To investigate the clinical effect of using perforator flaps with the microsurgical technique in repairing secondary wounds after resecting superficial malignant tumors.

A retrospective observational study was conducted in patients with superficial malignant tumors admitted to the Yulin NO.1 People’s Hospital from January 2018 to January 2021. After comprehensive examinations and multidisciplinary consultations, tumors were completely or palliatively resected based on results of the preoperative diagnosis and the intraoperative fast pathological test of cutting edge. Perforator flaps were used to repair the secondary wounds with microsurgical technique. The type of perforator flaps, including the lateral femoral circumflex artery perforator flap, the thoracodorsal artery perforator flap, the inferior epigastric artery perforator flap, the superficial iliac circumflex artery perforator flap, were decided by the intraoperative position, the defect size, the caliber and length of the blood vessel, etc. Postoperative conditions of the patients were observed.

Twenty-nine cases were included, with 19 males and ten females, aged from 28 to 69 years. Locations of the tumors included head and face (13 cases), upper extremity (four cases), lower extremity (six cases), and chest wall regions (six cases). The pathological type included 12 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, four of basal cell carcinoma, nine of sarcoma, and four of advanced breast cancer. The size of the wound after tumor resection ranged from 9.0 cm×7.5 cm to 22.0 cm×17.0 cm. There were 20 cases repaired with the lateral femoral circumflex artery perforator flap, four with the thoracodorsal artery perforator flap, four with the inferior epigastric artery perforator flap, and one with the superficial iliac circumflex artery perforator flap. The size of the flap ranged from 10.0 cm×9.0 cm to 24.0 cm×18.0 cm. One case had venous reflux obstruction and survived after exploringa bridging vein. One case suffered from the arterial crisis. Since this patient refused the exploration surgery, the skin-grafting was used to repair after flap necrosis. In addition, the other flaps survived successfully. Twenty-five patients achieved R0 resection. No recurrence was observed, and the appearance of the tumor was smooth after half a year to two years of follow-up. Four cases of advanced breast cancer were treated with palliative resection. The wounds were repaired and showed no recurrence. The quality of life was improved in the survival period. The donor site was closed directly in 13 cases, and thick skin grafting was used to cover the remaining 16 cases. No dysfunction was left.

Using perforator flaps with microsurgical technique can repair the large and composite wound after extensive resection of malignant tumors. It is an essential guarantee for surgical treatment of body surface malignant tumors.

Microsurgery; Malignant tumor; Perforator flap; Complete removal