Spontaneous reinnervation of a free muscle flap.
A latissimus dorsi muscle flap was used to repair a severe traumatic avulsion defect of the dorsum of the foot in a 3-year-old girl. The severed peroneal nerve apparently regenerated across a large gap and spontaneously reinnervated the denervated muscle flap. This resulted in a functional flap as demonstrated clinically and electromyographically. Surgical methods of muscle reinnervation and the influence of neurotrophic factors are discussed.
D002675:Child, Preschool; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000294:innervation; D018409:Foot Injuries; D006801:Humans; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D013524:Surgical Flaps