The Clinical Outcome of Perforator Based Sural Artery and Propeller Flaps in Reconstruction of Soft Tissue of Extremities

A novel negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) monitoring system for postoperative flap management

Various types of flaps are widely utilized as reconstructive options for patients with soft tissue defects. However, the postoperative monitoring of the flap requires a large amount of time and effort. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this novel monitoring procedure using negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) immediately after the flap operations.A retrospective analysis was performed on patients who underwent free flaps and perforator flaps from March 2019 to December 2020. The flaps were managed by either novel NPWT method or conventional dressing. Among NPWT group, computed tomography angiography was performed in randomly selected 5 flaps on the third postoperative day for evaluation of pedicle compression. Statistical analysis was performed between the 2 groups.A total of 54 flaps were included in this study. Twenty seven flaps were managed using novel NPWT method and 27 flaps were managed using conventional dressing. There was no statistically significant difference in flap survival rates between the 2 groups (P = .91). The patency of flap pedicles in the NPWT group was confirmed by comparing the computed tomography angiography findings. The estimated total flap monitoring time and cost for 5 days was significantly decreased by the application of the novel NPWT monitoring system.Through the application of the novel postoperative monitoring system using NPWT, there is efficient evaluation of the flap. Furthermore, safe flap monitoring is possible with the reduced risk of infection by the avoidance of multiple manual dressing performed in the conventional method.

A Single-Center Surgical Experience With the Reverse Sural Artery Flap as a Reliable Solution for Lower Leg Soft Tissue Defects, With Minimum Two-Year Follow-Up

AIM

Small soft tissue defects of the distal tibia and hindfoot resulting from traumatic, operative, or neoplastic conditions and chronic ulcers can be successfully dealt with the use of the reverse sural artery flap (RSAF). This study aims to describe a single center's results and familiarity with this technique over a 15-year period of time.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical files of patients who were consecutively treated with RSAF and regularly followed up between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2018, with a minimum postoperative follow-up period of two years. Patient demographics and comorbidities, location of the defect, performing surgeon, mean operation time, flap pedicle width, mean size of the defect, days of hospitalization following the operation, healing flap rate, and complications were recorded.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 30 adult patients (25 men, 5 women), with a mean age of 51.07 years (16-80 years, SD 18.61). The mean operation time was 99.03 min (range 83-131, SD 10.57), and the mean size of the defect was 11.11 cm² (range 6.1-19.4, SD 3.22). Successful flap rate (complete healing and coverage of the defect, with or without additional minor intervention) was 83.3% (25/30). Among successfully healed flaps, six patients with partial necrosis of the dermis were treated by an additional split-thickness skin graft. Five flaps failed to heal. Deep infection was present in two patients, leading to flap failure and reoperation. Serious venous congestion resulting in flap ischemia occurred in three cases. Circumferential keloid formation (not affecting successful outcome) was present in seven cases. Flap thickness approximated to normal within six months. All donor sites healed well (either by a split-thickness cutaneous flap or by immediate wound closure). Light paresthesia on the lateral border of the leg and foot disappeared within six months.

CONCLUSIONS

A single-center experience with the RSAF has yielded satisfactory clinical outcomes, and the long-term tackle with the difficult reconstruction conditions around the ankle, has led to valuable advice on surgical technique and postoperative protocol, based on an anatomical basis.

Non-microsurgical bipedicled reverse sural fasciocutaneous flap with preservation of medial and lateral sural cutaneous nerve: Current surgical management of skin defect after traumatic Achilles tendon rupture - A case report

INTRODUCTION

The challenging issue that still remains for reverse sural flap is the withstand of the flap against time, the width of coverage area, and the donor site morbidity such as pain after the medial or lateral sural cutaneous nerve harvested.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

A 55 years old male was suffered from traumatic Achilles tendon rupture for 3 months and was repaired with Krakow's technique in a medical center in Pemalang, Indonesia. After the surgery, the defect was revealed as another surgery was planned to cover the skin defect. The author had chosen the bipedicled reverse sural fasciocutaneous flap in regular basis which addressed the superiority and viability of the flap, thus the donor site morbidity was also concerned as the preservation of medial and lateral sural cutaneous nerve, which leading to good quality of life as the patient still could feel and sensate his medial and lateral leg.

DISCUSSION

The bipedicled reverse sural fasciocutaneous flap was successfully covered the skin defect on post traumatic Achilles tendon reconstruction, with retained medial sural nerve on its place, and the remaining harvested skin area was leave opened without skin graft which healed spontaneously.

CONCLUSION

Bipedicled reverse sural fasciocutaneous flap with retained medial sural nerve offer a good clinical outcome either the viability of the flap and the maintained sensation along the medial and lateral sural cutaneous nerve distribution.

Outcomes of split vs full-thickness skin grafts in scalp reconstruction in outpatient local anaesthetic theatre

Background

Surgical excision remains the cornerstone of simultaneous diagnosis and treatment of suspicious skin lesions, and the scalp is a high-risk area for skin cancers due to increased cumulative lifetime ultraviolet (UV) exposure. Due to the inelasticity of scalp skin, most excisions with predetermined margins require reconstruction with skin grafting.

Methods

A retrospective single-centre cohort study was performed of all patients undergoing outpatient local anaesthetic scalp skin excision and skin graft reconstruction in the Plastic Surgery Department at Addenbrookes Hospital over a 20-month period between 1 April 2017 and 1 January 2019. In total, 204 graft cases were collected. Graft reconstruction techniques included both full-thickness and split-thickness skin grafts. Statistical analysis using Z tests were used to determine which skin grafting technique achieved better graft take.

Results

Split-thickness skin grafts had a statistically significant ( P = 0.01) increased average take (90%) compared to full-thickness skin grafts (72%). Using a foam tie-over dressing on the scalp led to a statistically significant ( P = 0.000036) increase in skin graft take, from 38% to 79%.

Conclusion

In skin graft reconstruction of scalp defects after skin cancer excision surgery, split skin grafts secured with foam tie-over dressings are associated with superior outcomes compared to full-thickness skin grafts or grafts secured with sutures only.