title: Long-term outcome of using posterior-thigh fasciocutaneous flaps for the treatment of ischial pressure sores.
abstract: Among the many difficult problems presented by patients with spinal cord injuries, management of ischial pressure ulcers remains challenging for reconstructive surgeons. This study describes the long-term outcome of using posterior-thigh fasciocutaneous flaps for the treatment of ischial pressure sores. Between January 1999 and June 2003, 12 patients with ischial sores were enrolled in this study. All the patients underwent early aggressive surgical debridement followed by surgical reconstruction with a laterally based posterior-thigh fasciocutaneous flap. The follow-up period ranged from 24 months to 97 months (mean, 62 months). All the flaps survived, and there were no partial flap losses. Primary-wound healing occurred in all the cases. In two patients, Grade II ischial pressure sores recurred 24 months and 27 months after the operation. There was no recurrence in the other 10 patients. The posterior-thigh fasciocutaneous pedicled flap was a good method for treating ischial bed sores. This flap could be used to treat recurrences observed after primary bed-sore treatment with other methods. The flap was easy to raise, and it did not cause any donor-site morbidity. The long-term outcome of using posterior-thigh fasciocutaneous flaps for the treatment of ischial pressure sores was generally good.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Haodong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chunlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Aimin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult