title: [CLINICAL APPLICATION OF FREE DESCENDING BRANCH OF LATERAL CIRCUMFLEX FEMORAL ARTERY PERFORATOR TISSUE FLAP AND ITS IMPACT ON DONOR SITE].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility of the free descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery perforator tissue flap (fascia flap plus skin flap) to repair large soft tissue defects of the extremities and its impact on the donor site.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2013 and February 2015, 9 cases of large tissue defects of the extremities were repaired with the free descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery perforator tissue flap. There were 8 males and 1 female, aged from 13 to 56 years (median, 36 years). The causes included traffic accident injury in 6 cases and crushing injury by heavy object in 3 cases. Soft tissue defect located at the lower limbs in 7 cases and at the upper limbs in 2 cases, including 2 cases of simple tendon exposure, 2 cases of simple bone exposure, and 5 cases of tendon and bone exposure. After debridement, the soft tissue defect area ranged from 13 cm x 7 cm to 20 cm x 18 cm. The tissue flaps ranged from 14 cm x 8 cm to 23 cm x 19 cm. The donor site was directly sutured, scalp graft was used to cover the fascia flap.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After operation, partial necrosis of the skin grafting on the fascia flap occurred in 2 cases and healed after dressing change. Arterial crisis occurred in 1 case and the flap survived after anastomosis. The other tissue flaps survived and wounds healed by first intention. The skin grafting healed by first intention in 7 cases, by second intention in 2 cases. The patients were followed up 4-24 months (mean, 10 months). The appearance and function of the tissue flaps were satisfactory, only linear scar was observed at the donor site, which had less damage and no effect on walking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Free descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery perforator tissue flap can repair large soft tissue defect of the extremities. The donor site can be sutured directly, which reduces damage to donor site and is accord with the principle of plastic surgery.
authors.forename: Wenhu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Zairong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Chengliang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Guangfeng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xiujun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Ziyang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wenduo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Dali
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061525:Perforator Flap / Q000098:blood supply; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013710:Tendons; D013848:Thigh / Q000098:blood supply; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000293:injuries; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult