Siew-Weng Ng

Lateral thoracic perforator flap: additional perforator flap option from the lateral thoracic region.

BACKGROUND Perforator flaps from the lateral thoracic region have not been as popular as other donor sites because of the misconception that the vascular anatomy in this region is less than predictable. However, the skin over the lateral thoracic region is vascularised by three rows of perforators of varied vascular dominance. Two perforator flaps from this region based on the middle and the posterior row of perforators from the thoracodorsal artery have been described. The lateral thoracic perforator flap based on the anterior row of perforators is another useful option. PATIENTS AND RESULTS Nine patients underwent reconstructions using the lateral thoracic perforator flap for various defects in the head and neck region and lower limbs as a result of tumour extirpation, crush injury and chronic wound with osteomyelitis. All flaps were raised in the supine position. Three flaps were raised in a chimaeric fashion. The largest flap was 20×12 cm and the mean size was 106 cm2. All flaps survived without major complication. CONCLUSION The lateral thoracic perforator flap is a reliable reconstructive option. It can be readily configured in terms of size, thickness and tissue composition. However, it is not the first-choice flap from this region because the resultant donor scar tends to extend visibly beyond the anterior axillary fold and the arterial and venous pedicles frequently have separate courses. The lateral thoracic region has become a versatile and universal donor site for free-style flap harvest with this additional flap option.

Contralateral Pedicled Lateral Arm Flap for Hand Reconstruction

Large defects of the hand usually require reconstruction with flap resurfacing to provide durable coverage and preserve function. Pedicled flaps are preferred when there are no vessels available or they are of questionable quality for anastomosis. Such clinical settings may be due to the primary pathology, or when the vessels are preserved for secondary reconstruction. We introduce the contralateral pedicled lateral arm flap as a viable alternative.From 1988 to 2006, we treated 22 consecutive patients aged between 6 and 70 (18 males and 4 females). The indications for flap reconstruction included hand defects resulting from trauma (n = 16), infection (n = 3), burn (n = 2), and complication of free flap (n = 1). The flap was designed with extension into the forearm and raised based on the posterior radial collateral artery. All patients underwent intensive postoperative mobilization. The flap was divided 3 weeks later after a week of ischemic preconditioning.All the flaps survived. There was no wound infection. The flap size ranged from 18 cm2 to 127.5 cm2. Eighteen reconstructions were fasciocutaneous and 4 were osteofasciocutaneous. Three patients underwent subsequent toe-digit transfer. All patients achieved activities of daily living independently by the third postoperative day. There was no significant shoulder and elbow joints stiffness.The contralateral pedicled lateral arm flap is a reliable option for resurfacing large defect of the hand where pedicled flap is indicated. There is minimal morbidity associated.

Use of latissimus dorsi flap pedicle as a T-junction to facilitate simultaneous free fibular flap inset in lower extremity salvage

Marjolins ulcer is a very aggressive form of squamous cell carcinoma arising from chronic wounds or unstable scars. A resection margin of at least 2 cm with clear deep margin is required on removal. A 79-year-old male presented with chronic osteomyelitis of the left anterior tibial region with chronic ulceration. Biopsy revealed squamous cell carcinoma. The tumour, measuring 8 cm, was resected with surrounding unstable scar tissue including en bloc resection of the involved tibial bone, leaving the posterior cortex. Reconstruction was done with a fibular free flap from the contralateral side, but the pedicle length was too short to reach the anterior tibial vessels. To bridge the vascular gap, and to cover the soft-tissue defect, a latissimus dorsi free flap was harvested using the muscle-sparing method. The thoracodorsal vessels were used as an interpositional graft to anastomose the peroneal vessels of the fibular flap. The patient was ambulatory by 4 months, and complete bone union was seen after 6 months. During the 18-month follow-up period, there was no evidence of recurrence.

The island pedicled anterolateral thigh (pALT) flap via the lateral subcutaneous tunnel for recurrent ischial ulcers

Chronic recurrent ischial sores are an important cause of morbidity in paraplegics and geriatric patients. Compared to sacral and trochanteric ulcers, ischial sores are the most difficult to treat, with a low success rate following conservative therapy and a high recurrence rate after surgical treatment. We report the use of the pedicled anterolateral thigh (pALT) flap for reconstruction of a chronic ischial sore. The free ALT flap has an established role in reconstruction in the head and neck and extremities. However, there are few reports concerning its clinical applications for regional reconstruction. As a pedicled flap, it has been used in the primary reconstruction of the perineum, groin, anterior abdominal wall, thigh and ischium. We present the first reported case of a paraplegic man with a recurrent ischial sore treated successfully with an island pALT flap inset via a lateral subcutaneous approach. We discuss the indications and its role as a simple and reliable secondary reconstructive option in the treatment of recurrent ischial ulcers after first-line loco-regional surgical options have been exhausted.

Use of latissimus dorsi perforator flap to facilitate simultaneous great toe-to-thumb transfer in hand salvage

Severe crushing and degloving injury of the hand often involves multiple tissue structures requiring several stages of reconstructions. This is more challenging when tissue defect and loss of thumb co-exist, requiring vascularised tissue transfer and toe-to-thumb reconstruction in a hand that has severely compromised vascularity. The management variables to be considered include the use of pedicled or free flap, simultaneous or staged procedures, consideration for early rehabilitation and flap selection to facilitate simultaneous free tissue transfers without further jeopardy to the vascularity of the hand. We illustrate these considerations in a case we have managed with simultaneous application of a latissimus dorsi perforator flap and great toe-to-thumb transfer.

Classification of Raynaud’s disease based on angiographic features

Accurate diagnosis and timely management are crucial to avoid an ischaemic consequence in Raynauds disease. There is, however, no objective classification of this disorder which guides surgical planning in refractory cases. We propose a new classification system to achieve this. From 2003 to 2009, we treated 178 patients (351 hands) who underwent surgical intervention due to an ischaemic consequence. We analysed the angiographic features of the arterial supply of the hand at three levels: (1) radial or ulnar, (2) palmar arch and common digital and (3) digital vessels. Subsequent surgical interventions were tailored according to disease types, and these included combinations of: digital sympathectomy, balloon angioplasty and end-to-end interposition venous or arterial grafting. We classified Raynauds disease into six types: type I and II involve the radial or ulnar arteries. Type I (27.3%) showed complete occlusion, while type II (26.2%) involved partial occlusion. Type IIIa (27.1%) showed tortuous, narrowed or stenosed common digital and digital vessels. Type IIIb (1.4%) is a subset which involved the digital vessel of the index finger related to exposure to prolonged vibration. Type IV and V showed global involvement from the main to digital vessels. Type IV (13.7%) showed diffused tortuosity, narrowing and stenosis. Type V (4.3%) is the most severe, with paucity of vessels and very scant flow. Nearly half (47%) of the patients had associated systemic disease. This new classification provides objective and valuable information for decision making regarding choice of surgical procedures for the treatment of patients with Raynauds disease which had failed conservative therapy.

A fan-shaped axillopectoral muscle: an unusual variant of the axillary arch.

The axillary arch is a vestigial muscle in the axilla, which originates from the latissimus dorsi and inserts into the pectoralis major tendon. The aim of this article is to describe a fan-shaped variant of the axillary arch and its clinical implications. We present a patient who underwent an axillary node dissection during which, a fan-shaped axillopectoral muscle measuring 8 cm by 6 cm was encountered. It was disinserted to provide exposure of the axilla.

Elbow Reconstruction With Compression Plate Arthrodesis and Circumferential Muscle-Sparing Latissimus Dorsi Flap After Tumor Resection A Case Report

Background: The goals of limb-sparing surgery in the setting of extremity malignancies are 2-fold: oncological clearance and the rehabilitation of function and aesthetics. Treatment success should be defined by the extent of restoration of the patient’s premorbid function for reintegration into society. Methods: We would like to report an unusual case of a patient with a chronically ankylosed elbow with joint invasion by basal cell carcinoma which resulted from malignant transformation of an overlying, long-standing wound due to inadequately treated septic arthritis from his childhood years. Results: Following R0 resection, upper limb shortening and compression plate elbow arthrodesis were performed with the aim of restoring the degree of upper limb function that the patient had been accustomed to preoperatively. The resultant circumferential defect was then closed with a contralateral, free muscle-sparing latissimus dorsi flap. Conclusions: Functional preservation may therefore be more important than the mere restoration of anatomical defects in these especially challenging situations.

Cryoinjury with compartment syndrome of bilateral hands secondary to Freon gas: a case report and review of current literature

Freon is an industrial refrigerant that can result in serious cryoinjury of the skin. Although there had been a few reported cases, the optimal management is not clear. We present the first case report of a patient with freon-induced cryoinjury of bilateral hands, complicated with compartment syndrome and treated with a combination of surgical decompression, negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT), and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). On follow-up, there was a complete healing without tissue loss or significant atrophy of the intrinsic muscles of the hand. Therefore, we opined that HBOT and NPWT may work synergistically to prevent progressive tissue damage and improve the long-term outcome, especially when vascularity is compromised in severe cryoinjuries of the hand.Level of Evidence: Level V, therapeutic study.