title: Reconstruction of the abdomen and perineum in cancer surgery.
abstract: Trunk and perineal defects after tumor resection present a challenge to the reconstructive surgeon. When primary closure is not possible, the use of well-vascularized autogenous tissue is required to achieve adequate soft-tissue coverage. Pedicled muscle or myocutaneous flaps provide excellent sources of vascularized tissue for postradiation defects. When local tissues preclude the use of pedicled flaps, free-tissue transfers can be performed. A thorough understanding of radiation wounds and the reconstructive options is essential for treatment of these challenging defects.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Fix
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: TerKonda
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zinsser
authors.forename: L O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Vasconez
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D010502:Perineum / Q000601:surgery*; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods