title: Serratus anterior muscle transplantation for treatment of soft tissue defects in the hand.
abstract: The inferior three slips of the serratus anterior muscle have been used as a free tissue transfer in 18 patients for the reconstruction of dorsal and palmar defects in the hand. Mean follow-up was 2.8 years. There were 12/18 flaps for palmar coverage and 6/18 for dorsal coverage. All flaps survived. On the basis of this experience we conclude that this flap has three attributes making it suitable for palmar and dorsal metacarpal resurfacing: (1) low donor site morbidity, (2) the three separate slips are easily divisible for contouring, and (3) durability and adhesion provide a stable resurfacing for grasp.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microsurgery, Ralph K. Davies Medical Center, San Francisco, CA.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Brody
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Buncke
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Alpert
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Hing
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy; D012086:Reoperation; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*; D013710:Tendons / Q000601:surgery; D014034:Toes / Q000637:transplantation