Ultrasound-Assisted Thin Posteromedial Thigh Free Flap for Coverage of Hand and Upper-Extremity Wounds.
Ultrasound and CT angiogram agreed closely on perforator location for thigh free flaps.
Ultrasound-Assisted Thin Posteromedial Thigh Free Flap for Coverage of Hand and Upper-Extremity Wounds.
Conventional workhorse free flaps can be too thick for hand and upper-extremity reconstruction.
This study aims to describe the technique for preoperative perforator mapping with color doppler ultrasound (color doppler ultrasound) and surgical technique for elevation of a thin posteromedial thigh or profunda artery perforator (profunda artery perforator) flap.
Fifteen consecutive patients had a thin profunda artery perforator flap for upper-extremity reconstruction.
The mean age of patients was 31.1 ± 21.4 years.
Mean artery diameter was 1.5 ± 0.5mm.
Mean venous diameter was 2.0 ± 0.4 mm.
Mean pedicle length was 6.9 ± 1.2 cm.
The posteromedial thigh or profunda artery perforator flap offers a new option for reconstruction in the hand and upper extremity. Elevation in the thin or superthin plane allows flap thickness and contour matching the surrounding skin.
Preoperative perforator mapping with computed tomography angiogram and color doppler ultrasound facilitates rapid and precise flap harvest.
The donor site scar of the vertical profunda artery perforator flap is well hidden and provides a superior aesthetic outcome compared to other workhorse free flaps. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic V.