Application of modified latissimus dorsi flap for repairing huge skin and soft tissue defects in lower limbs / 中华显微外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the feasibility and clinic outcome of the modified latissimus dorsi flap when it is used to repair huge soft tissue defects in lower limbs.Methods The latissimus dorsi muscle is rich blood supply and available for harvest huge areas.According to these characteristics the modified latissimus dorsi flap was designeda limited latissimus dorsi skin flap with a large area of latissimus dorsi muscle flap,skin graft area was transferred from donor-site to recipient-site.From April 2009 to August 2011,ten patients with large soft tissue defects in lower limbs were treated with modified latissimus dorsi flap.The size of skin and soft tissue defects range from 19 cm × 10 cm to 32 cm × 16 cm.Ten modified latissimus dorsi flaps had been used for coverage of these wounds,which were amplified 1-2 cm compared with the corresponding wounds.The size of skin flap was 20 cm × 6 cm-33 cm × 10 cm which was allowable to get direct closure of donor-site wounds.Results All the flaps and skin graft survived completely with no complication.Donor-site and recipient-site were primary closed and healing in all patients.All of the patients had got follow-up from 6 months to 36 months.All flaps survived with excellent color and quality,and no extremely fat contour.The results in donor site were satisfying and only left liner scar.It has no effect in the shoulder function.Conclusion The modified latissimus doris flap can provide with a huge amount of skin and soft tissue and be designed in various ways.It is a safe and reliable way to reconstruct huge skin and soft tissue defect in lower limbs.