THE FREE DEEP INFERIOR EPIGASTRIC ARTERY SKIN FLAP WITHOUT RECTUS ABDOMINIS MUSCLE

Abstract

The rectos abdominis myocutaneous flap is frequently used in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery, such as breast reconstruction and other form of free tissue transfer. Major problems with this flap are bulkiness, the possibility of abdominal hernia and muscle weakness following the removal of the rectos abdominis muscle. We used deep inferior epigastric artery skin flap fed by muscle perforators from the deep inferior epigastric artery, with no or little muscle and fatty tissue, in four patients for the resurfacing of relatively wide and thin defects in extremities and head and neck area including esophagus. In addition to all of the advantages of the conventional rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap, this technique has decreased possibility of postoperative abdominal herniation or muscle weakness. Another challenging merit is possibility of skin flap thinning.