title: [Dominant perforator neurocutaneous flaps for one-staged reconstruction of defects caused by high energy at lower legs, ankles and feet].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the therapeutic effect of dominant perforator neurocutaneous flaps for one-staged reconstruction of defects caused by high energy at lower legs, ankles and feet.
  
  
  METHODS
  From July 2003 to Feb. 2011, 39 cases, with defects caused by high energy at lower legs, ankles and feet, were retrospectively studied. The defects were covered primarily by one or two perforator neurocutaneous flaps (free or pedicled) which were based on a dominant perforator arising from the posterior tibial or peroneal artery (including the lateral supramalleolar perforating artery which is also from the peroneal vessel) respectively through sural, saphenous and superficial peroneal neurocutaneous vascular axis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  39 cases with 44 defects were treated by 32 sural neurocutaneous flaps based on the peroneal perforator (5 free and 27 pedicled), 6 saphenous neurocutaneous flaps on the posterior tibial perforator (1 free and 5 pedicled) and 6 superficial peroneal ones on the lateral supramalleolar perforating artery. The largest flap size was 22 cm x 10 cm. All flaps were survived successfully without necrosis. The average in-hospital time was 23 days ( ranged from 12-36 days).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The three kinds of dominant perforator neurocutaneous flaps have reliable blood supply with a relatively large size. They can be chosen and designed individually for all kinds of defects over the lower leg, ankle and foot. There are many advantages in a primary procedure, such as easier dissection, better vessel status in or around recipient areas, less secondary necrosis and lower risk of chronic infection. Moreover, the reduction of granulation and scar tissues benefit functional rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Song
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yong-Qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jian-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhi-Xian
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Jian-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xiao-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Yanlin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061525:Perforator Flap / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult