title: Reconstruction of postinfected scalp defects using latissimus dorsi perforator and myocutaneous free flaps.
abstract: In severe, infected scalp defects, locally available tissues are not sufficient for reconstruction and are often unhealthy. In this situation, healthy free tissue transfer offers abundant vascularity of uncompromised tissue that can control infections and a single-stage reconstruction. Between March 2002 and May 2010, 18 patients (20 cases) underwent traumatic scalp defect reconstruction with coincident infections as follows: 16 cases of postcranioplasty infections with previous traumatic open skull fractures and 4 cases of traumatic defects with infections without cranioplasties. Eighteen patients underwent 20 latissimus dorsi free flaps: 8 cases were latissimus dorsi perforator flaps without muscle and 12 cases were latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps. The mean flap size was 214 cm. All patients healed well during the follow-up period. A latissimus dorsi flap in the supine position is an alternative for reconstruction of scalp defects with postcranioplasty or traumatic infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Wha
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyu Tae
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Jong Do
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Youn Hwan
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012535:Scalp / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D064171:Superficial Back Muscles / Q000637:transplantation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000601:surgery*