Biological activity of tissue flaps in the treatment of complicated irradiation wounds

Within the last ten years, 79 patients were treated for 114 chronically contaminated, intractable irradiation wounds using various methods of the modern plastic surgery. Radical excision of the devitalised contaminated tissue has been impracticable in 25 cases due to the risk of life-threatening complications or significant functional loss. Different types of flaps such as cutaneous, fasciocutaneous, musculocutaneous, split muscle, isolated vascularised fascia and greater omentum have been used. Despite the incomplete excision, 84% of wounds healed primarily. The essential factor for good wound healing seems to be the biologic activity (BA) of the flap's deep tissue layer that directly contacts the wound bed. BA includes density of the vascular net, ability of neovascularisation, plasticity and specific immunological capacities. It seems to be possible to classify the flaps according to the BA level. Tissue defects in which the chances for radical debridement are poor need the highest BA level in the flap reconstruction.Presented to the European Congress on Wound Healing and Skin Physiology, Bochum, Germany, 1992