[Repair of severe radiation-induced ulcer].
OBJECTIVE
To explore a method to repair severe radiation-induced ulcer and evaluate its clinical effects.


METHODS
From August 1988 to December 1998, 12 cases of severe radiation-induced ulcer were treated by muscular or musculocutaneous flap transfer, which included 1 case of pectoralis major muscular flap, 3 cases of three-lobed transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap, 2 cases of latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap, 1 case of tensor fascia lata musculocutaneous flap, 1 case of longitudinal rectus abdominis musculocutaneous and tensor fascia lata musculocutaneous flap, 1 case of gastrocnemius muscular flap, 1 case of gluteus major musculocutaneous flap, huge filleted musculocutaneous flap from lower limbs in 1 case and from upper limbs in 1 cases.


RESULTS
All the flaps survived. Primary healing occurred in 9 cases and secondary healing in 3 cases. The extensive multiple ulcers in 2 cases were repaired with filleted limb musculocutaneous flap, and patients were saved. And in other 3 cases, the chest wall defect as the result of radionecrosis were repaired with simultaneous breast reconstruction.


CONCLUSIONS
Muscular or musculocutaneous flaps have abundant blood supply, they are ideal tissue to fill the cavity and repair the defect, especially in repairing severe radiation-induced ulcers.
Shen
Y M
YM
Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing, P. R. China 100035.
Shen
Z Y
ZY
Wang
N Z
NZ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy