title: Reconstruction of large cranial defects in the presence of heavy radiation damage and infection utilizing tissue transferred by microvascular anastomoses.
abstract: Six cases of large defects of the scalp, skull, and dura following tumor ablation and radiation are presented. Each was accompanied by chronic infection in the irradiated defect. Efforts to reconstruct the resulting defects with local flaps were not successful. One-stage reconstruction was then accomplished in each case utilizing a latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous or myo-osteocutaneous free flap transferred by microvascular anastomoses. The versatility of the latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous and/or osseous flap allows single-stage reconstruction of these complex defects.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Texas, Galveston.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Robson
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Zachary
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Faibisoff
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hekmatpanah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D001415:Back; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000098:blood supply / Q000637:transplantation; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D012886:Skull / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000601:surgery; D012888:Skull Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*