Repair of wide myelomeningocele defects with the bilateral fasciocutaneous flap method.

OBJECTIVE Five large myelomeningocele defects repaired by bilateral fasciocutaneous flaps are presented in this article. PATIENTS AND METHODS After the neurological repair, bilateral fasciocutaneous flaps were raised, transposed over the midline, and sutured to each other. RESULTS All operations lasted shorter than one hour and no major complication was noted in the follow-up. Three of the defects were in the thoracolumbar and two in the lumbosacral regions. The areas of the defects were between 5x6 cm (30 cm2) and 8x10 cm (80 cm2). CONCLUSION The bilateral fasciocutaneous flap technique offers a shorter operation duration and lower bleeding rate; it is simple to learn and practice and does not abolish alternative operation techniques.