Reliability and Safety of Cross-Leg Free Latissmus Dorsi Muscle Flap in Reconstruction of Mutilating Leg Injuries Using End-to-Side Anastomosis

Abstract

Background Free tissue transfer is considered the gold standard option for the reconstruction of distal leg defects. Free tissue transfer using recipient vessels in the contralateral leg (cross-leg bridge) is a potential option to supply the flap if there are no suitable recipient vessels in the injured leg. Most studies have described this technique using end-to-end anastomosis which sacrifices the main vessel in the uninjured leg. This study evaluated the use of a cross-leg free latissimus dorsi muscle flap for the reconstruction of defects in single-vessel legs, using end-to-side anastomosis to recipient vessels in the contralateral leg without sacrificing any vessel in the uninjured leg.

Keywords

• cross-leg
• end-to-side anastomoses
• free latissimus dorsi flap
• single-vessel leg
• mutilating leg injuries