Objective To investigate the operative technique and the effectiveness of perforator flaps for the treatment of elderly patients with ischia-sacral ulcers. Methods Between January 2005 and June 2010, 29 elderly patients with ischia-sacral ulcers were treated. There were 16 males and 13 females, aged from 61 to 75 years (mean, 68 years), including 11 cases of degree III and 18 cases of degree IV according to the standard of the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel(NPUAP). The disease duration was from 5 months to 10 years (median, 5.5 years). The size of ulcers ranged from 7 cm × 6 cm to 12 cm × 10 cm. Of them, 8 cases were companied by cerebral vascular disorders, 6 cases by Alzheimer disease, 11 cases by paraplegia, and 4 cases by others. The flap size ranged from 8 cm × 6 cm to 14 cm × 12 cm. The donor sites were sutured directly. Results Distal flap necrosis occurred in 3 cases (10.3%) 2 days after operation and healed after symptomatic treatment, and the remaining flaps survived and wound healed by first intention with first intention rate of 89.7%. The incisions of donor sites healed primarily. Two cases (6.9%) had infection 1 week after operation and 1 case (3.4%) had wound dehiscence 10 days after operation. Twenty-seven patients were followed up 6 months to 5 years (mean, 3 years). Two cases recurred at 1 and 3 years after operation, respectively. One died of infection, and the other healed by debridement and suture. The flaps of other patients had good texture, color, and elasticity. Conclusion As long as the indications are controlled strictly, good effectiveness can be achieved in the treatment of elderly patients with ischia-sacral ulcers by using perforator flaps.
Objective To explore the method of the distal perforator-based gluteus maximus muscle V-Y flap to treat the sacral ulcer and to simplify the operative procedures.Methods From March 2002 to March 2005, 11 cases of sacral ulcer were repaired by distal perforatorbased gluteus maximus muscle flaps. The area of sacral ulcer ranged from 13 cm×11 cm to 18 cm×14 cm. Of 11 cases, 7 were female and 4 were male,whose age ranged from 21 to 69 years, and the disease course was 8 months to 3 years.A triangular flap was designed to create a V-Y advancement flap.The length of the base was made almost equal to the diameter of the defect.The apex of the tringle was located near the great trochanter. The medial part of the flap was elevated as a fasciocutaneous flap by dissecting the layer between the fascia and the muscle.The distal part ofthe flap was elevated by dissecting the layer between the gluteus maximus muscle and the fascia of the deeper muscle group.The flap was advanced to the defect. Results All the flaps survived. After a follow-up of 5 months to 3 years, the bilateral buttocks were symmetry and whose appearance was satisfactory. Except for 1 case dying of other disease, no recurrence of ulcer was observed.All the flaps survived. Conclusion The distal perforatorbased fasciocutaneous V-Y flap for treatment of sacral ulcers is a simple and reliable technique, which has several advantages over the conventional V-Y flap technique,such as excelent excursion,viable coverage with the fasciocutaneous component, high flap reliability, preservation of the contralateral buttock, and preservation of the gluteus maximus muscle function.
Objective To summarize the clinical experience in the treatment of refractory decubitus ulcers.Methods From May 1998to March 2005, 22 patients with decubitus ulcers(29 decubitus ulcers) were admitted, whose age was 3692 years. The lesion size was 4 cm×2 cm to 18 cm×15 cm. The locations of decubitus ulcers were the sacrococcygeal region(18 cases), the tuber ischiadicum region (6 cases) and the trochanter major region(5 cases).Enteral nutrientwas given orally and the wound was treated with Wuhuangyihao 8-15 days. Three diabetic patients were injected with insulin. According to patient’s age, ulcer position, ulcer extent and ulcer degree, the flap type was determined. Three wounds were repaired by local flaps, the flap size was 6 cm×4 cm-12 cm×10 cm; 10 by fasciocutaneous flaps, 10 cm×7 cm-20 cm×17 cm; 9 by gluteus maximusmyocutaneous flaps, 13 cm×11 cm-17 cm×14 cm; and 6 by longhead of biceps femoris flaps,11 cm×6 cm-14 cm×7 cm. One was sutured directly. After operation, the patients were placed on airflow suspended bed 7-14 days.Results General nutritional status was improved, hemoglobin was greaterthan 100 g/L, albumen was greater than 30 g/L. Necrosis tissue was removed, granulation tissue turned into fresh, secretion reduced and no redness and swelling occurred in wound. All flaps survived and the wounds healed by first intention. After a followup of 6 months to 5 years, no patient had a recurrence, the color and texture of the flaps were good, the appearance was satisfactory.Conclusion Applying the technique of combined treatment can accelerate the healing of refractory decubitus ulcers and improves the success of operation.