Application of sural neurouascular flap in repair of soft tissue defect of foot and ankle
10.3760/cma.j.cn441206-20220119-00013
- VernacularTitle:腓肠神经营养血管皮瓣修复足踝部软组织缺损的临床应用
- Author:
Zhanbin CHEN
1
;
Rongjian SHI
;
Long YANG
;
Guangchao CAO
;
Xiangjun QIN
Author Information
1. 徐州仁慈医院足踝外科，江苏 徐州 221000
- Keywords:
Soft tissue defect of foot and ankle;
Sural neurouascular flap;
Small saphenous vein;
Lateral sural artery;
Relay flap
- From:
Chinese Journal of Microsurgery
2022;45(4):383-388
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To summarise the experience in use of sural neurouascular flap in repair of the soft tissue defects of foot and ankle, and explore the methods in promoting the survival and appearance of the flap.Methods:Data of 10 patients who underwent sural neurocutaneous flap surgery for repairing soft tissue defects in the foot and ankle in the Department of Foot and Ankle of Xuzhou Renci Hospital from October 2019 to June 2020 were retrospectively analysed. Among the 10 patients, 8 were males and 2 were females, and the age ranged from 18 to 54 years old, with an average age of 42.5 years old; Causes of injury: 8 patients injured by traffic accident and 2 by incision necrosis after calcaneal fracture operation. The areas of soft tissue defect were 4.0 cm×6.0 cm-16.0 cm×10.0 cm. Sural neurouascular flap was used for the defect repairs. Method of optimisation: ①The small saphenous vein in the flap was separated and retained in the limb to optimise the venous circulation. ②Freed peroneal perforator vessels that entered the pedicle, and made the point where the vessels entering the pedicle as the rotation point. The pedicle contained the sural neurovascular bundle, the main trunk of the small saphenous vein and the fascia tissue, with a width about 2.0 cm. It not only increased the blood supply of the flaps, but also a good appearance of the pedicle. ③ The torsion of the pedicle was covered by an arc-shaped flap and transferred through an open channel to prevent compression. ④The donor site was covered with relay flap. According to the location of the donor site, a proximal peroneal artery perforator flap or medial and lateral sural artery perforator flap was selected. ⑤Sural nerve was anastomosed with the peripheral sensory nerve in some cases. The survival of the flap, Maryland Foot Function Score and British Medical Research Council (BMRC) sensory function evaluation were investigated in the follow-up to evaluate the functional recovery of the flap and limb.Results:All the 10 patients received the follow-up for 6 to 12 months, with an average of 8.5 months. The donor and recipient flaps survived completely with good appearance in lower limb, good soft texture, good elasticity and wear resistance. The sensation of the flap with nerve anastomosis in 3 cases was evaluated according to BMRC, and they achieved sensation recovery up to level of S 3 or above. The patients had great satisfactions. At the last follow-up, the curative efficacy was evaluated according to the Maryland scoring system. It ranged from 85 to 98 points, with an average of 91.6 point, 8 patients in excellent and 2 in good. Conclusion:Sural neurouascular flap can achieve a sufficient blood supply, a reasonable venous circulation and a high survival rate. The donor site was covered with relay flap to obtain a good appearance, and the anastomosed sensory nerve offered a good sensation. The function of foot and ankle recovered well, and the clinical effect was satisfactory.
