Abstract
Background: To explore the clinical application and selection of latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap in repairing neck and shoulder soft tissue defect combined with infection. Methods: From July 2017 to December 2019, 11 patients with neck and shoulder soft tissue defect combined with infection in our hospital were repaired by the pedicled latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap (PLDMF) according to the shape and size of the soft tissue defects, including 9 males and 2 females, with an average age of 40.2±12.6 years. The average defect area after debridement of infected and necrotic tissue was (7.0±1.3) cm × (4.8±1.2) cm, and the average area of the flaps was (34.4±3.8) cm × (6.0±1.0) cm. The donor site was sutured directly. Results: Seven cases of skin flaps healed by the first intention, while 4 cases developed infections at the distal ends of the skin flaps after surgery, which all survived after anti-infection treatment and repeated dressing changes for infection control, and the donor and recipient sites of the flaps healed well. Followed up for an average of 17.3±3.8 months with good flap blood supply and limb function, there was no recurrence of infection. Conclusions: PLDMF is an idea for repairing neck and shoulder soft tissue defect combined with infection, with high survival rate, low postoperative infection recurrence rate, and good functional repair ability, leading to good clinical application value. However, surgical indications should be strictly carried out due to the inferior aesthetic of flaps.
Pedicled Latissimus Dorsi Myocutaneous Flap Transthoracic Transposition for Repairing Neck and Shoulder Soft Tissue Defect Combined with Infection
