title: Three-dimensional digitalized virtual planning for retrograde sural neurovascular island flaps: a comparative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness and safety of three-dimensional (3D) digitalized planning for the sural neurovascular island flap in repair of soft tissue defects in the ankle and foot.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 40 patients with soft tissue defects of the ankle and foot who underwent soft tissue reconstruction between October 2008 and June 2012. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups: 3D-reconstruction group (Group A, n=20) and control group (Group B, n=20). Three-dimensional, digitalized virtual planning was performed in the patients in Group A, who underwent computed topographic angiography. The survival rate, operation time, and surgical accuracy were compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All flaps in Group A survived and the recipient site primarily healed, but 4 flaps in Group B had marginal necrosis after the operation. During the 6-12 month follow-up period, all flaps in Group A had good skin quality. In Group B, hard scarring and mild contracture occurred in 4 cases, and the patients experienced pain when walking. The survival rate of the flap in Group A (100%) was significantly higher than in Group B (70%). The operation time in Group A was significantly less than in Group B. The surgical accuracy in Group A was significantly better than in Group B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The preoperative use of 3D digitalized virtual planning for the sural neurovascular island flap improves the surgical accuracy, decreases the operation time, and increases the survival rate of the flap.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic III.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pelvic, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010030, Mongolia.
authors.forename: Ya-Guang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, The 253rd Hospital of PLA, Hohhot 010051, Mongolia. Electronic address: cxj-253@163.com.
authors.forename: Xiang-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010050, Mongolia. Electronic address: dryzzhang@163.com.
authors.forename: Yuan-Zhi
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, The 253rd Hospital of PLA, Hohhot 010051, Mongolia.
authors.forename: De-Zhi
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, The 253rd Hospital of PLA, Hohhot 010051, Mongolia.
authors.forename: De-Xiong
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, The 253rd Hospital of PLA, Hohhot 010051, Mongolia.
authors.forename: Guo-Zhen
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, The 253rd Hospital of PLA, Hohhot 010051, Mongolia.
authors.forename: Xiao-Chun
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, The 253rd Hospital of PLA, Hohhot 010051, Mongolia.
authors.forename: Wei-Jing
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D061646:Operative Time; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013497:Sural Nerve; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Digitalization; Flap; Nutritional blood vessels; Sural nerve; Three-dimensional reconstruction