The combined use of the latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous free flap and split-rib grafts for cranial vault reconstruction.
The patient described in this article had a large skull defect under the scalp which had been irradiated during treatment of a malignant brain tumor. The patient desired reconstruction of her defect. To provide good soft-tissue coverage for the bony reconstruction, a free latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap was used. The bony defect was partially reconstructed with split-rib grafts. The two parts of the reconstruction were combined into one operation, since it was felt that the well-vascularized muscle would ensure viability of the bone grafts.
D000328:Adult; D001415:Back; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D009132:Muscles / Q000637:transplantation; D010025:Osteoradionecrosis / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery; D012272:Ribs / Q000637:transplantation*; D012535:Scalp / Q000601:surgery*; D012886:Skull / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps