A three-subunit latissimus dorsi muscle free flap for single-stage coverage of the hand and three adjacent fingers.
A latissimus dorsi muscle flap was used to simultaneously resurface the dorsal index, middle, and ring fingers of a 10-year-old child who had sustained a severe abrasion burn from a go-kart injury. Rather than performing multiple individual flaps, or a single flap in which a secondary division procedure would have been needed, the flap was divided into three vascular territories, permitting a single-stage reconstruction. Use of this strategy minimized the need for prolonged rehabilitation, and the functional outcome was optimized.


BACKGROUND
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Borschel
Gregory H
GH
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, St. Louis Children's Hospital, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 South Euclid Ave., Campus Box 8238, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA.