VERSATILITY OF TENSOR FASCIA LATA FLAP FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF GROIN DEFECTS.

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Reconstructive Surgery
• Wound Management

Background:

• Soft tissue defect management has advanced with reconstructive surgery techniques.
• McGregor et al. introduced a pivotal flap method in 1972 for hand defects.
• This technique offered benefits like larger skin surface without microsurgery and concealed donor site scars.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare outcomes of primary closure versus tensor fascia lata (TFL) flap for groin defect reconstruction.
• Key outcomes assessed include wound infection, skin flap necrosis, and hospital stay.
• The study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.

Main Methods:

• A prospective observational study involving 60 patients with groin defects.
• Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (primary closure, n=30) and Group B (TFL flap, n=30).
• Outcomes were compared over 4 weeks post-surgery, with data analyzed using SPSS version 23.

Main Results:

• TFL flap reconstruction (Group B) showed significantly lower rates of wound infection (p=0.001) and skin flap necrosis (p=0.001) compared to primary closure (Group A).
• The average hospital stay was significantly shorter for the TFL flap group (p=0.001).
• The study population comprised 73.3% males and 26.7% females, with an average age of 35.7±11.18 years.

Conclusions:

• Tensor fascia lata flap reconstruction is superior to primary closure for groin defects.
• TFL flaps significantly reduce postoperative complications like infection and necrosis.
• This reconstructive approach also shortens patient recovery time and hospital stays.