Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Republic of Korea.
Biomed Res Int. 2021 Oct 31;2021:4128827. doi: 10.1155/2021/4128827. eCollection 2021.
Successful reconstruction of the feet and ankles remains challenging due to limited quantities of soft tissue and laxity. The free lateral arm flap (LAF) is an alternative to conventional flaps and has been widely used due to advancements in its flap characteristics. This study is aimed at utilizing the advantages of this flap to validate its increased applications for foot and ankle defects.
Twenty patients with various LAF types between May 2011 and May 2020 were enrolled. Clinical data was retrospectively collected, and defect sites were classified according to the subunit principle. We utilized various LAF types, such as LAFs with sensate, extended, osteomyocutaneous, or myocutaneous flaps, as necessary. A two-point discrimination test was performed, and results were statistically compared between flaps.
Among the diverse etiologies of skin defects, chronic inflammation was the most common cause of defects. Various LAF types, including LAFs with fasciocutaneous, extended fasciocutaneous, musculocutaneous, and osteomyocutaneous flaps, were used. The versatility of free LAF helped successfully cover various defects in all cases. Results of the two-point discrimination test were statistically significant between groups.
Free LAF is a unique soft tissue free flap that is more versatile than other flaps, allowing flaps to be continuously modified and applied to various foot and ankle defects under different clinical conditions.
由于软组织数量有限和松弛，足部和踝关节的成功重建仍然具有挑战性。游离侧臂皮瓣（LAF）是传统皮瓣的一种替代方法，由于其皮瓣特性的进步，已被广泛应用。本研究旨在利用该皮瓣的优势，验证其在足部和踝关节缺损中的应用增加。
2011 年 5 月至 2020 年 5 月期间，共纳入 20 例不同类型 LAF 的患者。回顾性收集临床资料，并根据亚单位原则对缺损部位进行分类。我们根据需要使用了各种类型的 LAF，如感觉神经、延长、骨肌皮瓣或肌皮瓣等。进行两点辨别试验，并对皮瓣之间的结果进行统计学比较。
在各种皮肤缺损的病因中，慢性炎症是最常见的缺损原因。使用了各种类型的 LAF，包括筋膜皮瓣、延长筋膜皮瓣、肌皮瓣和骨肌皮瓣等。游离 LAF 的多功能性有助于成功覆盖所有病例的各种缺损。两点辨别试验的结果在组间有统计学意义。
游离 LAF 是一种独特的软组织游离皮瓣，比其他皮瓣更具多功能性，可根据不同的临床情况，对皮瓣进行不断修改和应用于各种足部和踝关节缺损。
