[Application and development of free composite tissue flap in plastic surgery]

To summarize and review the development and experience of anastomosis vascular pedicle free composite tissue flap.

From July 1987 to March 2007, 321 patients with complete records were treated. Fourteen tissue flaps were applied for the repair of trauma or tumor excision defects of the body, and for organ reconstruction.

Vascular crisis occurred in 20 patients within 48 hours postoperatively. Necrosis occurred at flap end in 6 patients. The total survival rate was 94.8%. The main experience was: (1) Training to grasp the basic micro-vascular anastomosis technique was very important starting up period for surgeons. The basic technique should be often practiced to ensure the safty of clinical application. (2) Restoring appearance and function were equally important in practice. (3) Utilizing the minimal invasive methods and decreasing the loss of function of donor site were important for improvement of reconstruction quality. The purpose was to achieve functional and esthetic restoration in the condition of lowest donor site scarification.

The application of free composite tissue flap is important for the development of plastic surgery. There are extensive applications for free flap, especially for those critical patients. The application of free flap could decrease the mobility rate, shorten the treatment period, ease the pain of patients and improve the reconstruction effect. The experience of donor site selection, the strategy of poor recipient site condition, the advantages and disadvantages of muscle flap, the applications time, infections wound treatment and application, are helpful for the future application.