Observation on the applying tipped latissimus dorsi flap to repair breast soft tissue defects

YAO Jian; CHEN Zhaozhong; ZHENG Haisheng; HUANG Huixian; CUI Bangsheng; CHEN Mianzhi

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1673-7040.2024.10.007

Abstract：Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of pedicled latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap in repairing breast soft tissue defects.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on seven female patients,who underwent latissimus dorsi flap surgery for breast soft tissue defects at Shunde Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine from October 2017 to March 2024.The size of the soft tissue defects ranged from 6.0 cm × 6.0 cm to 18.0 cm × 10.0 cm.The latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap was used for repair,and the donor site was closed by primary suture.The size of the flaps ranged from 8.0 cm × 8.0 cm × 0.5 cm to 22.0 cm × 12.0 cm × 1.5 cm.Patients were followed up for observation of healing,temperature,sensation,and appearance at both donor and recipient sites.Results All seven patients were followed up for a period ranging from 2 to 12 months,during which all flaps and skin grafts survived.Six cases showed good healing with linear scars at the donor site after primary suture closure;one case experienced marginal skin necrosis but recovered well after skin grafting with a satisfactory appearance.In this study,the prognosis of trauma was evaluated by the efficacy satisfaction scale,in which 7 cases the trauma was healed,in 5 cases the flap morphology was close to normal,in 7 cases the flap sensation was present,in 6 cases the flap temperature was normal,and in 7 cases the dorsal donor area was free of obvious scarring.The patients'satisfaction scores ranged from 7.0 to 10.0,with a mean of 9.0.Conclusion Pedunculated latissimus dorsi flap is a reliable method for repairing breast soft tissue defects due to its high practicality,fewer complications and higher success rate.