Introduction
: During the past decades, free flaps have been given a central role in the reconstructive surgery. Especially in the extremities, where there is a scarcity of available tissues for local flaps, free flaps play a central part. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors contributing to partial and total flap failure.
Patients and methods
: In a retrospective cohort study, all data concerning patients who underwent free flap reconstruction of the extremities during the first five years since the founding of the department of plastic surgery were gathered. Patient- and surgery-related risk factors were analyzed in correlation to the postoperative complications.
Results
: In total, 182 free flaps were included in this study. Partial and total flap failure were noted in 21.42% and 17.03%, respectively. A correlation was seen between the time lapsed from debridement until flap coverage, with flaps performed between day 4 and 14 having the least quote of flap failure (p=0.022). Gender, age, arterial hypertension, nicotine abuse, diabetes mellitus, peripheral arterial disease and the number of anastomosed veins were not significantly associated with free flap failure.
Conclusion
: Our study showed that free flaps can be safely performed in healthy patients as well as in patients with risk factors, with an acceptable flap loss rate. Randomized controlled studies are needed to clarify the exact role of each risk factor in free flap surgery.
Summary:Soft-tissue defects caused by radiation injury are a challenging task for the reconstructive surgeon, due to the extent of the soft-tissue damage and the associated injuries of the local blood vessels and bone tissue. We present the application of the versatile deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap for the coverage of an extended lateral thigh soft-tissue defect after the surgical resection of an undifferentiated pleomorphic high-grade sarcoma, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and adjuvant chemo- and radiotherapy. A double-pedicled free DIEP flap (756 cm2) was harvested and anastomosed to the transverse branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery and a lateral branch of the popliteal artery (P1). The flap survived completely without serious complications, and the patient was able to walk with crutches 3 months postoperatively. This is the first case report of a free bipedicled DIEP flap for the coverage of a thigh defect in a male patient.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.