Experience with Flaps After Resection of Vulvar Carcinoma: A Case Series

Background: A defect caused by the radical resection of vulvar cancer requires repair with flap transplantation or vulvoplasty. Therefore, the aim of this study is to present a review of our practice of post-surgical defect reconstruction in cases using different skin flaps.Methods: An observational study was performed among 26 patients with vulvar cancer who were admitted to Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital between February 2015 and February 2020 for surgical and reconstructive procedures. Clinical data of these 26 patients were analyzed. All patients underwent radical resection of vulvar cancer, followed by the repair of post-surgical defects by random flap or axial flap transplantation (even for very complex defects).Results: Among the 26 cases in this study, all patients received 38 soft tissue reconstruction procedures for vulvar perineal defects during the study period. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most commonly diagnosed cancer (80.8%). The average size of the defect was 9.3 ´ 7 cm2. Rhomboid flaps were the most commonly used flaps for performing reconstruction in both the primary and recurrent groups. Poor wound healing was the most commonly discovered complication that occurred in 3 of the 38 flaps (7.9%) used. Previous surgery or radiotherapy did not increase the rate of complications after proper reconstruction was performed.Conclusion: Expanding resection is an effective technique for treating vulvar cancer. Different skin flaps, are effective premium options for post-surgical defect reconstruction, and selective use of skin flaps for treating vulvar defects preserves the vulvar morphology and allows for relatively better functionality.