RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Selecting the right technique for lower limb soft tissue reconstruction is a therapeutic challenge. Despite having several reconstruction options, it's important to choose a technique that is effective and with the least possible donor site morbidity. OBJECTIVE: Demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of the medial tab flap in soft tissue reconstruction on the leg, compared to conventional flaps. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cohort study matched by age. 64 patients with soft tissue defects were selected and according to the intervention divided in: group 1)medial tab flap, and group 2)conventional flaps (sural, soleus, gastrocnemius) followed up to one year postoperatively. OUTCOME VARIABLES: surgical time in minutes, healing, healing time in days, complications. RESULTS: The patients who underwent surgery with medial tab flap and with conventional flaps healed completely. The healing time was 16.2±11.2 days in the tab flap and 16.1±11.2 days in conventional flaps, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups (P=.89). The surgical time for tab flaps was 225.2±117.8minutes, and 191.3±117.2minutes for the comparison flaps (P=.65), there were no statistically significant differences. There were no complications in the medial tab flaps. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the medial tab flap technique is as effective as the conventional flap technique, with complete flap survival and healing, and without any major complications in this studied group.
RESUMO
Introduction: Calcaneal fractures are the most frequent tarsal bone fracture. A high complication rate has been reported for the L-shaped lateral calcaneus surgical approach. Coverage of the resulting defect can be challenging. The aim of this article is to report a case series and propose a new treatment algorithm. Materials and Methods: Between January 2011 and December 2013 ninety-five patients underwent a close calcaneus fracture surgery by lateral approach. Ten patients suffered from surgical wound complications. Defects were classified as small (< 2 cm), medium (2-5 cm) or big size (> 5 cm). Results: Small size defects were covered with local fasciocutaneous advancement and rotation flaps. Medium size defect were covered either with a distally based sural neurocutaneous flap or propeller flap based on peroneal artery perforators. A free flap was used in the big size defect presented. Mean follow-up was 16 month (range 5-41 month). Stable coverage was achieved in all cases and no revision surgery was needed. Conclusions: Soft-tissue complications associated to lateral approach for calcaneal fractures needs an ordered approach. The algorithm presented including propeller perforator flaps proved to be safe and useful.
Introducción: Las fracturas de calcáneo son las fracturas más frecuentes de los huesos del tarso. Diversos estudios han mostrado alta tasa de complicaciones del abordaje que requieren cobertura. El objetivo principal es presentar un nuevo algoritmo de tratamiento para estos defectos de cobertura. Material y Métodos: Entre el 2011 y el 2013 se operaron 95 pacientes con fractura cerrada de calcáneo. Diez pacientes presentaron defectos de cobertura de la herida operatoria. Los defectos se clasificaron en pequeños (< 2 cm), medianos (2-5 cm) y grandes (> 5 cm). Resultados: Se realizaron 11 colgajos en 10 pacientes. Seis pacientes presentaron un defecto pequeño y fueron tratados mediante colgajos locales; cuatro casos de defectos medianos se resolvieron mediante tres colgajos perforantes de arteria peronea de tipo propeller y un colgajo sural. Todos los defectos de la zona dadora, tanto en el colgajo sural como en los colgajos propeller, fueron cerrados de manera primaria sin requerir injertos. Hubo un defecto grande que fue necesario cubrir con un colgajo libre. El período de seguimiento promedio fue 16 meses, con un rango de 5 a 41 meses. En todos los casos se proporcionó una cobertura estable que no requirió revisiones. Conclusiones: Es necesario un enfrentamiento ordenado y protocolizado para resolver estos defectos. En nuestro trabajo, proponemos un algoritmo simple basándonos en el ancho del defecto, incorporando como alternativa el colgajo perforante pediculado tipo propeller para defectos medianos, con el cual se logran coberturas estables y planas, con cierre primario de la zona dadora.