Superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) flap salvage remains challenging, particularly in cases of arterial insufficiency due to vessel spasm, pedicle kinking, or thrombosis. The already small, short SIEA pedicle, in addition to its inherent tendency toward spasm, renders the SIEA flap more difficult to manage when anastomotic revision is required. Furthermore, arterial thrombosis will ca...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plasmid DNA (pDNA) in improving flap revascularization in a previously developed rat model. Our hypothesis was that the uptake and expression of VEGF pDNA in the wound bed would improve revascularization and flap viability. DESIGN Twenty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats received a total dose of 40 Gy electron beam radia...

BACKGROUND The anterolateral thigh perforator flap is a well-described and versatile flap that has specific advantages. However, the variable anatomy makes flap elevation challenging. Furthermore, the dissection of the proximal part of the pedicle that runs underneath the rectus femoris muscle demands continuous pull by an assistant and is inconvenient and tiring for the surgeon. A technique th...

INTRODUCTION Reconstruction with flaps requiring delayed division remains common, even with increasing use of free tissue transfer. Patient quality of life and function are significantly decreased during the delay period. Delay could be minimized by developing methods to reliably determine when the flap has developed sufficient vascular supply to undergo successful division. We report the use o...

This is the first instance where the technique of supercharging a flap with a second pedicle, combined with a third pedicle using the flow-through technique, is described in literature. We present the case of a 66-year-old man with multiple recurrent squamous and basal cell carcinomas of the face. He underwent a wide local excision resulting in a 20 × 26-cm defect. This was reconstructed with n...

A program of early weight-bearing for full-thickness pedicle flaps over heel-pad defects is described. This successful program used simple shoe inserts and convalescent shoes, but more important, also utilized an inexpensive pressure gage which aided in the control and distribution of weight-bearing forces on the sole and heel flap. With proper support of the flap, the patient can return to nor...

Autologous breast reconstruction has become a standard option during the recovery of breast cancer survivors. Although pedicle damage is a rare complication of this procedure, extensive torsion or tension can lead to partial or total flap failure. We report a case of partial flap salvage after accidental transection of the pedicled blood supply within the intramuscular course of a latissimus do...

BACKGROUND Fasciocutaneous tissue transfer is one of the most common procedures performed in head and neck reconstructive surgery. These composite tissues can be transferred as either a free flap or a pedicled flap. Free tissue transfer has become the reconstructive modality of choice following head and neck oncologic ablation. Synthetic tissue adhesives and hemostatic agents are rapidly gainin...

The anterolateral thigh flap can provide a large skin paddle nourished by a long and large-caliber pedicle and can be harvested by two-team work. Most importantly, the donor-site morbidity is minimal. However, the anatomic variations decreased its popularity. By adapting free-style flap concepts, such as preoperative mapping of the perforators and being familiar with retrograde perforator disse...

INTRODUCTION Numerous pedicle and free flaps have been used to cover complex defects of the shoulder girdle and posterior neck triangle following tumor resection. We describe our choice of flap selection in these patients with case examples. PRESENTATION OF CASES Three cases examples demonstrate our choice of flap selection. In the first case, an anterior shoulder girdle defect is covered by ...