Free muscle sparing vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap

Abstract

Introduction: Abdominal region is a unique donor area in the reconstructive surgery to provide numerous flaps. The aim of this study is to show effectivity of the free vertical rectus abdominis muscle (VRAM) flap in the complex wounds reconstruction without damaging integrity of the rectus abdominis muscle and sacrificing the opposite deep inferior epigastric artery. Materials and Methods: The study population was composed of all patients who applied to our department for evaluation and management of the complex wounds reconstruction with the free muscle sparing (MS) vertical rectus abdominis flap, between September 2011 and October 2015. Results: We utilized the free MS vertical rectus abdominis flap to closure complex wounds in seven patients (6 males and 1 female) in our department. Etiologies were malign skin tumors, amputation stump, unstable scar, and crush injury in three, two, one, and one patients, respectively. All MS vertical rectus abdominis flaps survived completely. A hematoma developed in the recipient site in one case, and it was immediately evacuated without any problem. Conclusions: Free MS vertical rectus abdominis flap is a quite easy and reliable flap to harvest from abdominal wall, reducing the possibility of bulging or hernia formation with less morbidity of the donor site.

Keywords

• Abdominal
• flap
• reconstruction
• vertical
• vertical rectus abdominis muscle