The Utility of the Anterolateral Thigh Donor Site in Reconstructing the United States Trauma Patient

Medial fascia lata perforator flap: Anatomical basis and clinical application as a pedicled or free flap

Adipofascial flaps have proven to be an excellent tool for multipurpose reconstruction as free or pedicled flaps. The anatomical studies in this field are now focused on improving esthetics in reconstruction while maintaining a minimal donor site morbidity. An anatomical cadaver study has been carried out to investigate the medial thigh region as a potential donor site for adipofascial flaps. Eighteen thighs from fresh cadavers were dissected and a new territory with autonomous vascular supply was defined through vascular injection, anatomical dissection, transillumination, and angiography. Cutaneous access was made in a "T" shape. The fascia harvests had to be centered on the adductor longus and gracilis muscles bearing in mind the position of the flap pedicle. The fascial flap was isolated from adductor longus and gracilis muscles and isolated on his pedicle (medial circumflex femoral artery). After our anatomical study, we used the flap in 2 clinical cases. The results of our anatomical study and clinical cases confirmed the suitability and reliability of a new flap: the "Medial Fascia Lata Flap." Flap size ranged from 20 to 25 cm and has the advantage of preserving the functionality of the thigh muscles. The study showed that the "Medial Fascia Lata Flap" is easy to harvest, and the resulting scar is concealed. In consideration of its suitability, reliability and aesthetical advantages, it could be proposed as a good option in selected cases.

The vastus lateralis free flap for lower extremity gustilo grade III reconstruction

BACKGROUND

Orthopedic trauma patients with Gustilo grade III injuries to the distal third of lower extremity present challenges to optimum reconstructive management. There is no consensus on the ideal autologous tissue for transfer in large lower extremity defect reconstruction. We present a large case series utilizing the vastus lateralis (VL) free flap for lower extremity Gustilo grade III reconstruction.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a case series of patients who underwent VL free tissue transfer for Gustilo grade III injuries. A total of 38 free tissue transfers were performed for lower extremity reconstruction, 19 of which were VL flaps. Mean interval between injury and reconstruction was 46 days (range 7-240 days).

RESULTS

The mean wound size was 11.37 cm x 11.42 cm and all cases underwent delayed reconstruction. Seven day flap viability was 100% and 30-day flap viability was 17/19 (89%). There were six complications: two hematomas requiring drainage, one flap dehiscence, one distal flap loss requiring a reverse saphenous vein graft extension, and two complete flap losses. Of the two failed flaps, one was attributed to heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and the other to venous congestion complicated by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection.

CONCLUSIONS

The VL free flap is a reliable and versatile flap that can be tailored and tangentially thinned to match the shape and size of a defect, and the long pedicle allows the surgeon to stay away from the zone of injury. This flap should be strongly considered for lower extremity reconstruction, especially in salvage operations for large defects. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 37:212-217, 2017.

A systematic review of anterolateral thigh flap donor site morbidity

PURPOSE

The anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap is widely used in reconstruction. Its advantage over other flaps is its purported minimal donor site morbidity. The present systematic review summarizes the types of complications and their incidence with this flap. A secondary objective is to delineate factors that influence these complications and make recommendations to avoid them.

METHOD

Two independent assessors undertook a systematic review of the literature using multiple databases. All patients with ALT flap reconstruction for any defect were included. Donor site complications including lateral thigh paresthesia, musculoskeletal dysfunction, hypertrophic scarring, wound breakdown, infection, donor site pain, seroma, hematoma, compartment syndrome and muscle necrosis were extracted from identified articles and tabulated. Based on the number of pooled events and the number of cases performed, an incidence rate was calculated.

RESULTS

Forty-two relevant articles were identified that included 2324 flaps. Of the 2324 flaps, the majority were fasciocutaneous (n=737), and 1303 of the flaps were used in head and neck reconstruction. The incidence of complications were: lateral thigh paresthesia (24.0%); musculoskeletal dysfunction (4.8%); hypertrophic scarring or wound dehiscence (4.8%); donor site pain (3.3%); seroma (2.4%); infection (2.2%); hematoma (0.7%); compartment syndrome (0.09%); and partial muscle necrosis (0.09%).

CONCLUSION

Lateral thigh paresthesia is the most common complication. Severe complications such as compartment syndrome and muscle necrosis can occur, but are rare. Preservation of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh, femoral motor nerve branches and deep fascia decreases the risk of complications. The degree of vastus lateralis disruption did not show a significant impact on musculoskeletal dysfunction.

Clinical applications of the pedicled anterolateral thigh flap in complex abdominal-pelvic reconstruction

BACKGROUND

The free anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap has become a reconstructive workhorse with great versatility throughout the body. However, the utility of the pedicled ALT flap is less described for complex defects. A skin paddle with reliable blood circulation and wide range of reach, low donor site morbidity along with the avoidance of many of the complications plaguing free flaps, are just some of the several benefits offered by the pedicled ALT flap. We investigated specific clinical examples within our ALT flap database where the pedicled ALT flap was used for coverage of complex wounds and highlight its advantages.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective chart review on those patients in whom a pedicled ALT flap was used for complex wound reconstruction over a 7-year period between July 2002 and October 2009 at The R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center performed by a single surgeon.

RESULTS

: Four patients underwent a pedicled ALT flap as part of their reconstruction. Flaps ranged in size from 75 to 648 cm, and all but one were cutaneous in nature with the other one being fasciocutaneous. The flaps averaged 2 perforators (range, 1-3) and the donor sites were all closed primarily except for one.

CONCLUSIONS

When faced with a complex defect in the abdominal-pelvic region, we propose that the pedicled ALT flap has several advantages to other types of tissue coverage and is an excellent option for the reconstructive surgeon.

[Fractures of the extremities with severe open soft tissue damage. Initial management and reconstructive treatment strategies]

The successful management of open extremity injuries continues to represent a surgical challenge requiring a structured and multidisciplinary treatment concept. The treatment strategy depends on specific parameters, including the overall injury severity, life threatening trauma components, the degree oft soft tissue injury, the ischemia time, the contamination of the wound as well as the age and accompanying diseases of the patient. The treatment of fractures with a high-grade open soft tissue injury is guided by the severity of soft tissue damage including neurovascular damages, type of the fracture, overall state of the patient and is based on a clearly defined reconstructive algorithm sequentially employing initial wound treatment (debridement), stabilisation of the fracture and soft tissue coverage. The initial wound management includes radical and serial debridements and vessel reconstruction, followed by the gradual reconstruction of bone, tendons and nerves and a subsequent plastic soft tissue coverage.The sequential and priority-orientated implementation of these treatment steps is decisive for the long term outcome, which ideally results in an regular healing of bone and soft tissue without the presence of infection and good regain of extremity function.

[Management of severe soft-tissue trauma in the upper extremity - shoulder, upper and lower arm]

OBJECTIVE

Salvage of the respective extremity. Standardized approach to adequate soft-tissue coverage (isolated severe soft-tissue trauma) and preconditioning for fracture healing (in complex trauma) as a basis for functional restoration. Limitation of secondary soft-tissue loss. Prevention of infection.

INDICATIONS

Isolated extended severe soft-tissue trauma (crush trauma, degloving injury) in the region of the shoulder and the upper extremity. Complex trauma with soft-tissue involvement Gustilo IIIB/C or Tscherne GIII/IV. Segmental soft-tissue/bone loss. Subtotal or partial amputations.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Unstable polytraumatized patient with vital hazards and the priority for lifesaving measures. Irretrievable devascularization or unreconstructable neural destruction, extended severe loss of multiple muscular units.

SURGICAL TECHNIQUE

Systematic, eventually serial debridement, temporary joint transfixation, reconstruction of macrocirculation, dermatofasciotomy in compartment syndrome, preferably primary shortening in segmental soft-tissue/bone loss, temporary soft-tissue coverage, systematic conditioning of soft tissues, postprimary or secondary soft-tissue reconstruction, secondary change to preferably internal fixation techniques.

POSTOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT

Individualized earliest possible passive or assisted mobilization of nontransfixed joints, early removal of transfixation and change to internal fixation modes, eventually secondary reconstructive measures (e.g., augmentation of bone defects, flap correction, secondary nerve reconstruction, functional muscle transposition procedures, arthrolyses).

RESULTS

Patency rate after vascular reconstruction > 90%, flap survival > 95%, need for amputation is a rare entity; main determinants of prognosis: severity of soft-tissue trauma, neural damage, and potential for reconstruction.

The island myocutaneous flap reconstruction in electrical burn injuries of severely traumatized cervical region

Trauma patients with high-energy injuries often present with severe tissue damage that extends beyond the immediate zone of injury and require recruitment of vascularized and massive tissues. The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of the island myocutaneous flap for the reconstruction of the electrical burn injuries on the cervical region. We conducted a retrospective chart review on all trauma patients treated by the Department of Plastic Surgery at Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University who required a large amount of vascularized tissue for the reconstruction of the electrical burn injuries on the cervical region from July 1994 to June 2006. Of them, 23 patients underwent reconstruction of severe traumatic deformities and disfunction on the cervical region with 23 island myocutaneous flaps from adjacent regions. Of the 23 patients, 17 were male and 6 were female, with an average age of 38 years. Conservative surgery method for debriding necrotic tissues and three different types of island myocutaneous flaps, including pectoralis major island myocutaneous flap, latissimus dorsi island myocutaneous flap and trapezius island myocutaneous flap were used. The defect area ranged from 6 cm x 4 cm to 20 cm x 15 cm. The sizes of the dissected myocutaneous flap ranged from 8 cm x 6 cm to 35 cm x 15 cm. All the 23 cases acquired complete recovery. The secondary defect of donor areas had primary closure after being directly sutured or covered with skin grafts. Island myocutaneous flaps have distinctive advantages in treatment of electrical burn injuries on cervical region and it can obtain satisfactory functional and cosmetic outcomes.

Abdominal Wall Reconstruction following Severe Loss of Domain: The R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center Algorithm

BACKGROUND

Large, complex, posttraumatic and recurrent abdominal hernias present a reconstructive challenge. Multiple techniques have been described to restore the integrity of the abdominal wall, although the indications and applications can be difficult to navigate. The authors propose an algorithm that facilitates the assessment and treatment of secondary large ventral defects.

METHODS

The algorithm described involves a systematic approach to abdominal wall reconstruction and was applied to 23 consecutive patients at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. Data collected from the chart review included age, body mass index, mechanism of injury, placement of skin graft and use of resorbable mesh before definitive reconstruction, size of defect, number of tissue expanders placed, length of follow-up, and complications.

RESULTS

There were six female patients and 17 male patients, with an average age of 36 years. The average follow-up was 7 months. Seventeen patients had posttraumatic laparotomies, five patients had aggressive abdominal wall debridement following necrotizing fasciitis, and one patient developed a large abdominal wall hernia following complications from gastric bypass surgery. All patients underwent delayed abdominal wall reconstruction, with an average time to initial reconstruction of 19.5 months. Sixteen patients had no postoperative complications. Seven patients had complications, including one with an enterocutaneous fistula, one with a partial small bowel obstruction, two with seromas, one with a superficial wound infection, and two with recurrent abdominal wall laxity.

CONCLUSIONS

The reconstructive ladder for large, complex abdominal hernias is poorly defined. The proposed algorithm provides a systematic staged approach that incorporates available techniques used for delayed reconstruction of the abdominal wall.