Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42187586›Full record

SynthesisCurrent oncology (Toronto, Ont.)2026

Propeller Flaps in Extremity Sarcoma Reconstruction: A Systematic Review of Reconstructive Outcomes and Oncologic Considerations.

Sara Matarazzo, Beatrice Corsini, Claudia Lauricella, Elisa Bascialla, Luigi Valdatta, Ferruccio Paganini

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Sara MatarazzoDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy.ORCID 0009-0009-9500-404X
Beatrice CorsiniDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy.
Claudia LauricellaDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy.ORCID 0009-0000-1395-4047
Elisa BasciallaDivision of Plastic Surgery, IRCCS European Institute of Oncology, 20141 Milan, Italy.
Luigi ValdattaDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy.
Ferruccio PaganiniDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5859-1742

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Extremity soft tissue sarcoma resection often results in complex defects requiring reconstruction to preserve function and support multidisciplinary treatment. Propeller flaps have emerged as a local alternative to free flaps in selected cases, but their role in sarcoma reconstruction remains incompletely defined. This systematic review aimed to assess the current evidence on the indications, reconstructive outcomes, and oncologic reporting of propeller flaps in extremity sarcoma reconstruction. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library in accordance with PRISMA 2020. Studies reporting perforator-based propeller flaps after extremity soft tissue sarcoma resection were included. Data were synthesized descriptively because of the heterogeneity of study design, patient populations, and outcome reporting. Nineteen studies were included. Across the published literature, 656 patients were described overall, including 185 propeller flaps used after sarcoma resection. Most reconstructions involved the lower extremity, accounting for more than 95% of reported cases. Flap survival was generally high; among studies providing extractable numerical data, complete flap survival was 92.7% (115/124), total flap loss was 3.8% (2/52), and partial necrosis occurred in 9.6% (5/52) of flaps. Venous congestion was the most frequently reported complication. Oncologic outcomes were inconsistently reported, and comparative recurrence-related data were very limited. Available data suggest that propeller flaps can provide reliable coverage with acceptable complication rates in selected cases. Oncologic outcomes were sparsely and inconsistently reported, and the current literature does not show a clear signal of increased local recurrence; however, the available evidence is insufficient to draw firm conclusions regarding oncologic safety or equivalence compared with other reconstructive strategies. These findings support consideration of propeller flaps as a complementary reconstructive option in carefully selected patients, although higher-quality studies with standardized oncologic outcomes are needed.

Indexed as

ExtremitiesPlastic Surgery ProceduresSarcomaSurgical FlapsHumansTreatment Outcomeextremity reconstructionlimb salvagelower limb reconstructiononcologic reconstructionperforator-based propeller flapperforator flappropeller flapreconstructive surgerysoft tissue sarcoma

Identifiers

PMID42187586
PMCPMC13206663

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.