ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical application of the anterior tibial artery perforator propeller flap relay peroneal artery terminal perforator propeller flap in repair of foot and ankle defects.MethodsBetween October 2014 and October 2018, 18 cases with foot and ankle defects were treated. There were 12 males and 6 females with an average age of 32.8 years (range, 8-56 years). There were 11 cases of traffic accident injuries, 3 cases of falling from height injuries, and 4 cases of heavy objects injuries. The wound was at the dorsum of the foot in 9 cases, the heel in 4 cases, the lateral malleolus in 5 cases. The time from injury to flap repair was 7-34 days (mean, 19 days). The size of wound ranged from 6.0 cm×2.5 cm to 11.0 cm×6.0 cm. The foot and ankle defects were repaired with the peroneal artery terminal perforator propeller flap in size of 6 cm×3 cm-18 cm×7 cm, which donor site was repaired with the anterior tibial artery perforator propeller flap in size of 8 cm×3 cm-16 cm×6 cm.ResultsOne patient had a hemorrhagic swelling in the peroneal artery terminal perforator propeller flap, and survived after symptomatic treatment. All recipient and donor sites healed by first intention. Eighteen patients were followed up 6-15 months (mean, 12.5 months). At last follow-up, the shape, color, texture, and thickness of the flaps in the donor sites were similar with those in the recipient sites. There were only linear scars on the donor sites. The two-point discrimination of the peroneal artery terminal perforator propeller flap ranged from 10 to 12 mm (mean, 11 mm). According to American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score criteria, the results were excellent in 15 cases and good in 3 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 100%.ConclusionThe foot and ankle defects can be repaired with the anterior tibial artery perforator propeller flap relay peroneal artery terminal perforator propeller flap. The procedure is not sacrificing the main vessel and can avoid the skin grafting and obtain the good ankle function.
To report the diagnosis methods and cl inical treatment effects of blood vessel trunk damage in l imbs. Methods From January 2001 to June 2006, 72 patients with vascular injury in l imbs were treated. There were 50 males and 22 females, aged from 5-60 years (median 39 years) and including 44 cases of open injury and 28 cases of closed injury.The locations were subclavian artery in 1, femoral artery in 23, popl iteal artery in 20, radia artery and ulna artery in 12, brachial artery in 11, axilary artery in 3 and anterior and posterior tibia artery in 2. The disease course was 30 minutes to 27 days. Injured arteries were repaired by suturing directly in 3 cases, by end-end anastomosis in 39 cases and by saphenous transplantation in 30 cases. The length of transplant veins was 3 cm to 8 cm. Results In 72 cases, 67 survived and 5 were given amputation. Fortyeight cases were followed up 6 months to 5 years. The blood flow rate and the diameter of blood vessel on the affected l imbs were not different from that of normal l imbs by colorful Doppler blood flow monitor. Forty cases recovered satisfactory l imb function. Eight cases had different degrees of dysfunction, of them, four cases received functional reconstructive operation, and the function and appearance were improved. Conclusion To investigate the mechanism and situation of injury, to examine patients carefully and analyze comprehensively are the key points of making earl ier diagnosis for branch blood vessel damage; microsurgical repair of the injured blood vessel is the assurance of the blood flow rate. For the blood vessel above elbow and knee injured and lacked blood supply more than 4 hours and fascia syndrome, earl ier opening the fascia cavity is the effective methods to recover the function of the l imbs and to avoid disabil ity.