The epigastric island flap.

We describe a paramedian epigastric island flap fed by the perforators of the superior-inferior epigastric vessels. It is transferred with an intervening strip of muscle and fascia. A case is reported and the future possibilities of the flap are discussed.     

Reverse-flow island sural flap

The reverse flow island sural flap is presented as an alternative to flaps currently used for reconstruction of small and medium substance losses in the distal third of the leg, ankle, and heel. This is a random type of flap, based on the reverse flow of the superficial sural artery, which mainly depends on the anatomy of the perforators of the peroneal artery system.The anatomic structures that constitute the pedicle are the superficial and deep fascias, the sural nerve, the short saphenous vein, and the superficial sural artery. The skin island and the subcutaneous cellular tissue complement the flap proper. This skin island was demarcated at any point of the median or distal thirds of the leg, having the short saphenous vein and the sural nerve on its central axis. The distal dissection limit of the pedicle is located 5 centimeters above the lateral malleolus. This limit is established so as to ensure the integrity of the perforators from the principal arteries of the leg, mainly the peroneal artery, responsible for the reverse flow nourishing the flap. These perforators will affect anastomoses with the superficial sural artery in charge of irrigating the structures compounding the flap.A total of 71 patients were operated on with this technique, some of them with basic pathologic abnormalities limiting the distal blood flow, such as diabetes mellitus, and some others having proven vascular insufficiency or displaying unstable areas attributable to problems such as pseudarthrosis and osteomyelitis, which needed to be covered. Fifteen flaps (21.1 percent) suffered partial necrosis, which did not compromise the final result, and another three (4.2 percent) showed total loss. The flap in question has great mobility and versatility, allowing the treatment of specific areas of the lower limb, without sacrificing important arteries or mobilizing structures that might bring about functional deficits.     

Electromagnetic flowmetry--an experimental method for continuous blood flow measurement using a new island flap model

We describe a reliable experimental method for direct, continuous measurement of the rate of blood flow in an island skin flap, using an electromagnetic flowmeter applied to the artery of the flap. The canine saphenous island flap model, developed as part of this study, is a large (11 x 14 cm) island flap, based solely on the saphenous artery (2 mm in diameter). We describe the anatomy of the flap and the method of raising it. Electromagnetic flowmetry is the only method of blood flow determination that provides immediate, continuous, and quantitative measurement of flow. We describe the principles and pitfalls of the electromagnetic flowmeter and the numerous rules of practice that must be observed to obtain consistent results. A validation study was carried out, in which we simultaneously measured arterial inflow with the flowmeter and venous outflow from the flap using direct collection. This study was based on the assumption that at any point in time the arterial and venous rate of flow were equal. We present the results of the study, which show an extremely close linear relationship between the measured and actual rates of flow. We intend to use this experimental method to study the factors that affect the rate of blood flow in free skin flap transfer.     

A case of sideburn reconstruction using a temporoparieto-occipital island flap.

A preliminary case is reported in which a large temporal bald scar including the sideburn was successfully reconstructed using a temporoparieto-occipital island flap in combination with a tissue expander. This flap is considered to be a kind of reverse-flow island flap of the occipital artery by means of the fine vascular connections with the temporal branch of the superficial temporal artery. This new method is potentially a good solution for sideburn reconstruction.     

The ulnar recurrent fasciocutaneous island flap: reverse medial arm flap

A new island fasciocutaneous flap raised on the inner medial surface of the upper arm has been used for reconstruction of soft-tissue defects of the elbow. The blood supply to this flap comes from the fasciocutaneous perforators of the ulnar recurrent vessels. This unique vascular arrangement allows for safe transference of the upper medial skin to the elbow region. This flap has been used to cover nine defects in eight patients, and results have been good. Except for one case of sensory disturbance, there were no complications or loss of overlying skin. It is a relatively quick and simple procedure involving only one stage that adequately corrects the skin defect around the elbow region and does not require prolonged splinting.