ABSTRACT
The authors attempted to elicit correlations between the appearance and morphology of neuronal structures in the subcutaneous region of latissimus dorsi transfers and the reestablishment of sensibility in myocutaneous transfers with and without neuronal anastomosis. Six patients with and six without neuronal reconstruction of latissimus dorsi transfers, through anastomosis of the large auricular nerve and the thoracodorsal nerve of the transfer, were followed-up clinically and histologically. Clinical examination established the sensibility of the transferred tissue. Histologic examination demonstrated changes in the relative number of fascicles, the degree of myelinization, fibrosis, and degree of scarring. In patients with nerve anastomosis, sensibility was established more frequently, with a lessening of scarring and fibrosis of the fascicle, compared to patients without anastomosis. A clear advantage of neu-ronally anastomosed latissimus dorsi transfers, compared to transfers without anastomosis, was determined clinically and histologically.
