【Abstract】 Objective To investigate the method and effectiveness of reverse anterolateral thigh flap and muscle flap for repair of wound defects with exposed tibia in the proximal-middle leg. Methods Between October 2005 and April 2010, 16 patients with wound defects with exposed tibia in the proximal-middle leg were treated with reverse anterolateral thigh flap and muscle flap. There were 10 males and 6 females, aged from 16 to 52 years. Injury was caused by traffic accident in 11 cases and by crushing in 5 cases. The disease duration of 1-6 hours (mean, 3 hours) in 10 patients and 6-14 days (mean, 10 days) in 6 patients, who underwent tibial fracture plate fixation in other hospitals. The size of wound ranged from 13 cm × 7 cm to 20 cm × 13 cm. The size of the flap ranged from 16 cm × 10 cm to 23 cm × 15 cm. The donor sites were covered with splite thickness skin grafts. Results Infection occurred in 2 flaps at 5-7 days and was cured after 1 week of dressing change; the other flaps survived and the wounds healed by first intention. The incisions healed well and the skin grafts survived at the donor sites. All cases were followed up 10-23 months (mean, 18 months). The appearance of the flap was slightly overstaffed, but the color and texture were satisfactory. All fractures healed at 8-10 months after operation. Conclusion It is effective to repair wound defects with exposed tibia in the proximal-middle leg with reverse anterolateral thigh flap and muscle flap.
Objective To investigate the effect of different degrees of wound eversion on scar formation at the donor site of anterolateral thigh flaps by a prospective clinical randomized controlled study. MethodsAccording to the degree of wound eversion, the clinical trial was designed with groups of non-eversion (group A), eversion of 0.5 cm (group B), and eversion of 1.0 cm (group C). Patients who underwent anterolateral femoral flap transplantation between September 2021 and March 2023 were collected as study subjects, and a total of 36 patients were included according to the selection criteria. After resected the anterolateral thigh flaps during operation, the wound at donor site of each patient was divided into two equal incisions, and the random number table method was used to group them (n=24) and perform corresponding treatments. Thirty of these patients completed follow-up and were included in the final study (group A n=18, group B n=23, and group C n=29). There were 26 males and 4 females with a median age of 53 years (range, 35-62 years). The body mass index was 17.88-29.18 kg/m2 (mean, 23.09 kg/m2). There was no significant difference in the age and body mass index between groups (P>0.05). The incision healing and scar quality of three groups were compared, as well as the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) score [including the observer component of the POSAS (OSAS) and the patient component of the POSAS (PSAS)], Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) score, scar width, and patient satisfaction score [visual analogue scale (VAS) score]. Results In group C, 1 case had poor healing of the incision after operation, which healed after debridement and dressing change; 1 case had incision necrosis at 3 months after operation, which healed by second intention after active dressing change and suturing again. The other incisions in all groups healed by first intention. At 6 months after operation, the PSAS, OSAS, and patient satisfaction scores were the lowest in group B, followed by group A, and the highest in group C. The differences between the groups were significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups in the VSS scores and scar widths (P>0.05). ConclusionModerate everted closure may reduce the formation of hypertrophic scars at the incision site of the anterior lateral thigh flap to a certain extent.
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.
Objective To explore the reliability and effectiveness of prediction of the pedicle length of the proximally-based anterolateral thigh (pALT) flap which was used to repair the defects following the resection of various malignant tumors using computed tomographic angiography (CTA). Methods The clinical data of 12 patients who met the selection criteria by using pALT flap to repair wounds left after malignant tumor resection between June 2015 and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 5 males and 7 females; the age ranged from 16 to 80 years, with an average age of 54.4 years. After tumor resection, the soft tissue defect ranged from 15 cm×5 cm to 30 cm×12 cm; defect sites included 4 cases of lower abdomen, 3 cases of groin, 2 cases of thigh, and 3 cases of buttocks. Preoperative CTA was used to obtain the location information of the descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery and its perforators by maximum density projection, and the length of the pedicle of pALT flap was estimated. Fasciocutaneous flap (5 cases) or myocutaneous flap (7 cases) were cut during operation to repair the defect, and the size of flap ranged from 20 cm×7 cm to 30 cm×12 cm. The donor site of thigh was directly sutured (11 cases) or repaired with skin graft (1 case). Bland-Altman analysis was used to detect the consistency between the pALT flap vascular pedicle length estimated by CTA and the pALT flap vascular pedicle length actually obtained during operation. ResultsOne case had distal blood supply disturbance of the flap and was repaired with skin graft after debridement; the remaining 11 flaps survived. All donor and recipient incisions healed by first intention. All 12 cases were followed up 1-12 months, with an average of 4.3 months. One patient died of pelvic tumor recurrence at 6 months after operation, and no tumor recurrence was found in the other patients. Preoperative CTA estimated that the length of pALT flap vascular pedicle was 9.3-24.7 cm, with an average of 14.7 cm; the actual length of pALT flap vascular pedicle was 9.5-25.0 cm, with an average of 14.8 cm. Bland-Altman analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the pALT flap vascular pedicle length estimated by CTA before operation and the pALT flap vascular pedicle length actually obtained during operation, and the average difference was 0.1 (95% consistency limit: –0.89, 0.74), indicating that they had good consistency. ConclusionCTA can be accurately used to localize the perforator and predict the possible pedicle length of the pALT flap. When performing a pALT flap surgery, preoperative CTA is helpful for surgeons to make a preliminary assessment of the difficult of the operation. The time for exploration of perforators and dissection of the vascular pedicle, and complications can be reduced, and the safety of the operation can be improved.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of Flow-through bridge anterolateral thigh flap transplantation in the treatment of complex calf soft tissue defects. Methods The clinical data of the patients with complicated calf soft tissue defects, who were treated with Flow-through bridge anterolateral thigh flap (study group, 23 cases) or bridge anterolateral thigh flap (control group, 23 cases) between January 2008 and January 2022, were retrospectively analyzed. All complex calf soft tissue defects in the two groups were caused by trauma or osteomyelitis, and there was only one major blood vessel in the calf or no blood vessel anastomosed with the grafted skin flap. There was no significant difference between the two groups in general data such as gender, age, etiology, size of leg soft tissue defect, and time from injury to operation (P>0.05). The lower extremity functional scale (LEFS) was used to evaluate the sufferred lower extremity function of the both groups after operation, and the peripheral blood circulation score of the healthy side was evaluated according to the Chinese Medical Association Hand Surgery Society’s functional evaluation standard for replantation of amputated limbs. Weber’s quantitative method was used to detect static 2-point discrimination (S2PD) to evaluate peripheral sensation of the healthy side, and the popliteal artery flow velocity, toenail capillary filling time, foot temperature, toe blood oxygen saturation of the healthy side, and the incidence of complications were compared between the two groups. Results No vascular or nerve injury occurred during operation. All flaps survived, and 1 case of partial flap necrosis occurred in both groups, which healed after free skin grafting. All patients were followed up 6 months to 8 years, with a median time of 26 months. The function of the sufferred limb of the two groups recovered satisfactorily, the blood supply of the flap was good, the texture was soft, and the appearance was fair. The incision in the donor site healed well with a linear scar, and the color of the skin graft area was similar. Only a rectangular scar could be seen in the skin donor area where have a satisfactory appearance. The blood supply of the distal limb of the healthy limb was good, and there was no obvious abnormality in color and skin temperature, and the blood supply of the limb was normal during activity. The popliteal artery flow velocity in the study group was significantly faster than that in the control group at 1 month after the pedicle was cut, and the foot temperature, toe blood oxygen saturation, S2PD, toenail capillary filling time, and peripheral blood circulation score were significantly better than those in the control group (P<0.05). There were 8 cases of cold feet and 2 cases of numbness on the healthy side in the control group, while only 3 cases of cold feet occurred in the study group. The incidence of complications in the study group (13.04%) was significantly lower than that in the control group (43.47%) (χ2=3.860, P=0.049). There was no significant difference in LEFS score between the two groups at 6 months after operation (P>0.05). ConclusionFlow-through bridge anterolateral thigh flap can reduce postoperative complications of healthy feet and reduce the impact of surgery on blood supply and sensation of healthy feet. It is an effective method for repairing complex calf soft tissue defects.
Objective To explore the feasibility and technical points of soft tissue defect reconstruction of the lower extremity using the distally based anterolateral thigh (dALT) flap based on perforating vessels from the lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA) oblique branch. Methods Between July 2010 and July 2016, 7 patients underwent defect reconstruction of the lower extremities using the dALT flap based on perforating vessels from the LCFA oblique branch. There were 4 males and 3 females with an average age of 26.7 years (range, 3-58 years). The etiologies included angiofibrolipoma in 1 case, malignant fibrous sarcoma in 1 case, soft tissue sarcoma in 1 case, and post-burn scar contracture in 4 cases. The disease duration was 13 years, 1 year, and 8 months in 3 patients with tumors respectively, and was from 6 months to 35 years in 4 patients with post-burn scar contracture. After resection of lesion tissues, the defect size ranged from 8 cm×6 cm to 24 cm×8 cm. The flap size ranged from 9 cm×7 cm to 24 cm×8 cm. The length of the pedicle ranged from 12 to 22 cm (mean, 16.6 cm). The distance from the flap pivot point to the superolateral border of the patella ranged from 9.5 to 14.0 cm (mean, 11.8 cm). The donor sites were directly closed in 6 cases and covered with the split-thickness skin graft in 1 case. Results All flaps survived after surgery without any major complications. All wounds at the donor and the recipient sites healed primarily. The patients were followed up from 5 to 54 months (mean, 30.7 months). The color, texture, and thickness of the flaps were similar to those of the surrounding skin. No tumor recurrence was observed. The range of motion of flexion and extension of the knee joint were greatly improved in the patients with post-burn scar contracture. Conclusion For patients who have the oblique branch from the LCFA descending branch which sends out perforating vessels to the skin of the anterolateral thigh region, a dALT flap could be used to reconstruct soft tissue defects of the lower extremities.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of free anterolateral thigh flap in repairing hand twist trauma combined with forearm main vascular injury.MethodsBetween February 2016 and March 2020, 14 patients with hand twist trauma combined with forearm main vascular injury were admitted. There were 10 males and 4 females. The mean age was 36.3 years (range, 22-53 years). There were 5 cases with left hand and 9 cases with right hand. The degloving injury of hand was rated as type ⅢA in 2 cases, type ⅢB in 9 cases, and type Ⅳ in 3 cases. The size of soft tissue defects range from 8.0 cm×4.5 cm to 13.5 cm×8.0 cm. Of all patients, 11 cases were ulnar artery injury and 3 cases were radial artery injury. Time from injury to operation was 2-16 hours (mean, 7.1 hours). The free anterolateral thigh flaps with the size of 10.0 cm×5.5 cm to 15.0 cm×9.5 cm were used to repair the soft tissue defects with the “T” shape anastomosis of blood vessel in 8 cases or direct anastomosis of blood vessel in 6 cases. The donor sites were directly sutured in 9 cases and repaired with free skin graft in 5 cases.ResultsAll patients were followed up 6-12 months (mean, 10.5 months). The vascular crisis occurred in 1 case and the flap survived with symptomatic treatment after operation. Other flaps survived and the wounds healed by first intention. All donor sites healed by first intention and the skin grafts survived. Three cases underwent the fat-free trimming at 4-5 months after operation. According to the evaluation standard of the upper limb part of the Chinese Medical Association, the hand function was evaluated as excellent in 4 cases, good in 7 cases, and fair in 3 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 78.6% at last follow-up.ConclusionBecause the diameter of the descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery is similar to that of the ulnar artery and radial artery, the use of free anterolateral thigh flap can not only repair the wound and obtain a good hand shape, but also repair blood vessels and promote recovery of hand function.
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.
ObjectiveTo compare the effectiveness of complex defects repair between using chimeric anterolateral thigh flap and series-wound flaps after resection of oral and maxillofacial cancer. MethodAfter resection of oral and maxillofacial cancer, defect was repaired with chimeric anterolateral thigh flap in 39 patients between January 2011 and July 2014 (chimeric anterolateral thigh flap group); and defect was repaired with series-wound flaps in 35 patients between January 2009 and December 2010 (series-wound flaps group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, duration of disease, tumor type, tumor staging, defect location, and defect area between 2 groups (P>0.05) . The operation time, flap harvesting and microvascular anastomosis time, stomach tube extraction time, and oral feeding time were recorded and compared between 2 groups, and postoperative complications were observed; the effectiveness was evaluated according to clinical efficacy evaluation table of bone and soft tissue defects reconstruction surgery in oral and maxillofacial region. ResultsVascular crisis occurred in 2 cases of chimeric anterolateral thigh flap group, and 4 cases of series-wound flaps group. Partial necrosis appeared at distal end of a series-wound flaps, and oral fistula and infection developed in 3 series-wound flaps. The other flaps and the grafted skin at donor site survived; wounds at recipient site healed by first intention. The operation time, stomach tube extraction time, and oral feeding time of chimeric anterolateral thigh flap group were significantly shorter than those of series-wound flaps group (P<0.05) , while the flap harvesting and microvascular anastomosis time was significantly longer than that of series-wound flaps group (P<0.05) . The patients were followed up 1-5 years (mean, 2.5 years). At 3 months after operation, the appearance, patients' satisfaction, working conditions, oral closure function, chew, language performance, and swallowing scores of the chimeric anterolateral thigh flap group were significantly better than those of the series-wound flaps group (P<0.05) , while there was no significant difference in diet, mouth opening degree, oral cavity holding water test, and occlusion scores between the 2 groups (P>0.05) . ConclusionsUsing chimeric anterolateral thigh flap for defect repair after resection of oral and maxillofacial cancer can significantly shorten the operation time, accelerate postoperative rehabilitation, and help the functional recovery of oral closure, chewing, language performance, swallowing function when compared with the series-wound flaps.
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.