Superior gluteal artery perforator flap: a reliable method for sacral pressure ulcer reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE

To study the feasibility and reliability of the superior gluteal artery perforator (SGAP) flap for the reconstruction of sacral pressure ulcers.

METHOD

A prospective study was conducted between 2009 and 2012 where a total of 15 patients with sacral pressure ulcers underwent reconstructive surgery with an islanded pedicled SGAP flap. Success of the flap reconstruction and primary healing were defined as a healed wound within 30 days of the procedure. Reconstructive failure was defined as those cases that resulted in a non-healed wound, thereafter.

RESULTS

Of the 15 patients in the evaluation, 12 were male and 3 were female. Eleven patients were paraplegic, 3 were ambulatory and one was quadriplegic. All reconstructed flaps survived completely with no mortality or major donor site complications. Three patients had a minor infection and wound dehiscence that healed spontaneously. All wounds healed within 30 days of surgery following local wound care and culture-sensitive antibiotics. No recurrence of the pressure ulcer occurred during follow-up. The non-paraplegic patients did not develop gait disturbances following the surgery.

CONCLUSION

These observations suggest that the islanded pedicled SGAP fasciocutaneous flap is a relatively easy flap to raise, with good reliability and minimal complications, and is therefore highly recommended for the reconstruction of the sacral pressure ulcer.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no external sources of funding for this study. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.