Surgical Treatment of Vascular Anomalies in the Extremities: A Single Surgeon Experience

Abstract

The literature on surgical management of vascular anomalies has primarily focused on the head and neck area, while studies of anomalies on the extremities have typically included larger and more dramatic clinical presentations. In this article, we aim to present our experience with surgical management of smaller symptomatic anomalies of the extremities. We performed a retrospective review of a single surgeon’s experience at a large academic center on patients from January 2013 to March 2022. We collected data on patient demographics, past medical and surgical history, operative dictations, clinic notes, and postoperative follow-up. Included patients were required to have confirmed vascular anomalies based on final pathology reports. A total of 47 patients underwent a total of 50 procedures, with 2 patients experiencing recurrence requiring repeat operative management. Our cohort had average age (standard deviation) of 27.16 (18.67). Sixteen patients had prior history of vascular anomalies upon presentation to our institution. The majority of lesions were located in a digit of the hand, the arm, or the foot. On surgical excision, the average size (range) of the excised lesions was 3.54 cm (0.5–15.0 cm) by 2.22 cm (0.3–8.0 cm). Four required coverage with local flaps, 3 with full-thickness skin graft (FTSG) and 2 with microvascular free flap. The 2 most common pathologic diagnoses were arteriovenous malformation and hemangioma, each with 14 patients. Overall complication rate was 2%, with 1 patient experiencing wound dehiscence requiring FTSG. Follow-up ranged from 0.1 months to 46.9 months with an average of 3.86 months. In the appropriately selected patient, surgical excision of symptomatic vascular anomalies of the extremities can be successfully performed with a low complication rate. Most lesions can be appropriately treated with direct excision and direct closure, although some may require FTSG, local flap, or microvascular free flap.