title: Latissimus dorsi flap remains an excellent choice for breast reconstruction.
abstract: Latissimus dorsi flap has been unfairly relegated to a second option in breast reconstruction. One hundred consecutive latissimus dorsi muscle flaps (LDMF) with tissue-expander reconstruction were studied, mean follow-up 34.5 months (range, 1-175), 50 immediate, 50 delayed. With attention to a few technical details, excellent esthetic, soft reconstructions were achieved. Complications included 1 partial flap loss; 2 patients required inframammary fold revision; and 6 patients required surgery for capsular contracture. Donor-site seroma occurred in 34 patients; 6 required operative revision. Results were similar in the immediate versus the delayed groups. LDMF remains an esthetic, reliable, safe reconstructive choice.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Erez G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Sternberg
authors.forename: Galen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perdikis
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.forename: Sarvam P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Terkonda
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Waldorf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000637:transplantation*; D009336:Necrosis; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000473:pathology