scholarly journals Microvascular skin coverage in wounds that expose the Achilles tendon

Author(s):  
Baltazar Barrera-Mera ◽  
Israel Salgado-Adame ◽  
Obed Horacio Grajeda-Chávez ◽  
Jazmín Danaé Chávez-Hernández ◽  
Cuauhtémoc Aguilar-Barragán ◽  
...  

Achilles tendon rupture is one of the most frequent tendon ruptures. Surgical intervention is the best option, but it has a high rate of complications leading to skin infections and necrosis. Extensive and aggressive debridement is necessary, producing tendon exposure and large skin defects. There are many alternatives for the skin coverage of the Achilles tendon, like sequential closures, vacuum assisted closure, local flaps, regional flaps, and more recently and efficiently microsurgery flaps. Skin defects in the Achilles tendon region have many peculiarities in comparison with other parts of the body: it is a zone that is always under mechanical stress due to footwear, this is why it must be highly resistant but thin. Its coverage must have sensitive properties, endure tendon gliding and allow early rehabilitation. Sometimes tendon reinforcement or creation or a neo tendon will be needed. For fulfilling these requirements free flaps by microsurgery are the only option in 90% of the cases. In this review article, we analyze three of the most frequently used free flaps in reconstructive medicine for complex Achilles tendon defects; free radial forearm flap, free radial forearm flap with vascularized flexor carpi radialis tendon and free anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap with vascularized fascia lata. This choice will be determined by the number of tissues involved, size of the defect, etiology of the defect, overall condition of the affected extremity and quality of neighboring tissues.

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Jonathan Velazquez- Mujica ◽  
Hung Chi Chen ◽  
Juan Carlos Reyes Cerda

Introduction: Accidental Iatrogenic damage of the pedicle or perforators has been frequently reported as a cause of failure of free flaps. Free radial forearm flap helps to cover defects that are not possible to cover with local flaps or skin graft.Case Presentation: A 91 years old patient with Bowen Disease had multiple actinic keratosis and a history of squamous cell carcinoma over the forehead, which was removed 4 years before. The recurrent tumor was detected and wide excision of the tumor was done. It resulted in a large defect of 8 x 5.5 cm2 in diameter at the forehead with exposure of bone, therefore, a free radial forearm flap was performed for reconstruction with right superficial temporal artery and vein as recipient’s vessel. We observed leakage of blood through the radial artery near to the anastomosis due to iatrogenic damage during flap harvesting.Conclusions: Nowadays, repairing iatrogenic damage through the main pedicle or perforators of the pedicle is possible with super-microsurgery technique due to the improvement of the skills and smaller sutures avoiding the obstruction of the lumen of the pedicle or perforator. This is considered a salvage procedure instead of harvesting new free flaps and can be useful for all kinds of free flaps.


2008 ◽  
Vol 2008 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Lumen ◽  
S. Monstrey ◽  
P. Ceulemans ◽  
E. van Laecke ◽  
P. Hoebeke

Objectives. Severe penile inadequacy in adolescents is rare. Phallic reconstruction to treat this devastating condition is a major challenge to the reconstructive surgeon. Phallic reconstruction using the free radial forearm flap (RFF) or the pedicled anterolateral thigh flap (ALTF) has been routinely used in female-to-male transsexuals. Recently we started to use these techniques in the treatment of severe penile inadequacy.Methods. Eleven males (age 15 to 42 years) were treated with a phallic reconstruction. The RFF is our method of choice; the ALTF is an alternative when a free flap is contraindicated or less desired by the patient. The RFF was used in 7 patients, the ALTF in 4 patients. Mean followup was 25 months (range: 4–49 months). Aesthetic and functional results were evaluated.Results. There were no complications related to the flap. Aesthetic results were judged as “good” in 9 patients and “moderate” in 2 patients. Sensitivity in the RFF was superior compared to the ALTF. Four patients developed urinary complications (stricture and/or fistula). Six patients underwent erectile implant surgery. In 2 patients the erectile implant had to be removed due to infection or erosion.Conclusion. In case of severe penile inadequacy due to whatever condition, a phalloplasty is the preferred treatment nowadays. The free radial forearm flap is still the method of choice. The anterolateral thigh flap can be a good alternative, especially when free flaps are contraindicated, but sensitivity is markedly inferior in these flaps.


Head & Neck ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 772-777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mieke Moerman ◽  
Hubert Vermeersch ◽  
Kristiane Van Lierde ◽  
Hossein Fahimi ◽  
Paul Van Cauwenberge

1986 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 2133-2139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukihiro MICHIWAKI ◽  
Kohsuke OHNO ◽  
Hiroshi YOSHIDA ◽  
Kenichi SAITOH ◽  
Takeaki OHSAWA ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
pp. 375-382
Author(s):  
Brogan G. A. Evans ◽  
Gregory R. D. Evans

Radial forearm free-flaps (RFFF) offer great utility in the reconstruction of intraoral soft tissue defects. The use of a free tissue transfer with the radial forearm flap can obviate poor wound healing and replace previously irradiated tissue with well-perfused normal fascia and skin. Considerable care must be taken by the surgeon to preserve adequate function of speech and swallow, as well as to obtain good cosmesis. Knowledge of proper anatomical orientation and preoperative marking provide keys to a successful flap dissection and intraoral reconstruction. After reading this chapter, the reader should have an understanding of the assessment of intraoral defects, indications for RFFF, intraoperative techniques, and marking, as well as postoperative patient management.


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