Transfer of a free lateral thoracic flap in a child.
We believe the axillary (lateral thoracic) flap should be one of the free flaps of choice in children, because it has vessels of 1.5 mm or more in diameter--thus making it possible for the donor and recipient vessels to be approximately the same diameters. This makes the suturing easier and helps to ensure a good result. The patency rate increases as the diameter of the vessels to be anastomosed increases. We present a successful case in which this flap was used in an 8-year-old boy.
D001365:Axilla / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003025:Clubfoot / Q000601:surgery; D005528:Foot / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007866:Leg / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000601:surgery; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000150:complications; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000379:methods*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures