Clinical applications of the delayed arterialized venous flap

Arterialized venous flaps have been used clinically but still have limited applications for coverage of small surface defects. Varying degrees of necrosis of the larger, arterialized venous flaps remain an unsolved problem. We have treated 13 patients, with acute soft-tissue defects in 9 patients and scar contracture in 4 patients, with surgically or surgically-chemically delayed arterialized venous flaps from 1993 to 1995. There were 9 males and 4 females. The average age of the 13 patients was 34.7 years. Donor sites were the medial calf in 4 patients, the volar surface of the forearm in 6 patients, the dorsum of the foot in 2 patients, and the medial thigh in 1 patient. Before arterialization, surgical delay was done in 9 patients and a combined surgical-chemical delay in 4 patients. There were 12 skin flaps and one composite tendocutaneous flap. The follow-up period ranged from 5 to 28 months, with an average of 15 months. The surviving surface area of the arterialized venous flap was 100% in 10 patients, axial 70% in 1 patient, axial 50% in 1 patient, and total necrosis in the remaining patient. Among the 10 flaps with total survival, the minimal flap size was 6 x 8 cm and the maximal flap size was 14 x 16 cm. Advantages of the delayed arterialized venous flap are (1) developing a larger flap than can be obtained with a pure venous flap or arterialized venous flap and (2) the increased survival rate of the arterialized venous flap, which permits the possibility of using a composite flap. This delayed arterialized venous flap also has all the advantages of the pure venous flap, such as preservation of the main artery of the donor site; thin, nonbulky tissue; and easy elevation without deep dissection. The disadvantage is the requirement of a two-stage operation.