title: Latissimus dorsi flap harvest with a short incision.
abstract: Latissimus dorsi (LD) flap is one of the most common options utilized in reconstructive armamentarium. In this report, we present our experience on harvest of the full LD muscle flap through a short incision. Twelve free and two pedicled full LD muscle flaps were raised in 14 patients (9 males and 5 females). In this technique, an oblique incision was placed 5-7 cm caudal to axillary apex, beginning from the posterior axillary line, so as to center the neurovascular hilus. The length of incision was 10 cm in adults and 8 cm in children. Mean dissection time was 45 min. All flaps survived totally. Seroma formation developed in two cases and treated with syringe aspiration and compressive dressing. In late postoperative period, donor site scars became inconspicuous and patient satisfaction was high. Short incision technique may be a good option to overcome scar problems in donor site of the LD flap. The technique reduces the dissection time and does not require sophisticated surgical devices and skill, when compared to endoscopic LD flap harvesting from the literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey. drondertan@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Onder
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Osman Enver
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cinal
authors.forename: Ensar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zafer Barin
authors.forename: Said
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Algan
authors.forename: Selma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Denktas Kuduban
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.forename: Akin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Inaloz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000637:transplantation*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult