Sacral pressure sore treatment with gluteal perforator-based flap.

Hwang, Gyu Suk; Yoo, Won Min; Cho, Eul Je; Tark, Kwan Chul; Park, Beyoung Yun

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons 1998;25(4):673-678.
Published online June 1, 1998.

Sacral pressure sore treatment with gluteal perforator-based flap.

Gyu Suk Hwang, Won Min Yoo, Eul Je Cho, Kwan Chul Tark, Beyoung Yun Park

Abstract

Sacral pressure sores have been treated by a variety of surgical methods. complete treatment needs wide excision and coverage with healthy tissue which has constant and sufficient blood supply. Use of gluteus maximus muscle flap with or without overlying skin is a revolutionary method because of the reliability of blood supply. However, it is technically a little bit complicated, and future reconstruction for recurrent decubitus is especially limited in paraplegic patients. The development of gluteal perforator-based flap with para-sacral perforator introduce a new treatment modality for the sacral pressure sores. Total 10 cases of sacral pressure sores were treated with gluteal perforator-based flap. There were minimal postoperative complications except wound dehiscence in one case. This flap has a many advantage of no transection or sacrifice of the gluteus maximus muscle, elevation time for the flap is short, reliable blood flow of the perforator, large rotation arc and no post-operative hindrance to walking in patients who are not paraplegic. The disadvantages of this perforator-based flaps are the anatomical variation in the location of perforators and the need for technically careful dissection.