Chest wall reconstruction using a combined musculocutaneous anterolateral-anteromedial thigh flap

Abstract

We present a massive 25 cm x 20 cm chest wall defect resulting from resection of recurrent cystosarcoma phyllodes of the breast along with six ribs exposing pleura. The chest wall was reconstructed with a Prolene mesh–methylmethacrylate cement sandwich while soft tissue reconstruction was carried out using a combined free anterolateral–anteromedial thigh musculocutaneous flap with two separate pedicles, anastomosed to the thoracodorsal and thoracoacromial vessels respectively. We explain our rationale for and the advantages of combining the musculocutaneous anterolateral thigh flap with the anteromedial-rectus femoris thigh flap.

Keywords

• anterolateral thigh flap
• anteromedial thigh flap
• chest wall defects
• combined free flap