Testing the circulation of expanded flaps—prevention of necrosis of expanded flaps (a clinic study)

BackgroundExpanded flaps are commonly used in plastic surgery. Although expanded flaps are more resistant to hypoxia than unexpanded flaps, flap necrosis can sometimes occur, particularly with skin incisions of regular proportion. Distal skin necrosis of the expansion flap can be avoided by careful...

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Main Authors: Tao Han, Haini Chen, Jianbin Chen, Jie Cui, Weimin Shen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Pediatrics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2022.976150/full
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author Tao Han
Haini Chen
Jianbin Chen
Jie Cui
Weimin Shen
author_facet Tao Han
Haini Chen
Jianbin Chen
Jie Cui
Weimin Shen
author_sort Tao Han
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundExpanded flaps are commonly used in plastic surgery. Although expanded flaps are more resistant to hypoxia than unexpanded flaps, flap necrosis can sometimes occur, particularly with skin incisions of regular proportion. Distal skin necrosis of the expansion flap can be avoided by careful design; however, the utilization rate of the expansion flap decreases. Consequently, successfully avoiding distal skin flap necrosis remains a challenge. In this study, we designed a device for testing the circulation of the expanded flap that can decrease the risk of expanded flap necrosis, thus maximizing the use of an expanded flap.MethodsA total of 128 patients who underwent surgical repair between 2011 and 2019 and were retrospectively examined with the device for testing the circulation of the expanded flap were included in the study. The procedure included (1) making a device for testing the circulation, (2) implanting a skin expander, (3) injecting normal saline into the skin expander, (4) testing the circulation of the expanded flap, and (5) transferring the expanded flap to repair the defect.ResultsOne hundred forty-eight expanded flaps were implanted in 128 patients. The expanded flap that was transferred to repair the defect had no necrosis or infection. None of the expanded flaps with separated blood supply, which could be observed during operations, revealed complications. The survival rates of the expanded flap were increased by testing the circulation of the expanded flap. Expanded flaps designed by this method showed no swelling or paleness and no obvious temperature changes. In addition, the length-to-width ratio could be extended to 3:1.ConclusionsOur proposed method resulted in an effective surgical procedure for the repair of tissue defects. This approach could effectively change the direction of the blood vessel of the expanded skin flap and prevent necrosis of the expanded flap, thus representing a practical way to increase the use of expanded flaps and the flap survival rate, making the whole expanded flap transfer procedure more convenient.
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spelling doaj.art-951c08a39298402fa1c54db862cb280f2023-01-26T07:18:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pediatrics2296-23602023-01-011010.3389/fped.2022.976150976150Testing the circulation of expanded flaps—prevention of necrosis of expanded flaps (a clinic study)Tao HanHaini ChenJianbin ChenJie CuiWeimin ShenBackgroundExpanded flaps are commonly used in plastic surgery. Although expanded flaps are more resistant to hypoxia than unexpanded flaps, flap necrosis can sometimes occur, particularly with skin incisions of regular proportion. Distal skin necrosis of the expansion flap can be avoided by careful design; however, the utilization rate of the expansion flap decreases. Consequently, successfully avoiding distal skin flap necrosis remains a challenge. In this study, we designed a device for testing the circulation of the expanded flap that can decrease the risk of expanded flap necrosis, thus maximizing the use of an expanded flap.MethodsA total of 128 patients who underwent surgical repair between 2011 and 2019 and were retrospectively examined with the device for testing the circulation of the expanded flap were included in the study. The procedure included (1) making a device for testing the circulation, (2) implanting a skin expander, (3) injecting normal saline into the skin expander, (4) testing the circulation of the expanded flap, and (5) transferring the expanded flap to repair the defect.ResultsOne hundred forty-eight expanded flaps were implanted in 128 patients. The expanded flap that was transferred to repair the defect had no necrosis or infection. None of the expanded flaps with separated blood supply, which could be observed during operations, revealed complications. The survival rates of the expanded flap were increased by testing the circulation of the expanded flap. Expanded flaps designed by this method showed no swelling or paleness and no obvious temperature changes. In addition, the length-to-width ratio could be extended to 3:1.ConclusionsOur proposed method resulted in an effective surgical procedure for the repair of tissue defects. This approach could effectively change the direction of the blood vessel of the expanded skin flap and prevent necrosis of the expanded flap, thus representing a practical way to increase the use of expanded flaps and the flap survival rate, making the whole expanded flap transfer procedure more convenient.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2022.976150/fulltesting the circulationexpanded flapflap necrosischildrenblood supply
spellingShingle Tao Han
Haini Chen
Jianbin Chen
Jie Cui
Weimin Shen
Testing the circulation of expanded flaps—prevention of necrosis of expanded flaps (a clinic study)
Frontiers in Pediatrics
testing the circulation
expanded flap
flap necrosis
children
blood supply
title Testing the circulation of expanded flaps—prevention of necrosis of expanded flaps (a clinic study)
title_full Testing the circulation of expanded flaps—prevention of necrosis of expanded flaps (a clinic study)
title_fullStr Testing the circulation of expanded flaps—prevention of necrosis of expanded flaps (a clinic study)
title_full_unstemmed Testing the circulation of expanded flaps—prevention of necrosis of expanded flaps (a clinic study)
title_short Testing the circulation of expanded flaps—prevention of necrosis of expanded flaps (a clinic study)
title_sort testing the circulation of expanded flaps prevention of necrosis of expanded flaps a clinic study
topic testing the circulation
expanded flap
flap necrosis
children
blood supply
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2022.976150/full
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