title: Flow-through divided latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap for large extremity defects.
abstract: Reconstructing large defects of the extremities is a challenging problem for reconstructive microsurgeons. The latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap (LDMCF) is widely used for this purpose, but a skin graft is needed when the defect is wider than available flaps. We used flow-through divided LDMCFs to reconstruct large defects of the extremities in 5 consecutive patients from 2010 through 2012. The semicircular skin island was split longitudinally, and 1 skin island was advanced over the other to close a round or oval defect without a skin graft. Postoperatively, all flaps survived completely, and the mean Enneking score was 90.0%. The flow-through divided LDMCF is a reliable and versatile option for reconstructing large defects of the extremities.
authors.affiliation: From the *Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo; and†Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan.
authors.forename: Shimpei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kayano
authors.forename: Masahide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujiki
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamizono
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukunaga
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakuraba
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D005121:Extremities / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005354:Fibrosarcoma / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064827:Myocutaneous Flap / Q000637:transplantation*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D064171:Superficial Back Muscles / Q000637:transplantation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome