CC BY 4.0 · Arch Plast Surg
DOI: 10.1055/a-2620-3297
Original Article

The Preoperative Planning, Design, and Execution of the Free-style Propeller Flap: A Detailed Descriptions and The Case Series

HyungBae Kim
1   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Asan Medical Center, Songpa-gu, Korea (the Republic of) (Ringgold ID: RIN65526)
,
Seong John Han
2   Plastic Surgery, Asan Medical Center, Songpa-gu, Korea (the Republic of) (Ringgold ID: RIN65526)
,
Changsik John Pak
3   Plastic Surgery Department, University of Ulsan, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of) (Ringgold ID: RIN35029)
,
Jp Hong
1   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Asan Medical Center, Songpa-gu, Korea (the Republic of) (Ringgold ID: RIN65526)
,
Hyunsuk Peter Suh
4   Plastic surgery, University of Ulsan, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of) (Ringgold ID: RIN35029)
› Author Affiliations

Propeller flap reconstruction has been performed on various parts of the body. Despite their versatility and reliability, these procedures can be challenging due to numerous obstacles. This article details the technical aspects of designing and performing propeller flap reconstructions, including preoperative, intraoperative, and surgical considerations. Proper preoperative planning and design are crucial for reducing complications and ensuring successful surgery. Over approximately 3 years, 20 consecutive patients underwent propeller flap reconstruction. There were no cases of total flap loss, and the partial flap loss rate was 5% (n = 1). After leech application, two flaps (10%) experienced venous congestion without partial necrosis. Successful reconstruction can be achieved by minimizing errors in these processes. This article is beneficial for surgeons unfamiliar with propeller flaps.



Publication History

Received: 06 October 2024

Accepted after revision: 16 April 2025

Accepted Manuscript online:
26 May 2025

© . The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor , NY 10001 New York, USA