flap has been used in limited cases because of possible drawbacks such as venous congestion. We present our experience with the use of reverse-flow submental artery flap and describe the surgical technique. METHODS: This versatile flap was successfully used for large periorbital soft-tissue defects and socket reconstruction in six patients in the past 2 years. The diagnosis of three patients was basal cell carcinoma of the eyelids, which required orbital exenteration, and the other patient had traumatic periorbital defects. The flap size varied from a minimum of 4 x 6 cm to a maximum of 6 x 8 cm. RESULTS: No major complications were noted other than one case of temporary palsy of the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve and one other of venous congestion, which subsided spontaneously. In all patients, the results were satisfactory, with acceptable cosmesis. CONCLUSIONS: The reverse-flow submental artery island flap is safe, rapid, and simple to raise and leaves a well-hidden scar. We believe that this flap surpasses the other flaps in reconstruction of large periorbital soft-tissue defects and socket.     

The sural artery patency test: a useful precaution in risky patients for the reverse sural flap

The arterial insufficiency is not rare in high risky patients for the reverse sural flap. Thus, we introduce a novel practical technique by performing intraoperative patency test to the sural artery to predetermine the arterial potential, to avoid a possible arterial insufficiency and to increase the reliability of the sural flap in these patients. We successfully applied the reverse sural flap to seven risky patients with crushing injury, mine explosion, and diabetes, in whom the sural artery patency test was positive. The flap size varied from 8 x 5 cm to 16 x 10 cm. The major defect localization was the heel with/without sole. All flaps survived uneventfully with good contours and durabilities. The sural artery patency test obtain us to decide to safely raise the sural flap or not, and to predict the outcomes of the operative procedure in critical wounds associated with poor arterial supply.     

The reverse radial forearm flap for soft tissue reconstruction of the wrist and hand

Soft tissue defects of the upper extremity must be carefully assessed to determine the most appropriate method of coverage. Direct closure and local flaps represent the most basic techniques on the reconstructive ladder; however, they are inadequate for large or complex defects. Split thickness skin grafts are appropriate for granulating wounds with a bed of vascularized tissue; however, if there is an exposed joint or bone devoid of periosteum or tendon devoid of paratenon, there will be insufficient neovascularization, and the graft will inevitably fail. The reconstructive hand surgeon must then pursue more complicated techniques for wound coverage based upon knowledge of the available pedicled and free flaps. The reverse radial forearm flap potentially offers thin, mobile skin with similar characteristics to the skin over the dorsum of the hand. This flap is more versatile than the groin flap and probably more reliable than the posterior interosseous artery flap for coverage of moderate-sized defects of the dorsal or palmar wrist and hand and is specifically indicated for coverage of degloving injuries of the dorsal wrist and hand, after release of thumb-index finger web space, and for coverage of amputations of the thumb in preparation for toe-to-thumb transfer.