Modification of the Pedicled Anterolateral Thigh Myocutaneous Flap for the Reconstruction of Ischial Pressure Ulcers: A Retrospective Case Study of 21 Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Ischial pressure ulcers are considered the most difficult type of pressure ulcers (PUs) to treat.

OBJECTIVE: The authors report the use of a pedicled anterolateral thigh (pALT) myocutaneous flap as an alternative for covering an ischial PU.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively collected the data of 21 patients with an indurated recurrent ischial ulcer or a fresh ischial ulcer. A pALT myocutaneous flap was harvested without intramuscular dissection and skeletonization of the perforators for the ischial defect reconstruction. Two modified flap-insetting techniques, an open-route method and a subcutaneous tunnel method, were used for the ischial defect reconstruction. The open-route flap-insetting was used for a recurrent ulcer status after other surgical procedures, and the subcutaneous tunnel method was used for fresh ulcers.

RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 10 months (range, 4-14 months). During the postoperative follow-up, all open-route reconstructions resulted in flap take; however, poor healing with seroma was noted in 2 patients who had undergone pALT reconstruction with subcutaneous tunneling after other previous surgical reconstructions.

CONCLUSIONS: In the authors' experience, because of constant blood supply, sufficient bulk, easy elevation, longer pedicle for the arc of rotation, primary closure of the donor site without morbidity, and a non-weightbearing flap donor site, the pALT myocutaneous flap for ischial ulcer reconstruction can serve as a primary treatment and secondary salvage.