Treatment of radiation induced deep ulcer in the inguinal region with ipsilateral anterolateral thigh chimeric perforator flap: a report of 8 cases
10.3760/cma.j.cn441206-20240928-00217
- VernacularTitle:同侧带蒂股前外侧嵌合穿支皮瓣修复腹股沟区深度放射性溃疡8例
- Author:
Rufei DENG
1
;
Xiangtian HU
;
Guoneng HUANG
;
Zhenyu JIANG
;
Lijin ZOU
;
Zengtao WANG
;
Chunlin WANG
;
Zhaoyu SHU
;
Linjiang WANG
;
Youlai ZHANG
Author Information
1. 南昌大学第一附属医院烧伤整形与创面修复医学中心，南昌 330006
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Radiation induced ulcer;
Inguinal region;
Anterolateral thigh perforator flap;
Chimeric perforator flap;
Wound reconstruction;
Microsurgical operation
- From:
Chinese Journal of Microsurgery
2025;48(3):309-314
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the clinical effect on the treatment of radiation induced deep ulcers in the inguinal region with ipsilateral anterolateral thigh chimeric perforator flap.Methods:From March 2020 to March 2024, retrospective analysis of 8 patients with radiation induced deep ulcers in the inguinal region were treated with ipsilateral anterolateral thigh chimeric perforator flap in the Medical Centre of Burn Plastic and Wound Repair, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University. All ulcers induced by radiation were caused by postoperative radiotherapy in the inguinal region, of which 4 were of vulvar or penile cancer, 2 of urinary tract tumour, 1 of inguinal protuberant dermatofibrosarcoma and 1 of myofibroblastic sarcoma in lower abdominal wall. The course of the radiation induced ulcer was 0.5-11.0 years, with an average of 2.9 years. The sizes of the ulcerative wound were 2.5 cm × 3.0 cm - 5.5 cm × 7.5 cm. Preoperative biopsies of the tissues around wound and pelvic CT scans were performed to preliminarily exclude a tumour recurrence or an ulcerative malignancy, as well as to confirm the depth of radiation ulcer. The wound size after debridement was 4.5 cm × 6.0 cm-13.5 cm × 19.0 cm, with a depth of 2.0-4.0 cm. An ipsilateral anterolateral thigh chimeric perforator flap was transferred to reconstruct the wound, after the wound edges were cleared from tumour through intraoperative frozen section examinations. The flaps were 5.5 cm × 7.0 cm - 14.0 cm × 20.0 cm in size, with the volumes of muscle flap at 7.0 cm × 4.0 cm × 3.0 cm - 14.0 cm × 7.0 cm × 3.0 cm. After having the deep defect at the base of wound filled with a muscle flap, the wound surface was covered by the flap. Four patients had direct suture of the donor sites and 4 received a thick skin graft of head or contralateral thigh grafting. Survival of the anterolateral thigh chimeric perforator flaps and the healing of donor sites were observed after surgery through scheduled postoperative follow-up by the visits of outpatient clinic and distant interviews via telephone, WeChat or the internet hospital.Results:One of the ipsilateral anterolateral thigh chimeric perforator flaps had venous occlusion within 24 hours after surgery. Emergency surgical exploration revealed that it was caused by a haematoma compression due to haemorrhage in the muscle flap. Further debridement, haemostasis and suture were performed, then the wound healed. The rest of 7 flaps all survived. All donor sites healed primarily. The postoperative follow-up lasted for 5-17 months with all of the 8 patients, at 8.4 months in average. Both the donor and recipient sites healed well without recurrence of radiation ulcer in the affected sites. The appearance and texture of the flaps were good, and there was no obvious functional impairment at the donor sites.Conclusion:The treatment of radiation induced deep ulcer in the inguinal region with an ipsilateral anterolateral thigh chimeric perforator flap has shown good results, without recurrence of ulcer after surgery. The appearance and texture of the affected sites are good, and there is no secondary functional impairment at the donor site.
