[ANTEROLATERAL THIGH FLAP PEDICLED WITH MEDIAL SURAL VESSELS AS RECIPIENT VESSELS IN RECONSTRUCTION OF LEG SKIN AND SOFT TISSUE DEFECTS].

OBJECTIVE

To discuss the effectiveness of free anterolateral thigh flap pedicled with medial sural vessels for treatment of leg skin and soft tissue defects.

METHODS

Between July 2008 and January 2014, 32 cases of serious skin and soft tissue defects in the leg were repaired by using free anterolateral thigh flap pedicled with medial sural artery and vein. Of them, there were 22 males and 10 females, aged 23 to 50 years (mean, 36.5 years). Defects were caused by traffic accidents injury in 9 cases, crash injury of heavy object in 15 cases, and machine twist injury in 8 cases. The left side was involved in 10 cases and the right side in 22 cases. The mean interval of injury and admission was 2.5 hours (range, 1-4 hours). The location was the upper, middle, and lower one third of the anterior tibia in 15 cases, 10 cases, and 7 cases respectively. The area of defect ranged from 10 cm x 5 cm to 23 cm x 9 cm. After debridement and vaccum sealing drainage treatment, the anterolateral thigh flap ranging from 12 cm x 7 cm to 25 cm x 11 cm pedicled with the medial sural vessels was used to repair the wound. The donor site was sutured directly or repaired with the skingrafts.

RESULTS

All flaps and skingrafts survived after operation, and primary healing of wound was obtained. After 6-23 months (mean, 14.5 months) follow-up, all flaps were characterized by soft texture, good color, and satisfactory appearance. The sensation of the flaps were recovered to S(2-)S(3+) according to the Britain's Medical Research Council criteria at 6 months after operation. No obvious scar contracture was observed at donor site.

CONCLUSION

The medial sural artery has the advantages of constant anatomical position, large diameter, rich blood flow, and a long artery pedicle, so the medial sural vessels is an ideal choice as recipient vessels for the reconstruction of leg skin and soft tissue defect.