Preexpanded Perforator Flaps in Children

Istanbul University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Scars; Contractures

Treatments: Procedure: new technical intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01700595

emrehocaoglu (Registry Identifier)

hocaoglupediatricperforator1

Details and patient eligibility

About

Contractures and broad scars of the axilla, anterior chest wall and neck have detrimental effects on functional, physical and psychological development of children. Perforator flaps have already been shown to be reliable options for the reconstruction of contractures but there have been no reports demonstrating the value of preexpanded perforator flaps of dorsolateral trunk region in treatment of extensive contractures and scars of pediatric patients. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate these techniques by a case series formed of pediatric patients with broad scars and contractures of anterior chest wall, axilla, neck and breasts. Seven pediatric patients (mean age, 11,6 years) who were treated by preexpanded perforator flaps are presented. By this means, clinical experience on intercostal artery perforator (ICAP) flap, thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flap, circumflex scapular artery perforator (CSAP) flap and lumbar artery perforator flap was shared. Flaps as large as 20,5x10,5 cm in size could be successfully transferred in pediatric patients. Broad scar tissues were resurfaced with broad flaps carrying similar characteristics with the uninjured anterior chest wall and neck skin in six of our patients. In one patient with partial necrosis, full thickness skin graft was used for the residual defect. The mean duration of postoperative (after flap transfer) follow-ups was 17,2 months. The preexpanded TDAP, ICAP and CSAP flaps are revealed to be useful reconstructive options for the treatment of scars and contractures of anterior chest wall, axilla, neck and breast in pediatric patients.

Enrollment: 7 patients

Sex: All

Ages: Under 18 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• pediatric age group
• broad scars and contractures

Exclusion criteria

• age over 18 years
• minimal scars and skin defects that could be treated by minor interventions

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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7 participants in 1 patient group

new technical intervention

Experimental group

Description:

''new technical intervention'' represents the surgical procedure which is applied for the patients assigned to this group because of their certain characteristics. Namely, pediatric patients with broad axillary, anterior chest wall, mammary and neck scars are treated with this surgical approach.

Treatment:

Procedure: new technical intervention