Wen Gen, Chai Yi-min, Zeng Bing-fang, Wang Chun-yang, Wu Xu-hua, Chen Keng
Department of Orthopaedics, the Sixth People's Hospital Affiliate to Shanghai Jiaotong University, China.
Zhonghua Zheng Xing Wai Ke Za Zhi. 2009 Nov;25(6):430-2.
To report the operative technique and clinical application of the neurocutaneous flap with anterior cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve supplied by the perforator of saphenous artery.
The reverse neurocutaneous flap with anterior cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve supplied by the perforator of saphenous artery was used for repairing the defect around knee or at the upper pad of leg. Since Oct. 2005, 16 cases were treated. The flap size ranged from 15 cm x 7 cm to 30 cm x 15 cm. Flap rotation angle ranged from l00 degrees to 180 degrees.
13 flaps survived completely. Flap necrosis happened at the 1/7 - 1/5 distal end of the 3 flaps, which healed with dressing or local flap advancement. The patients were followed up for 6 to 24 months with satisfactory functional and cosmetic results. There was no morbidity at the donor site.
The flap has the advantages of both the perforator flap and the neurocutaneous flap. The size of the neurocutaneous flap with the anterior cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve can be enlarged for the large defect at lower extremity.
