[An effect of multi-island flap with shallow branch of gluteus upper artery on repair of sacrum soft tissue defect].
OBJECTIVE
To explore a safe, highly-efficient and rapid approach to the repair of the sacrum soft tissue defect and/or partial exposure of the bone.


METHODS
From February 2003 to April 2006, 6 patients (4 males, 2 femals; aged 28-67 years) with the sacrum soft tissue defect were surgically treated by the multi-island flap with shallow branches of the gluteus upper artery. The soft tissue defects ranged in area from 15 cm x 12 cm to 25 cm x 20 cm, averaged 20 cm x 16 cm. The obtained flaps ranged in area from 18 cm x 15 cm to 30 cm x 25 cm. Of the patients, 5 had a sacral ulcer (Grade III in 3 patients, Grade IV in 2) and 1 had a tumor, with their illness course from 3 weeks to 20 years.


RESULTS
All the flaps survived completely in the 6 patients, in whom 5 had an incision healing of the first intention, and the remaining 1 had a healing of the second intention 32 days after the treatment for the minor ischemia and necrosis at the edges of the flap. The follow-up for 2-38 months (average, 19.3 months) revealed that all the flaps grew well with no recurrence of the sacral ulcer.


CONCLUSIONS
The surgical treatment with the multi-island flap with shallow branches of the gluteus upper artery is a safe, highly-efficient and rapid approach to repair of the sacrum soft tissue defect and/or partial exposure of the bone. This kind of treatment has advantages of simpler procedures, better blood circulation of the flap, fewer complications, and higher success rates.
Xu
Yunqin
Y
Department of Orthopedics, 98th Hospital of PLA, Huzhou Zhejiang, China. yx0501@yahoo.com.cn
Liang
Zaiyue
Z
Feng
Shuiyun
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries; D002081:Buttocks / Q000098:blood supply; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012445:Sacrococcygeal Region; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D016896:Treatment Outcome