The Thoracodorsal Artery Perforator Flap: Clinical Experience and Anatomic Study with Emphasis on Harvest Techniques

• DOI: 10.1097/01.prs.0000129071.03842.c5
• Publication Date: 2004-06-25T08:06:06Z
• Authors: Aldo Benjamin Guerra; Stephen Eric Metz...; Kiersten Maria Lund; Michelle Maria Co...; Robert Johnson Allen; Charles Louis Dupin
• Keywords: Thoracodorsal artery; Perforator flaps

The thoracodorsal artery perforator flap is a relatively new that has yet to find its niche in reconstructive surgery. At the authors' institution it been used for limb salvage, head and neck reconstruction, trunk reconstruction cases related trauma, burns, malignancy. authors have found be advantageous cranial base resurfacing face oral cavity. successfully of traumatic upper lower extremity defects, can as pedicled or free tissue transfer. perforating branches offer robust blood supply skin-soft-tissue paddle 10 12 cm x 25 cm, overlying latissimus dorsi muscle. average pedicle length 20 (range, 16 23 cm), which allows safe anastomosis outside zone injury traumatized extremities; made sensate by neurorrhaphy with sensory intercostal nerves. Vascularized bone transferred this taking advantage inherent vascular anatomy subscapular artery. A total 30 transfers were performed at an overall complication rate percent survival 97 percent. Major complications, such thrombosis, return operating room, fistula formation, recurrence tumor, loss, occurred 17 patients. Despite these drawbacks, extremely versatile offers significant advantages acute delayed cases.