title: Dynamic reconstruction of large abdominal defects using a free rectus femoris musculocutaneous flap with normal motor function.
abstract: Reconstruction of large abdominal wall defects with conventional reconstruction including the component separation technique is difficult because of strong transverse tension and loss or weakness of the rectus abdominis muscle. To overcome this problem, dynamic reconstruction of the abdominal wall using a free innervated rectus femoris musculocutaneous flap was performed for large defects with separation of the bilateral rectus abdominis muscles. The intact motor nerve of the rectus femoris muscle was transferred without transection, and only the pedicle vessels were anastomosed to the omental vessels. Four and one-half years after surgery, the rectus femoris muscle had voluntary strong muscle contraction and there was no abdominal protrusion, herniation, or donor morbidity. This new method with dynamic function can replace conventional techniques for large abdominal defects without rectus muscle function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Okayama University Medical School, Shikata, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Koshima
authors.forename: Yuzaburo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nanba
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tutsui
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Seiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Ryozo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000601:surgery*; D004576:Electromyography; D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000294:innervation*