Accepted: 2023-10-17
The propeller flap technique involves the use of a pedicle as a rotational axis, resulting in the creation oflarge and small flaps that cover recipient and donor site wounds in a manner resembling a propeller. This techniquehas gained widespread application in repairing soft tissue injuries in the foot and ankle region, owing to the distinctiveanatomical features of perforating vessels in the lower leg, particularly the posterior tibial artery and peroneal artery.By conducting an extensive review of both domestic and international literature concerning propeller flaps, this reviewpresented an overview of the development of propeller flap usage in treating soft tissue defects within the foot andankle area. Additionally, common challenges associated with flap usage in clinical settings were discussed, alongsideproposed solutions put forth by various scholars and original ideas from the author. Recent advancements in imagingand three-dimensional reconstruction technologies have led to continuous improvements in the repair techniquesinvolving perforator propeller flaps for soft tissue defects in the foot and ankle region. However, it is important tonote that instances of false positives in color Doppler ultrasound scans for perforating vessels with a higher likelihoodof vascular variations may still arise. Although solutions have been proposed to address the three primary issuesencountered during the repair process using perforator propeller flaps in the foot and ankle region, further researchis warranted to explore the synthesis of advantageous elements from different modified techniques to achieve a moreversatile flap harvesting approach. Moreover, enhancing sensory reconstruction during the repair process and resolvingthe dilemma between selecting free flaps or perforator propeller flaps, along with their respective advantages anddrawbacks, also necessitate further investigation.