• Zhiwei Liu, Bin Yu, Chenghe Qin, Jiwei Luo, and Yanjun Hu.
• Department of Orthopedic Trauma, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou Guangdong, 510515, PR China.
• Zhongguo Xiu Fu Chong Jian Wai Ke Za Zhi. 2011 Feb 1; 25 (2): 212-5.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical results of the flap pedicled with collateral branch of descending rarus of lateral circumflex femoral artery with digital three-dimensional reconstruction technique for lower limb soft tissue defects.MethodsBetween March 2009 and January 2010, 7 patients with lower limb soft tissue defects were treated with free flap pedicled with collateral branch of descending rarus of lateral circumflex femoral artery. There were 6 males and 1 female with an age range from 6 to 51 years. They were injured by traffic accident (4 cases), or by object hit from height (3 cases). The locations were foot in 2 cases, ankle in 2 cases, and anterior tibia in 3 cases. The disease duration was 8 hours to 40 days (mean, 20 days). All the cases complicated by exposure of tendons or bones. The areas of soft tissue defect ranged from 12 cm x 7 cm to 20 cm x 14 cm. Free flaps were transplanted at 4 to 16 days after symptomatic treatment. Before operation, all the flaps were designed with digital three-dimensional reconstruction technique. The size of flaps ranged from 15 cm x 9 cm to 22 cm x 16 cm. The donor sites were closed directly in all cases.ResultsAll the flaps survived. The wounds and incisions at donor sites healed by first intention. All the patients were followed up 6 to 12 months. The texture, appearance, and function of the flaps were satisfactory, and no complication occurred. All the flaps had protective sensation, which could meet the requirement of the daily life. The function of ankle was satisfactory with normal walk; the extension was 19-22 degrees and the flexion was 30-36 degrees. No obvious scar formed at donor sites.ConclusionThe flap pedicled with collateral branch of descending rarus of lateral circumflex femoral artery has reliable blood supply, easy operation, little influence on the donor site, and high success rate with digital three-dimensional reconstruction technique. It is an excellent option for repairing lower limb soft tissue defects.

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