Weber et al. Plast Aesthet Res 2017;4:190-4 DOI: 10.20517/2347-9264.2017.73 Plastic and Aesthetic Research www.parjournal.net Case Report Open Access Complex reconstructive surgery for a recurrent ischial pressure ulcer with contralateral muscle Erin L. Weber1, Salah Rubayi1,2 1Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA. 2Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, Downey, CA 90242, USA. Correspondence to: Dr. Salah Rubayi, Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, 7601 East Imperial Highway, Downey, CA 90242, USA. E-mail: [email protected] How to cite this article: Weber EL, Rubayi S. Complex reconstructive surgery for a recurrent ischial pressure ulcer with contralateral muscle. Plast Aesthet Res 2017;4:190-4. ABSTRACT Article history: The management of recurrent pressure ulcers is a frequent problem in patients with spinal Received: 19 Sep 2017 cord injuries. Many local muscle and fasciocutaneous flaps can be used to cover ulcers of all Accepted: 18 Oct 2017 sizes. However, when a recurrent pressure ulcer has been repeatedly addressed, the number of Published: 31 Oct 2017 available flaps becomes quite limited. Contralateral muscles, such as the gracilis, can be used to cover recurrent ischioperineal ulcers and should be employed before last resort surgeries, Key words: such as hip disarticulation and the total thigh flap. Pressure ulcer, recurrent, gracilis, muscle, contralateral INTRODUCTION risk of serious infection or sepsis. Therefore, pressure ulcers, and the constant attention required to prevent Spinal cord injury predisposes patients to additional them, represent a significant lifetime burden for patients medical complications. Pressure ulcers are the second with spinal cord injuries. most common cause of rehospitalization within the first two decades after injury[1]. The prevalence of pressure The basic tenets of pressure ulcer repair include ulcers in patients with spinal cord injury is 25-66% adequate debridement and durable wound coverage with and 95% of all patients with spinal cord injuries will muscle, myocutaneous or fasciocutaneous flaps. The develop a pressure ulcer at some point during their gluteus maximus, gracilis, and biceps femoris muscles lifetime[2,3]. The presence of a pressure ulcer limits are routinely used for the obliteration of ulcer dead space patient participation in rehabilitation and daily activities, while posterior thigh, tensor fascia lata, and gluteal requires meticulous wound care, and increases the fasciocutaneous flaps provide durable skin coverage. This is an open access article licensed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Quick Response Code: License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, as long as the original author is credited and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms. For reprints contact: [email protected] 190 © The author(s) 2017 www.oaepublish.com Weber et al. Pressure ulcer coverage with contralateral gracilis Unfortunately, despite adequate flap coverage, nearly one-third of patients will develop a recurrent pressure ulcer[4,5]. A history of previous pressure ulcer increases the risk of developing a second pressure ulcer, particularly in the ischial region[1,6]. Fortunately, many of the flaps commonly used for pressure ulcer treatment can be readvanced or reused under certain conditions. However, difficulty arises when the patient requires repeated coverage of large ulcers in the same location and has exhausted the available local muscle options. Here, we present a case of recurrent ischioperineal ulcer in which the contralateral gracilis muscle was used for wound coverage. CASE REPORT Our patient is a 49-year-old Hispanic male with T3 incomplete paraplegia due to a motorcycle accident in Figure 1: A view of the right ischioperineal ulcer with the patient 1984. His comorbidities include neurogenic bowel and in the prone position. Note the multiple previous incisions. The planned left gracilis muscle flap and right V-Y hamstring bladder, lower extremity spasms, gallstones, chronic myocutaneous advancement flap were marked preoperatively anemia, and depression. Past surgical history includes exploratory laparotomy, orchiopexy, colostomy, and left hip incision and drainage with partial osteotomy and antibiotic cement spacer. He has had multiple pressure ulcers, requiring flap surgery, in the past, including: (1) bilateral gluteus maximus sliding island advancement flaps for a stage IV sacral ulcer in 2010; (2) a right gracilis myocutaneous flap for a stage IV right ischial ulcer in 2014; (3) a right biceps femoris muscle flap and tensor fascia lata rotation flap for a stage IV right posterior trochanter ulcer in 2016; and (4) a right Girdlestone procedure, femoral shortening osteotomy, right vastus lateralis muscle flap, and right posterior thigh fasciocutaneous rotation flap for stage Figure 2: Antro posterior (AP) radiograph of the patient’s pelvis IV right posterior trochanter and ischioperineal ulcers demonstrates rotation, bony resorption, and heterotopic ossification in 2017. of the pelvis. History of a right Girdlestone procedure and shortening of the right femur is evident. The left femoral head has been resected and antibiotic cement spacer was placed in the left Three months following the most recent right posterior acetabulum for treatment of a prior infection trochanteric and ischioperineal ulcer repair, the patient presented with sepsis due to a recurrent and extensive right ischioperineal stage IV pressure ulcer, which developed from an injury sustained while transferring from wheelchair to shower [Figure 1]. A plain radiograph of the patient’s pelvic anatomy is shown in Figure 2. Based on the location of the wound, there was concern for urethral involvement, however, urethrogram did not demonstrate a leak. Ulcer debridement and closure with the left gracilis muscle and a right V-Y hamstring advancement flap was planned. The patient was placed in the prone position and the right ischioperineal ulcer was excised down to healthy, bleeding tissue, taking care to protect the rectum and Figure 3: The right ischioperineal ulcer was debrided down to healthy bleeding tissue and the prominence of the ischial bone was urethra, both of which were in close proximity to the reduced. Note the proximity of the ulcer to the anus and extension ulcer [Figure 3]. The prominence of the right ischium into the perineal region Plastic and Aesthetic Research ¦ Volume 4 ¦ October 31, 2017 191 Weber et al. Pressure ulcer coverage with contralateral gracilis Figure 4: The left gracilis muscle was harvested, tunneled through the perineum, and used to cover the right ischial bone Figure 6: The postoperative appearance after drain placement and closure of all incisions Figure 5: The right biceps femoris muscle was re-elevated and re-advanced proximally to cover the ischial bone. Perineal and proximal thigh tissue was rotated superiorly to close the medial perineal wound was reduced using an osteotome and then rasped until smooth. The left gracilis muscle was harvested through a longitudinal left posteromedial thigh incision and tunneled subcutaneously across the perineum to cover the exposed right ischial bone [Figure 4]. A V-Y hamstring myocutaneous advancement flap was outlined, with sufficient width to cover the wound. The biceps femoris muscle, which had been advanced Figure 7: At 4 weeks postoperatively, all incisions are closed and previously to cover a prior ulcer, was re-elevated well-healed proximally and released distally to provide maximal advancement to fill the dead space in conjunction with the left gracilis muscle [Figure 5]. After advancement taped in place. A hip abduction pillow was placed to of the V-Y hamstring myocutaneous flap, the perineal limit undue movement and tension at the surgical site skin was advanced superiorly to cover the remaining when the patient is repositioned or turned in bed. medial aspect of the wound [Figure 5]. All muscle flaps were secured in place with interrupted 0-vicryl The patient followed our standard postoperative sutures. Three drains were placed to drain bilateral protocol, involving 4 weeks of bedrest on an air- posterior thigh donor sites as well as the right ischial fluidized bed, with the first dressing change performed surgical site. All skin incisions were closed in layers, on postoperative day 5 and twice weekly thereafter. using 0-vicryl for the fascial and deep dermal layers, At 4 weeks postoperatively, all external sutures were followed by a 2-0 monocryl running continuous stitch removed [Figure 7]. The patient remained on bedrest and a 0-prolene running continuous stitch [Figure 6]. but was transitioned to a low air loss mattress. He All incisions were dressed with copious bactroban, began a progressive sitting program at 6 weeks, xeroform gauze, dry 4 × 4 gauze, and ABD pads and starting with 1 h and increasing in 30 min increments 192 Plastic and Aesthetic Research ¦ Volume 4 ¦ October 31, 2017 Weber et al. Pressure ulcer coverage with contralateral gracilis every other day. The flap was monitored closely for any could be very devastating. Therefore, we often employ signs of breakdown. He was discharged home when contralateral musculature to delay hip disarticulation the 6 h maximum sitting time was reached without while continuing to provide durable wound coverage.