Clinical effects of free superficial femoral artery femoral triangle perforator flap in the repair of skin and soft tissue defects in extremities

Objective To investigate the clinical effects of free superficial femoral artery femoral triangle perforator flap in the repair of skin and soft tissue defects in extremities. Methods From January 2016 to November 2017, 14 patients (9 males and 5 females, aged 19 to 54 years) with skin and soft tissue defects in extremities accompanied with tendon and bone exposure were admitted to our unit. The size of skin and soft tissue defects after debridement ranged from 7 cm×3 cm to 10 cm×7 cm. The defects were repaired with free superficial femoral artery femoral triangle perforator flaps, with size ranging from 13.0 cm×2.0 cm to 20.0 cm×4.5 cm. The medial femoral cutaneous nerve was applied to the flap. The perforator flap was grafted onto the medial femoral cutaneous nerve in 6 patients. The donor sites were sutured directly. The survival of flaps and the follow-up of patients were observed. Results All flaps of 14 patients survived successfully. The recipient sites and donor sites were healed completely in 13 patients, and 1 patient with partial skin necrosis at the edge of flap was healed after treatment. All patients were followed up for 6 months to 1 year after the operation. The flaps were in good shape, with nearly normal color and soft texture and no cicatrix contracture deformity. The flaps recovered protective sense in 6 patients who had medial femoral cutaneous nerve grafting, and the sensory recovery of the flap was slightly worse in the remaining 8 patients. There was no significant complications on the appearance and walking of the donor thigh in 14 patients, only a linear scar was left on the inner thigh, and no numbness was felt in the donor sites of patients. Conclusions The free superficial femoral artery femoral triangle perforator flap is an ideal therapy for repairing skin and soft tissue defects in extremities. Key words: Surgical flaps; Extremities; Soft tissue injuries; Superficial femoral artery femoral triangle perforator flap