An anatomic study for the rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap combined with a vascularized rib.
The anatomy of the vascular connections between the eighth intercostal vessels and the deep epigastric vessels was studied in a series of 20 dissections in 10 preserved cadavers to develop the rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap combined with a vascularized rib. The distance between the point where the eighth intercostal vessels attached to the costal margin and the xiphoid process and the arcuate line, which become a good guide for design of the flap, was measured. The average length of the vascular pedicle of a vascularized rib was over 10 cm. Possible clinical uses of this compound flap for reconstruction of a composite maxillary or mandibular defect are described.
D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012272:Ribs / Q000098:blood supply*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*