Perforator propeller flaps (PPF) are frequently used to cover defects in various anatomical sites in the body. We performed soft-tissue reconstruction of six patients with diverse cancer pathologies using PPFs of various origins, including the radial collateral artery, saphenous artery, ulnar artery, gluteal artery, lumbar artery, and internal mammary vessels at their respective sites. The average flap size was 67.16 cm2. Four of the flaps were rotated 180°, and two at 135°. Two of the flaps developed transient postoperative venous congestion and were salvaged successfully by opening a few stitches, scoring, and chemical leeching. The average blood loss was 48.33 mL. The average operative time was 166.3 minutes, including resection of the primary lesion, flap harvesting, and inset. All flaps survived completely. None of the patients developed a surgical site infection, indicating the success of the procedures. This study shows that PPF is a preferable option for reconstruction of defects from oncological resections at many unconventional sites where appropriate perforators can be identified.
Ullah et al. (Thu,) studied this question.