BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of lateral intercostal artery perforator-based adipofascial free flaps for facial reconstruction in patients with facial soft tissue deficiency. METHODS We conducted a retrospective study of five consecutive patients diagnosed with facial soft tissue deficiency who underwent operations between July 2006 and November 2011. Flap des...

In perforator flap reconstruction, vascular mapping using preoperative computed tomography (CT) angiography is widely used to confirm the existence and location of an appropriate perforator. This study proposes a rapid, accurate, and convenient method for marking the perforator location on the skin surface. For 12 patients who underwent perforator flap reconstruction between November 2011 and N...

Perforator flap breast reconstruction is an accepted surgical option for breast cancer patients electing to restore their body image after mastectomy. Since the introduction of the deep inferior epigastric perforator flap, microsurgical techniques have evolved to support a 99 percent success rate for a variety of flaps with donor sites that include the abdomen, buttock, thigh, and trunk. Recent...

BACKGROUND This study investigated the quality of life of Chinese patients with malignant tumors who had undergone immediate free flap reconstruction surgery. In addition, we compared 2 groups of patients: those who had received radial forearm free flap surgery and others who had received free anterolateral thigh perforator flap surgery. METHODS Quality of life was assessed using the Medical ...

Background: Chronic lower extremity wounds due to infection, diabetes mellitus, and osteomyelitis have always been arduous to treat. Among an ocean of reconstructive techniques, the distal posterior tibial artery perforator flap has been gaining popularity in the recent years. Materials and methods: In this article, we describe our experience in the treatment of twenty-eight patients with chron...

BACKGROUND The lateral arm flap remains an underused flap, especially as a free flap. In this article, the authors describe the perforator anatomy to optimize flap design and harvest. METHODS Perforator locations were mapped in 12 cadavers (24 arms), and a retrospective review was conducted of 51 patients undergoing lateral arm flap surgery. RESULTS One to three reliable perforators supply ...

The anterolateral thigh flap can provide a large skin paddle nourished by a long and large-caliber pedicle and can be harvested by two-team work. Most importantly, the donor-site morbidity is minimal. However, the anatomic variations decreased its popularity. By adapting free-style flap concepts, such as preoperative mapping of the perforators and being familiar with retrograde perforator disse...

BACKGROUND Thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flap is one of the relatively new techniques in breast reconstruction. This pedicled flap retains the benefits of perforator flaps as regards minimal donor site morbidity without the need for microvascular anastomosis. Its role in partial breast reconstruction has been well documented. However, there are few reports about the role of this flap i...

Reconstruction of a composite maxillary defect is frequently performed with a fibular osteocutaneous free flap to address both the bony and mucosal defect. If during the harvest of the fibula a distal skin perforator is not present due to vascular variations, reconstruction can potentially be done using the soleus muscle for filling of the palatal mucosal defect. An additional challenge arises ...