title: Latissimus dorsi muscle-musculocutaneous flap in chest-wall reconstruction.
abstract: The latissimus dorsi is a versatile muscle that can be employed in a variety of situations requiring chest-wall reconstruction. Its anatomy is predictable and has within it flexibility for transposition to a number of locations based on its standard or reverse arcs of rotation. It can be transposed with a skin island, and its length and bulk can be used effectively to provide durable coverage for anterior or posterior defects. These factors make the latissimus dorsi an excellent choice for the reconstruction of complex chest-wall defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco.
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Moelleken
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mathes
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D010025:Osteoradionecrosis / Q000601:surgery; D011045:Poland Syndrome / Q000601:surgery; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013903:Thoracic Surgery / Q000379:methods*