Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of medial sural artery perforator flap in the repair of small and medium size skin and soft tissue defects in the ipsilateral lower extremities. Methods The clinical data of patients with small and medium area skin and soft tissue defects of lower limbs admitted to Restorative and Reconstructive Department, NO.1 Orthopedics Hospital of Chengdu between September 2021 and January 2023 was retrospectively analyzed. Basic information of patients was collected. The anatomical characteristics, application methods, and clinical results of the flap were recorded after operation, and the comprehensive efficacy evaluation table of the flap was used to evaluate the clinical efficacy at the last follow-up. Results A total of 13 patients were included. There were 12 males and 1 female. A total of 19 perforating branches of medial sural artery were found in the 13 cases, with an average of 1.46 perforating branches. The incision range of the flap was 5.5 cm×3.5 cm−13.5 cm×5.0 cm. Anterograde pedicle metastasis occurred in 3 cases and free transplantation occurred in 10 cases; mosaic flaps were used in 5 cases, lobed flaps in 1 case, and conventional perforator flaps in the remaining 7 cases. All the flaps survived successfully. All the 13 patients were followed up for 4-15 months, with an average of (10.38±3.64) months. The comprehensive score of flap efficacy was 77-92 points, with an average of (86.76±4.45) points. Among them, 5 cases were excellent, 8 cases were good, and the excellent and good rate was 100%. Conclusion The multifunctional features and flexible use of medial sural artery perforator flap increase the repair strategy of small and medium-sized wounds of the ipsilateral lower limbs, and can obtain better aesthetic repair results.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical value of pedicled latissimus dorsi Kiss flap in repairing chest wall large skin defect after tumor operation. MethodsA retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data from 15 cases of chest wall tumors treated between December 2010 and December 2015. There were 2 males and 13 females with an average age of 51.8 years (range, 43-60 years); there were 11 cases of locally advanced breast cancer, 3 cases of fibrosarcoma in chest wall, and 1 case of chest wall radiation ulcer with a median disease duration of 24.1 months (range, 6 months to 8 years). The area of skin defects was 17 cm×12 cm to 20 cm×18 cm after primary tumor resection; the pedicled latissimus dorsi Kiss flap was designed to repair wounds. The flap was a two-lobed flap at a certain angle on the surface of latissimus dorsi based on the thoracodorsal artery, with a size of 17 cm×6 cm to 20 cm×9 cm for each lobe. The donor site was sutured directly. ResultsFourteen flaps survived with primary healing of wound; delayed healing was observed in 1 flap because of distal necrosis; and healing by first intention was obtained at the donor sites. The follow-up time was from 6 months to 3 years (mean, 21.6 months). The flap had good appearance with no bloated pedicle. The shoulder joint activities were normal. No local recurrence occurred, but distant metastasis in 2 cases. No obvious scar was found at donor sites. ConclusionThe application of pedicled latissimus dorsi Kiss flap to repair chest wall skin defects after tumor resection has important clinical value, because of the advatages of simple operation, minor donor site damage and rapid postoperative recovery, especially for late stage cancer patients.