Flow-through thin latissimus dorsi perforator flap for repair of soft-tissue defects in the legs.
Flow-through thin latissimus dorsi perforator flaps were used in six cases with complicated defects of the legs. This flap has a small amount of latissimus dorsi muscle with a considerable amount of fatty tissue removed to make a thin flap. In addition, the flap has several branches of the subscapular vessel, which are interposed to the recipient vessels of the legs. The advantages of this thin flap are: (1) flow-through vascular reconstruction can preserve the main vessels of the damaged legs; (2) the double arterial inflows and venous drainage systems of the flap ensure safe vascularization of the flap; (3) a flow-through venous drainage system from the distal extremities can also be established to prevent congestion of the affected legs; (4) this flap is versatile (it can be either thin or large); and (5) even in emergent ischemic legs, simultaneous elevation of the flap is possible with preparation of the legs. This flow-through flap is indicated for: (1) cases with a large skin defect and obstruction of the main vessels in the leg; (2) cases with a possibility of tumor recurrence in the legs; and (3) young women or girls with a large defect in the legs, rather than the rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap.
Koshima
I
I
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki City, Okayama, Japan.
Saisho
H
H
Kawada
S
S
Hamanaka
T
T
Umeda
N
N
Moriguchi
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001415:Back; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*