الفهرس 
The Evoluttion of Propeller FlapsOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Perforator based propeller flaps have gained a wide popularity due to their ability to cover soft tissue defects in the lower limb without the need for microsurgical techniques and with decreased donor site morbidity. The concept of replacing like with like tissue has also allowed perforator based propeller flaps to be one of the first options in coverage of lower limb soft tissue defects. We operated on 10 cases in our study. The cases presented to the Plastic and Reconstructive department in Tanta University from January 2018 till January of 2019. The protocol of management was to cover the soft tissue defects in the leg using perforator based propeller flaps. The results were an analysis of the use of flaps in regards with the age, gender, etiology of the defect, site of the defect, size of the flap, type of the flap, closure of donor site, arc of rotation, operative time, hospital stay and post operative complications. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the results of the propeller flaps for leg reconstruction as regards, the functional outcome and the aesthetic outcomes. All patients included in this study were fit adults with a mean age of 28. 9 year of which were males since males are more vulnerable to trauma. The most common etiology was trauma representing 50% of the cases. The most common site of soft tissue defects were the proximal and distal thirds with 40% each. The types of flap used were based on a perforator from the posterior tibial in 80% of the cases and a perforator from the peroneal artery in 20% of the cases. All the donor sites in this study were closed by split thickness skin grafts with complete healing. The arcs of rotation in the study ranged from 90-180 degrees. 5 cases had an arc of rotation of 180 degrees. 2 cases had an arc of rotation of 160 degrees. 2 patients had an arc of rotation of 120 degrees. One case had an arc of rotation of 90 degrees. Only two of our patients suffered from post-operative complications in the form of venous congestion. In one patient there was complete necrosis of the flap leaving behind granulation tissue that covered the important anatomical structures underneath. A secondary operation was performed to cover the granulation tissue by split thickness skin graft. The other patient suffered from partial necrosis of the flap which was treated 4 weeks later by a split thickness skin graft. Perforator based propeller flaps are a reliable tool in the arsenal of a surgeon in treating soft tissue defects in the leg with the least morbidities and most advantages.