Utilisation of distally based sural fasciocutaneous flaps in lower extremity reconstruction: a single-centre experience with 88 paediatric patients

Background No large series have analysed distally based sural fasciocutaneous (DBSF) flaps in paediatric patients. The aims of this study were to assess the reliability and analyse the potential risk factors for these flaps and to describe complications in the donor site and the functional follow-up results. Methods Between June 2002 and November 2017, 88 DBSF flaps were used to reconstruct soft tissue defects in paediatric patients. Potential risk factors, reconstruction outcomes, and complications in the donor site of the flaps were analysed. Results Among the 88 flaps, partial necrosis developed in 8 flaps (9.1%). The partial necrosis rate was significantly higher in flaps with the top edge located in the 9th zone (26.1%), with a length-width ratio (LWR) ≥ 5:1 (28.6%), and with a dimension of the skin island ≥ 100 cm2 (22.7%). Partial necrosis did not occur in flaps with a dimension of the skin island < 80.0 cm2 or with a skin-island width < 7.0 cm. The reconstruction outcomes in most paediatric patients were evaluated as “excellent” or “good”. The incidence of obvious scarring was higher in the donor site. Conclusions Partial necrosis of DBSF flaps will significantly increase when the top edge of the flap is located in the 9th zone, when the LWR of the flap is ≥ 5:1, or when the dimension of the skin island is ≥ 100.0 cm2. Flaps with a skin-island width < 7.0 cm or with a dimension of the skin island < 80 cm2 are relatively safe and reliable.

Long-Term Undesirable Consequences of Penile Skin Island Flap to Correct Penoescrotal Transposition: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Hypospadias is a congenital malformation of the male lower urinary tract, consisting of a ventral urethral opening proximal to the glans penis. This condition is corrected surgically in the paediatric age, with a great variety of techniques available. Traditionally, a tubularized genital skin was used for one- or two-stage repairs. Nowadays, the tendency is to use preputial or oral mucosa grafts, dorsally located, to avoid diverticula formation and prevent hair growth in the neourethra. We present a case of a patient born with proximal hypospadias with penoscrotal transposition, surgically corrected in his childhood, using dorsal penile skin island flap. The patient is referred to urology consultation in his adulthood for a weak urinary stream, recurrent infections, and a large amount of hair exiting through the urethral meatus.

How to Design and Harvest a Propeller Flap

Propeller flaps are local flaps based either on a subcutaneous pedicle, a single perforator, or vessels entering the flap in such a way so as to allow the flap to rotate on their axis. Depending on the kind of pedicle and the anatomical area, the preoperative investigation and the harvesting techniques may vary.An adequate knowledge of skin and subcutaneous tissue perfusion in the different areas of the body is very important to plan a propeller flap to be successful.The surgeon should begin by finding the most suitable perforators in the area surrounding the defect using available technology. The position, size, and shape of the flap are planned about this point.For perforator-pedicled propeller flaps, the procedure starts with an exploration from the margins of the defect or through a dedicated incision to visualize any perforators in the surroundings. The most suitable perforator is selected and isolated, the skin island is replanned, and the flap is harvested and rotated into the defect. The variations in surgical technique for other types of propellers and in specific anatomical areas are also described.Compared with free flaps, propeller flaps have the advantage of a simpler, shorter operation, without the need for a recipient vessel for microanastomosis.Yet, from a technical point of view, an adequate experience in dissecting perforators and the use of magnifying glasses are almost always required.

Our Definition of Propeller Flaps and Their Classification

The term propeller flap was introduced for the first time by Hyakusoku to define an island flap, based on a subcutaneous pedicle hub, that was rotated 90 degrees to correct scar contractures due to burns. With the popularization of perforator flaps, the propeller movement was applied for the first time to a skin island vascularized only by an isolated perforator, and the terms propeller and perforator flap were used together. Thereafter, the surgical technique of propeller flaps evolved and new applications developed. With the “Tokyo consensus,” we proposed a definition and a classification schema for propeller flaps. A propeller flap was defined as an “island flap that reaches the recipient site through an axial rotation.” The classification included the SPP (SPP) flap, the perforator pedicled propeller (PPP) flap, and the supercharged PPP (SCP) flap. A recent update added a new category, the axial pedicled propeller (APP) flap. Here we propose our updated and comprehensive classification of propeller flaps, taking into account the previous classification and subsequent publications. Based on their vascular pedicle, we consider the following five types of propellers: (1) SPP flap, 2.PPP flap, its subtype (2a) SCP flap, (3) APP flap, (4) muscle propeller flap, and (5) chimeric propeller flap. The variables that can be taken into account in the classification are as follows: type of nourishing pedicle, degrees of skin island rotation, position of the nourishing pedicle, artery of origin of the pedicle, and flap shape.

The History of Propeller Flaps

Several pedicled flaps were developed by Hyakusoku at the Nippon Medical School Hospital, Tokyo, Japan, in the 1980s to treat a large number of patients with postburn contractures. In this setting, the propeller flaps were described for the first time in 1991. The term propeller was used because of the blade shape of the skin island rotating on its axis. In 1989, Koshima introduced the term perforator flaps, whereas Hallock, in 2006, applied the perforator flap concept to the propeller flap. The name perforator pedicled propeller flap followed. Propeller flap had developed to be an important operative technique and a hot topic in the field of reconstructive microsurgery, with the important contribution of Teo. In 2009, the First Tokyo Meeting on Perforator and Propeller Flaps was held, where Pignatti reported the consensus on the definition and classification of propeller flaps that was given by the advisory panel of the meeting. Further evolutions developed since then will be described in this dedicated issue of Seminars of Plastic Surgery.

Modification of the abductor digiti minimi muscle flap for soft tissue coverage of the diabetic foot

The local intrinsic abductor digiti minimi muscle flap is ideal for lateral, plantar lateral traumatic or diabetic foot wounds following adequate surgical debridement to eradicate any soft tissue and/or osseous infection. Although the indications and surgical technique have been well-described in the literature, the authors present a unique modification of tunnelling the harvested muscle flap directly from the donor site to the plantar recipient foot wound by maintaining the intact overlying skin island at the surface of the fifth metatarsal base. This modification allows preservation of the patient's skin integrity in this area, thereby minimising potential morbidity at the major pedicle site. After the harvested muscle is tunnelled through the intact skin island, an adjacent local random flap mobilisation, autogenous or allogeneic skin graft can then be used for coverage over the muscle inset if primary wound closure is not feasible. Simultaneous soft tissue or osseous surgical procedures and/or surgical offloading with external fixation at the time of index surgery may be necessary to achieve optimal outcomes. The authors present a modified surgical technique for the abductor digiti minimi muscle flap that can be performed in the surgical reconstruction of a soft tissue wound in patients with diabetic Charcot neuroarthropathy.

Improving the Penile Skin Adequacy and Appearance by Patching of the Preputial Skin Island Flap (PSIF) in Distal and Midshaft Hypospadias Associated with Severe Ventral Skin Deficiency: Experience in 224 Cases

Objectives: Reconstruction of ventral penile skin, in midshaft and distal hypospadias is problematic in many cases of severe ventral dysplasia. So we plan to use the tailored preputial skin island flap (PSIF) to cover the ventral defect. Methods: In this prospective cohort study 224 boys with midshaft and distal hypospadias associated with sever ventral dysplasia were operated from March 2009 until January 2016. The large U-shaped bare area which exposed on the ventrum after release of curvature was quilted by the PSIF as a patch. In each case, the variable size of the flap was required. The prepuces without the predominant artery were excluded from the study due to poor vasculature. The patients followed for 8 months to 7years. Results: Flap ischemia developed in 7 initial cases (3.125%), all of which subsequently faded. Some degree of ischemic discoloration was encountered at margins of the flap (12 cases, 5.3%), which resolved spontaneously. In 5 out of 224 patients (2.23 %), the flap persisted as a hypertrophied area of skin in the long-term follow-up. All of them needed to be corrected surgically. Near normal appearing penile skin was accomplished in the majority of patients during the follow-up. However, lack of the median raphe in the ventrum was evident in all. Conclusions: Tailored preputial skin island flap, as a native tissue to cover the exposed large bare area on the ventrum in cases of the distal and mid hypospadias with severe ventral dysplasia may improve the appearance and adequacy of the penile skin. It provides room for full erection and improves the patient’ s perception of body image and self-esteem.