title: Advantages of using intercostal vessels as the recipients for free flaps covering lumbar defects.
abstract: Anatomic conditions in the lumbar region can complicate procedures for covering defects. In particular, a free flap is often required when the defect is large, in which case suitable recipient vessels must be found to insure revascularization. This report concerns a 50-year-old woman with multiple basal-cell carcinomas in the lumbar radiodermatitis zone, who underwent a large resection from D10 to S2. The defect was repaired using a free latissimus dorsi flap revascularized by microvascular anastomosis to the 8(th) intercostal pedicle. The advantages of using these recipient vessels are then considered relative to reports in the literature.
authors.affiliation: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Hôpital Jean Monnet, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Duteille
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perrot
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Floch
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pannier
mesh_terms: D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007366:Intercostal Muscles / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000637:transplantation*; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*