Free-style flaps: a further step forward for perforator flap surgery.
BACKGROUND
Technical advancements and increased experience with perforator flap techniques have allowed the harvest of flaps in a free-style manner.


METHODS
To perform free or local island pedicled flaps using the free-style concept, one requires mature skills in retrograde dissection of vascular pedicles and in using a hand-held Doppler device. To keep the technique safe, certain principles should be remembered and are detailed in this article.


RESULTS
The free-style flap concept provides unparalleled freedom when choosing local or distant soft tissues for reconstructing a defect.


CONCLUSIONS
Potential pitfalls during free-style flap harvest can be avoided if the presented principles are adhered to. Newer imaging modalities may prove useful for assessing vessels supplying any cutaneous territory.
Wallace
Christopher Glenn
CG
Taipei and Kaohsiong, Taiwan From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Medical College, Chang Gung University, and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiong.
Kao
Huang-Kai
HK
Jeng
Seng-Feng
SF
Wei
Fu-Chan
FC
D004210:Dissection / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex