ABSTRACT
Perforator flaps have recently become ubiquitous in the field of plastic surgery. To understand and appreciate their unique nature, it is necessary to compare and contrast them with the development of other types of flaps. A complete yet abridged version of the history of flap surgery is presented in this article. Beginning with Sushruta's Indian cheek flap method for nasal reconstruction, a trip through time and space is taken to highlight the milestones leading to the evolution of the perforator flap. Random pattern skin flaps, axial pattern skin flaps, and musculocutaneous flaps are all discussed. Finally, the future of perforator flaps is presented.
KEYWORDS
Perforator flaps - history of flap surgery
REFERENCES
-
1
Nichter L S, Morgan R F, Nichter M A.
The impact of Indian methods for total nasal reconstruction.
Clin Plast Surg.
1983;
10
635-647
-
2 Sushruta .Sushruta Samhita. An English translation of the Sushruta Samhita, based on original Sanskrit text. Calcultta; Bose 1907
-
3
Ang G C.
History of skin transplantation.
Clin Dermatol.
2005;
23
320-324
-
4
Micali G.
The Italian contribution to plastic surgery.
Ann Plast Surg.
1993;
31
566-571
-
5
Ben-Hur N, Converse J M.
The impact of plastic surgery on transplantation from skin graft to microsurgery.
Transplant Proc.
1980;
12
616-620
-
6 BL .Letter. Gentleman's Magazine. 1794: 891
-
7
Freshwater M F, Krizek T J.
George David Pollock and the development of skin grafting.
Ann Plast Surg.
1978;
1
96-102
-
8 Tolhurst D E, Hallock G G. In: Blondeel P, Morris S, Hallock G, Neligan P History of Flap Surgery. Perforator Flaps: Anatomy, Technique, and Clinical Applications. St. Louis, MO; Quality Medical Publishing 2006: 3-9
-
9
Timmons M J.
Landmarks in the anatomical study of the blood supply of the skin.
Br J Plast Surg.
1985;
38
197-207
-
10
Hallock G G.
Direct and indirect perforator flaps: the history and the controversy.
Plast Reconstr Surg.
2003;
111
855-865
-
11
Heitmann C, Allen R J.
Perforator flaps-the history of evolution.
Handchir Mikrochir Plast Chir.
2002;
34
216-218
-
12
Micali G, Scuderi N, Ribuffo D, Terracina F S.
The legacy of Capt. Gino Pieri: a forgotten Italian contribution to the study of cutaneous blood supply during World War I.
Plast Reconstr Surg.
2003;
112
1066-1070
-
13
Milton S H.
Pedicled skin flaps: the fallacy of the length: width ratio.
Br J Surg.
1970;
57
502-508
-
14
Milton S H.
Experimental studies on island flaps.
Plast Reconstr Surg.
1971;
48
574-578
-
15
McGregor I A, Morgan G.
Axial and random pattern flaps.
Br J Plast Surg.
1973;
26
202-213
-
16
McGregor I A, Jackson I T.
The groin flap.
Br J Plast Surg.
1972;
25
3-16
-
17
Ger R.
The technique of muscle transposition in the operative treatment of traumatic and ulcerative lesions of the leg.
J Trauma.
1971;
11
502-510
-
18 Taylor G I. Foreword. In: Blondeel P, Morris S, Hallock G, Neligan P Perforator Flaps: Anatomy, Technique, and Clinical Applications. St. Louis; Quality Medical Publishing 2006: xv-xvi
-
19
Ponten B.
The fasciocutaneous flap: its use in soft tissue defects of the lower leg.
Br J Plast Surg.
1981;
34
215-220
-
20 Cormack G C, Lamerty B GH. The anatomical basis for fasciocutaneous flaps. In Fasciocutaneous flaps. Cambridge; Blackwell Scientific Publications 1992
-
21
Koshima I, Soeda S.
Inferior epigastric artery skin flaps without rectus abdominis muscle.
Br J Plast Surg.
1989;
42
645-648
-
22
Allen R J, Treece P.
Deep inferior epigastric perforator flap for breast reconstruction.
Ann Plast Surg.
1994;
32
32-38
-
23
Kim J T.
New nomenclature concept of perforator flap.
Br J Plast Surg.
2005;
58
431-440
-
24
Wei F C, Jain V, Suominen S, Chen J C.
Confusion among perforator flaps: what is a true perforator flap?.
Plast Reconstr Surg.
2001;
107
874-876
-
25 Mathes S J, Nahai F. Flap selection, analysis of features, modifications and applications. In: Mathes SJ, Nahai F Reconstructive Surgery: Principles, Anatomy & Technique. New York; Churchill Livingstone 1997: 37
-
26
Koshima I, Nanba Y, Takahashi Y, Tsukino A, Kishimoto K.
Future of supramicrosurgery as it relates to breast reconstruction: free paraumbilical perforator adiposal flap.
Semin Plast Surg.
2002;
16
93-99
-
27
Wei F C, Mardini S.
Free-style free flaps.
Plast Reconstr Surg.
2004;
114
910-916
Farah N KhanM.D.
Institute for Reconstructive Surgery, The Methodist Hospital
6560 Fannin Street, Suite 800, Houston, TX 77030
