Bilateral, Bipedicled DIEP Flap for Staged Reconstruction of Cranial Deformity.
The deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) adipocutaneous flap is a versatile flap that has been most popularly used in breast reconstruction. However, it has been applied to many other anatomic areas and circumstances that require free-tissue transfer. We present a case report of the use of the DIEP flap for the reconstruction of severe craniomaxillofacial deformity complicated by indolent infection in a gentleman with infected hardware and methyl methacrylate overlay used in previous repair of traumatic injuries suffered from a motor vehicle collision. The reconstruction was done in a staged, two-step fashion that allowed for adequate infection eradication and treatment using a bilateral, bipedicled DIEP flap for tissue coverage and intravenous antibiotics before the delayed insertion of a polyetheretherketone cranioplasty for reconstruction of the cranial defect.
Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillofacial Surgery, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland Medical Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Julia C
JC
Slater
Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillofacial Surgery, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland Medical Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Michael
M
Sosin
Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillofacial Surgery, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland Medical Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Eduardo D
ED
Rodriguez
Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillofacial Surgery, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland Medical Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Branko
B
Bojovic
DIEP flap; PEEK; cranioplasty; methyl methacrylate