• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.361-369
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• 2023

The latissimus dorsi (LD) flap is a reliable option for breast reconstruction. This is particularly true in patients with contraindications to abdominally based autologous breast reconstruction. A systematic review of patient satisfaction and health related quality of life following LD breast reconstruction using the BREAST-Q survey was conducted. The scope of the review was to determine the degree of patient satisfaction following the procedure and to examine how patient satisfaction from the pedicled LD flap compares to other breast reconstructive procedures. A literature search on BREAST-Q in LD flap reconstruction was performed. Only articles written in English and in published peer-reviewed journals were included. Studies with less than 20 patients in their sample and those with a follow-up period of less than 1 year were excluded. Five articles representing 331 patients were reviewed, including one case-control study and four retrospective cohort studies. Level of evidence was either III (4) or IV (1). The average age was 53 with average body mass index of 25. Most reconstructions were delayed (67%) and unilateral (88%), and most patients required radiation (79%). The average length of follow-up was 36 months, and the response rate was 75%. Overall, patients who underwent LD flap reconstruction reported favorable outcomes in satisfaction domains and quality of life domains with few complications. A meta-analysis also demonstrated higher satisfaction in LD flap without implants compared with LD flap with implants. Patient-reported outcomes following LD breast reconstruction compare favorably with other techniques of breast reconstruction.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.604-607
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• 2022

Nontuberculous mycobacterial hardware infections are extremely challenging to treat. Multidisciplinary care involving removal of infected hardware, thorough debridement, and durable soft tissue coverage in conjunction with antibiotic therapy is essential for successful management. This case report presents a patient with chronic mycobacterial spinal hardware infection that underwent successful treatment with aggressive serial debridements and reconstruction with a large pedicled superior gluteal artery perforator flap coverage.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.124-135
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• 2017

Background In cases of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) threatened by potential hardware exposure, flap-based reconstruction is indicated to provide durable coverage. Historically, muscle flaps were favored as they provide vascular tissue to an infected wound bed. However, data comparing the performance of muscle versus fasciocutaneous flaps are limited and reflect a lack of consensus regarding the optimal management of these wounds. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of muscle versus fasciocutaneous flaps following the salvage of compromised TKA. Methods A systematic search and meta-analysis were performed to identify patients with TKA who underwent either pedicled muscle or fasciocutaneous flap coverage of periprosthetic knee defects. Studies evaluating implant/limb salvage rates, ambulatory function, complications, and donor-site morbidity were included in the comparative analysis. Results A total of 18 articles, corresponding to 172 flaps (119 muscle flaps and 53 fasciocutaneous flaps) were reviewed. Rates of implant salvage (88.8% vs. 90.1%, P=0.05) and limb salvage (89.8% vs. 100%, P=0.14) were comparable in each cohort. While overall complication rates were similar (47.3% vs. 44%, P=0.78), the rates of persistent infection (16.4% vs. 0%, P=0.14) and recurrent infection (9.1% vs. 4%, P=0.94) tended to be higher in the muscle flap cohort. Notably, functional outcomes and ambulation rates were sparingly reported. Conclusions Rates of limb and prosthetic salvage were comparable following muscle or fasciocutaneous flap coverage of compromised TKA. The functional morbidity associated with muscle flap harvest, however, may support the use of fasciocutaneous flaps for coverage of these defects, particularly in young patients and/or high-performance athletes.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.324-331
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• 2022

Prior abdominal liposuction can be viewed as a relative or absolute contraindication to abdominally based autologous breast reconstruction given concerns for damaged perforators and scarring complicating intraoperative dissection. This systematic review aims to explore the outcomes of abdominally based breast reconstruction in patients with a history of abdominal liposuction. A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-guided literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from the earliest available date through June 2020. Deep inferior epigastric perforator, muscle-sparing transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM), superficial inferior epigastric artery, and pedicled TRAM flaps were included for evaluation. Complications included total or partial flap loss, fat necrosis, seroma, delayed wound healing, and donor site complications. After inclusion criteria were applied, 336 non-duplicate articles were screened, yielding 11 for final review, representing 55 flaps in 43 patients. There was no instance of total flap loss, eight (14.5%) flaps developed partial loss or fat necrosis, three (5.4%) flaps had delayed wound healing, and two (4.6%) patients had donor site complications. Most authors (8/11) utilized some type of preoperative imaging. Doppler ultrasonography was the most used modality, and these patients had the lowest rate of partial flap loss or flap fat necrosis (8%), followed by those without any preoperative imaging (10%). In conclusion, this review supports that patients undergoing abdominally based autologous breast reconstruction with a history of abdominal liposuction are not at an increased risk of flap or donor site complications. Although preoperative imaging was common, it did not reliably decrease complications. Further prospective studies are needed to address the role of imaging in improving outcomes.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.417-426
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• 2021

Background Soft tissue coverage plays a vital role in replacing the vascularity of the underlying bone in Gustilo type IIIB fractures. The aim of this article was to evaluate the feasibility of local pedicled flaps in type IIIB fractures at a tertiary care center. Methods We included all cases of open Gustilo-Anderson type IIIB fractures of the tibia treated with local flap coverage from January 2017 to February 2019. We carried out a retrospective analysis to investigate the relationships of complications, hospital stay, and cost-effectiveness with the choice of flap, infective foci, site and size of the defect, and type of fixation. Results Out of 138 Gustilo type IIIB fractures analyzed in our study, 27 cases had complications, of which 19 (13.76%) involved flap necrosis, four (2.89%) were infections, three (2.17%) involved partial necrosis, and one (0.72%) was related to bone spur development. Flap complications showed a statistically significant association with the perforator flap category (propeller flaps in particular) (P=0.001). Flap necrosis showed a significant positive correlation with cases treated within 3 weeks after trauma (P=0.046). A significant positive correlation was also found between defect size and the duration of hospital stay (P=0.03). Conclusions Although local flaps are harvested from the same leg that underwent trauma, their success rate is at least as high as microvascular flaps as reported from other centers. Amidst the local flaps, complications were predominantly associated with perforator flaps.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 1995

Frequently, a single muscle flap is not enough to cover a large compound defects after extensive trauma or ablation of tumor. For a extensive defects, several kinds of flaps are available for various needs of reconstruction. The combined latissimus dorsi and serratus anterior flaps provide the largest possible soft tissue coverage. Two flaps composed of latissimus dorsi and serratus anterior muscles are consistently nourished through the subscapular-thoracodorsal vessels and their many branches, and thus the two flaps can be isolated with one vascular pedicled free flap. We experienced 4 cases of reconstruction in closure of extensive compound defects using the combined latissimus dorsi and serratus anterior muscles with one vascular pedicled free flap. The advantages of using these flaps are : 1) its versatlity and excellent malleability 2) easy to dissection 3) long-stalked pedicle 4) the use of a vascularized rib 5) negligible motor dysfunction from the muscle removal.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.409-414
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• 2010

Purpose: Poland's syndrome encompasses a constellation of congenital chest wall, breast, and upper extremity deformities. We would like to present several techniques, which may be combined if necessary, used to treat the forms involving both the breast and chest wall according to the degree of deformity. Methods: In a retrospective series of 9 patients (3 men and 6 women), we report our experience with reconstructing breast and chest contour deformities associated with Poland syndrome. We recorded their age, gender, the surgical techniques, and the grade in Poland's syndrome according to the classification of Foucras. Results: The breast and chest wall deformities associated with Poland syndrome can be treated in individualized fashion according to the classification of Foucras. In case of 3 male patients with gradeI, II, the latissimus dorsi muscle pedicled flap improved the chest contour deformity. 3 female patients with grade II underwent the latissimus dorsi muscle pedicled flap with breast implant. 2 female patients with gradeIunderwent breast reconstruction with breast implant and fat injection each other. One female patient with severe chest wall deformity (grade III) underwent breast reconstruction using the free TRAM flap. All patients were satisfied with the results without specific complications. Conclusion: The Individualized correction for this syndrome according to the degree of patient's deformity and preference made the overall satisfaction of the patients high.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.346-351
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• 2007

Purpose: As a rare congenital anomaly, Poland's syndrome has been known to show hypoplasia in breast and nipple, absence of pectoralis major muscle, and aplasia or deformity of rib or costal cartilage which has been reported to be more common in male. However, most patients who are seeking operation are female patients having one-side deformity. In the field of plastic surgery, the major surgical indications could be asymmetric chest wall depression in man or breast hypoplasia in woman. There are many reconstruction options according to the degree of patient's deformity: a prosthetic implant, breast implant with or without tissue expander, latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous pedicled flap with or without implant and/or tissue expander, and free tissue transfer with or without tissue expander. Methods: The authors have treated 4 patients(2 male, 2 female) who had a diagnosis of Poland's syndrome. According to the degree of patient's deformity, all patients underwent correction of breast asymmetry and unilateral anterior thoracic hypoplasia with one-staged or two-staged reconstruction. Results: All patents were satisfied with the results and there occurred no specific complications. Conclusion: The authors propose the treatment plan for patient with Poland's syndrome, according to the degree of patient's deformity. In case of male patient with mild deformity, the prosthetic implant or latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous pedicled flap will simulate the missing pectoralis and improve the contour deformity. In case of female patient with moderate to severe breast asymmetry and upward displaced nipple areolar complex (NAC), NAC can be lowered with tissue expander, breast can be enlarged with autologous free flaps or latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous pedicled flap with implant.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2010

In surgical treatment of the malignant melanoma, radical resection and a sentinel lymph node biopsy are essential procedures to eradicate the tumor and to minimize the risk of local recurrence. For the reconstruction of skin defect after tumor resection, a skin graft has been generally performed procedure. However, if tendon or bone is exposed after tumor resection, simple skin graft is not enough for the coverage of the defect and additional procedure is mandatory. In this study, we reviewed the clinical results of 16 patients, who had been diagnosed with malignant melanoma of the limb and underwent surgical resection and reconstruction of the defect with various methods. The sentinel lymph node dissection was performed in all patients combined with radical excision of the tumor. In 11 cases of positive sentinel lymph nodes, further elective lymph node dissections were performed. The mean tumor invasion depth was 4.54 mm (2~10 mm), and AJCC stage II was most common (9 cases). The pedicled flaps were performed in 10 cases for the reconstruction of defects. All flaps were successfully survived without significant complications until the last follow up. In conclusion, a pedicled flap coverage is very useful reconstruction strategy for the soft tissue defects after radical resection of malignant melanoma.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.583-590
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• 2009

Purpose: In the cases of a vascular compromised condition in an injured lower extremity, soft tissue coverage with free tissue transfer presents a challenging problem to the reconstructive surgeon. For this reason, cross - leg flaps are still used in unusual circumstances. Advances in surgical technique has made the cross - leg free flap possible although it may require long operation time along with significant donor site morbidity. Therefore, a pedicled cross - leg muscle flap may be an alternative treatment modality when local flap or free flap is not possible. Methods: Twelve patients(9 males and 3 females) underwent the operation between October of 2001 and December of 2008. The patients' age ranged from 6 to 82 years. The unusual defects included the regions such as the knee, popliteal fossa, distal third of the tibia, dorsal foot, and the heel. Indications for the cross - leg gastrocnemius flap are inadequate recipient vessels for free flap(in eight cases), extensive soft tissue injuries(in three cases) and free flap failure(in one case). The muscle flap was elevated from contralateral leg and transferred to the soft tissue defect on the lower leg while both legs were immobilized with two connected external fixator systems. Delay procedure was performed 2 weeks postoperatively, and detachment was done after the establishment of the adequate circulation. The average period from the initial flap surgery to detachment was 32 days (3 to 6 weeks). Mean follow - up period was 4 years. Results: Stable coverage was achieved in all twelve patients without any flap complications. Donor site had minimal scarring without any functional and cosmetic problems. No severe complications such as deep vein thrombosis or flap necrosis were noted although mild to moderate contracture of the knee and ankle joint developed due to external fixation requiring 3 to 4 weeks of physical treatment. All patients were able to walk without crutches 3 months postoperatively. Conclusion: Although pedicled cross - leg flaps may not substitute free flap surgery, it may be an alternative method of treatment when free flap is not feasible. Using this modification of the gastrocnemius flap we managed to close successfully soft tissue defects in twelve patients without using free tissue transfers.