• 1. Department of Scar and Wound Treatment II, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100144, P. R. China;
  • 2. Department of Hand Microsurgery and Plastic Reconstructive Surgery, Ningbo No.6 Hospital, Ningbo Zhejiang, 315043, P. R. China;
LIU Yuanbo, Email: ybpumc@sina.com
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Objective  To review the clinical applications of perforator flaps in restoring human body functions. Methods  An extensive literature review was conducted on both domestic and international publications to summarize the clinical use of perforator flaps for functional restoration. Results  Perforator flaps are among the most commonly used flaps in reconstructive surgery. Beyond providing soft tissue coverage, they are increasingly employed to reconstruct diverse bodily functions, leading us to propose the concept of the “functional perforator flap”. Although various forms of functional perforator flaps are currently utilized, reports are predominantly scattered case studies, lacking systematic organization. Commonly used functional perforator flaps can be categorized into five types: chimeric perforator flaps, perforator flaps for nerve function restoration, perforator flaps for lymphatic drainage enhancement, flow-through perforator flaps, and perforator flaps for restoring bone and joint motion. These novel flaps significantly broaden the application scope of perforator flaps, elevating the goal of reconstruction from mere wound coverage to achieving coverage concurrent with functional recovery. Conclusion The application of various functional perforator flap designs significantly improves wound reconstruction outcomes and represents an effective approach for managing complex defects. Future developments will undoubtedly see more forms of functional perforator flaps reported to meet increasingly sophisticated reconstructive demands.

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