Outcomes and Clinical Applications of Thin Free Flaps for Soft Tissue Defects

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Flap coverage is often required to achieve primary wound closure and to achieve a good functional result. Free flap has gain popularity over random flap in soft tissue reconstruction to achive maximal cosmetic and functional outcome. Advances in reconstructive techniques have widened the application of free flap tissue transfer for repair of head and neck defects and have resulted in improved quality of life and both functional and aesthetic outcomes. Interference of high technology like CT Angio and Duplex ultra sound makes perforator detection more easy and more accurate. Fasciocutaneous free flaps raised in the traditional sub or supra-fascial planes can sometimes be thick and bulky. Elevating thin flaps has long been a goal of reconstructive surgeons. Thin flaps have numerous advantages in reconstruction. Thin flap is required in aesthetically significant areas, such as in fascial and hand reconstruction. In addition to their aesthetic importance, thin flaps are frequently required due to functional considerations. In head and neck reconstruction, bulky flaps may interfere with smooth swallowing and cause airway obstruction. In adition resurfacing of joint exposure require thin flap to maintain maximum joint function. Donor site shows better outcomes with thin free flap due to preservation of deep fatty layer that decrease the incidence of donor site neuroma and better countour when application of skin graft.

Official Title
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Outcomes and Clinical Applications of Thin Free Flaps for Soft Tissue Defects

Conditions
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SOFT TISSUE DEFECTS

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: THIN FREE FLAP


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: All patients with soft tissue defects in different body regions who are prepared for free flap surgery. All patients under 65 year of age and above 5 years of age. Exclusion Criteria: Patient who is not indicated for free flap. Patient above 65 year of age and below five year of age. Severely ill patient or with vascular problem or unfit for surgery.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 5 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Procedure: THIN FREE FLAP|Flap design will be performed on the basis of the preoperative perforator mapping. Freestyle flap elevation will be performed under loupe magnification from one of the incisions until the perforators are reached|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SUCEES RATE AND POTENTIAL COVERAGE | This study is designed for the clinical applications of thin free flaps regarding their coverage potential, dissection procedure and their outcomes (success and complications) as a reconstructive option | 6 months |