title: Free filet extremity flap: indications and options for reconstruction.
abstract: Radical and extended forequarter and hind limb amputations have been used for curative and palliative intents. Concerns regarding wound healing and closure, especially in irradiated fields, have occasionally limited the extent of ablation. This article reports an experience with coverage of these large defects by using the free filet extremity flap. A retrospective review was performed of 11 patients who had undergone immediate reconstruction with free filet extremity flaps between 1991 and 1998. There were nine men and two women with an average age of 43.9 years. All except three patients received preoperative radiotherapy. Resections included four hindquarter and seven forequarter amputations for palliation of intractable pain, tissue necrosis, and infections. Donor vessels included the brachial artery, its venae comitantes, cephalic and basilic veins, and common femoral and popliteal vessels. Immediate reconstruction was successful in all cases by the use of the amputated limb as the free filet flap. All wounds healed despite irradiation inclusive of defects up to 50 cm x 70 cm (3500 cm2). The average follow-up time was 5 months with a mean survival of 3.5 months. Four patients currently are alive, and one patient died within 30 days of surgery. The remaining six patients have died of their disease within 9 months of the palliative procedures. Pain, tissue necrosis, and infections were improved in all patients after hospital discharge. Extensive defects can be reconstructed and healed successfully, even in irradiated wounds, with the use of the free filet extremity flap. Appropriate advanced preoperative and intraoperative planning is essential. Although survival was unchanged, this technique allowed healed wounds with an improvement in the quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA.
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kroll
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Reece
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ainsle
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Robb
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000672:Amputation Stumps / Q000601:surgery*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005121:Extremities / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012086:Reoperation; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply