Objective To evaluate the clinical outcome of the buccal fat pad flap in reconstruction of defects of the oral mucosa. Methods From May 1998 to July 2004, 42 patients with oral mucodefects were treated with buccal fat pad flap. Of them, there were 26 males and 16 females, aging 25-76 years. The defect was caused by buccal squamous carcinoma in 7 cases, by buccal leukoplakia in 5 cases, by squamous carcinoma of soft palate in 7 cases, by adenoid cystic carcinoma of palate in 8 cases, by carcinoma of maxillary sinus in 6 cases, by maxillo-alveolar angioma in 5 cases and by keratocyst of maxilla in 4 cases. The locations were buccal mucosa, maxillary sinus and soft palate. The size of defect ranged from 3.0 cm×3.0 cm to 6.5 cm×4.0cm.Results Forty-one cases achieved healing by first intention, except one case because of large defect. Edema faded and epithelization occurred after 4 weeks of operation. Complete epithelization was observed after 6 weeks of operation. Thirty-five cases were followed up 3 months to 5 years. Therewere no obvious differences in layers, color, elasticity, and texture between repaired region and adjacent mucosa. Conclusion The buccal fat pad flap is useful in reconstructing the muco-defects (less than 6.5 cm in diameter) of the posterior maxilla and buccal region without considerable complication. The multiplex blood supply, facility in accessing and minimal donor site morbidity make it a reliable soft tissue graft. The main shortcoming is its limited size.
Objective To investigate the clinical feasibility of different types of the saphenous neuro-veno-fascial cutaneous flaps. Methods From June 1996 to October 2002, 18 cases of skin defects in the knee and the lower part of the limb were treated with proximally(4 cases) or distally(11 cases) based pedicles of saphenous neuro-venofascial cutaneous flap or crossleg flap (3 cases)according to the site of defects . The sizes of the flaps ranged from 4 cm×5 cm to 9 cm×20 cm. Results The flaps survived completely in 17 cases, distal 1/5 of the flap necrosed partially in 1 case because of vein drainage disturbance. The colour and texture of flaps were excellent, the appearance and function were satisfactory after a follow up of 6-24 months.Conclusion The saphenous neuro-veno-fascial cutaneous flap is an idea flap in repairing skin defects of the knee, the leg, the ankle and the foot because it is easy to be designed and dissected and it has reliable blood supply and preserved main artery. The relationship between the septal perforating branches of the tibial posteriorartery and survival size of flap need to be investigated further.
Objective To design a combined flap of subscapular axis including vascularized lateral scapular,rib and latissimus dorsi to repair the large defect of tibia. Methods The patient was a 39-year-old man who got a posttraumatic 12 cm defect of tibiaafter primary debridement and external fixation because of open fracture 5 months ago. There was a 12 cm×6 cm scar involved the proximal medial segment of tibia.After resection of scar and fibular tissue over the bone defect floor, alatissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap 14 cm×5 cm pedicled with subscapular artery-thoracodorsal artery,a flap 12.5 cm on the outside of the scapular pedicled with thoracodorsal artery, and 6th rib flap 13 cm by serratus were prepared.The tibialis posterior and saphenous vein were used for astomosis. A proximalanatomic plate was applied to the fixation of tibia. Results Thecompound flap survived the operation. The follow-up period was 2 years. Bone union occurred 6 months after operation. Conclusion This combined flap is successful and can provide alternative to the resolution of large defect of tibia.