title: Use of the rectus abdominis muscle flap to fill a retroperitoneal defect following blast injury.
abstract: Wartime injuries from explosive devices have created the need for atypical responses to devastating and unusual injuries. We report a case of an explosive abdominal injury that produced a huge defect in the posterior abdominal wall which was ultimately repaired with a rectus abdominus flap, an usual use of this versatile muscle flap. The rectus abdominus muscle may be another tool available for the repair of wartime injuries.
authors.affiliation: Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, 88th SGOS/SGCQP, Wright Patterson AFB, OH 45433, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Talarczyk
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ricci