title: Reconstruction after extirpation of sacral malignancies.
abstract: Defects after extirpation of either sacral or rectal tumors often present a reconstructive challenge to plastics surgeons. Because of their relative infrequency, management guidelines, in the authors' opinion, have been overlooked. They think that successful, comprehensive treatment lends itself to an integrated team approach. They review their experience with immediate reconstruction after total sacrectomy for sacral malignancies performed between 1996 and 2001. Medical records were reviewed retrospectively for the surgical procedure, postoperative complications, and eventual outcome. A total of 9 patients underwent sacrectomy with a gluteus maximus flap for reconstruction. Six patients had a simultaneous omental flap for complete obliteration of the surgical defect. The authors' experience suggests that this combination of techniques is a reliable approach for reconstruction of these extensive surgical defects.
authors.affiliation: University of Miami School of Medicine, Dewitt Daughtry Department of Surgery, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: W Scott
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: Milton
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Eismont
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hellinger
authors.forename: Seth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thaller
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012447:Sacrum / Q000601:surgery*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome