Musculocutaneous flap reconstruction of chest-wall defects: an experience with 50 patients.
Precepts derived from a review of 50 patients included (1) prior radiation of the vessel supplying the flap does not appear to have any effect on viability; (2) in an open, infected wound, use of synthetic materials adds significantly to the risk of infection and, in fact, appears to be unnecessary; (3) in full-thickness chest-wall defects, reconstruction can be accomplished in almost all cases by inset of the flap only, without need of support of fascia, ribs, or prosthetic material; and (4) in locally recurrent breast cancer, chest-wall resection is an adjunct to chemotherapy. A schematic outlining potential defects and appropriate musculocutaneous reconstruction is also presented.
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000098:blood supply; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013903:Thoracic Surgery