Pedicled Perforator Flaps in Breast Reconstruction

ABSTRACT

During the last decade the concept of perforator flap surgery has greatly refined reconstructive microsurgery in general and reconstructive breast surgery in particular. Harvesting a flap without sacrificing the underlying muscle or the functional motor nerves characterizes this technique. Perforator flaps aim to reduce donor-site morbidity to an almost absolute minimum, respecting one of the main adagio's in medicine: primum non nocere. Pedicled perforator flaps have not yet been commonly used or widely described for breast reconstruction. Although the thoracodorsal and intercostal arteries provide many perforators to the region of the back, only the latissimus dorsi muscle or musculocutaneous flaps are in common usage in breast surgery, despite resulting in loss of the largest muscle in the body. Pedicled perforator flaps are a relatively new concept, not yet in wide usage for breast reconstruction. Our clinical experience using pedicled perforator flaps in breast surgery will be presented.

KEYWORDS

Pedicled flaps - perforator flaps - breast

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