title: Gracilis muscle flap for aesthetic reconstruction in the head and neck region.
abstract: Microsurgical tissue transfer has constantly improved the therapeutic options for reconstruction in the head and neck region, but the ideal flap has yet to be found. The purpose of this study is to discuss the aesthetic potential of the free gracilis muscle flap in difficult head and neck reconstruction. We report our experience with the free gracilis muscle flap in seven patients who underwent reconstruction in the head and neck region for a variety of indications. In all seven patients, the transplanted muscle flaps healed well, with no flap loss. Postoperative complications consisted of skin-graft loss in one patient requiring a second split-thickness skin graft. Donor-site morbidity was minimal in all patients. For difficult reconstruction in the head and neck region, the free gracilis muscle flap offers a number of advantages, including reliable vascular anatomy, relatively great plasticity, and a concealed donor area. Thus this type of flap offers a valuable option whenever an aesthetically pleasing result is sought.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Georg.Huemer@uibk.ac.at
authors.forename: Georg M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Huemer
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Gottfried
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wechselberger
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schoeller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006257:Head; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology*