[Thoracodorsal artery perforator pedicled flap for repair of soft tissue defects on the ipsilateral upper limb: a report of 8 cases].
OBJECTIVE
To summarize clinical application result of the thoracodorsal artery perforator pedicled flap for repair of soft tissue defects on the ipsilateral upper limb.


METHODS
From September 2003 to May 2007, 8 patients (6 males and 2 females) with soft tissue defects on the ipsilateral upper limb underwent reconstruction with the thoracodorsal artery perforator pedicled flap. The age of patients was from 16- to 45-years-old with an average of 32 years. Of them, the recipient sites of 5 cases were located on the arm region, 3 cases on the forearm.


RESULTS
The minor superficial infection of 1 case occurred on the recipient site after operation and the wound gradually healed by daily change dressings. All the flaps had survived completely and the postoperative course was uneventful with satisfactory clinical results. Follow-up period ranged for 9-38 months after operation (mean, 19 months). There was no remarkable donor site morbidity. All cases had good appearance on recipient site.


CONCLUSIONS
The thoracodorsal artery perforator pedicled flap is thin and suitable for repair of soft tissue defect on the ipsilateral upper limb.
Zhang
Gong-lin
GL
Institute of Orthopaedics, Lanzhou General Hospital of PLA, Lanzhou 730050, Gansu, China.
Ge
Bao-feng
BF
Wang
Jin-hua
JH
Wu
Fa-lin
FL
Wang
Gan-sheng
GS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D013895:Thoracic Arteries / Q000601:surgery*; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult