Advantages of using intercostal vessels as the recipients for free flaps covering lumbar defects.
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.
Duteille
Franck
F
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Hôpital Jean Monnet, Nantes, France.
Perrot
Pierre
P
Floch
Nancy
N
Pannier
Michel
M
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*