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Lower extremity muscle perforator flaps for lower extremity reconstruction
1Division of Plastic Surgery, The Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown, PA, USA. pbhallock@cs.com
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
|October 1, 2004
Summary
Muscle perforator flaps, excluding muscle, minimize functional impairment for lower extremity reconstruction. This technique offers advantages but requires careful consideration of potential complications like venous insufficiency.
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Reconstructive Surgery
Background:
- Muscle perforator flaps are defined by intramuscular dissection of musculocutaneous perforators.
- This technique preserves muscle function, minimizing impairment in reconstructive surgery.
Observation:
- Lower extremity donor sites offer specific advantages for treating defects in this region.
- Over two decades, 20 lower extremity muscle perforator flaps were used for reconstruction.
Findings:
- Flaps were employed as local pedicled flaps or microsurgical tissue transfers.
- Significant complications (30%) included venous insufficiency and bulkiness.
- Advantages included giant flaps, long vascular pedicles, and combined flap possibilities.
Implications:
- Using lower extremity muscle perforator flaps localizes surgical intervention and morbidity.
- This approach is advantageous for lower extremity coverage problems.