Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness and safety of three-dimensional (3D) digitalized planning for the sural neurovascular island flap in repair of soft tissue defects in the ankle and foot.
Methods: This study included 40 patients with soft tissue defects of the ankle and foot who underwent soft tissue reconstruction between October 2008 and June 2012. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups: 3D-reconstruction group (Group A, n=20) and control group (Group B, n=20). Three-dimensional, digitalized virtual planning was performed in the patients in Group A, who underwent computed topographic angiography. The survival rate, operation time, and surgical accuracy were compared between the two groups.
Results: All flaps in Group A survived and the recipient site primarily healed, but 4 flaps in Group B had marginal necrosis after the operation. During the 6-12 month follow-up period, all flaps in Group A had good skin quality. In Group B, hard scarring and mild contracture occurred in 4 cases, and the patients experienced pain when walking. The survival rate of the flap in Group A (100%) was significantly higher than in Group B (70%). The operation time in Group A was significantly less than in Group B. The surgical accuracy in Group A was significantly better than in Group B.
Conclusion: The preoperative use of 3D digitalized virtual planning for the sural neurovascular island flap improves the surgical accuracy, decreases the operation time, and increases the survival rate of the flap.
Clinical question/level of evidence: Therapeutic III.
Keywords: Digitalization; Flap; Nutritional blood vessels; Sural nerve; Three-dimensional reconstruction.
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