title: [Clinical application of link-pattern lateral popliteal artery perforator flap in repair of popliteal fossa scar].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss the feasibility and effectiveness of link-pattern lateral popliteal artery perforator flap in repairing popliteal fossa scar contracture in children or teenagers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2009 and January 2013, 12 patients with popliteal fossa scar were admitted. Of them, 7 cases were male and 5 cases were female, aged from 3 to 17 years (median, 12 years). The disease duration was from 6 months to 5 years (median, 3 years). Wound was repaired with link-pattern lateral popliteal artery perforator flap after remission of popliteal fossa scar. The wound ranged from 6 cm x 4 cm to 10 cm x 7 cm, and the flap size ranged from 7 cm x 4 cm to 12 cm x 9 cm. The flap was with lateral sural cutaneous nerve in 5 cases, and lateral sural cutaneous nerve was retained at the donor area of 7 cases. The donor site was repaired using split- thickness skin graft.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All pedicled flaps and skin graft survived smoothly after operation. The wound at donor site healed by first intention. All the cases were followed up 12-36 months, with an average of 18 months. The flaps had good color, texture, and shape; scar obviously became softened, without hyperplasia or ulceration. The patients were free from lameness with knee range of motion of 0-180°. The squatting function was normal. Grafting skin was smooth in the donor area of the calf, without depression or scar hyperplasia. The senses of posterior-inferior calf and lateral of foot decreased or disappeared in 5 cases of flaps with lateral sural cutaneous nerve; at 6 months after operation, two-point discrimination was 12-14 mm (mean, 13 mm). The posterior-inferior calf was numb and discomfort in 7 cases of flaps with retained lateral sural cutaneous nerve; but after 3-6 months, the sense was obviously recovered, with no sense loss; at 6 months after operation, two-point discrimination was 5-7 mm (mean, 6 min).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Link-pattern lateral popliteal artery perforator flap has reliable blood supply and the operation was simple. The cutaneous nerve can be retained in donor area. It is an ideal method for repairing wound after remission of popliteal fossa scar in children or teenagers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical College, Zunyi Guizhou, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiujun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Baoyun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zairong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Guangfeng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wenhu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Dali
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002921:Cicatrix; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D061525:Perforator Flap; D011150:Popliteal Artery; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing