title: Microvascular reconstruction of the upper extremity with the rectus abdominis muscle.
abstract: Large soft-tissue defects of the upper extremity are difficult to reconstruct. Defects in 21 patients (15-75 years old) were treated by free tissue transfer of the rectus abdominis muscle. The defects were the result of trauma or resection of tumor and measured more than 15 x 15 cm. The muscle was transferred on the inferior epigastric pedicle and covered with a skin graft within 48 hours. All transfers were successful, and early soft-tissue healing occurred. This procedure offers the advantages of easy positioning, large donor vessels, and a highly vascular soft tissue reconstruction. The long-term functional and cosmetic results have been excellent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison 53792.
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baertsch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D005543:Forearm Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D017568:Rectus Abdominis / Q000637:transplantation; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology