Purpose
To focus on the importance of tensor fascia lata or sartorius muscle flaps to improve
wound healing and to save exposed groin vascular grafts with minimal
complications and to evaluate which is better.
Background
Treatment of an exposed groin vascular grafts after vascular interventions may be
challenging. Saving these grafts saves a patient’s limb.
Patients and methods
A prospective, randomized clinical trial was conducted on 54 patients suffering from
exposed groin vascular grafts to compare postoperative outcomes using tensor
fascia lata flap [group A; 28 (51.8%) cases] versus sartorius muscle flap [group B;
26 (48.2%) cases]. Postoperative follow-up was for 6 months.
Results
No flap loss was recorded in any of the procedure. Minor complications, such as
skin graft was lost partially, were seen in group A in five (17.9%) cases at the donor
area, but partial loss of skin graft was noticed only in one (3.8%) case in group B
(P=0.0022). Small hematoma was noticed in in six (21.4%) cases in group A but
only in two (7.6%) cases in group B (P=0.0036). Finally, overall wound healing was
noticed in 22 (78.6%) cases in group A and 24 (92.3%) cases in group B (P=0.014).
Conclusion
Both tensor fascia lata and sartorius muscle flaps for exposed groin vascular grafts
are considered a protective weapon to save these exposed grafts and to help to
ensure good wound healing. Sartorius muscle flaps are easily rotated from the
same incision, are more effective, and are safe, with minimal postoperative
complications.