Background: Open bone fractures represent a demanding clinical condition that can be life- or limb-threatening. For small- to medium-size soft tissue defects of the lower extremity, propeller perforator flaps are a viable option for reconstruction. We report our experience in Gustilo IIIB open fractures treatment with immediate coverage through propeller-based perforator flaps performed in acute setting.
Methods: Between 2019 and 2022, 94 Gustilo III fractures were admitted to our trauma center, and 28 were Gustilo IIIB fractures. Five patients were eligible for an immediate perforator-based propeller flaps reconstruction. The mean age of the patients was 33.8 years. All of them were male. One of them was a heavy smoker (15 cigarettes per day). No other comorbidities were present.
Results: The mean operating time, including fracture reduction and fixation time, was 106 minutes. The length of the defect varied between 5 and 7 cm and the width between 3 and 4 cm. We reported no major complications, and none of the patients required a surgical revision of the flap. A patient with smoking habit reported a superficial flap necrosis. The mean follow-up was 5.5 months. No cases of nonunion or osteomyelitis have developed so far.
Conclusions: The use of perforator-based propeller flaps, in acute trauma setting, has not been reported in literature so far. In our experience, propeller perforator flaps are a viable reconstructive option in immediate reconstruction during the acute management of open fractures.
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