Objective:To investigate the efficacy of a modified intermittent horizontal mattress suture technique in arterial anastomosis with intimal dissection during free flap transplantation.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with limb wounds who underwent free flap transplantation with the modified intermittent horizontal mattress suture technique at the First People’s Hospital of Pingyuan County from September 2016 to November 2023. After debridement, free flap transplantation was performed. Under microscopic examination, recipient arteries with intimal dissection were identified, and proximal trimming failed to resolve the delamination. The modified intermittent horizontal mattress suture technique was applied to anastomose the dissected recipient arteries to donor arteries, while veins were conventionally horizontal mattress sutured. Postoperative flap viability, complications, and patient satisfaction were evaluated.Results:Fourteen patients were enrolled, including 8 males and 6 females, aged (51±14) years old (range: 18-71 years). Injuries involved the hand (5 cases) and foot (9 cases), with wound sizes ranging from 7 cm×8 cm to 22 cm×18 cm. Flaps included anterolateral thigh perforator flaps (11 cases) and groin flaps (3 cases), sized 8 cm×9 cm to 24 cm×20 cm. Seven patients had intimal dissection of the dorsalis pedis artery, with anastomoses performed to the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA) in 5 cases, and to the superficial circumflex iliac artery in 2 cases. Intimal dissection of the medial plantar artery was identified in 2 cases, both of which were anastomosed to the descending branch of LCFA. And 5 cases had intimal dissection of the radial artery, with anastomoses performed to the LCFA in 3 cases, to the transverse branch of LCFA in one case, and to the superficial circumflex iliac artery in one case. The patients were followed up for (11.6±7.6) months (range: 3-30 months) after surgery. Eleven flaps survived completely, with partial flap margin necrosis in one case, in another case necrosis of one-third of the flap because of arterial insufficiency, both cases healed with dressing changes. The third patient resumed smoking and subsequently fell from the bed, resulting in necrosis of two-thirds of the flap five days post-discharge (12 days postoperatively). After debridement of the necrotic part of the flap, a split-thickness skin graft was applied for repair. Thirteen flaps exhibited no ulceration, with satisfactory texture and appearance, these patients expressed satisfaction. One patient with skin graft infection achieved scar healing.Conclusion:The modified intermittent horizontal mattress suture technique ensures reliable anastomosis of arteries with intimal dissection in free flap surgery, improving success rates and yielding favorable outcomes with high patient satisfaction.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of a modified intermittent horizontal mattress suture technique in arterial anastomosis with intimal dissection during free flap transplantation.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with limb wounds who underwent free flap transplantation with the modified intermittent horizontal mattress suture technique at the First People’s Hospital of Pingyuan County from September 2016 to November 2023. After debridement, free flap transplantation was performed. Under microscopic examination, recipient arteries with intimal dissection were identified, and proximal trimming failed to resolve the delamination. The modified intermittent horizontal mattress suture technique was applied to anastomose the dissected recipient arteries to donor arteries, while veins were conventionally horizontal mattress sutured. Postoperative flap viability, complications, and patient satisfaction were evaluated.Results:Fourteen patients were enrolled, including 8 males and 6 females, aged (51±14) years old (range: 18-71 years). Injuries involved the hand (5 cases) and foot (9 cases), with wound sizes ranging from 7 cm×8 cm to 22 cm×18 cm. Flaps included anterolateral thigh perforator flaps (11 cases) and groin flaps (3 cases), sized 8 cm×9 cm to 24 cm×20 cm. Seven patients had intimal dissection of the dorsalis pedis artery, with anastomoses performed to the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA) in 5 cases, and to the superficial circumflex iliac artery in 2 cases. Intimal dissection of the medial plantar artery was identified in 2 cases, both of which were anastomosed to the descending branch of LCFA. And 5 cases had intimal dissection of the radial artery, with anastomoses performed to the LCFA in 3 cases, to the transverse branch of LCFA in one case, and to the superficial circumflex iliac artery in one case. The patients were followed up for (11.6±7.6) months (range: 3-30 months) after surgery. Eleven flaps survived completely, with partial flap margin necrosis in one case, in another case necrosis of one-third of the flap because of arterial insufficiency, both cases healed with dressing changes. The third patient resumed smoking and subsequently fell from the bed, resulting in necrosis of two-thirds of the flap five days post-discharge (12 days postoperatively). After debridement of the necrotic part of the flap, a split-thickness skin graft was applied for repair. Thirteen flaps exhibited no ulceration, with satisfactory texture and appearance, these patients expressed satisfaction. One patient with skin graft infection achieved scar healing.Conclusion:The modified intermittent horizontal mattress suture technique ensures reliable anastomosis of arteries with intimal dissection in free flap surgery, improving success rates and yielding favorable outcomes with high patient satisfaction.