TY - JOUR
T1 - Securing skin grafts to microvascular free flaps using the vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) device
AU - Hanasono, Matthew M.
AU - Skoracki, Roman J.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2007/5
Y1 - 2007/5
N2 - We performed microvascular free muscle flaps on 5 patients using the vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) device (KCI, San Antonio, TX) to secure a split-thickness skin graft to the external surface of the flap in each case. This method of skin-graft fixation was selected in each case because of the complex 3-dimensional shape of the flap or because of concerns of inadequate fixation provided by conventional tie-over bolster techniques in regions that experience a significant amount of shear stress. All 5 flaps remained viable throughout the treatment course and all 5 patients experienced excellent skin-graft take. Also, decreased edema was noted in all 5 flaps. We conclude that the VAC device is a useful tool in the fixation of skin grafts to microvascular free flaps and that its use does not compromise free-flap viability.
AB - We performed microvascular free muscle flaps on 5 patients using the vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) device (KCI, San Antonio, TX) to secure a split-thickness skin graft to the external surface of the flap in each case. This method of skin-graft fixation was selected in each case because of the complex 3-dimensional shape of the flap or because of concerns of inadequate fixation provided by conventional tie-over bolster techniques in regions that experience a significant amount of shear stress. All 5 flaps remained viable throughout the treatment course and all 5 patients experienced excellent skin-graft take. Also, decreased edema was noted in all 5 flaps. We conclude that the VAC device is a useful tool in the fixation of skin grafts to microvascular free flaps and that its use does not compromise free-flap viability.
KW - Microvascular free flap
KW - Negative pressure dressing
KW - Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) device
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U2 - 10.1097/01.sap.0000237638.93453.66
DO - 10.1097/01.sap.0000237638.93453.66
M3 - Article
C2 - 17452846
AN - SCOPUS:34247500747
SN - 0148-7043
VL - 58
SP - 573
EP - 576
JO - Annals of plastic surgery
JF - Annals of plastic surgery
IS - 5
ER -