Repair of limb wounds with severe infection with bilobed chimeric perforator flaps in the anterolateral thigh region
10.3760/cma.j.cn114453-20200226-00080
- VernacularTitle:股外侧区双叶嵌合穿支皮瓣修复伴严重感染的肢体创面
- Author:
Zhijin LIU
1
;
Jihui JU
;
Rong ZHOU
;
Shengzhe LIU
;
Guodong JIANG
Author Information
1. 苏州大学附属瑞华医院手外科 215104
- Keywords:
Perforator flap;
Soft tissue injuries;
Wound infection;
Myocutaneous flap
- From:
Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery
2021;37(5):541-546
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the feasibility and clinical effect of repairing the wound of limbs with severe infection by the bilateral chimeric perforator flaps in the anterolateral femoral area.Methods:From December 2015 to October 2018, 12 cases of limb wounds with severe infection were repaired by the lateral femoral bilateral chimeric perforator flaps in the Department of Hand Surgery, Ruihua Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, including five cases of traffic accident, four cases of machine strangulation and three cases of other injuries. There were eight males and four females, aged from 25 to 48 years old, with an average age of 40-year-old. All the wounds were complicated with the exposure of bone, tendon, or internal fixation and had different degrees of infection, 10 cases were of soft tissue infection, and two cases were of osteomyelitis. The wounds were outlined by sample cloth. A total of nine cases had single-wounds with the dimension of 12 cm × 11 cm to 26 cm × 11 cm, and these bilobed chimeric flaps were designed by dividing the sample cloth into two parts from the center and changing the width to the length. Three cases had two adjacent and discontinuous wounds in just one limb with an area from 6 cm × 4 cm to 14 cm × 6 cm, and the bilobed flaps were designed according to the size and the shape of these wounds. Six cases were reconstructed with the bilateral chimeric flaps of which the branches originate from one artery, three with flaps of different original arteries, two with fascia skin flaps, and one with a flap of mixed blood supply. The lateral thigh muscle or tensor fascia muscle carried in the flap was used to fill the cavity or sinus, and the donor area was sutured directly. The flap survival, wound healing, and donor area recovery were observed after the operation.Results:All the flaps survived without vascular crisis. The flap size ranged from 24 cm × 6 cm to 32 cm × 7 cm in nine cases of the single wound, and 7 cm × 5 cm to 14 cm× 7 cm in three cases with two wounds. The volume of muscle resection ranged from 4 cm × 3 cm × 2 cm to 11 cm× 6 cm × 4 cm. The average time of wound healing was 27 days (range from 12 to 83 days). All the donor areas of the thigh healed primarily. Follow-up time was 7 to 32 months, showing good color and texture. The sensation of the flaps recovered partially. Linear scars were left in all donor sites, except that one case suffereda large scar with no contracture or pain. One patient had an abnormal sensation in the incision area early but recovered gradually after two months without other serious complications. During the follow-up period, two cases of osteomyelitis showed no sinus, skin nonunion, and wound abscess. One case underwent a bone flap operation due to the bone defect one year later, and the defect healed well.Conclusions:Anterolateral femoral bilateral chimeric perforator flaps could be designed flexibly according to the conditions of the recipient area. By carrying the muscle with an abundant blood supply, the infection can be effectively controlled, and the damage to the donor area can be reduced.
