[An effect of multi-island flap with shallow branch of gluteus upper artery on repair of sacrum soft tissue defect].

OBJECTIVE

To explore a safe, highly-efficient and rapid approach to the repair of the sacrum soft tissue defect and/or partial exposure of the bone.

METHODS

From February 2003 to April 2006, 6 patients (4 males, 2 femals; aged 28-67 years) with the sacrum soft tissue defect were surgically treated by the multi-island flap with shallow branches of the gluteus upper artery. The soft tissue defects ranged in area from 15 cm x 12 cm to 25 cm x 20 cm, averaged 20 cm x 16 cm. The obtained flaps ranged in area from 18 cm x 15 cm to 30 cm x 25 cm. Of the patients, 5 had a sacral ulcer (Grade III in 3 patients, Grade IV in 2) and 1 had a tumor, with their illness course from 3 weeks to 20 years.

RESULTS

All the flaps survived completely in the 6 patients, in whom 5 had an incision healing of the first intention, and the remaining 1 had a healing of the second intention 32 days after the treatment for the minor ischemia and necrosis at the edges of the flap. The follow-up for 2-38 months (average, 19.3 months) revealed that all the flaps grew well with no recurrence of the sacral ulcer.

CONCLUSION

The surgical treatment with the multi-island flap with shallow branches of the gluteus upper artery is a safe, highly-efficient and rapid approach to repair of the sacrum soft tissue defect and/or partial exposure of the bone. This kind of treatment has advantages of simpler procedures, better blood circulation of the flap, fewer complications, and higher success rates.