Design of anterolateral thigh perforator flap aided by three-dimensional printing technique for repairing irregular extremity wounds
10.3760/cma.j.cn114453-20231029-00157
- VernacularTitle:三维打印技术辅助设计股前外侧穿支皮瓣修复四肢不规则创面
- Author:
Chengwei GE
1
;
Guodong JIANG
;
Kai WANG
;
Zhigang CHE
;
Junnan CHENG
;
Zhicheng TENG
;
Song YUAN
;
Jihui JU
Author Information
1. 苏州瑞华骨科医院手外科,苏州 215104
- Keywords:
Wounds and injuries;
Limbs;
Three-dimensional printing;
Microsurgical technique;
Anterolateral thigh flap;
Perforator flap;
Wound model
- From:
Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery
2024;40(9):946-953
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of three-dimensional(3D) flap model accurately designed before the operation in repairing irregular wounds of limbs with anterolateral thigh(ALT) perforator flap.Methods:The data of patients with ALT flaps designed with 3D printing technology to repair irregular soft tissue defects of limbs in Suzhou Ruihua Orthopedic Hospital from January to October 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. After the wound was scanned by 3D scanner before surgery, the wound model was printed. The ALT flap was precisely designed and harvested for covering the wound according to the body surface projection of the perforator vessel in the anterolateral femoral region located by color Doppler ultrasound before surgery. The survival of the flap, the healing of the donor and recipient sites and the occurrence of complications were observed and followed up after the operation. The effect of wound repair was evaluated by the comprehensive efficacy evaluation scale of the skin flap. The total score was 100 points, which was divided into excellent (90-100 points), good (75-89 points), fair (60-74 points) and poor (< 60 points).Results:A total of 34 patients were enrolled, including 26 males and 8 females, aged 18-75 years, with an average age of 45.5 years. Injury sites: wrist in 17 cases, foot in 10 cases, ankle in 7 cases. The operation time was 2.0-4.5 h (mean 3.3 h), and all donor sites were sutured directly. Vascular crisis occurred in 2 cases after skin flap transplantation. After surgical exploration, the transplanted skin flap survived, and the other skin flaps survived successfully. All 34 patients were followed up for 6 to 10 months, with an average of 8 months. All the donor sites of the skin flap healed primarily, and the wound healing time of the recipient site was 10-44 days, with an average of 20 days. At the last follow-up, the skin flap was good in color and texture, and the sensation returned to S1 and S2 grades. There were scars left in the donor site, no cicatricial contracture, pain and other discomfort, and no other serious complications. The results of flap evaluation were 80-91 points, with an average of 86 points. Among them, 25 cases were excellent, 6 cases were good, 3 cases were fair, and the excellent and good rate was 91%(31/34).Conclusion:The application of 3D printing technology assisted the design of ALT perforator flap to repair irregular wounds of limbs can significantly reduce the intraoperative design time of the flap, which is in line with the concept of precise design and incision of the flap, and has good clinical effect, and can effectively reduce the trauma and complications of the donor site.