title: Reconstruction in the axilla with a pedicled pectoralis minor muscle flap.
abstract: Covering large defects in the axillary fossa can be challenging because of its complex shape. A variety of local skin, fasciocutaneous and musculocutaneous flaps have been described, with a number of inherent advantages and disadvantages. The use of the pectoralis minor muscle as a pedicled transposition flap has been described for immediate reconstruction of the breast, anterior shoulder reconstruction and the treatment of bronchopleural fistula. We now describe the use of a pedicled pectoralis minor muscle flap for soft tissue coverage of the axillary contents after wide excision of the axilla. This has not been previously described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, St George's Hospital, London, UK. rhshah@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D001365:Axilla / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000637:transplantation*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps