title: Minimally invasive harvesting of adipofascial scapular flaps.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Scapular flaps are a reliable system for reconstruction. Disadvantages of reconstruction with these flaps include unsightly scars at the donor site due to wound healing under excessive tension and the use of skin grafts. Minimally invasive harvesting techniques may reduce potential donor-site morbidity. There has been no report on endoscopically assisted harvesting of the scapular adipofascial flap.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two patients with large defects are reviewed. Endoscopically assisted minimally invasive techniques for harvest of scapular adipofascial flaps were used in reconstruction of these soft-tissue defects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both defects were successfully reconstructed in the primary setting without any donor-site wound complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first time that a scapular flap has been harvested successfully with a minimally invasive technique for reconstruction. This technique allows the use of a scapular flap as a pedicled flap or as a free flap. Minimally invasive harvest of the adipofascial scapular flap has the advantages of short incision and better cosmesis of the donor site, for scarring is minimized and the incision can be closed primarily without skin grafting therefore reducing donor-site morbidity compared with the traditional open technique.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Plastic Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany; and †Canniesburn Plastic Surgery Unit, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sammy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Benna
authors.forename: James J R
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kirkpatrick
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Taggart
mesh_terms: D004724:Endoscopy; D005208:Fasciitis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods*