[Application of latissimus dorsi flap in different forms in repair of skin and soft tissue defects in lower extremities].
OBJECTIVE
To explore repair methods of skin and soft tissue defects in lower extremities with free latissimus dorsi flaps.


METHODS
Forty-two patients with wounds and soft tissue defects in lower extremities, including 4 cases on knee, 22 cases on leg, 15 cases on ankle and foot, 1 case with extensive avulsion from knee to dorsum of foot, were hospitalized in our unit from February 1996 to February 2008. Wounds or soft tissue defects were respectively repaired with latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flaps, latissimus dorsi muscle flaps, latissimus dorsi perforator flaps with preserved vascular sleeves, 2 double-leaf segmental latissimus dorsi compound flaps after debridement. The flaps ranged from 18 cm x 8 cm to 40 cm x 18 cm in size. The donor sites were covered by skin grafting in 19 cases.


RESULTS
All wounds were healed primarily except vascular crisis occurred in 3 cases, partial necrosis of skin at donor site in 2 cases, and graft site (1 case). Follow-up for 3 to 24 months of 31 patients showed: six cases received two-stage plastic operation on account of bulkiness with trouble in wearing shoes, and mild contraction of muscular flap in 3 cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Latissimus dorsi flap in various forms can be satisfactory for repair of large skin and soft tissue defects in lower extremities.
Zhang
Pi-hong
PH
Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
Huang
Xiao-yuan
XY
Long
Jian-hong
JH
Fan
Peng-ju
PJ
Ren
Li-cheng
LC
Zeng
Ji-zhang
JZ
Xiao
Mu-zhang
MZ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000637:transplantation*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D055815:Young Adult