Daojing Qiu1, Xinglei Wang2, Xiao Wang3, Ya Jiao3, Yaonan Li3, Duyin Jiang4. 1. Department of Emergency, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250033, Shandong Province, China; Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250033, Shandong Province, China; Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100043, China. 2. Department of Emergency, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250033, Shandong Province, China. 3. Department of Emergency, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250033, Shandong Province, China; Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250033, Shandong Province, China. 4. Department of Emergency, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250033, Shandong Province, China; Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250033, Shandong Province, China. Electronic address: jdybs2@vip.163.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Skin flap-like wounds are common. These wound flaps are prone to avascular necrosis with simple debrided and sutured, and postoperative hyperplastic scarring and contracture of wound surfaces can adversely affect the patient's appearance. Here, we evaluate the data of cases with flap-like wounds to identify the causes of flap necrosis. METHODS: Six hundred patients with skin flap-like wounds between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Their age, sex, injury reason, size of flap, length-width ratio of wound, thickness of pedicle, operation time, injury site, direction of blood perfusion in the flap and operating methods were recorded. The risks for flap necrosis were analyzed with one-factor analysis. RESULTS: A total success rate of 92.5% (555/600) for flap-like wound reconstruction was obtained. Among 67 flaps with vascular crisis, 22 were salvaged by subcutaneous injection of anisodamine, selective suture removal, and pressure dressing with elastic bandages. For the 45 patients with flap necrosis, there was no significant difference from patients without necrosis in terms of sex, age, and size of flap (P > 0.05). The incidence of flap necrosis was significantly different in terms of injury reason, length-width ratio of wound, thickness of pedicle, operation time, injury site, direction of blood perfusion in the flap and operating methods (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Injury reason, length-width ratio of wound, thickness of pedicle, operation time, injury site, direction of blood perfusion in the flap and operating methods, rather than age, sex and size of flap, were significant risk factors for necrosis of flap-like wounds.
BACKGROUND: Skin flap-like wounds are common. These wound flaps are prone to avascular necrosis with simple debrided and sutured, and postoperative hyperplastic scarring and contracture of wound surfaces can adversely affect the patient's appearance. Here, we evaluate the data of cases with flap-like wounds to identify the causes of flap necrosis. METHODS: Six hundred patients with skin flap-like wounds between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Their age, sex, injury reason, size of flap, length-width ratio of wound, thickness of pedicle, operation time, injury site, direction of blood perfusion in the flap and operating methods were recorded. The risks for flap necrosis were analyzed with one-factor analysis. RESULTS: A total success rate of 92.5% (555/600) for flap-like wound reconstruction was obtained. Among 67 flaps with vascular crisis, 22 were salvaged by subcutaneous injection of anisodamine, selective suture removal, and pressure dressing with elastic bandages. For the 45 patients with flap necrosis, there was no significant difference from patients without necrosis in terms of sex, age, and size of flap (P > 0.05). The incidence of flap necrosis was significantly different in terms of injury reason, length-width ratio of wound, thickness of pedicle, operation time, injury site, direction of blood perfusion in the flap and operating methods (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION:Injury reason, length-width ratio of wound, thickness of pedicle, operation time, injury site, direction of blood perfusion in the flap and operating methods, rather than age, sex and size of flap, were significant risk factors for necrosis of flap-like wounds.