Outcomes of Pedicled Groin Flaps for Upper Extremity Injuries

Free flap reconstruction has become the more common treatment over pedicled groin flaps for reconstruction of upper extremity injuries in recent years. Groin flaps are still used for a variety of reasons, though limited literature is available to guide surgeons and patients regarding outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology and outcomes of pedicled groin flaps for upper extremity pathology.

The study was a single-institution retrospective case series at a level one trauma center including patients who underwent pedicled groin flaps for upper extremity soft tissue coverage between 1992 and 2022. The data collected included patient and injury characteristics, surgical management, and complication data. Ordinal logistic regression, univariate analysis, and bivariate analysis were performed to assess the relationship between the total number of groin flap surgeries and complications with patient and injury characteristics.

The analysis included 88 pedicled groin flaps performed for upper extremity injuries, with a median follow-up of 1.14 years after injury. Patients had a median age of 35 (interquartile range [IQR]: 22-49) years and underwent a median of 4 (IQR: 3-5.25) surgeries with stiffness (90.6%), partial flap loss (38%), and infection (32%) as the most common complications. High-energy injuries increased the risk of requiring more surgeries based on ordinal logistic regression. Univariate and bivariate analysis revealed no significant difference in wound complications based on patient or injury characteristics.

Patients undergoing pedicled groin flaps for upper extremity injuries can expect to undergo an average of 4 surgeries, and high-energy injuries predict the need for more surgeries.