Flap and soft tissue recon, lip/mandible/eye recon Flashcards
(118 cards)
List 5 advantages and 5 disadvantages of local flaps
Advantages:
1. Height and skin color match (donor match)
2. Easy wound care
3. Low donor site morbidity
4. One stage procedure in most cases
3. Shorter healing period
“HELOS”
Disadvantages:
1. Risk of deformation of adjacent structures due to donor site closure
2. Creates additional scars
3. May be technically challenging (e.g. limited length with random pattern blood supply)
4. Potential for greater reconstructive challenge if failure
5. Increased risk of bruising, swelling, trapdoor deformity
6. Not enough bulk for deep defects
“STReeT DuB”
S - additional Scars
T - Trapdoor deformity, more swelling bruising in surrounding areas
R - Re-reconstruction may be required if it fails
T - Technically challenging (esp. with random pattern blood supply, limits length)
D - Deformation of local adjacent structures depending on way it closes
B - Bulk may not be enough for deep defects
√Describe the reconstructive ladder.
- Healing by secondary intention (concave areas - nasolabial, medial canthus, periauricular, temporal, forehead - “concave and be brave”)
- Primary closure
- Delayed primary closure
- Grafts (STSG, FTSG) - harvest from pre or post-auricular area, supraclavicular, or upper eye lid
- Local flap
- Regional flap
- Free flap tissue transfer
What is a trapdoor deformity?
A phenomenon of outward bulge of tissue centrally due to concentric retraction of a curved scar peripherally
(surrounding scar contracted down, middle is raised) - commonly seen in local/bilobed flaps
Describe the flap classification schemes.
A. Location: Local, regional, distant
B. Vascular Supply: Random patterned or axial
C. Flap design and method of tissue movement
i. Pivotal flap
ii. Advancement flap
iii. Hinge flap
What are 6 uses for flaps?
- Replace tissue loss
- Skin covering to future surgical site
- Padding over bony prominence (also for protection from radiation)
- Bringing in new blood supply to an area
- Increase sensation
- Specialized tissue for reconstruction
“I need RVSPS”
I - Increased sensation
R - Replace tissue loss
V - bring new Vascular supply to an area
S - Specialized tissue needed for reconstruction
P - Protection (ie. of underlying exposed bone, protection from radiation)
S - Surgical site - skin covering to a future surgical site
Describe the flap classification based on design and method of tissue movements.
A. PIVOTAL FLAPS
- Flaps move toward the center of the wound by pivoting around a fixed point at the base of the flap pedicle
- Examples:
— Rotation flaps (curvilinear design)
— Transposition flaps (linear configuration): Rhomboid flap and bilobed flap are the main ones and Z plasty
— Interpolated flaps (base is not contiguous with defect; e.g. paramedian forehead flap. Requires secondary detachment)
B. ADVANCEMENT FLAPS
- Linear design and moved directly to defect
- Examples:
— Uni- or bi-pedicled advancement flaps
— V-Y or Y-V flaps
— Island advancement flaps
C. HINGE FLAPS
- Involve transfer of tissue by flipping it over into the desired position
- Usually used for internal lining purposes (e.g. nasal mucosal hinge flap)
Rhomboid flap: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Abhishek-Vijayakumar-3/publication/311443764/figure/fig1/AS:436298457587712@1481033066035/Marking-of-rhomboid-flap.png
Bilobed flap: https://journals.sagepub.com/cms/10.1177/2732501621993908/asset/images/large/10.1177_2732501621993908-fig1.jpeg
Island advancement flap:
https://i0.wp.com/plasticsurgerykey.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/f147-006ac-9780702062759.jpg?w=960
V-Y flap:
https://entokey.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/DA1-DB5-DC3-C88-FF3.gif
Bipedicled advancement flap:
https://img.medscapestatic.com/pi/meds/ckb/49/8249tn.jpg
Describe the classification of local skin flaps based on blood supply
A. Random Cutaneous
- No named vessels
- Rely on dermal and subdermal plexus vessels supplied by musculocutaneous arteries near the base of the flap
B. Axial pattern/Direct Cutaneous flap
- Incorporates a named subcutaneous artery running along length of the longitudinal axis of flap
C. Fasciocutaneous Flap
- Flap that includes skin, subcutaneous tissue and underlying fascia, based on the prefascial and subfascial plexuses
D. Musculocutaneous flap
- Encompasses skin, SC tissue, and muscle. Based on muscular perforations.
Vancouver page 340
Kevan FP page 13
What are the 4 main types of local flaps?
- Advancement
- Rotation (single axis, curved scar)
- Transposition (flap base is contiguous with the defect, straight scar generally)
- Interpolation (compared to transposition, flap base is not contiguous with the defect) - e.g. paramedian forehead for nasal tip
What are 4 common examples of advancement flaps?
- Monopedicled
- Bipedicled
- T-plasty
- V-Y plasty
Vancouver Pg 343
Know how to draw at least 2 types of rotation flaps
Vancouver Pg 343
What are 3 examples of transposition flaps?
- Rhomboid/Limberg (angle must be 60 and 120 degrees from each other)
- Dufourmental (narrower angles than a Limberg; can be < 60 degrees)
- Bilobed
- Z-plasty
Vancouver Pg 343
See Timmins Rhomboid Flap
What are two examples of interpolation flaps?
- Paramedian forehead flap (supratrochlear artery)
- Melolabial interpolation flap
What is the classification of musculovascular flaps based on pedicle type?
Mathes and Nahai Classification
Type 1:
- Single pedicle
- E.g. Tensor fascia Lata
Type 2:
- 1 dominant pedicle in the mid-belly of muscle
- 1 secondary pedicle (or several very minor distally)
- E.g. SCM, Trapezius, Gracilis, Platysma
Type 3:
- 2 dominant pedicles
- E.g. Rectus abdominus, gluteus maximus, orbicularis oris
Type 4:
- Multiple segmental pedicles of similar size along belly
- E.g. Sartorius flap
Type 5:
- Single dominant pedicle and multiple secondary segmental pedicles
- E.g. Pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi
See Kevan Page 13
Vancouver Pg 340
Describe the ideal design of a rotational flap.
- Arc of closure < 30 degrees
- Radius of the arc = 2-3x diameter of defect
- Length of arc = 4x diameter of defect
√What is the Delay Phenomenon? Describe 6 mechanisms of how it works.
Delay Phenomenon: Improved survival of a flap occurs by delaying definitive transfer of a pedicled tissue flap, allowing improved blood flow to distal aspect of pedicle
- Procedure: Elevating flap and then placing it back into position without mobilizing it (partially incise and undermine flap) for 10-21 days. Re-evaluation and inset then occurs 3-4 weeks later.
- Effect lost after 3 weeks to 3 months
Mechanisms:
1. Closure of arteriovenous shunts (due to development of autonomous tone or regrowth of sympathetics along flap base, or increased sensitivity to circulating catecholamines)
2. Improved blood supply after recovery from hyperadrenergic state due to sympathetic denervation, causing change in sympathetic tone
3. Reorientation of vessels along axis of the flap
4. Increase in vessel caliber; dilation of choke vessels (vessels that connect between two vascular components) through hyperplasia and hypertrophy
5. Increase in vessel numbers
6. Conditioning of distal flap to ischemia
√What is reperfusion injury? What is the main driver
Reperfusion injury = paradoxical exacerbation of cellular dysfunction and death, following restoration of blood flow to previously ischaemic tissues
Xanthine Oxidase:
- Major source of free radical in ischemic tissues
- Responsible for conversion of hypoxantine to uric acid after restoration of oxygen to hypoxic tissue, which produces superoxide ions (free radical) –> exacerbates tissue death
√What is an oxygen free radical scavenger? List 5 examples.
A substance, such as an antioxidant, that helps protect cells from the damage caused by free radicals.
- Allopurinol (xanthine oxidase inhibitors)
- Superoxide dismutase
- Vitamine A, C, E
- Deferoxamine
- Glutathione
“SAVe Damaged Goods”
S - Superoxide dismutase
A - Allopurinol (xanthine oxidase inhibitors)
Ve - Vitamin E, C, A
D - Deferoxamine
G - Glutathione
√Define Stress in the context of flap physiology
Force applied across a cross-sectional area of tissue
√Define Strain in the context of flap physiology
Change in length divided by the original length of the given tissue to which a force is applied. (Change in length relative to original length)
Measure of deformation.
√Define creep in the context of flap physiology. What are the types of creep?
An increase in strain (change in length relative to original length) seen as a result of constant mechanical stress. Constant stress on a structure results in a change in length, and this PROCESS of increasing strain is called creep.
Types of Creep:
1. Mechanical Creep: Creep due to the stretching of collagen fibres. No new tissue formation
- Happens over minutes
- Migration of undermined tissue into field defect by stretching force
- Due to: (1) displacement/extrusion of fluid and MPS ground substance from the dermis, (2) breakdown of the dermal framework, (3) realignment of collagen, (4) Microfragmentation of elastin
- Biologic Creep: Stimulation of new tissue growth
- Happens over weeks
- Gradual stress stretches skin, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, lymphatics
- Due to: (1) increase in length by cell division, (2) collagen and elastin synthesis
- Examples: (1) Pregnancy, (2) Lymphedema, (3) Morbid obesity
Short term effect of stress is mechanical creep. Over longer periods of time, you obtain biologic creep.
√Define Stress Relaxation
The decrease in stress that occurs when skin is held under tension at a constant strain. This is caused by a change in skin physiology (increase in skin cellularity) over time by application of constant stress.
√What is an angiosome?
Angiosome is an anatomic unit of tissue (consisting of skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascia, muscle, and bone) fed by a source artery and drained by specific veins
- Body can be divided into 40 angiosomes
- Adjacent angiosomes are connected by a vast compensatory collateral web of “choke vessels” (vessels that connect between two vascular components)
Regarding Tissue expansion, discuss:
1. What is the goal
2. What are the principles of tissue expanders 4
3. How do different tissues respond to tissue expanders? What tolerates it well, which ones don’t?
4. What are the types of tissue expanders? 3
4. Contraindications 5
5. Complications and side effects? 9
Goal of expansion: To increase local tissue size to facilitate reconstruction. (Biological creep)
Principles of tissue expanders:
1. Base area of expander should be 2.5-3x as large as the area to be reconstructed/closed. Amount of flap advancement either half the base diameter of the expander, or half the diameter of the expansion dome.
2. Expansion should proceed until skin blanches or there is discomfort
3. Intervals between injections (to increase expansion) = 4-14 days (every 1-2 weeks)
4. Expansion starts ~3 weeks after implant insertion, 6-12 weeks to reach maximum expansion
Types of Tissues: Collagen fibers realign.
1. Nerve tissue tolerates expansion well
2. Adipose tissue is intolerant to tissue expansion
Types (match geometric shape of expander to the shape of expansion site/planned flap):
1. Rectangular
2. Crescent-shaped
3. Round
Contraindications:
1. Smokers
2. HTN
3. Diabetes
4. Poor nutrition
5. Chronic steroid use
Complications:
1. Dehiscence/Expander Exposure (most common)
2. Expander Rupture
3. Skin necrosis
4. Hematoma - truly emergent; return to OR for evacuation, stop bleeding, and possibly re-insert expander
5. Infection
6. Pain / discomfort
7. Extrusion
8. Bone remodelling/neurovascular compromise - remove expander or perform surgery ASAP
9. Alopecia
“I BENDHARD”
I - Infection
B - Bony remodelling underlying or vascular compromise
E - Extrusion
N - Necrosis of skin
D - Dehiscence
H - Hematoma
A - Alopecia
R - Rupture of expander
D - Discomfort / pain
Side effects:
1. Adverse cosmesis while expander in place
2. Pain and discomfrot
Discuss 15 causes or risk factors of flap failure. 6 patient factors, 4 environmental, 7 flap reasons
“6 - 4 - 7”
Patient factors:
1. Hypercoagulability
2. Smoking
3. Vasoconstrictive agents (e.g. pressors, mint, chocolate)
4. Hypotension
5. Peripheral vascular disease
6. Diabetes
Environmental factors:
1. Irradiated field
2. Poor peripheral blood supply
3. Contaminated field
4. Cold (vasoconstriction)
Flap factors:
1. Long pedicle
2. Inadequate blood supply relative to tissue
3. Venous congestion
4. Arterial obstruction
5. Infection
6. Pedicle compression (hematoma, seroma)
7. Poor pedicle geometry (tension, axial length too long for vascular supply)