Free flaps for lower limb soft tissue reconstruction in children: Systematic review

Since the first reports on microsurgery in children, there has been an evolution in the reconstruction of soft tissue defects as evidenced by a shift to free flaps as the first-line treatment.

The primary objective of this systematic review was to compare the complication rate of free perforator/fasciocutaneous flaps with free muscular/myocutaneous flaps in pediatric lower limb soft tissue reconstructions. The secondary objective was to evaluate the frequency and severity of complications for both reconstructive options. A search was performed in the databases PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library depending on predefined inclusion criteria.

The evolution to perforator flaps from muscular and myocutaneous flaps is reflected in this systematic review as demonstrated by the anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap, which is the most common reconstructive option with a very low complication rate (11.3%) and flap loss. The latissimus dorsi (LD) flap was the second most frequently reported reconstruction with a complication rate comparable with that of the thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flap (32% vs. 39%, respectively), but the former suffers few failures. The radial forearm (RFA) fasciocutaneous flap can be considered a good alternative for ALT and TDAP flaps with a very low complication rate (16%) and no flap loss.

The ALT flap is considered the best reconstructive method for pediatric lower limb soft tissue defects. More adequate prospective studies specifically concerning free flap reconstructions for lower limb defects in children are necessary in the future to provide guidelines for treatment and optimize outcomes in the long term.