[Translated article] Medial tab-type fasciocutaneous flap as an alternative for the management of soft tissue defects of the leg

• Published in: Revista española de cirugía ortopédica y traumatología 2024-11
• Main Authors: Ríos Garrido, X., De la Rosa, A., Arzuza Ortega, L., Vargas Lievano, G., Molina Gándara, J., Tellez Gamarra, D.A., Medina Monje, C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Colgajos fasciocutáneos; Colgajos musculares; Defectos de cobertura en pierna; Fasciocutaneous flaps; Leg coverage defects; Lower extremity reconstruction; Muscular flaps; Orthoplastic; Ortoplástica; Reconstrucción de extremidad inferior
• ISSN: 1888-4415; 1988-8856
• DOI: 10.1016/j.recot.2024.11.007

Selecting the right technique for lower limb soft tissue reconstruction is a therapeutic challenge. Despite having several reconstruction options, it's important to choose a technique that is effective and with the least possible donor site morbidity. Demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of the medial tab flap in soft tissue reconstruction on the leg, compared to conventional flaps. Cohort study matched by age. 64 patients with soft tissue defects were selected and according to the intervention divided in: group (1) medial tab flap, and group (2) conventional flaps (sural, soleus, gastrocnemius) followed up to one year postoperatively. Outcome variables: surgical time in minutes, healing, healing time in days, complications. The patients who underwent surgery with medial tab flap and with conventional flaps healed completely. The healing time was 16.2±11.2 days in the tab flap and 16.1±11.2 days in conventional flaps, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups (p=.89). The surgical time for tab flaps was 225.2±117.8min, and 191.3±117.2min for the comparison flaps (p=.65), there were no statistically significant differences. There were no complications in the medial tab flaps. The findings suggest that the medial tab flap technique is as effective as the conventional flap technique, with complete flap survival and healing, and without any major complications in this studied group. La selección adecuada para la reconstrucción de tejidos blandos en la pierna es un reto terapéutico. A pesar de disponer de varias opciones de reconstrucción, es importante elegir una técnica eficaz y con la menor morbilidad posible de la zona donante. Demostrar la eficacia terapéutica del colgajo de lengüeta medial en la reconstrucción de tejidos blandos de la pierna, en comparación con los colgajos convencionales. Estudio de cohorte emparejado por edad. Se seleccionaron 64 pacientes con defectos de tejidos blandos, divididos, de acuerdo a la intervención, en 1) colgajo de lengüeta medial, y 2) colgajos convencionales (sural, sóleo, gastrocnemio), y se les realizó seguimiento hasta el año postoperatorio. Variables de desenlace: tiempo quirúrgico en minutos, cicatrización, tiempo de cicatrización en días, complicaciones. Los pacientes que fueron sometidos a cirugía con colgajo de lengüeta medial y colgajos convencionales cicatrizaron completamente. El tiempo de cicatrización fue de 16,2±11,2 días en el colgajo de lengüeta y de 16,1±11,2 días en los conv