• M H Cheng, H C Chen, F C Wei, L C See, H Y Lee, and C J Wang.
• Department of Plastic Surgery, the University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, USA.
• J Trauma. 1999 Jul 1; 47 (1): 899589-95.

ObjectivesThe main disadvantage of the pedicled groin flap for hand reconstruction is the long period of immobilization required. Early division of the pedicled groin flap is desirable for both patients and surgeons. The aims of this study were to investigate whether ischemic preconditioning can effectively accelerate the neovascularization of the junction between the donor and recipient sites in the pedicled flap, and the most objective method of judging the timing of early division of the pedicled groin flap. This report is the first prospective study to use ischemic preconditioning for early division of pedicled cutaneous flap combined with laser Doppler measurement.MethodsThe severe hand injuries of 12 patients were reconstructed by using the pedicled groin flap method. The ischemic preconditioning program was prospectively performed as scheduled for 5 to 7 days postoperatively. The pedicled groin flap was monitored with laser Doppler when the flap was elevated, inset, with clamping and nonclamping postoperatively.ResultsEleven of the 12 pedicled groin flaps were divided safely and survived completely. Only one pedicled groin flap with a simultaneous harvest of iliac bone graft had partial flap loss, giving a success rate of 90.1%.ConclusionWith ischemic preconditioning, the pedicled groin flap can be safely divided postoperatively at a mean period of 8.4 days according to the laser Doppler measurement, especially when the perfusion unit ratio of clamping over nonclamping reaches more than 36.6%.

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