Efficacy of venous supercharged reverse sural artery flap for reconstruction of severe limb trauma: comparative study including high-risk patients.

Abstract

Background: The reverse sural artery flap (RSAF) was reported to be a less technically demanding method for the coverage of defects in the distal lower leg, which can be elevated with short operative times. However, several studies pointed out the high frequency of partial necrosis in patients with comorbidities, which was primarily attributed to inadequate venous drainage. To overcome this challenge, we hypothesized that venous supercharging could effectively alleviate congestion of RSAF, potentially minimizing partial necrosis and related complications not only in healthy patients but also in comorbid patients.

Methods: A single-center retrospective observational study was conducted. We reviewed patients with severe limb trauma who underwent RSAF for soft tissue defects on the distal lower legs, ankles, and feet from 2009 to 2022. All flaps were performed within 2 months of the injuries. Patients were divided into the Supercharge group and the Control group based on the presence of supercharge. The flap necrosis, major and minor complications, and nonunion were compared between the two groups. Additionally, these outcomes were also evaluated among high-risk patients with at least one comorbidity, including diabetes mellitus, peripheral arterial disease, venous insufficiency, advanced age over 50 years, or history of smoking.

Results: A total of 30 patients including 16 males met the criteria, with 9 cases in the Supercharge group and 21 cases in the Control group. The Supercharge group decreased the frequencies of overall necrosis (11 % vs 71 %) as well as wound dehiscence (22 % vs 67 %). The Supercharge group also exhibited a relatively lower frequency of major complications (0 % vs 29 %) and minor complications (0 % vs 33 %) compared to the Control group. Among 21 high-risk patients with 7 supercharged cases and 14 control cases, supercharging decreased overall necrosis (14 % vs 71 %) and relatively suppressed major and minor complications (both of them: 0 % vs 36 %).

Conclusion: Venous supercharging of RSAF decreased the overall necrosis, potentially enhancing its clinical utility even in high-risk patients. Supercharged RSAF can be a valuable option as initial flap reconstruction for traumatic distal limb defects.