The introduction of supermicrosurgery, which allows the anastomosis of smaller caliber vessels and microvascular dissection of vessels ranging from 0.3 to 0.8 mm in diameter, has led to the development of new reconstructive techniques. New applications of this technique are for crushed fingertip replantations with venule grafts, toe tip transfers for fingertip loss, partial auricular transfers for total tracheal and eyelid defects, and lymphaticovenular anastomoses under local anesthesia for lymphedema. Regarding free flaps, free perforator-to-perforator flaps, including deep inferior epigastric perforator or paraumbilical perforator flaps, gluteal artery perforator flaps, thoracodorsal artery perforator flaps, anterolateral thigh perforator flaps, superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flaps, tensor fasciae lata perforator flaps, and medial plantar perforator flaps, with a short pedicle, have been used for extremity and facial defects. The success rate is almost the same as that of usual free flap transfers with large and long pedicles. The advantages of these flaps are the simple operation and the short time needed for flap elevation, plus the fact that the flaps can be obtained from anywhere in concealed areas. The disadvantages are the need for supermicrosurgical technique and the anatomic variation of these perforators.
What is supermicrosurgery or supramicrosurgery?
Supermicrosurgery , or supramicrosurgery , is a technique of microneurovascular anastomosis for smaller vessels and single nerve fascicle, and also microneurovascular dissection for these small vessels less than 0.3 to 0.8 mm. This technique needs ultradelicate microsurgical instruments (Emi Company, Swa City, Nagano, Japan) and fain suture materials (Crown Jun Company, Tokyo, Japan) with a needle less than 30 to 80 μm. With this technique, new reconstructive microsurgery using true perforator flaps and nerve flaps has been recently developed.