Flap selection for reconstruction of the soft tissue defect after a radical resection of malignant tumour in clavicular region
10.3760/cma.j.cn441206-20240413-00099
- VernacularTitle:锁骨区软组织恶性肿瘤根治性切除后创面皮瓣修复方式的选择
- Author:
Lili LI
1
;
Bo LI
;
Wenchang YU
;
Deyong WU
;
Jinyong WANG
;
Xiaohui ZOU
;
Mingzhu WANG
;
Yan WU
;
Xiangrong XU
Author Information
1. 中南大学湘雅医学院附属常德医院（常德市第一人民医院）烧伤整形科，湖南 常德 415000
- Keywords:
Soft tissue malignancy tumour;
Clavicular region;
Surgical flap;
Reconstruction;
Aesthetics
- From:
Chinese Journal of Microsurgery
2024;47(5):533-538
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the strategy of how to select an effective flap for reconstruction of the surgical defect in clavicular region after resection of malignant tumour and care for the aesthetic appearance of the flap donor site.Methods:A retrospective observational study was conducted. Twenty-three patients with soft tissue malignant tumour in clavicle region were treated, from March 2017 to April 2023, in the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery of Changde Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University (the First People’s Hospital of Changde). The patients were 13 males and 10 females, aged 21 to 72 years old. Ten patients were of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, 6 of fibrosarcoma, 3 of squamous cell carcinoma of skin, 3 of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma and 1 of mucinous adenocarcinoma. Nine patients had the first surgery and 14 were with tumour recurrence and had previousely received one or more surgery in other hospitals. The tumour size ranged from 2.0 cm×4.5 cm×1.0 cm to 10.0 cm×16.0 cm×3.0 cm. After radical resection, the sizes of surgical defect ranged from 9.0 cm×12.0 cm to 16.0 cm×22.0 cm. All the clavicular soft tissue malignancies had radical resection, and the secondary surgical defects were further modified to reduce the short and long dimensions of the defects. Flaps were selected according to the short dimension, depth and skin elasticity of the flap donor site. Of the 23 patients, 3 were treated with free inguinal flaps, 9 with ipsilateral pedicled latissimus dorsi flaps or thoracodorsal artery perforator flaps, 5 with free deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap (DIEPF), 5 with free anterolateral thigh flap (ALTF) and 1 with free rectus abdominis flap. The modified defects sized 5.0 cm × 11.0 cm-12.0 cm×19.0 cm after the suture of margin and base of the defects (defects were reduced and modified). The flap sizes were 7.0 cm×13.0 cm-14.0 cm×23.0 cm. After surgery, the wound healing was observed through the visits of outpatient clinic, and telephone and WeChat interviews. According to the nature of the tumours, the patients were regularly reviewed at outpatient clinic to determine the local recurrence and metastasis of the tumour.Results:One pedicled latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap was found with a greater tension after surgery. After partial removal of sutures and dressing changes, the secondary suture was performed 1 week later and the wound healed smoothly. A postoperative venous crisis was discovered in a free ALTF. It was monitored and re-anastomosed within 24 hours after surgery, and the flap survived and the wound healed smoothly. Otherwise, the rest of flaps achieved good blood supply and the wounds at the recipient and donor sites healed in one stage. In the postoperative follow-up, all flaps in the clavicular region were found good in appearance with no obvious swelling, and the donor sites healed well without scar contracture or dysfunction. One patient with a squamous cell carcinoma died of lung metastasis at 13 months after surgery. The rest of patients were found no tumour recurrence and had completed postoperative follow-up.Conclusion:After radical resection of malignant soft tissue tumours in the clavicular region, appropriate flaps were selected according to the size (short diameter) and depth of the modified defects, as well as the skin elasticity and relaxation of the flap donor site, hence to facilitate the direct suture of the flap donor site. It not only effectively reconstructs the surgical defect in clavicular region, but also minimises the damage to the flap donor site and achieves an aesthetic appearance at the flap donor site.
