title: Thoracoumbilical flap: experience with 33 cases.
abstract: From August 1996 to June 2000, 33 free thoracoumbilical flaps were transferred to reconstruct a variety of soft-tissue defects. The size of the flaps ranged from 10 to 40 cm in length and 8 to 25 cm in width. The blood supply to the skin island came from the largest periumbilical perforator of the deep inferior epigastric vessels. The main indications were complex extremity trauma or soft-tissue tumor resection with extensive skin loss, either acute or postprimary. The overall success rate was 100 percent (33/33). The donor area was closed directly in 10- to 12-cm-wide flaps, leaving an inconspicuous scar. Larger flaps required skin grafting. After a 2-year follow-up, all flaps have healed uneventfully and donor abdominal morbidity is minimal.
authors.affiliation: Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical Univesity, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Xing-quan
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shao-dong
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qing-yu
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Bao-an
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Ming-hua
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D019074:Epigastric Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D013909:Thorax; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014472:Umbilicus; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000601:surgery*