The extended latissimus dorsi flap (LD) is used in breast reconstruction since the 70's. LD flap is often used in corrective surgery in cases of unsatisfactory cosmetic results after breast-conserving therapy. In our department LD flap has several uses. In addition to free microvascular flaps - which applies in breast reconstructive surgery is routine, there are clinical situations where the us...

An irreparable subscapularis may have a debilitating influence on glenohumeral joint biomechanics. Traditional treatment approaches are focused on tendon transfers, among which the most popular are pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi transfers. However, these techniques present significant retear rates, possible nerve injuries, and altered biomechanics. Other techniques like tibialis anterior...

Pedicle damage is a rare complication of latissimus dorsi (LD) flap breast reconstruction. We report a case of accidental avulsion of the vascular pedicle of a totally autologous (extended) LD flap during immediate breast reconstruction in a patient who had previously undergone contralateral breast reconstruction with a pedicled TRAM flap based on the opposite superior epigastric vessels. The i...

Blazed up Herpes zoster lesions have been described in very few patients after free and pedicled flap transfer for reconstructive purpose. Although sensory recovery after flap reconstructions has been studied extensively most studies addressed subjective perceptions of sensation. Objective investigations of spontaneous reinervation of free and pedicled flaps are rare. We would like to present a...

The aim of this case report was to describe a successful diabetic limb salvage procedure in the treatment of an infected diabetic foot ulcer through a multidisciplinary team approach and complex surgical reconstruction involving a femoral head bone allograft and musculocutaneous latissimus dorsi free flap. The decision to proceed with aggressive staged efforts at diabetic limb salvage should be...

Streptococcus milleri (SM) is a heterogeneous group of Streptococci, which is a recognized cause of purulent infections of the mediastinal and pleural spaces. These infections are notoriously resistant and require aggressive surgical management. We present our experience with a 60-year-old patient, who developed necrotizing fasciitis of the chest wall after initial bedside drainage of a SM empy...

The origin of the muscolocutaneous latissimus dorsi flap dates back to 1906 when Igino Tansini, an Italian surgeon, described a procedure to reconstruct the mastectomy defect. After a detailed study of Tansini's original description and drawings, new insights about the pedicle of its compound flap have been found, showing that it has the same pedicle of the scapular flap. In the end, Tansini's ...