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http://dx.doi.org/10.5999/aps.2019.01179

Thin and superthin perforator flap elevation based on preoperative planning with ultrahigh-frequency ultrasound  

Visconti, Giuseppe (Unit of Plastic Surgery, Department of Woman, Child and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli" IRCCS)
Bianchi, Alessandro (Unit of Plastic Surgery, Department of Woman, Child and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli" IRCCS)
Hayashi, Akitatsu (Department of Breast Center, Kameda Medical Center)
Cina, Alessandro (Unit of Radiology, Department of Imaging, Radiotherapy, Oncology and Haematology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli" IRCCS)
Maccauro, Giulio (Unit of Orthopedy, Department of Aging, Neurologic, Orthopedic and Head & Neck Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli" IRCCS)
Almadori, Giovanni (Unit of Head & Neck, Department of Aging, Neurologic, Orthopedic and Head & Neck Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli" IRCCS)
Salgarello, Marzia (Unit of Plastic Surgery, Department of Woman, Child and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli" IRCCS)
Publication Information
Archives of Plastic Surgery / v.47, no.4, 2020 , pp. 365-370 More about this Journal
Abstract
The ability to directly harvest thin and superthin perforator flaps without jeopardizing their vascularity depends on knowledge of the microsurgical vascular anatomy of each perforator within the subcutaneous tissue up to the dermis. In this paper, we report our experience with ultrahigh-frequency ultrasound (UHF-US) in the preoperative planning of thin and superthin flaps. Between May 2017 and September 2018, perforators of seven patients were preoperatively evaluated by both ultrasound (using an 18-MHz linear probe) and UHF-US (using 48- and 70-MHz linear probes). Thin flaps (two cases) and superthin flaps (five cases) were elevated for the reconstruction of head and neck oncologic defects and lower limb traumatic defects. The mean flap size was 6.5×15 cm (range, 5×8 to 7.5×23 cm). No complications occurred, and all flaps survived completely. In all cases, we found 100% agreement between the preoperative UHF-US results and the intraoperative findings. The final reconstructive outcomes were considered satisfactory by both the surgeon and the patients. In conclusion, UHF-US was found to be very useful in the preoperative planning of thin and superthin free flaps, as it allows precise anticipation of very superficial microvascular anatomy. UHF-US may represent the next frontier in thin, superthin, and pure skin perforator flap design.
Keywords
Superthin flap; Supermicrosurgery; Perforator flaps; Resurfacing; Lower extremity;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 2  (Citation Analysis)
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