Transfer of innervated split latissimus dorsi free musculocutaneous flap for flexion and extension of the fingers.
A severe form of Volkmann contracture is associated with loss of flexor and extensor compartment muscles. An 11-year-old boy with Volkmann contracture was admitted to our clinics with flexion contracture of the wrist joint and total loss of flexor and extensor muscle functions. Split latissimus dorsi free flap was used for reconstruction. The muscle was split based on the branching of thoracodorsal nerve and artery within the muscle so that each part of the muscle is nourished and innervated by a branch of thoracodorsal nerve and artery. No complication has occurred, and the patient can now grasp objects, although he cannot achieve full range of motion of the fingers. We performed a single muscle transfer for reconstruction of both the extensor and flexor compartments in severe form of Volkmann contracture and omitted the use of a second muscle transfer, thus greatly decreasing the operative time, cost, and morbidity.
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Turgut
T
Ortak
Muhammet
M
Uraloğlu
Hakan
H
Orbay
Fatih
F
Tekin
Ramazan Erkin
RE
Unlü
Omer
O
Sensöz
D002648:Child; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005385:Fingers / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000294:innervation / Q000637:transplantation; D009336:Necrosis / Q000473:pathology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps