title: Freestyle perforator-based propeller flap of medial arm for medial elbow reconstruction.
abstract: Elbow reconstruction is challenging for reconstructive surgeons. The purpose of this report is to present the results of the use of freestyle perforator-based propeller flap designed from the medial arm region for elbow reconstruction. The defects following soft tissue sarcoma resection at the medial and posterior elbow were repaired in two patients. The dimensions of the defects were 11 × 7 cm(2) and 10 × 7 cm(2). Two perforators were identified in each case using Doppler ultrasound probe in the medial arm, adjacent to the defect. The perforator with visible pulsation was chosen as the pedicle vessel, which was 12-cm and 7-cm proximal to the medial epicondyle. An elliptical flap, extending almost the full length of arm, was raised and rotated 180° to repair medial elbow defects. The sizes of the flaps were 17 × 8 cm(2) and 11 × 7 cm(2). The donor sites were closed directly. Both flaps survived; temporary venous congestion occurred in one case. There were no other postoperative complications. These cases illustrated that the medial arm flap might be used for reconstruction of medial elbow defects with this freestyle perforator-based propeller flap design.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Mengqing
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zang
authors.affiliation: Cancer Institute and Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shengji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Cancer Institute and Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Libin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Cancer Institute and Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhenguo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Lingling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yuanbo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D004550:Elbow / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061525:Perforator Flap / Q000098:blood supply; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000601:surgery*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*