title: [Application of the tension skin flap with different shapes in the pedicle of the reverse neurocutaneous island flap].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of the tension skin flap with different shapes on the transplantation of the reverse neurocutaneous island flap.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2006 to January 2012,there were 21 patients in the study (including 15 males and 6 females), and aged from 14 to 58 years old (35 years old on average). Tension skin flaps with different shapes (triangle ,round and ellipse) were used to improve the blood supply of the reverse neurocutaneous island flap. The tension skin flaps in the pedicle were designed triangularly (10 patients), spherically (8 patients) or elliptically (3 patients). There were 5 patients with defects in the hand (the size from 5.0 cm x 2.0 cm to 8.0 cm x 5.0 cm), and 16 patients with defects in the foot and inferior segment of leg, or around the ankle (the size from 6.0 cm x 4.0 cm to 13.0 cm x 7.0 cm). And all the patients were with the tendon and bone exposed. All the flaps were reversal transplanted, including 5 dorsal neurocutaneous flaps of foot, 4 superficial peroneal neurocutaneous flaps, 4 saphenous neurocutaneous flaps, 3 sural neurocutaneous flaps, 2 superficial radial neurocutaneous flaps, 3 lateral neurocutaneous flaps of forearm. And the survival rate, appearance and sensory recovery of the flaps were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distant part of the reversed sural neurocutaneous island flap in 1 case necrosized and healed after dressing change. The other flaps survived entirely, and the donor site all healed primarily. The follow-up time was from 3 months to 2 years (averaged 7 months), and all the flaps had recovered pain and warm sensation with perfect appearance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The tension skin flap in the pedicle can enhance the blood supply and promote survival rate of the reverse neurocutaneous island flap, and can also improve its appearance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Lanzhou General Hospital, Lanzhou 730050, Gansu, China. lilionli@yahoo.cn
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Xing-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Qiu-Ming
authors.initials: QM
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Ming-Jia
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply; D055815:Young Adult