[Clinical application of a large flow-through venous flap]

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Reconstructive Surgery
• Vascular Surgery

Background:

• Upper limb injuries often involve significant artery and soft tissue defects.
• Reconstruction of these defects presents a surgical challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical efficacy of a large flow-through venous flap for upper limb reconstruction.
• To assess functional and aesthetic outcomes following this reconstructive technique.

Main Methods:

• A large flow-through venous flap was utilized in 9 patients with upper limb injuries between January 2012 and January 2015.
• The flap was used to reconstruct artery defects and large skin/soft tissue defects, with donor sites covered by skin grafts.

Main Results:

• Seven out of nine flaps achieved complete survival, with minor distal necrosis in two cases that healed with dressing changes.
• Excellent and good rates for flap sensory function were 77.8%, and for upper limb function were 88.9%.

Conclusions:

• The large flow-through venous flap is a feasible method for upper limb reconstruction, particularly for artery defects.
• Advantages include simple operation, minimal donor site morbidity, and satisfactory aesthetic results.