musculocutaneous flap

Indications

• reconstruction of traumatic wounds
• reconstruction of cosmetic disorder
• reconstructionn of head & neck cancer
• osteomyelitis
• cutaneous ulcer refractory to medical therapy

Procedure

• moves muscle combined with a portion of overlying skin having an intact vascular supply
• the portion of skin overlying the muscle is fed by perforators within the muscle
• this type of flap has several advantages:
  • it is fed bynamed, identifiable blood vessels
  • it supplies higher concentrations of oxygen to underlying bone, which may help heal osteomyelitis
  • it can limit the effects of shear & ulcer recurrence;
  • it provides more bulk, which may limit the effect of ischemial; however, muscle tolerates warm ischemia less well than skin

More general terms

• tissue transfer

More specific terms

• musculocutaneous flap. head & neck
• musculocutaneous flap. lower extremity
• musculocutaneous flap. trunk