Gracilis Muscle Free Flap Transplantation Followed Up Over 10 Years

PURPOSE: Gracilis muscle free flap transplantation is chosen in the medium sized soft tissue defect and bone exposure from trauma and chronic osteomyelitis in the lower extremity. We set a study to search for gracilis free flaps to know whether symptoms were cured or recurred in patients that have passed over 10 years from flap transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From August 1995 through September 2010, we have performed 28 cases of gracilis muscle free flap in the lower extremities. Ever since no case visited to demand any discomfort, breakdown or recurrence in the flap site on outpatient basis. We made a telephone call to patients or relatives documented in the medical record and only 2 cases visited outpatient department and 9 cases postponed the visit who satisfied with the final result but 17 cases had wrong telephone numbers. Causes, area of lower extremity, recipient vessels in the lower extremity, condition of the donor thigh and overall satisfaction of the flap transplantation in activities of daily living were investigated and written down in the medical record. RESULTS: 11 cases were reviewed after average postoperative 13.7 years. Gracilis muscle flaps were not break down at the recipient site in all cases. The wound of donor thigh wound healed good and overall activities of daily living was satisfied in all cases. CONCLUSION: Gracilis muscle flaps which had performed and followed up average 13.7 years revealed confident in the medium sized soft tissue defect and bone exposure from trauma and chronic osteomyelitis in the lower extremity.

Comparative Study of the Latissimus Dorsi and Gracilis Muscle Reconstruction for Reanimation of a Paralyzed Face

PURPOSE: The most accepted method for the reanimation of a paralyzed face is the two-stage method that combines cross-face nerve grafting with free-muscle transfer. Although the results of reconstruction with this method are satisfactory, there is an excessive delay between the stages, which prolongs the period of rehabilitation. In order to overcome this drawback, a one- stage, neurovascular free-flap reconstruction method using free neurovascular muscle flaps is introduced. METHODS: From 1994 to 2004, 35 patients with longstanding facial palsy were treated. Fifteen patients underwent the single-stage reconstruction with the latissimus dorsi muscle, and 20 patients underwent the two-stage reconstruction method with the gracilis muscle. We compared the long-term results of the two methods of reconstruction. The mean follow-up period was 28.7 months for one-stage reconstruction, and 35.2 months for the two-stage, respectively. RESULTS: In the patient group of the single stage reconstruction, both mouth corner excursion and animation grade were markedly improved at the final postoperative visit. Moreover, the first muscle contraction occurred earlier in this group, than in the two-stage reconstruction group. However, four patients in the single stage group never achieved a first muscle contraction or mouth corner excursion. CONCLUSION: Facial palsy is a very challenging condition for cosmetic surgeons to deal with. Traditional methods for treatment of chronic facial palsy use a two- stage muscle flap which is time-consuming and burdensome to patients, many of whom are averse to waiting 8 to 12 months to complete the two stages. The one- stage reconstruction method described herein uses a atissimus dorsi free-flap and has demonstrated consistent positive outcomes in clinical assessments.

Transversely Dividing Gracilis Muscle Free Flap for the Simultaneous Reconstruction of Two Anatomically Distant Defects

Free muscle flap for the simultaneous coverage of two anatomically distant sites has previously entailed the harvest of tissue from separate donor areas, Although it may be possible to achieve this goal with a variety of available donor site, the transfer of a single donor muscle to two different sites has been considered. The gracilis muscle is commonly usef by reconstructive surgeon in a variety of application as pedicled muscle or musculocutaneous flap and as a free tissue transfer for soft tissue coverage or a functioning muscle transfer. The gracilis muscle is classified as having a type II blood supply that anatomy is reliable. The main arterial supply to the gracilis muscle is a branch of the profunda femoris, which enters the muscle 10+/-1cm from its attachment to the pubis on its deep(lateral) surface. The distal portion of muscle between the main arterial pedicle and musculotendinous junction is supplied by one to three small arterial branches of the superficial femoral artery. The first minor pedicle located approximately 20 cm from the pubis. In 1990 Tadeusz reported the successful treatment of patient with bilateral calcaneal fractures and posttraumatic osteomyelitis using a longitudinal single split free gracilis muscle transfer. In 2001 We performed a transversely dividing gracilis muscle free flap in the patient with two soft tissue defects and osteomyelitis in anterior tibial region and foot.