CLINICAL-EXPERIENCE AND INDICATIONS OF THE FREE SERRATUS FASCIA FLAP - A REPORT OF 21 CASES

Citation
Ah. Schwabegger et al., CLINICAL-EXPERIENCE AND INDICATIONS OF THE FREE SERRATUS FASCIA FLAP - A REPORT OF 21 CASES, Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 102(6), 1998, pp. 1939-1946
Citations number
40
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Surgery
ISSN journal
0032-1052
Volume
102
Issue
6
Year of publication
1998
Pages
1939 - 1946
Database
ISI
SICI code
0032-1052(1998)102:6<1939:CAIOTF>2.0.ZU;2-4
Abstract
The free ''serratus fascia'' flap as a free flap was first described b y Wintsch and named a free fascia flap of gliding tissue; however, it has not yet been given a distinct name. The particular advantages of t his flap consist of an easy access and a low donor-site morbidity with out functional deficit Additionally, it may be designed very variably and molded even three-dimensionally as a tendon wraparound flap or fol ded to fill up cavities. In our clinic, we used this flap in 21 patien ts for distinct indications and in 7 patients as a vascular graft in f ingers or great toe with a minimal adjacent layer of gliding tissue ar ound the vessels fur the treatment of cold intolerance after finger re plantation or severe finger or toe trauma. In the other cases, this ve rsatile flap served for the coverage of traumatically exposed tendons or bones at the extremities, covered with a skin graft. Eighteen flaps survived completely, whereas 3 flaps developed partial or superficial necrosis. Only once did a major complication by unintentional sacrifi cation of the long thoracic nerve during flap harvesting occur, result ing in a wing scapula. We recommend this flap for defect cover at site s where a thin vascularized gliding layer for defect cover is needed, especially in distal extremities with exposed tendons or nerves, and p resent the current indications in discussing our experiences.