Objective: To investigate the clinical effects of lateral supramalleolar perforator island flaps with low rotation points in repairing foot skin and soft tissue defect wounds. Methods: The retrospective observational study was conducted. From October 2017 to August 2020, 14 patients (6 males and 8 females, aged 14-77 years) with foot skin and soft tissue defect wounds were admitted to Lanzhou University Second Hospital, including 4 cases of plantar skin tumor, 4 cases of chronic plantar ulcer, 4 cases of foot traffic injury, and 2 cases of residual wounds after deep foot burns. The wound size was 2.0 cm×2.0 cm to 7.0 cm×5.0 cm after tumor resection or debridement, which was repaired with island flap pedicled with the descending branch of the lateral supramalleolar perforator and the rotation point located at the lower front edge of the lateral ankle. The size of the flap ranged from 3.0 cm×2.0 cm to 8.0 cm×6.0 cm, and the length of vascular pedicle ranged from 8.0 to 14.0 cm. The flap was transferred by subcutaneous tunnel to repair the wound. The donor site wound of the flap was repaired with medium thickness skin graft from the lateral thigh. The survival of flaps, wound healing of the donor and recipient sites, and the occurrence of complications after operation were observed. The appearances of flaps and donor sites, and foot function were observed during follow-up. Results: The flaps of 14 patients survived successfully after operation, and the wounds in the donor and recipient sites healed well, without vascular crisis, venous congestion, or other complications. Follow-up for 2 to 24 months showed that the flaps had good appearance without bloating and were wear-resistant, the functions of wearing shoes and walking were not affected, and there was no obvious scar hyperplasia or hyperpigmentation at the donor site. Conclusions: With the descending branch of the lateral supramalleolar perforator as the pedicle and the rotation point located at the lower front edge of the lateral ankle, the island flap has a good effect in repairing the skin and soft tissue defect wound of the foot because of its reliable blood supply, simple design and operation, no need for vascular anastomosis, low rotation point, long vascular pedicle, and large radius of rotation.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Perforator Flap/blood supply* ; Rotation ; Plastic Surgery Procedures ; Soft Tissue Injuries/surgery* ; Skin Transplantation ; Foot Injuries/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate clinical effect of transverse tibial bone transport micro vessels regeneration technology combined with vacuum drainage in treating diabetic foot ulcer.

METHODSFrom November 2015 and December 2016, clinical data of 19 diabetic foot ulcer patients treated with transverse tibial bone transport micro vessels regeneration technology combined with vacuum drainage were retrospective analyzed, including 15 males and 4 females aged from 42 to 82 years old with an average of (64.57±7.14) years old;the courses of diabetic ranged was (14.62±6.19) years;12 cases on the left side and 7 cases on the right side;the area of ulcer ranged from 2 cm×3 cm to 8 cm×6 cm. All patients were stage D according to Texas classification, 3 cases were grade 2, 10 cases were grade 3 and 6 cases were grade 4. Ankle-brachial index and Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) were used to evaluate recovery of peripheral vessel and nerve before and after operation, the result of angiography and vascular ultrasound were also compared after operation.

RESULTSSeventeen of 19 patients were followed up from 3 to 13 months with an average of 6.9 months. Seventeen patients' surface wound were healed. Ankle-brachial index was increased from (0.51±0.20) before operation to (0.93±0.18) at 3 months after operation, and had significant difference(=13.63, =0.000);MNSI was increased from (4.06±1.36) before operation to(5.76±1.44) at 3 months after operation, and differences were statistically significant (=7.31, =0.000). Postoperative angiography and vascular ultrasound showed satisfied regeneration of micro-vessel and affected foot achieved normal movement and daily life.

CONCLUSIONSTransverse tibial bone transport micro vessels regeneration technology could reconstruct micro-vessel under lower affected limb, promote recovery of peripheral vessel and nerve, while with vacuum drainage could promote wound healing, has advantages of simple operation, obvious clinical effect, and high success rate of limb-salvage, and is one of ideal treatment for diabetic foot ulcer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiography ; Ankle Brachial Index ; Diabetic Foot ; surgery ; Drainage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Regeneration ; Retrospective Studies ; Tibia ; blood supply ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography ; Vacuum

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of reverse saphenous nerve neurocutaneous flaps for skin defects of forefoot.

METHODSIn the anatomic study, 50 cadaveric feet were injected with red latex and the anastomosis, distribution and external diameters of medialtarsal artery, medial anterior malleolus artery, medial plantar artery, the superficial branch of the medial basal hallucal artery and saphenousnerve nutritional vessels were observed. Based on anatomic research results, we designed the reverse saphenous nerve neurocutaneous flaps for repairing skin defects of forefoot.

RESULTSThe blood supply of reverse saphenous nerve neurocutaneous flaps were based on the vasoganglion, which consist of arterial arch at the superior border of abductor hallucis and arterial network on the surface of abductor hallucis around the saphenous nerve and medial pedis flap. From Oct. 2006 to Oct. 2011, the reverse saphenous nerve neurocutaneous flaps were used to repair skin defects of forefoot in 11 cases. The flap size ranged from 2.5 cm x 3.5 cm to 7.5 cm x 8.5 cm. The wounds at donor site were covered with full-thickness skin graft. All flaps survived completely with no ulcer at the donor site. 11 cases were followed up for 6 to 18 months( mean, 10 months). The skin color and texture were satisfactory. The patients could walk very well.

CONCLUSIONSIt is reliable to repair the skin defects of forefoot with reverse saphenous nerve neurocutaneous flaps. It is easily performed with less morbidity. This flap should be considered as a preferential way to reconstruct skin defects of forefoot.

Arteries ; anatomy & histology ; Cadaver ; Female ; Foot ; blood supply ; innervation ; Forefoot, Human ; injuries ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; anatomy & histology ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; innervation ; Transplant Donor Site ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of dorsalis pedis parallel flaps in repairing perforating skin and soft tissue defects of the palms.

METHODSEighteen patients with perforating skin and soft tissue defects of the palms were hospitalized from July 2008 to November 2010. The area of skin defect ranged from 2.0 cm x 1.5 cm to 5.0 cm x 2.5 cm. The dorsalis pedis parallel flaps were used to repair these defects, with the area ranging from 2.0 cm x 2.0 cm to 5.5 cm x 3.0 cm. The donor sites were covered with autologous full-thickness skin from inner thigh.

RESULTSAll the 18 flaps and skin grafts of donor sites survived completely. Seventeen patients were followed up for 6 to 23 months, with mean time of 10 months, and one patient was lost to follow-up. The texture, elasticity, and appearance of all the 17 flaps were satisfactory, with no obvious pigmentation or cicatricial contracture. At the last follow-up, the distance of two-point discrimination of flaps ranged from 6 to 9 mm, with mean distance of 7.4 mm, and the sensation of flaps reached S3 in 13 patients who had nerve anastomosis.

CONCLUSIONSThe dorsalis pedis parallel flap, with reliable blood supply and flexible design, is a good choice for repairing perforating skin and soft tissue defects of the palms.

Contracture ; Foot ; surgery ; Hand Injuries ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin ; Skin Transplantation ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Treatment Outcome ; Wound Healing ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the morphological features of the perforator from the first plantar metatarsal artery, so as to provide anatomic basis for the reconstruction of soft-tissue defects of the forefoot.

METHODSThe first metatarsophalangeal joint was chosen as the landmark on 30 human cadaveric feet prefused with red latex. The following contents were observed under surgical magnifier: (1)The origin, courses,branches,distribution of the perforator of the first plantar metatarsal artery; (2)The anastomoses among the perforator of the first plantar metatarsal artery and other arteries on the medial aspect of the foot. Simulated operation was performed on one fresh specimen.

RESULTSThe perforator of the first plantar metatarsal artery passed through the space between the tendon, the abductor hallucis and the first metatarsal bone, and its entry point into the deep fascia was located (2. 3 ± 0.7 ) cm proximal to the first metatarsophalangeal joint. The perforator anastomosed with either the medial tarsal artery, the medial anterior malleolus artery or the branch of the medial plantar artery on the superior margin of the abductor hallucis, forming a longitudinal arterial chain,through which small branches were given off to the skin of the medial aspect of the foot. The perforator was( 1. 1 ± 0.2) mm in diameter and(3.2 ± 0.2) cm in length.

CONCLUSIONThe flap based on the perforator of the first plantar metatarsal artery can be harvested as an axial flap to repair the defects of soft tissue on the forefoot.

Anatomic Landmarks ; anatomy & histology ; Arteries ; anatomy & histology ; Cadaver ; Foot ; Foot Injuries ; surgery ; Humans ; Metatarsal Bones ; blood supply ; Metatarsophalangeal Joint ; anatomy & histology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; anatomy & histology ; Perforator Flap ; blood supply ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures

OBJECTIVETo investigate the vascular supply of intrinsic muscles of foot and anatomic basis for muscular flap design.

METHODSA radiopaque injectate (lead oxide-gelatin mixtures, 26 ml/kg) was injected into 10 fresh cadavers. The dissected regions were photographed and each intrinsic muscles on the foot was removed and radiographed. The number, type, diameter of vascular branches of muscles and their distributions were observed. The area of the vascular territory supplied by each source vessel was calculated using Scion Image for Windows software.

RESULTSThere were significant architectural differences among the intrinsic muscles. The muscles length varied from 22.5mm to 116.2mm [average, (66.1 +/- 23.2)mm]. The measured fiber length were relatively consistent, ranging from 14.2 mm to 27.5 mm [average, (20.2 +/- 4.5)mm]. There are 63 vascular branches into the 23 foot muscles, each muscle having average branches of 3.2 +/- 0.8. The average diameter of branches, the length and width of each vascular territorial area is (0.8 +/- 0.3) mm, (2.2 +/- 0.8) cm, and (0.9 +/- 0.4) cm, respectively. Other findings included that some muscles were not present in some cadavers.

CONCLUSIONSThe blood supply of intrinsic muscles of foot is abundant with different diameter and distributions of branches. There is an anatomic basis for muscular or musculoosseous flap design. There are 7 intrinsic muscles with large and reliable vascular supply which can be chosen as muscular flaps.

Adult ; Foot ; blood supply ; Humans ; Muscle, Skeletal ; blood supply ; Surgical Flaps

No abstract available.
Endovascular Procedures/*methods ; Female ; Foot/*blood supply ; Humans ; Ischemia/*surgery ; Male ; Wound Healing/*physiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of lateral supramalleolar artery descending branch antidromic flap for the repair of soft tissue defects in the foot and ankle.

METHODSFrom May 2009 to October 2013,12 patients with soft tissue defects combined with tendon and bone exposure in the foot and ankle were treated by lateral supramalleolar artery descending branch antidromic flap for the repair of soft tissue defects in the foot and ankle, including 9 males and 3 females with an average age of 37.5 years old ranging from 19 to 58 years. Ten cases had the soft tissue defects in the dorsum of foot and 2 in the ankle. The defect area of soft tissue was from 11 cm x 9 cm to 8 cm x 5 cm.

RESULTSTwelve patients were follow-up for 3 to 12 months (averaged 7.3 months). The flaps of 9 cases were survived,the flaps edges of the other 3 cases were necrosis,and healed after dressing change. The flaps were slightly swelling without ulcer occurrence.

CONCLUSIONLateral supramalleolar artery descending branch antidromic flap can repairing the damage by one-stage operation with advantage of dissection easy,rich blood supply without sacrifice of major artery.

Adult ; Ankle ; blood supply ; surgery ; Arteries ; surgery ; Female ; Foot ; blood supply ; surgery ; Foot Injuries ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo report the operative techniques and clinical results of modified superficial peroneal neurocutaneous propeller adipofascial-cutaneous flap for reconstruction of donor site defects at foot dorsum.

METHODSA propeller adipofascial flap with a skin pedicle (4-6 cm in width) based on the lateral superamalleolar perforating artery which vascularized the flap through the nutrient vessel chain of the superficial peroneal nerve was designed to repair defects after harvesting of foot pedicled dorsal flap. The defects at donor site of the leg was closed directly and split-thickness skin grafting was performed on the adipofascial surface of the flap primarily or secondarily.

RESULTSFrom May 2007 to Oct. 2011, 7 cases were treated. All flaps were transplanted successfully with satisfactory cosmetic and functional results. The flaps size ranged from 19 cm x 8 cm to 30 cm x 11 cm.

CONCLUSIONSThe flap has reliable blood supply with a relatively large vascularized area, long rotation are and minimum donor-site cosmetic morbidity. It' s a simple and safe procedure which is suitable for covering donor sites defects after harvesting foot pedicled dorsal flap.

Adult ; Female ; Foot Injuries ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peroneal Nerve ; transplantation ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; innervation ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of the tension skin flap with different shapes on the transplantation of the reverse neurocutaneous island flap.

METHODSFrom January 2006 to January 2012,there were 21 patients in the study (including 15 males and 6 females), and aged from 14 to 58 years old (35 years old on average). Tension skin flaps with different shapes (triangle ,round and ellipse) were used to improve the blood supply of the reverse neurocutaneous island flap. The tension skin flaps in the pedicle were designed triangularly (10 patients), spherically (8 patients) or elliptically (3 patients). There were 5 patients with defects in the hand (the size from 5.0 cm x 2.0 cm to 8.0 cm x 5.0 cm), and 16 patients with defects in the foot and inferior segment of leg, or around the ankle (the size from 6.0 cm x 4.0 cm to 13.0 cm x 7.0 cm). And all the patients were with the tendon and bone exposed. All the flaps were reversal transplanted, including 5 dorsal neurocutaneous flaps of foot, 4 superficial peroneal neurocutaneous flaps, 4 saphenous neurocutaneous flaps, 3 sural neurocutaneous flaps, 2 superficial radial neurocutaneous flaps, 3 lateral neurocutaneous flaps of forearm. And the survival rate, appearance and sensory recovery of the flaps were analyzed.

RESULTSThe distant part of the reversed sural neurocutaneous island flap in 1 case necrosized and healed after dressing change. The other flaps survived entirely, and the donor site all healed primarily. The follow-up time was from 3 months to 2 years (averaged 7 months), and all the flaps had recovered pain and warm sensation with perfect appearance.

CONCLUSIONThe tension skin flap in the pedicle can enhance the blood supply and promote survival rate of the reverse neurocutaneous island flap, and can also improve its appearance.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Foot Injuries ; surgery ; Hand Injuries ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Young Adult