INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Micro-neurovascular free muscle flap transfer is currently the procedure of choice for long-standing facial paralysis. We present a case series of patients treated with gracilis muscle free flap with motor innervation by the masseteric nerve. We discuss the surgical technique and quantify the movement granted by the muscle, the improvement in quality of life and aest...

Pressure ulcers classified as Stage IV (according to National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel staging guidelines) [1] take a long time to heal, and may cause serious infections, such as osteomyelitis and sepsis [2-5]. Thus, they usually require surgical repair using a muscle or fasciocutaneous flap (according to International Guidelines). Treatment of Pressure Ulcers: Quick Reference Guide) Glute...

Loss of the caudal maxilla and ventral orbit after tumor resections can have negative functional and esthetic influences on the eye involved. This article reports on a case of a caudal maxillary acanthomatous ameloblastoma involving the ventral orbit that was resected and stabilized with a masseter muscle flap. The masseter muscle flap was generated from the superficial belly of the masseter mu...

Intractable rectovaginal fistula (RVF) is a troublesome complication after treatment of perineal cancers or infection. Complex fistulas which are larger than 2.5 cm in diameter or the recurrent cases may be repaired with abdominal procedure or tissue transposition. Gracilis muscle flap is widely used in various reconstruction in regarding to the donor site deformity and bacterial resistance. En...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of remote ischemic conditioning on ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat muscle flaps histopathologically and biochemically. METHODS Thirty albino rats were divided into 5 groups. No procedure was performed in the rats in group 1, and only blood samples were taken. A gracilis muscle flap was elevated in all the other groups. Microcl...

BACKGROUND The iliacus muscle is proposed as a new solution for coverage of small to medium defects where either a bulky flap or conspicuous donor sites are undesirable. METHODS Dissection and Microfil studies were performed on fresh cadavers to define the gross and microvascular anatomy of the muscle. Live evaluation of the muscle was performed in combination with multiple iliac crest free t...

Reconstruction of the middle third of the leg is a challenging procedure. The tibialis anterior muscle flap can be useful in reconstruction of the middle third of the leg with exposed tibia. The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of tibialis anterior pivoted muscle flap for reconstruction of the middle third of the leg with functional preservation. This study, performed in the Plasti...

INTRODUCTION Primary microvascular reconstruction of multiple defects is challenging particularly if it has to be simultaneous. In trauma cases, harvesting two independent free flaps from different sites is very time-consuming and adds to morbidity. To eliminate these disadvantages, we sought to find out a reliable alternative method of harvesting two independent free flaps based on the descend...

BACKGROUND Infected sternotomy wounds occur in 0.5 to 8.4 percent of open heart operations. They are complex problems, with a mortality rate of 8.1 to 14.8 percent despite flap closure. For closure, the pectoralis major flap has had considerable success. However, in providing coverage to the lower third of the sternum, it may be deficient. Modifications to improve closure have included a rectus...

The number of breast reconstruction procedures has been increasing in recent years. One of the suggested treatment methods is breast reconstruction with a pedicled skin and muscle TRAM flap (transverse rectus abdominis muscle - TRAM). Surgical incisions performed during a cholecystectomy procedure may be located in the areas significant for flap survival. The aim of this paper is to present ana...