Objective: To evaluate clinical effects of repairing ankle and foot injuries with perforator-based propeller flaps.
Methods: From June 2012 to April 2014, 20 patients with soft tissue defects on the foot and ankle were treated by perforator-based propeller flaps, including 14 males and 6 females with an average age of (36.2±4.6) years old ranging from 8 to 64 years. Area of soft tissue defect varied from 5 cm×2 cm to 22 cm×7 cm. The time from injury to operation ranged from 8 to 90 days, with an average of(38.2±6.2) days. AOFAS scoring were applied to evaluate therapeutic effects.
Results: All patients were followed up from 6 to 24 months with an average of(13.5±2.2) months. Appearance and quality of flap were good. Operation time was 90 to 210 min, with an average of(120±32) min. Nineteen flaps were survived successfully, the flap edge of 1 case was necrosis and healed after free skin grafting. A good contour was confirmed on the recipient area. The total AOFAS score was(93.1±10.0) at the final following-up, 14 cases obtained excellent results and 6 cases were good.
Conclusions: Perforator-based propeller flaps for ankle and foot injuries has advantages of safe, effectivity and could receive good results.
Keywords: Ankle; Foot; Perforator flaps; Soft tissue defect.