title: A novel technique of raising a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap through the skin paddle incision alone.
abstract: A good reconstruction should not only be functionally and aesthetically sound at the recipient site but also cause least possible cosmetic aberration of the donor site. The pectoralis major myocutaneous (PMMC) flap continues to be one of the most commonly used flap for head and neck reconstruction in this part of the world. Conventionally, once the skin paddle over the pectoralis major muscle is marked, a line is drawn joining the outer edge of the skin flap extending to the apex of the anterior axillary skin fold or midclavicular point to expose the underlying pectoralis major muscle and harvest the flap. We intend to suggest a novel technique, in which the pectoralis major muscle is exposed by raising the skin around the skin paddle incision alone without making any further extension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Head and Neck Service, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India. pankajch37@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chaturvedi
authors.forename: Kumar A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Pathak
authors.forename: Pathamesh S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Pai
authors.forename: Devendra A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Chaukar
authors.forename: Mandar S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Deshpande
authors.forename: Anil K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: D'Cruz
mesh_terms: D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000098:blood supply / Q000637:transplantation*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps