title: The sensate medial dorsal intercostal artery perforator flap for closure of cervicothoracic midline defects after spinal surgery: an anatomic study and case reports.
abstract: Complex cervicothoracic midline defects after spinal surgery are traditionally treated with the use of muscle and myocutaneous flaps. The authors introduce the sensate medial dorsal intercostal artery perforator flap as an alternative treatment for these defects. Following an anatomic study, the use of the flap is illustrated with 3 case reports. This well-vascularized flap is easy to harvest and causes minimal donor site morbidity. It can provide enough volume to obliterate dead space. Inclusion of the cutaneous nerve gives protective sensibility to the reconstructed area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, University Hospital North Norway, Tromsø, Norway. louis.deweerd@unn.no
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Weerd
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002102:Cadaver; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007366:Intercostal Muscles / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000637:transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology