Objective To introduce the application of the pedicled anterolateral thigh flap transferring for coverage of the oversized skin defect of the hand. Methods The pedicled anterolateral thigh flap was transferred to cover the large skin defects of the hands or the skin defects of theabdomen after the abdominal flap transferred to the hand in 5 male patients aged 16-44 years from April 2002 to August 2005. The injured sites were as follows:4 right hands and 1 left hand, including 2 hands injured by a machine and 3 hands injured by burning.The mechanically injured patients underwent an operation within 6 hours after the injury. The burned patients were reconstructed by the flap transferring 4-7 days after the burn when the decayed tissues could be clearly indentified.The areas of the hand defects were 12.19 cm×18.22 cm.The areas of the pedicled anterolateral thigh flaps were 7.12 cm×16.24 cm. The areas of the abdominal flaps were 13.20 cm×19.23 cm.The pedicles were separated 3 weeks after the repairing operation. Results All the flaps survived well and there was no vascular crisis, with the wound healing of the first intention. The skin defects of the hand were covered completely. Five patients were followed up for 6-12 months. The texture of the flaps was soft and the flaps had a good blood circulation. Of the patients, 3 underwent the finger exclusion and degreasing operation 47 months after operation. All the flaps of the hands had protective sensation, which could meet the requirement of the daily life. Conclusion The pedicled anterolateral thigh flap can provide the large coverage for the skin defects of the hands. The risk of the operation can be greatly decreased by obviation of the vessel anastomosis. It can be an optimal choice for themanagement of the oversized skin defects of the hands.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of free anterolateral thigh Kiss flap in repair of large scalp defect after malignant tumor resection.MethodsBetween December 2012 and December 2016, 18 patients with large scalp defect after malignant tumor resection were treated. There were 16 males and 2 females with an average age of 52.6 years (range, 43-62 years). There were 17 cases of squamous carcinoma and 1 case of dermatofibrilsarcoma protuberan. The size of scalp defect ranged from 15 cm×10 cm to 17 cm×12 cm after resection of tumors. The scalp defects were repaired with the free anterolateral thigh Kiss flap. And the size of flap ranged from 15 cm×6 cm to 20 cm×8 cm. The skull was completely resected in 2 cases, and repaired with Titanium mesh. The sizes of skull defects were 12 cm×10 cm and 10 cm×8 cm. The donor site was sutured directly.ResultsEighteen flaps survived with primary healing of wounds; and healing by first intention was obtained at the donor sites. One patient died because of intracranial metastasis at 5 months after operation, and no local recurrence occurred in the other 17 patients. The follow-up time ranged from 6 months to 4 years (mean, 26.6 months). The results of both appearance and function were satisfactory, without ulceration during follow-up. No obvious scar was found at donor sites and no obvious impairment was observed after harvesting free anterolateral thigh flap.ConclusionLarge scalp defects after malignant tumor resection can be effectively repaired by free anterolateral thigh Kiss flap. The donor site can be sutured directly, without skin grafting, thus avoiding the secondary donor site.
Objective To investigate the clinical application of high-frequency color Doppler ultrasound (HFCDU) in detecting perforators in the deep adipose layers for harvesting super-thin anterolateral thigh flap (ALTF). Methods Between August 2019 and January 2023, 45 patients (46 sides) with skin and soft tissue defects in the foot and ankle were treated, including 29 males and 16 females, aged from 22 to 62 years, with an average of 46.7 years. The body mass index ranged from 19.6 to 36.2 kg/m2, with an average of 23.62 kg/m2. The causes of injury included traffic accident injury in 15 cases, heavy object crush injury in 20 cases, mechanical injury in 8 cases, heat crush injury in 1 case, and chronic infection in 1 case. There were 20 cases on the left side, 24 cases on the right side, and 1 case on both sides. After thorough debridement, the wound size ranged from 5 cm×4 cm to 17 cm×11 cm. All patients underwent free super-thin ALTF transplantation repair. HFCDU was used to detect the location of the perforators piercing the deep and superficial fascia, as well as the direction and branches of the perforators within the deep adipose layers before operation. According to the preoperative HFCDU findings, the dimensions of the super-thin ALTF ranged from 6 cm×4 cm to 18 cm×12 cm. The donor sites of the flaps were directly sutured. Results A total of 55 perforators were detected by HFCDU before operation, but 1 was not found during operation. During operation, a total of 56 perforators were found, and 2 perforators were not detected by HFCDU. The positive predictive value of HFCDU for identifying perforator vessels was 98.2%, and the sensitivity was 96.4%. Among the 54 perforators accurately located by HFCDU, the orientation of the perforators in the deep adipose layers was confirmed during operation. There were 21 perforators (38.9%) traveled laterally and inferiorly, 12 (22.2%) traveled medially and inferiorly, 14 (25.9%) traveled laterally and superiorly, 5 (9.3%) traveled medially and superiorly, and 2 (3.7%) ran almost vertically to the body surface. Among the 54 perforators accurately located by HFCDU, 35 were identified as type 1 perforators and 12 as type 2 perforators (HFCDU misidentified 7 type 2 perforators as type 1 perforators). The sensitivity of HFCDU in identifying type 1 perforators was 100%, with a positive predictive value of 83.3%. For type 2 perforators, the sensitivity was 63.2%, and the positive predictive value was 100%. The surgeries were successfully completed. The super-thin ALTF had a thickness ranging from 2 to 6 mm, with an average of 3.56 mm. All super-thin ALTF survived, however, 1 flap experienced a venous crisis at 1 day after operation, but it survived after emergency exploration and re-anastomosis of the veins; 1 flap developed venous crisis at 3 days after operation but survived after bleeding with several small incisions; 3 flaps had necrosis at the distal edge of the epidermis, which healed after undergoing dressing changes. All 45 patients were followed up 6-18 months (mean, 13.6 months). Three flaps required secondary defatting procedures, while the rest had the appropriate thickness, and the overall appearance was satisfactory. Conclusion Preoperative application of HFCDU to detect the perforator in the deep adipose layers can improve the success and safety of the procedure by facilitating the harvest of super-thin ALTF.
Objective To investigate a method of improving design of the skin flap pedicled with descending branch of lateral femoral circumflex artery, in order to increase the accuracy of preoperative Doppler location. Methods Firstly, the interspace between rectus femoris and vastus lateralis was regarded as line A, and the point of intersection between line A and the vertical line through the midpoint of the line between anterior superior iliac spine and lateral margin of patella was point A. And then the line between the midpoint of groin and point A was regarded as line B. Based on this , the perforating point of cutaneous branch could be located by Doppler along the line B. From November 2001 to October 2004, this method was used in 38 skin flaps of 37 cases, being all males and 16-48 years old. The area of the flap ranged from 7 cm×6 cm to 24 cm×16 cm. Results All the perforatingpoint of cutaneous branch were located outward the line A. The rate that the preoperative Doppler location was consistent with the utility point of formatting skin flap was 97.4%. All the cases were followed up postoperatively 1-20 months. Among the cases, 36 skin flaps of 35 cases was successful and only 2 skin flaps partially necrosed, which healed after changing dressings or skin graft.Out of 35 cases, the sensation restoration of the skin flap was S2-S3 in 6 cases owing to the anastomosis of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve and a skin nerve of the recipient site, while that of the other cases was S0-S1. Conclusion Preoperative Doppler location and improving design of lineB can be a useful instruction for the design of skin flap pedicled with descending branch of lateral femoral circumflex artery.
ObjectiveTo investigate the application of high frequency color Doppler ultrasound (HFCDU) combined with wide-field imaging in the preoperative navigation of anterolateral thigh perforator flap graft.MethodsBetween January 2017 and March 2018, 28 patients with skin and soft tissue defects were treated, including 22 males and 6 females, with an average age of 33.5 years (range, 17-66 years). The causes of injury included 2 cases of scald scar, 7 cases of heavy object crushing injury, 12 cases of traffic accident injury, 4 cases of fall injury, 2 cases of machine injury, and 1 case of infection ulcer. Injury sites included 6 cases of hand and wrist, 12 cases of lower leg, 10 cases of foot. After debridement, the wound area ranged from 6.0 cm×3.5 cm to 24.0 cm×9.0 cm, and all patients were treated with free circumflex femoral artery perforator flap graft. Combo of HFCDU and wide-field imaging navigation were done preoperatively to detect the origin, quantity, course, surface location, hemodynamic characteristics, and the relationship with body area of perforator branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery. According to the perforator information displayed by wide-field imaging of source artery, the dominant perforator was determined to be a pedicle for designed flap. The flap size ranged from 7.0 cm×4.5 cm to 26.0 cm×7.0 cm. The flap donor area was sutured directly.ResultsThe dominant perforator was successfully detected by HFCDU combined with wide-field imaging in 28 patients before operation. The existence of the perforator was confirmed during operation, and the location was accurate. The course characteristics of the perforate were consistent with the results of wide-field imaging. The grafted flaps survived completely among 27 patients after operation. Necrosis at the edge of the flap was observed in 1 patient, which healed after dressing change. All patients were followed up 3-12 months, with an average of 9 months. All the flaps have good blood supply, good elasticity and shape. The donor areas healed perfectly.ConclusionUsing HFCDU and wide-field imaging navigation for designing of anterolateral thigh perforator flaps can clearly show the characteristics of perforators, hemodynamic information, and the relationship with body area, so that the surgeons can understand the perforators more accurately and intuitively, and improve the success and efficiency of flap graft surgery.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of combined anterolateral thigh-ilioinguinal Flow-through flaps for repairing complex lower limb defects. Methods A clinical data of 20 patients with complex lower limb injuries admitted between January 2018 and January 2024 was retrospectively analyzed. The cohort included 14 males and 6 females with an average age of 47.3 years (range, 29-65 years). Injury mechanisms comprised heavy-object trauma (n=7), traffic accidents (n=5), machinery crush injuries (n=5), and osteomyelitis (n=3). Defects involved the left (n=7) and right (n=13) limbs, with anatomical distributions including tibiofibular injuries (n=6), isolated tibial injuries (n=6), foot and ankle injuries (n=5), and femoral-tibial injuries (n=3). The size of soft tissue defects ranged from 23 cm×8 cm to 44 cm×12 cm. Reconstruction employed combined anterolateral thigh-ilioinguinal Flow-through flaps in the size of 24 cm×10 cm to 48 cm×14 cm. The recipient sites were sutured in primary closure in 12 cases, and 8 cases had no available vascular anastomosis sites in the recipient sites, and a cross-leg flap form was used to establish a temporary blood supply, and the flaps were cut off after 3-4 weeks. The donor sites in the thigh were directly sutured. During follow-up, the survival of the flaps, appearance, texture, and related complications were observed; the Vancouver scar scale (VSS) score was used to evaluate the scar condition of the flaps, the lower extremity function scale (LEFS) score was used to evaluate the function of the affected lower limb, and the visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used to evaluate the pain condition of the affected side. Results Postoperatively, the flap complete necrosis occurred in 1 case, marginal necrosis in 1 case, superficial infections in 2 cases, and venous thrombosis in 1 case. The remaining flaps survived completely with primary wound healing at both recipient and donor sites. Limb salvage was achieved in all patients. All patients were followed up with 12-24 months (mean, 18.4 months). All flaps had satisfactory color, texture, and contour. Fractures reached clinical union in all cases. Donor site morbidity included mild contralateral hip flexion/knee extension limitation (n=1), persistent hypoesthesia (n=3), and chronic pain (n=1) at 6 months. At 12 months after operation, the LEFS, VSS, and VAS scores on the affected side were 62.7±4.6, 3.5±1.1, and 1.2±0.6, respectively, which were superior to those at 1 month after operation (38.6±2.8, 8.5±1.4, 4.7±1.1), and the differences were significant (P<0.05). ConclusionThe anterolateral thigh-ilioinguinal Flow-through flaps for repairing complex lower limb injuries is a good method. The distal blood supply of the affected side recover well, the survival rate of the flap is high, and the function recovery of the affected limb is good.
Objective To investigate the application of three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction technology in preoperative planning for anterolateral thigh flap transplantation. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 11 patients with skin and soft tissue defects treated with free anterolateral thigh flap transplantation between January 2022 and January 2024, who met the selection criteria. There were 8 males and 3 females, aged 34-70 years (mean, 50.8 years). Causes of injury included traffic accidents (4 cases), machine trauma (3 cases), heavy object crush injury (3 cases), and tumor (1 case). The time from injury to flap repair ranged from 7 to 35 days (mean, 23 days). Preoperatively, the patients’ CT angiography images were imported into Mimics21.0 software. Through the software’s segmentation, editing, and reconstruction functions, 3D visualization and measurement of the vascular pedicle, perforators, wound size, and morphology were performed to plan the flap harvest area, contour, vascular pedicle length, and anastomosis site, guiding the implementation of flap transplantation. Results The length of the vascular pedicle needed by the recipient site was (9.1±0.9) cm, and the maximum length of vascular pedicle in the donor area was (10.6±0.6) cm, with a significant difference (t=4.230, P<0.001). The operation time ranged from 220 to 600 minutes (mean, 361.9 minutes). One patient had poor wound healing at the recipient site, which healed after dressing changes. All 11 flaps survived well without necrosis. All patients were followed up 6-19 months (mean, 11 months). Four flaps showed bulkiness and underwent secondary debulking; the remaining flaps had good contour and soft texture. The donor sites healed well, with no sensory disturbance around the incision or complications such as walking impairment.ConclusionPreoperative planning using CT angiography data and 3D reconstruction software can effectively determine the flap area, contour, required vascular pedicle length, anastomosis site, and whether vascular grafting is needed, thereby guiding the successful execution of anterolateral thigh flap transplantation.