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Engineered Vascularized Muscle Flap
Published on: January 11, 2016
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Prophylactic Muscle Flaps in Primary Vascular Procedures of the Groin
Adam B Wallace1, Merisa L Piper1, Michael Holland1
1Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA.
Annals of Vascular Surgery
|August 25, 2021
Summary
Prophylactic sartorius muscle flaps in groin vascular surgery significantly reduce reoperation rates. This muscle flap coverage aids wound healing and minimizes the need for further surgical intervention, improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Plastic Surgery
- Wound Healing
Background:
- Groin vascular procedure complications lead to significant morbidity.
- Stable soft tissue coverage is crucial for mitigating complications.
- Evidence supports muscle flaps for reoperative groins and high-risk patients, but prophylactic use data is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of immediate prophylactic muscle flap coverage of groin vascular wounds.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study (2014-2020) of primary open groin vascular procedures.
- Compared patients receiving sartorius muscle flap coverage versus layered closure alone.
- Analyzed demographics, comorbidities, surgical details, and postoperative complications.
Main Results:
- 133 groins analyzed; 115 (86.5%) received sartorius flaps, 18 (13.5%) layered closure.
- Wound breakdown rates were similar (25.2% vs. 38.9%, P=0.26).
- Reoperation rates were significantly higher with layered closure (50.0% vs. 12.2%, P<0.01).
Conclusions:
- Prophylactic sartorius muscle flaps reduce reoperation rates in primary groin vascular procedures.
- Muscle flaps facilitate local wound care and decrease the need for reoperation, even with similar incisional breakdown.
- Consideration of this low-morbidity flap is recommended for groin vascular procedures.
