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Objective To analyze the effect of using a distally based anterolateral thick flap (dALT) to repair lateral knee joint defects. Methods From July 2021 to July 2022, Department of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University using a retrospective observational study method. We documented and observed the treatment process of 15 patients who underwent full-thickness skin defect repair of the knee joint with a distally based anterolateral thigh flap after previous treatments. We analyzed the effectiveness of this treatment approach. Results All 15 cases showed good blood supply to the flaps post-surgery. In one case, most of the flap survived, but a small portion of the distal edge became necrotic. This was managed with dressing changes, leading to delayed healing. Six months post-discharge, the patient's wound had healed stably, with a satisfactory appearance, and there were no significant restrictions in movement or function of the left lower limb. In another case, the flap largely survived post-treatment, but a small portion around the edge became necrotic. Similarly, this was managed with dressing changes, leading to delayed healing. Three months post-surgery, the flap area had healed well, and the skin's protective function was intact. In the remaining 13 patients, only one complication of postoperative hematoma occurred within one week after treatment. Healing of hematoma after drainage. Conclusion The transplantation of the distally based anterolateral thigh flap is an effective surgical method for reconstructing lateral defects of the knee, reducing complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dorsal metacarpal artery flap (DMAF) is irrefutable as an effective way of repairing long finger defects, and hand surgeons might consider using it for long finger reconstruction or degloved injury repair. Unfortunately, the DMAF containing a single dorsal metacarpal artery (DMA) hinders the treatment effect. The sensory restoration of long fingers and the reconstruction of phalangeal joints and tendon grafts are unsolved challenges as well. We reported our experience in reconstructing the index and middle finger by a reverse-island flap with two DMAs and dorsal metacarpal nerves (DMNs) with blood supply. We reviewed ten patients with finger-crush injuries affecting eight index fingers and two middle fingers. Degloving injuries occurred in two patients, and finger amputations occurred in eight others. Two patients received simple flap reconstruction, and eight received finger reconstruction, including seven from abandoned phalangeal joints and tendon grafts of the severed finger and one from the iliac crest bone graft. All patients underwent finger reconstruction by an expanded reverse-island flap consisting of two DMAs and DMNs up to a maximal size of 9 × 8 cm2. Postoperative follow-up evaluation showed a satisfactory appearance and functional recovery of the reconstructed fingers. We posit that the expanded reverse-island flap involving two DMAs and DMNs constitutes a feasible and safe option for restoring a severely damaged index or middle finger, particularly for patients who are unwilling to undergo toe-to-finger transplantation to reconstruct the injured long fingers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Background: Full-thickness defects on the dorsum of the hand requires thin, soft, and pliable skin for which there are limited locoregional flaps. The reverse posterior interosseous artery (PIA) flap based on the communicating artery fulfills all above requirements and can reach upto the fingers. However, there has been discrepancy in the surface marking of the flap and the anatomical position of the vessel pedicle. We share our alteration with the marking and ease of harvesting this flap. Method and material: This is a prospective study conducted at a private teaching hospital in Karachi, over a period of 2 years from November 2017 to December 2019. After taking consent and ensuring confidentiality of all patients who had PIA flap reconstruction, we collected patient's demographic details, mode of injury, and flap surface area. We altered the described skin marking and took measures to prevent venous congestion and noted the outcomes in term of flap congestion and flap loss. Results: Twenty-eight patients with a mode age of 32 years were operated during this period. The majority (64.2%) had a motor vehicle accident and machine injuries. The mean surface area of flaps was 6 × 10 cm2, and 11 (39.2%) flaps had venous supercharging. All patients had a 10-20° wrist extension splint for 2 weeks. The mean follow-up of the patients was 14 ± 5 days, and 6 (21.4%) flaps developed a minimal marginal flap loss, which was managed conservatively. Conclusion: By minimally altering our surface marking, we experienced a easy and quick harvesting of this flap. However, one has to be vigilant and take all described precautions for venous congestion.

Background: The reverse superior labial artery (rSLA) island flap can be used to reconstruct the cheek, ala, columella and vestibule of the nose when other techniques appear insufficient or impractical. The aim of this case series was to present applications of rSLA pedicle flaps in the post-ablative oncologic reconstruction of the face. Patients and Methods: Using a retrospective case-series study design, the investigators enrolled a cohort of patients undergoing procedures involving rSLA flaps treated at a Polish Otolaryngology Department for facial reconstruction after tumour excision. The main outcomes were functional and aesthetic aspects. Descriptive statistics were computed as appropriate. Results and Conclusions: The use of rSLA flaps allows surgeons to obtain a large skin island with only minimal cosmetic and functional alterations. In all of the cases in this series, the use of this pedicle flap resulted in both optimal healing and satisfactory cosmetic and functional outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temporal region is a great source of vascularized flap, providing extremely variable and versatile options for reconstruction in head and neck surgery. Its popularity has led to the conception of a large variety of different flaps, in terms of contents and design. Temporal flaps are highly pliable and flexible, providing adequate bulk to obliterate dead spaces and improving engraftment, thus facilitating wound healing. The need to access different anatomical compartments, often far from the original flap anatomical site, has led surgeons to develop techniques to enlarge pedicles and bulk, by reverting and splitting flaps' contents, as well as through partial mandibular and zygomatic resection. To further increase versatility, a multilayered combination of different regional tissues and muscle segmentation techniques has been described. Historically, each flap has had its own proponents and opponents, but a pointy review systematizing techniques and comparatively analyzing different flaps was still missing in the literature. The field of use of some flaps has been progressively limited by the increasing relevance of free tissue transfers, which nowadays may provide success rates up to 95% with a constrained morbidity, thus offering an effective alternative, when available. Given the wide range of reconstructive strategies based on temporal flaps, there is still a great debate on nomenclature and surgical techniques. The present study systematizes the topic, classifying regional flaps according to contents and indications. Harvesting techniques are described stepwise and schematically illustrated, thus offering an indispensable tool to the armamentarium of reconstructive surgeons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The reverse superior labial artery (rSLA) island flap can be used to reconstruct the cheek, ala, columella and vestibule of the nose when other techniques appear insufficient or impractical. The aim of this case series was to present applications of rSLA pedicle flaps in the post-ablative oncologic reconstruction of the face. Patients and Methods: Using a retrospective case-series study design, the investigators enrolled a cohort of patients undergoing procedures involving rSLA flaps treated at a Polish Otolaryngology Department for facial reconstruction after tumour excision. The main outcomes were functional and aesthetic aspects. Descriptive statistics were computed as appropriate. Results and Conclusions: The use of rSLA flaps allows surgeons to obtain a large skin island with only minimal cosmetic and functional alterations. In all of the cases in this series, the use of this pedicle flap resulted in both optimal healing and satisfactory cosmetic and functional outcomes.

We present outcomes of using a perforator-based ulnar parametacarpal flap in 25 patients for digital pulp defects. These included 17 free transfers to the thumb, index, middle and ring fingers and eight reverse pedicled transfers to the little fingers. This flap includes a dorsal sensory branch of the ulnar nerve, which was sutured to the digital nerve in all transfers. Each flap had one to three reliable perforators (mean 0.44 mm diameter) to the ulnar parametacarpal region and contained at least one perforator within 2 cm proximal to the palmar digital crease. All the 25 flaps survived completely. Twenty-two patients were followed for 15 months (range 12 to 24), and three were lost to follow-up. The mean static and moving two-point discrimination of the flap was 7 mm and 5 mm, respectively. At the donor site, sensory reinnervation was acceptable. We conclude that ulnar parametacarpal perforator flaps offer sensate, thick and glabrous skin for finger pulp repair, all in a single operative field. Level of evidence: IV [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The reverse homodigital dorsoradial flap remains a useful alternative for covering thumb defects. However, the description of pedicle width of dorsoradial flap is not clear. The aim of this study was to compare the results of narrow pedicle with wide pedicle in dorsoradial flaps and describe our experience with the thumb reconstruction.Materials and Methods: From July 2014 to February 2019, 42 patients were treated with the reverse dorsoradial flap for thumb reconstruction. The patients were divided as Group A (pedicle width ≤ 0.8 cm) and Group B (pedicle width > 0.8 cm). Flap survival, time to return to work, flap sensibility, the range of motion (ROM) of the joints, and final aesthetic outcomes were evaluated.Results: Respectively in the Group A (17 cases) and Group B (25 cases), 14-19 flaps survived uneventfully, whereas 3-6 flaps experienced venous congestion with no or partial flap loss. No significant difference was identified between the two groups for the incidence of venous congestion, static 2-point discrimination and ROM of the injured thumbs. Time to return to work was significantly shorter in Group A. The aesthetic satisfaction of the patients in Group A was significantly better comparing with that in Group B.Conclusions: The reverse homodigital dorsoradial flap with narrow pedicle width is associated with more favorable outcomes in terms of time lost from work and aesthetic satisfaction of the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repair of both simple and complex defects in the medial malleolar region continues to be a challenging task for surgeons because of the local paucity of soft tissue available for transfer. The popular neurocutaneous flap has provided a reliable and less technically demanding method for resurfacing defects of the lower extremities. We present our experience with the versatile design of the distally based saphenous neurocutaneous perforator flap to provide coverage of complex post-traumatic medial malleolar defects by harvesting multiple tissue components in various combinations. Our series included 11 patients (8 males [72.7%] and 3 females [27.3%]); mean age 39.2 (range 22 to 58) years, who were followed for a mean duration of 13.3 (range 9 to 18) months. Three flaps (27.3%) were harvested with massive subcutaneous tissue to obliterate dead space. The procedure was uneventful in 10 patients (90.9%). Venous congestion was noted in 1 patient (9.1%), in whom secondary healing was achieved with conservative treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 16 fingers of 16 patients were subjected to fingertip reconstruction using the reverse digital artery island flap (RDAIF). We evaluated the influences of postoperative flap congestion, initial harvested flap size, patient's age and smoking habit on postoperative final flap size and postoperative range of total active motion (TAM) in affected fingers at a mean interval of 11.4 months. In the results, final flap size and TAM showed a tendency to decrease with increase in the initial harvested flap size and age. Eventually, the final flap size moved towards the size of the fingertip defect. Factors of flap congestion and smoking habit had little influence on the change in flap size and TAM. In conclusion, wide harvested flaps showed significant postoperative reduction in size compared with the small flaps, and extensive skin defect after flap harvest caused a decrease in postoperative TAM. Thus, the size of the harvested RDAIF should be comparable to that of the fingertip defect to prevent postoperative decrease in range of motion in affected fingers, and indication of this flap to the elderly needs to be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract: Upper extremity contractures still happen and constitute one of the most trying challenges in burn patients. This series comprised of 4 radial forearm flaps, 14 dorsoulnar artery flaps, and 4 medial arm flaps, all of which were used in a reverse pattern for upper extremity postburn contractures. The reverse flow radial forearm flap (RRFF) was chosen for reconstruction of extensive palmar contractures after burn. The reverse flow dorsoulnar flap (RDUF) was used particularly for reconstruction of the hypothenar aspect of the hand which requires moderate size tissue transfer. The reverse medial arm flap (RMAF) was used for elbow contractures after burn. In the first RMAF, venous congestion occured and was finaly resolved with minimal flap loss, which was managed with STSG later. In the following 3 cases the flap was supercharged with anastomosis of the brachial vein into the antebrachial vein. Both RRFF and RDUF may provide a smooth and efficient solution. However, RMAF has a significant venous problem, which may result in flap loss, therefore, this flap should not be considered as a first option in the elbow area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Full-thickness defects on the dorsum of the hand requires thin, soft, and pliable skin for which there are limited locoregional flaps. The reverse posterior interosseous artery (PIA) flap based on the communicating artery fulfills all above requirements and can reach upto the fingers. However, there has been discrepancy in the surface marking of the flap and the anatomical position of the vessel pedicle. We share our alteration with the marking and ease of harvesting this flap., Method and Material: This is a prospective study conducted at a private teaching hospital in Karachi, over a period of 2 years from November 2017 to December 2019. After taking consent and ensuring confidentiality of all patients who had PIA flap reconstruction, we collected patient's demographic details, mode of injury, and flap surface area. We altered the described skin marking and took measures to prevent venous congestion and noted the outcomes in term of flap congestion and flap loss., Results: Twenty-eight patients with a mode age of 32 years were operated during this period. The majority (64.2%) had a motor vehicle accident and machine injuries. The mean surface area of flaps was 6 × 10 cm 2 , and 11 (39.2%) flaps had venous supercharging. All patients had a 10-20° wrist extension splint for 2 weeks. The mean follow-up of the patients was 14 ± 5 days, and 6 (21.4%) flaps developed a minimal marginal flap loss, which was managed conservatively., Conclusion: By minimally altering our surface marking, we experienced a easy and quick harvesting of this flap. However, one has to be vigilant and take all described precautions for venous congestion., Competing Interests: All authors declare that they have no conflict of interests., (© 2022 The Authors.)

Background: When a reverse sural neurofasciocutaneous flap is used to reconstruct a forefoot defect, usually, the transverse length of the flap is increased or the pivot point is lowered to ensure the reconstruction range. Therefore, proximal partial necrosis leading to surgery failure is sometimes caused by insufficient arterial supply if the flap is too long or the pivot point is too low and has no a reliable perforator in the pedicle. Herein, we describe a new method for extending the reconstruction range of the reverse sural neurofasciocutaneous flap that can provide a higher survival rate., Methods: Between July 2010 and July 2014, 24 patients with forefoot defect were randomly assigned into two groups. In the research group, 12 modified reverse sural neurofasciocutaneous flaps with extended reconstruction range were used to reconstruct forefoot defect. We dissected the septum along the last perforator to locate the main trunk of the peroneal artery, disconnected the proximal end of the peroneal artery at the root of the perforator, and separated the peroneal artery more distally to obtain a lower rotation point to extend the reconstruction range. The last perforator and a section of the peroneal artery were contained in the pedicle. In the control group, 12 traditional reverse sural neurofasciocutaneous flap procedures were performed., Results: In the research group, 11 flaps survived with good quality and esthetic contours. Partial distal necrosis occurred in 1 flap. In the control group, 7 flaps survived. Partial necrosis occurred in the other 5 flaps. Compared with control group, the survival rate in the research group was significantly higher while the healing time was significantly shorter. All patients were satisfied with the therapeutic outcome in the research group., Conclusions: Our modified method proved efficacious in extending the reconstruction range of the reverse sural neurofasciocutaneous flap. Meanwhile, partial necrosis was avoided because the length of the flap was shortened, and a reliable perforator was preserved in the artery pedicle., Trial Registration: Chictr.org Identifier: ChiCTR2100046323., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://dx.doi.org/10.21037/atm-21-1442). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2021 Annals of Translational Medicine. All rights reserved.)

We present outcomes of using a perforator-based ulnar parametacarpal flap in 25 patients for digital pulp defects. These included 17 free transfers to the thumb, index, middle and ring fingers and eight reverse pedicled transfers to the little fingers. This flap includes a dorsal sensory branch of the ulnar nerve, which was sutured to the digital nerve in all transfers. Each flap had one to three reliable perforators (mean 0.44 mm diameter) to the ulnar parametacarpal region and contained at least one perforator within 2 cm proximal to the palmar digital crease. All the 25 flaps survived completely. Twenty-two patients were followed for 15 months (range 12 to 24), and three were lost to follow-up. The mean static and moving two-point discrimination of the flap was 7 mm and 5 mm, respectively. At the donor site, sensory reinnervation was acceptable. We conclude that ulnar parametacarpal perforator flaps offer sensate, thick and glabrous skin for finger pulp repair, all in a single operative field. Level of evidence: IV.

Distally based radial and ulnar forearm flaps were employed to reconstruct iatrogenic dorsal skin defects of hands in young children. The defects resulted from the extravasation of intravenous medication; flaps were required for reconstruction because the extensor tendons were exposed in the base of the ulcer in Case 1 and were involved in dense scar tissue in Case 2. The reverse forearm flap is an easy and reliable technique requiring short operating time, and it allows initiation of early physiotherapy compared with the other techniques, such as free flap or an abdominal flap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]