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J Reconstr Microsurg 2006; 22(3): 157-166
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-939961
Copyright © 2006 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Reconstruction of Crush Injuries of the Foot Dorsum: Is the Latissimus Dorsi Muscle Flap a Reliable Choice?

Guniz Eker Uluçay1 , Serkan Yildirim1 , Eser Aydoğdu1 , Tayfun Aköz1
  • 1Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery, Dr. Lütfi Kirdar Kartal Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted: December 1, 2005

Publication Date:
06 July 2006 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Thirteen patients who underwent 13 latissimus dorsi free flaps for subacute foot dorsum defects were identified over a 4-year period. The average age of the patients was 30.5 years (range: 8 to 52 years). There were eight male, five female patients. The average follow-up was 23 months (range: 2 to 47 months). The soft-tissue defect resulted from motor vehicle accident in all cases. All of the patients presented with soft-tissue loss combined with extensor tendon and/or bone injury. The wounds were treated with serial debridement and free latissimus dorsi or latissimus dorsi-serratus anterior muscle and split-thickness skin graft coverage in all cases. The mean size of the flaps was 19 × 11 cm (range: 15 to 24 cm × 9 to 16 cm). Twelve of 13 flaps survived. Complications included infection (1 case), seroma in the donor region (2 cases), total flap failure (1 case), partial flap necrosis (2 cases), and wound dehiscence (2 cases).

KEYWORDS

Foot dorsum - latissimus dorsi - ideal choice

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Guniz Eker UluçayM.D. 

Emanet Sok. Sema Apt. No: 9 D: 10 Bostanci

Istanbul, Turkey