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.     

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.     

Interdigitating fasciocutaneous gluteal V-Y advancement flaps for reconstruction of sacral defects

The authors describe a modification of the classic gluteal bilateral V-Y advancement flap for sacral defect closure. After initial debridement, the V-Y design is marked on both sides of the defect. The incision is carried down to the fascia of the underlying gluteus maximus muscle. The upper and lower arms of the flaps are elevated and advanced on the gluteal muscle toward the midline, interdigitating each opposing arm. The overall result is a zigzag, broken midline suture. This procedure was carried out in 14 patients with sacral pressure sores and in 1 patient with a chronic pilonidal sinus. All flaps survived without major problems. There were no recurrences during the 6 to 16 months of follow-up. The interdigitating fasciocutaneous V-Y gluteal flap design is effective in breaking the midline vertical scar and preserving the gluteus maximus muscle.     

V-Y advancement flaps for tumor excision defects of the eyelids

Resection of cutaneous malignancies of the medial canthus and lower lid create challenging wound closure problems. The V-Y flap closure technique achieves wound closure using adjacent tissue while minimizing closure tension. Twenty-three patients underwent resection of basal cell carcinomas in these two anatomical regions. In 22 patients a single V-Y flap was used to close the defect. In 1 patient two flaps were used. There were 2 patients with transient ectropion. No tissue loss or other complications occurred.     

以上臂外侧穿支为蒂的V-Y推进皮瓣修复肘背部较小创面

目的探讨以上臂外侧穿支为蒂的V-Y推进皮瓣修复肘背部纵向缺损距离<3.5 cm的较小创面的方法及疗效。方法 2008年3月-2010年8月,收治6例肘背部较小创面患者。男4例,女2例;年龄16～76岁,平均53岁。碾压伤3例,冲床伤2例;受伤至入院时间4 h 30 min～7 d,平均29.5 h。肘背部慢性感染1例,病程12个月。创面范围为4.0 cm×2.5 cm～9.5 cm×3.5 cm,均伴有骨或肌腱外露。采用大小为6.0 cm×4.0 cm～12.5 cm×9.5 cm的以上臂外侧穿支为蒂的V-Y推进皮瓣移位修复肘背部缺损。供区直接拉拢缝合。结果术后6例皮瓣完全成活,创面Ⅰ期愈合;供区切口Ⅰ期愈合。患者均获随访,随访时间6～12个月。皮瓣外形无臃肿,质地、颜色与周围组织相似。末次随访时皮瓣两点辨别觉为12～16 mm。肘关节活动无障碍,屈伸活动度95～125°,平均105°。结论以上臂外侧穿支为蒂的V-Y推进皮瓣手术操作简便、对供区影响小,是修复肘背部较小创面的较好方法之一。     

双V-Y推进皮瓣修复拇指指端缺损的临床应用

目的 介绍双V-Y推进皮瓣修复拇指指端缺损的方法及疗效.方法 对9例拇指指端缺损采用双V-Y推进皮瓣修复,小V-Y推进皮瓣远端与甲床仔细缝合,再缝合带尺侧血管神经束的大V-Y推进皮瓣,覆盖创面.术中切取皮瓣面积为14 mm×25 mm～15 mm×35 mm.供区创面直接闭合.结果 术后9例皮瓣全部存活,创面Ⅰ期愈合.随访时间为4～12个月.皮瓣质地柔软,外形与周围组织接近,无臃肿.拇指末节指腹指纹重新建立,指间关节活动正常,无钩甲畸形,指腹两点分辨觉为5～6 mm.根据中华医学会手外科学会上肢部分功能评定试用标准评定:患指主动活动为优7例,良2例.结论 双V-Y推进皮瓣手术操作简单,是修复拇指指端缺损的理想方法之一.     

Amplified V-Y flaps for nasal defects

Due to a paucity of subcutaneous tissue in the nose, mobilization of some flaps is impeded and large nasal defects are thus difficult to close with traditional V-Y flaps. The V-Y flap is modified by the addition of an amplified limb onto the advancing edge of the V-Y flap. This limb is located adjacent to the area requiring reconstruction and is hinged down on the end of the V-Y flap to close the distal portion of the defect. The amplified V-Y flap, a modified V-Y advancement flap, is very useful for the closure of relatively large defects on the nasal area. We have used this flap for nasal defects as large as 2.5 cm in diameter following excision of skin tumors on the nose in 11 patients. Most excised tumors were basal cell carcinomas. The results have been quite good, with only minor complications in two patients. Complications were encountered only in the nasal tip region, there was partial necrosis at the tip of the amplified portion of the flap. The modifications of the V-Y flap described has extended the application in closing nasal defects. Received: 2 May 1997 / Accepted: 22 July 1997     

Lower back defect coverage using a free-style gluteal perforator flap

Lower back defects remain a major challenge for reconstructive surgeons. Advances in perforator flap techniques now make it possible to repair lower back defects using a gluteal perforator flap based on the free-style flap design. We used a free-style gluteal perforator flap in 10 patients with lower back defects due to skin cancer treatment (6 patients) or infection following spine surgery (4 patients). V-Y advancement flaps were used for defects <6 cm in length, and rotation flaps for defects >6 cm. Perforators were detected at the upper parasacral area, and the flap design was drawn on the skin of the upper gluteal region. Coverage was successful and donor sites were closed primarily in all cases. There were 4 complicated cases: 1 of partial flap loss that led to delay of the wound closure, 2 of initial venous congestion, and 1 of hematoma. These complications resolved, and there was no case of flap loss during a 12 to 62 months follow-up (mean, 32.4 months). The present series indicated that the free-style gluteal perforator flap provides a safe, effective, and relatively easy option for lower back defect reconstruction.     

Reconstruction of pressure sores with perforator-based propeller flaps

Perforator flaps have been successfully used for reconstruction of pressure sores. Although V-Y advancement flaps approximate debrided wound edges, perforator-based propeller flaps allow rotation of healthy tissue into the defect. Perforator-based propeller flaps were planned in 13 patients. Seven pressure sores were over the sacrum, five over the ischial tuberosity, and one on the tip of the scapula. Three patients were paraplegic, six were bedridden, and five were ambulatory. In three patients, no perforators were found. In 10 patients, propeller flaps were transferred. In two patients, total flap necrosis occurred, which was reconstructed with local advancement flaps. In two cases, a wound dehiscence occurred and had to be revised. One hematoma required evacuation. No further complications were noted. No recurrence at the flap site occurred. Local perforator flaps allow closure of pressure sores without harvesting muscle. The propeller version has the added benefit of transferring tissue from a distant site, avoiding reapproximation of original wound edges. Twisting of the pedicle may cause torsion and venous obstruction. This can be avoided by dissecting a pedicle of at least 3 cm. Propeller flaps are a safe option for soft tissue reconstruction of pressure sores.     

Surgical correction of congenital cryptotia

From 1983 to 1988, we have operated on eight cases of cryptotia. The method of operation was to deepen the cephalo-auricular sulcus and to obtain a normal position of the ear. 1. The local flap usually used is either a V-Y advancement flap or a rotated flap. The author designs two V flaps, the upper one near the auricle is rotated to provide tissue between the upper part of the auricle and temporal region which should be dissected deep enough. The other V-Y advancement flap is used to increase the transverse length of the auricle. 2. The contracted transverse, oblique and superior auricular muscular fibres are dissected. In children the insertion of the superior auricular muscle is transposed and sutured to the eminentia fossae. 3. The repair of the cartilagenous deformity of the auricle includes placing two to three parallel incisions on the back of the superior part and elevating and suturing the angulated superior third helix to the cut edge of the back of the auricle. Good results were obtained in all cases.     

The Modified Bilateral Advancement Flap

BACKGROUND: Bilateral advancement flaps are commonly used in the closure of circular skin defects because of their ease of execution and satisfactory result. However, the limited sliding capacity of these flaps has always been a problem. OBJECTIVE: The modified bilateral advancement flap maximizes the amount of tissue that can be brought into the defect. It relies on both advancement and transposition principles and borrows tissue from two planes. Thus the length of the flap could be shortened for increased flap survival. METHODS: Bilateral transposition flaps are created from tissue on both sides of the wound. These are then approximated and sutured together to form a single, new tip (apex), which is then advanced and sutured into the concave base of the opposing advancement flap at its midpoint. RESULTS: The modified bilateral advancement flap has been used effectively to close defects in the temporal, cheek, forehead, and lower eyelid, among 11 patients, providing a well-contoured and aesthetically pleasing reconstruction. CONCLUSION: This method extends the capacity of the bilateral advancement flap to reconstruct and improves its applications and advantages.     

Early free tissue transfer for extremity reconstruction following high-voltage electrical burn injuries

We compared the effectiveness of free tissue transfer in repairing high-voltage electrical extremity injuries with conventional multistage procedures. Patients were matched for age, sex, level of injury, voltage, and burn surface area; results were compared using the paired Student T test. Free tissue transfer was performed a mean of 19.1 +/- 10.6 days after the injury occurred, and definitive wound closure and limb salvage were achieved in 87.5% of patients after a mean of 23.0 +/- 9.1 days after the injury. The overall flap survival rate was 80% (13 of 15 flaps). Three flaps failed, two of which were lower-limb flaps at the knee level used for patients with injuries to both upper and lower limbs. Both patients required upper and lower proximal ipsilateral limb amputations. One upper-extremity flap failed after pedicle avulsion 4 days after surgery, but a second free tissue transfer was successful in salvaging this limb 4 days later. The number of surgeries, time required to achieve wound closure, and length of hospitalization were all statistically significantly lower in the free flap group compared with those in the conventional treatment group.     

The serratus anterior free flap in limb reconstruction. About 30 cases

Between 2001 and 2003, 30 serratus anterior free flaps have been realized in our unit for reconstruction of lower limb. The flaps were indicated for repair of traumatic soft tissue defect in 19 cases, for chronic wound in six cases, for purpura fulminans in two cases, for pressure sore in one case and after tumor resection in 1 case. There were 29 patients: 25 males and four females. They ranged in age from 5 to 64 years. The size of the soft tissue defects ranged between 15 and 180 cm(2). Four different types of serratus anterior flaps were used: 20 muscle flaps ; four myocutaneous flaps ; five costo-osteomuscular flap ; one costo-osteomyocutaneous flap . In all cases we used osteo flap (8 th rib) in order to restore bone defect, which ranged from 9 to 15 cm. Necrosis occurred in two flaps because of venous thrombosis. The functional outcome was good for all patients and the aesthetic sequelae at the donor site were considered as minor. The serratus anterior flap can be used in many different ways: different kinds of flaps (osteo-cutaneous-muscle); very variable size of flap (15 to 180 cm(2) in our series) , different length of pedicle possible. Because of his versatility and his absence of major functional or aesthetic sequelae the serratus anterior free flap has become day by day our favourite option in limb reconstruction.     

Perforator-based fasciocutaneous flap for pressure sore reconstruction

Abstract

Pressure sore reconstruction is always a challenge for plastic surgeons due to its high recurrence rate. In addition to the myocutaneous flap, the perforator-based fasciocutaneous flap has become a new entity used for pressure sore reconstruction. This study presents a series of 26 perforator-based fasciocutaneous flaps for pressure sore reconstruction, with good outcomes in 21 patients from July 2008 to April 2011. The flaps were advanced, transposed, or rotated to obliterate the defects. Twenty of 26 flaps healed uneventfully without complication. One patient had a flap that totally necrosed, one had partial flap necrosis (flap rotated 180° in the above two cases), one had infection and healed by a secondary flap, one had minor wound dehiscence, one died of pneumonia 1 week postoperatively, and recurrence developed in one patient. The perforator-based fasciocutaneous flap is a reliable method and produced good results in this series. These flaps are well vascularised, have enough soft tissue bulk, and have a high degree of mobilisation freedom.     

The utility of both muscle and fascia flaps in severe upper extremity trauma

BACKGROUND: Severe isolated upper extremity injuries are rarely lethal; however, they invariably are resource intensive, create significant disability, and promote resistance to a return to gainful employment. Appropriate soft tissue restoration is an essential component of any treatment protocol, and often requires a vascularized flap to protect the superficial neurovascular and musculotendinous structures. A basic schema to facilitate flap selection in the upper extremity is introduced. METHODS: The role of local muscle and fascia flaps or free tissue transfers for severe upper extremity injuries was retrospectively reviewed from a two-decade experience. Excluding digital injuries, primary treatment of soft tissue traumatic wounds requiring some form of vascularized flap occurred in 33 limbs in 31 patients. The choice of flap donor site, type, specific complications and benefits as related to the severity of injury, and the effect of timing of wound closure were compared. RESULTS: Initial coverage after significant upper extremity trauma in these 33 limbs required 16 local fascia flaps, 22 free flaps, 1 multistaged distant pedicled flap, and 1 local muscle flap. Flaps were selected in a nonrandom fashion on the basis of wound location, severity of injury, and flap availability. Complication rates were similar for local fascia and free flaps. The upper extremity could be divided into three regions that were differentiated according to the observed incidence of flap preference. Free flaps were more commonly used for hand and wrist wounds, or anywhere the defect was moderately large in size or extremely severe in overall injury. Local fascia flaps were a simpler option most applicable for the central upper limb. Local muscles as flaps were intentionally avoided to minimize any functional derangement. CONCLUSION: A schema to guide flap selection for upper extremity coverage is introduced that is predicated on using the best available option. The shoulder girdle and axilla are reached by many local trunk muscle or fascia flaps. The central upper limb about the elbow often is conducive to coverage with specific local fascia flaps. The distal upper extremity may be best served by a free flap, as would any large wound in all upper limb regions.     

以唇动脉为蒂的唇瓣修复中度和重度唇全层缺损

目的探讨中、重度全层唇缺损的修复方法.方法在缺损一侧或两侧(若缺损较大,一侧唇瓣不够用时)设计以唇动脉为蒂的唇瓣向缺损区推进转移修复全层唇缺损.若缺损较大,单纯用缺损两侧口唇组织仍不足以修复时,可将一侧唇瓣向外侧延伸绕过口角至另一侧上或下唇(根据缺损是在下唇或上唇),形成包括上下唇组织在内的大型唇瓣向缺损区推进修复缺损.若缺损为单纯的红唇缺损,唇瓣切口应沿唇弓设计.结果临床应用于67例,其中上唇38例,下唇29例.缺损最大水平宽度3.5 cm,最小1.6 cm.单纯红唇瓣20例,红白唇瓣47例.单侧唇瓣10例,双侧57例.所有唇瓣均全部存活,伤口Ⅰ期愈合,修复后的口唇丰满,外形满意.结论唇动脉血管恒定,唇瓣血供可靠,本法不仅能用于单纯红唇缺损的修复,还可广泛用于红、白唇同时缺损的修复,因是用同类组织修复,且组织量丰富,故术后能完全恢复口唇所特有的红、白唇结构及功能,是修复中、重度全层唇缺损的理想方法.     

‘The Crown flap’: a modification to the keystone flap types I and IIA

The Crown flap is a modification of the keystone flap first described by Felix Behan in 2003. A third V-Y advancement limb is incorporated into the design in the central region of the flap where the line of maximum tension exists. This added V-Y closure utilizes surrounding tissue laxity and has been found to aid in closure of the defect centrally whilst not compromising the flap. The Crown flap is a useful modification to the keystone flap. Level of Evidence: Level V, therapeutic study.     

New way to raise the V-Y advancement flap for reconstruction of the lower lip: bipedicled orbicularis oris musculocutaneous flap technique

We describe a new way to raise the V-Y advancement flap, which is useful for reconstruction of the lower lip. Various other methods have been reported in the past, but it has been necessary to choose the most suitable method for each particular case. A V-Y advancement flap from the submandibular region is one of the useful techniques to reconstruct the lower lip, and it is suitable for a wide horizontal defect. However, the conventional V-Y flap is insufficiently mobile and the reconstructed vermilion is thin because of the limitation of the pedicle. In such a case, the reconstructed lip may sag or cause an embarrassing defect. We developed a new way to raise the flap to obviate these problems. We use the V-Y advancement flap from the inferior margin of the defect in a conventional way after excision of the tumour, and use a mucosal flap to reconstruct the vermilion border. The skin side of the V-Y flap is undermined, and the orbicularis oris muscles are preserved on both sides as pedicles. The flap is then raised as a bipedicled musculocutaneous flap, which has adequate movement. After the flap has been sutured, the superior margin of the flap is de-epithelialised, and used to create the volume of the vermilion border. Functionally and cosmetically good results were achieved.     

The operative treatment of pressure wounds: a 10‐year experience in flap selection

This study sought to both assist in the selection of flaps for ischial pressure wound reconstruction and evaluate the overall complication rates associated with reconstruction. A retrospective medical record review was conducted for 78 patients following the surgical reconstruction of an ischial pressure sore. Records were reviewed for demographics, location of sores, methods of reconstruction and flap selection, as well as any complications and recurrences. A total of 72 wounds were reconstructed with an average of 1·4 flaps used per wound. An ischial flap complication rate of 16% was observed in flap follow‐up, with a recurrence rate of 7% recorded. The vast majority of complications went on to heal with 15% of patients requiring a second reconstruction. Our relatively large sample of ischial flaps allowed for a close comparison with previously published work. Both flap selection and site of reconstruction significantly affected the success rates for pressure sore coverage. The overall complication rates by flap and reconstructive site in this review are lower than previously published reports. Our experience with ischial reconstruction was extensive enough to suggest a posterior medial thigh fasciocutaneous flap combined with a biceps femoris muscle flap as a first choice in ischial pressure wound reconstruction.