The medial sural artery perforator pedicled propeller flap for coverage of middle-third leg defects

Abstract

Background: Pedicled medial sural artery perforator (MSAP) flap has been described primarily for the coverage of knee and proximal-third leg defects. The technique for reaching the middle third and its use as a retrograde-flow flap were never demonstrated with clarity. This retrospective case-series aimed to report the author's experience in these regards.

Patients and methods: Details of all patients who underwent pedicled MSAP flap for lower limb reconstruction over a 7-year period were collected. Surgical outcomes were examined retrospectively. For defects in the anterior middle third of the leg, the "pedicled propeller flap" design was utilized. To determine more distal defects beyond the reach of the anterograde-flow MSAP flap, retrograde-flow pedicled MSAP flaps were used.

Results: Eleven anterograde-flow pedicled MSAP flaps were used for defects ranging from the knee to the middle third of the leg. The etiologies of defects included trauma, chronic ulcer, and skin malignancy. All 11 anterograde pedicled MSAP flaps survived and achieved good outcomes. The mean pedicle length was 11.3 cm (range 7-18 cm), and the mean arc length after double pivoting (n = 4) was 29 cm (range 22-36 cm). Of three retrograde-flow pedicled MSAP flaps, two achieved the goal of wound coverage and one suffered complete flap loss.

Conclusion: The "pedicled propeller flap" design extends the reach of the anterograde-flow pedicled MSAP flap as far as the middle-third anterior leg defects. Our preliminary experience with retrograde-flow MSAP flap has mixed results. Further studies are required to examine its reliability.

Keywords: Lower Extremity Reconstruction; Medial Sural Artery Perforator Flap; Perforator Flap; Propeller Flap; Retrograde-flow Medial Sural Artery Perforator flap.