Lateral thoracic flap for donor site repair of pectoralis major myocutaneous flap

• Published in: Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery reconstructive & aesthetic surgery, 2009-08, Vol.62 (8), p.1004-1007
• Main Authors: Chan, Yu Wai, Man Ng, Raymond Wai, Wing Yuen, Anthony Po
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Donor site morbidity; Head and Neck Neoplasms - surgery; Humans; Lateral thoracic flap; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap; Plastic Surgery; Prospective Studies; Skin Transplantation - methods; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgical Flaps - blood supply; Thoracic Wall - surgery; Thoracic Wall - transplantation; Tissue and Organ Harvesting - methods; Wound Healing - physiology
• ISSN: 1748-6815; 1878-0539
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2008.02.009

Summary Objective To study the use of the lateral thoracic flap to repair a pectoralis major flap donor site defect when primary closure is not possible. Study design Prospective study. Subjects and methods All patients requiring pectoralis major flap reconstruction after tumour extirpation in the head and neck region, whose chest wall donor defects could not be closed primarily, were recruited to the study; lateral thoracic flaps were performed to close the wounds. Results Ten patients were recruited between July 2005 and November 2007. The patients were between 48 and 76 years of age. The lateral thoracic flap size ranged from 5 × 8 cm to 9 × 12 cm. All secondary donor sites in the lateral chest wall were closed primarily. There was no flap necrosis and the secondary donor sites healed without complications. Conclusion The lateral thoracic flap is safe and reliable technique for reconstructing the chest wall donor defect from the pectoralis major flap when primary closure is not possible.