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Reconstructive surgery's workhorse, the latissimus dorsi flap is increasingly abandoned in favour of fasciocutaneous flaps. The purpose of this study was to analyse the methods used to perform this flap and the evolution of its indications in order to define its current place in traumatology. Forty-four cases were recorded retrospectively from January 2000 to December 2020 at HIA Percy, including 37 cases of free flaps, mainly performed for reconstruction of extensive loss of substance with bone and/or joint exposure. It was also performed in 10.8% of cases for salvage after failure of an alternative reconstruction solution. This analysis confirms the value of the latissimus dorsi flap in cases of significant substance loss in the lower limb, but also in burn patients for functional rehabilitation or to allow early rehabilitation., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The use of pedicled dorsal flaps sparing the latissimus dorsi muscle (TDAP and MSLD flap) is a well-described reconstruction method in breast reconstruction after breast cancer. However, little data exists regarding patient satisfaction after this surgery. The main objective of this study was to evaluate patient satisfaction after unilateral total secondary breast reconstruction using a TDAP or MSLD flap. The secondary objectives corresponded to the evaluation of postoperative complications following this surgery, the evaluation of the duration of the reconstruction and the nature of additional interventions, the evaluation of the functional after-effects, and the evaluation of the chest size when the reconstruction is completed., Material and Method: This is a monocentric, retrospective cohort study, including 22 patients who underwent unilateral secondary total breast reconstruction using a TDAP or MSLD flap between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2022. Patient satisfaction was assessed using three questionnaires validated in breast reconstruction: the Reconstruction module of the BREAST-Q, the MBROS-S and the MBROS-BI., Results: The MBROS-S satisfaction score is 71.4%. The MBROS-BI body image score is 62%. With the BREAST-Q, the Satisfaction with Breast score is estimated at 53.1; the Satisfaction with Back score is estimated at 75.5; the physical well-being score regarding the chest is evaluated at 71.7; the physical well-being score concerning the shoulder and back is evaluated at 67.4; the psychosocial well-being score is assessed at 67.4; the sexual well-being score is estimated at 48.7; and for women who have benefited from reconstruction associated with a prosthesis, the satisfaction score regarding the implant is 71.6., Conclusion: Unilateral total secondary breast reconstruction with a dorsal pedicled flap sparing the latissimus dorsi muscle is an elegant, reliable, and respectful way to reconstruct a breast, and appears to give high levels of satisfaction., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Morbidity following autologous latissimus dorsi flap (ALD), muscle sparing latissimus dorsi flap (MSLD) and thoracodorsal artery perforator flap (TAP) is controversial. The purpose of this study was to measure morbity using Quick Dash at 1 month and 1 year following breast reconstruction with one of these three flaps. The second objective was the evaluation of quality of life using Breast-Q., Patients and Method: Thirty four consecutive patients who had undergone breast reconstruction were included in this monocentric and prospective study: 10 patients in the ALD group, 12 patients in the MSLD group and 12 patients in the TAP group., Results: At 1 month and 1 year following surgery, the variation of Quick Dash was 13,63 and 2,38 in the ALD group, 3,41 and -1,13 in the MSLD group and 5,69 and 0 in the TAP group. Satisfaction whith breasts, psychosocial, sexual and chest well-being were higher in the ALD group. Satisfaction with back was higher in the MSLD and TAP groups. Back and shoulder well-being was comparable regardless of the flap. Seroma occurrence was very rare in case of TAP, rare and not abundant in case of MSLD and frequent in case of ALD., Conclusion: This study appears to confirm that immediate morbidity is less important with MSLD or TAP than ALD. Hoewever at one year following surgery, morbity seems to be comparable with the 3 flaps. Patients satisfaction seems to be higher with ALD except for the aspect of the back., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Surgical treatment of large and multiple lesions of irradiated scalp may require subtotal scalp exeresis and reconstruction in two-stage free flap surgery: harvesting and placing the flap first, then scalp removing and defect covering in a second step. This strategy raises the question of how to care the flap between the two surgeries. We report an original technique of free latissimus dorsi flap lacing. A 70-year-old male, afflicted with familial cylindromatosis and treated by brachytherapy 18years ago, received a free latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap in two-stage surgery, allowing 25×25cm pathological scalp exeresis. During first step, suture clips were fixed in two rows around the future scalp defect, in order to be used as anchors for the flap lacing. Braided wire were chosen for a better steerability, and to prevent knots untightening. Thus, the flap were placed in "anatomical" place, next to the scalp, pending secondary procedure. This situation permitted to avoid flap or pedicle compression or plication, and to ease flap care. The wires were tighten as shoelaces, allowing them to be undone and done as desired. The two-stage free latissimus dorsi flap reconstruction of scalp large defect permitted us to assess the flap reliability before final reconstruction. The lacing solution allowed us regular local care and convenient flap handling, while favoriting its optimal placing next to its future location., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Amongst various techniques of breast reconstruction, Autologous Latissimus Dorsi (ALD) flap without breast implant is the newest technique that took advantage of recent improvement during the last decade. Surgical procedure is well standardized, and allows to harvest various fat areas attached to the muscle, to obtain an autologous reconstruction. Thoracodorsal pedicle is steady and makes ALD the most reliable flap that can be used in several indications, especially when DIEP or TRAM flap are inappropriate. Lipomodeling of the cleavage is performed during the first surgery. Additionnal lipomodeling is performed in the whole reconstructed breast area at 2 months to get the expected volume. In some cases, two lipomodelings may be required. Advantages of ALD flap are numerous such as its reliability, its trophicity, and a very low complications rate. After a learning curve, drawbacks are well controlled, since quilting suture of the donor site helped to reduce drastically seroma rate. Finally, ALD flap became the best technique, and the most used in our team for autologous breast reconstruction, and surpassed abdominal flaps such as TRAM flap or DIEP flap., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Despite the development of microsurgical techniques, latissimus dorsi myocutaneous pedicle flap remains mainly used in breast reconstruction surgery. It is reliable and could be performed on almost all the patients, even if they smoke. It is also a good indication in case of irradiation. The technical alternative, which combines latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap and an implant, allows the reconstruction of the expected volume and enables controlateral implant augmentation if the patient desires. The dorsal skin paddle increases the cutaneous pocket. The muscle in-depth enhances the irradiated skin and protects the implant. Positioning the skin paddle on the breast area is essential: it should be based on the mastectomy scar or on an added contraincision barring it. Thus it allows the muscle to embrace the implant as a bra. The precise reference points helping the placement of the flap could be reproduced and ensure pleasant and stable results over time., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

The Latissimus Dorsi flap (or LD flap) was first described by the Tansini in 1896 and published in 1906. It concerned a case of chest wall reconstruction after breast amputation. The use of the LD flap in all its variants is very frequent in breast reconstruction. In these indications, the muscle is harvested for skin paddle vascularization and/or for bringing volume to the reconstructed breast. When all or most of the muscle is taken, its motor function is completely lost. The functional sequelae due to the loss of the latissimus dorsi muscle are then definitive. Tobin et al. showed that the LD muscle can be separated into two flaps based on the division of the thoracodorsal artery; the concept of muscle-sparing was then posed (Muscle-Sparing Latissimus Dorsi [MSLD]). The MSLD as we perform now, concerns only a thin muscle strip and preserves 95% of the LD muscle with its vascularization and motor innervation. This technique is quick with very low donor site morbidity. The functional sequelae and postoperative complications appear limited compared to the harvest of a total LD whatever the posterior scar. The volume of the breast to be reconstructed is obtained by several sessions of fat grafting. We present here the anatomical bases and the surgical technique of the muscle-sparing latissimus dorsi associated with a thoracoabdominal advancement flap and fat grafting in breast reconstruction., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The position of the skin paddle on the breast area is a fundamental element for the breast reconstructions by latissimus dorsi flap and prosthesis implantation. Should, as Millard advocated, to recreate the initial defect and include it in the mastectomy scar or is it better in an additional incision as have others authors. This study compares the long-term morphological results of these two attitudes, with or without additional incision., Patients and Methods: Eighty-two breast reconstructions by latissimus dorsi flap and prosthesis implantation, with a mean follow-up of 9.5 years were scored from 1 to 5 by a panel of expert and non-expert. The patients scored also their own reconstruction. Various parameters of the reconstructed breast were thus evaluated. We compared the results, according to the positioning of the skin paddle: with additional incision (50 cases); without additional incision (32 cases). The characteristics of the mastectomy scar on the breast area, high or low, horizontal or oblique, defined 6 groups where the results of the 2 surgical options were compared., Results: Only the reconstructions with additional incision get significantly higher results than those without additional incision (P<0.05). This involves the two panels, in the case of high mastectomy scars. In the others cases the additional incision is not essential., Conclusions: If the realization of an additional incision can be perceived like misfit on an area already "mutilated", we plead for this solution in selected cases. This provides a benefit stable in time, in terms of overall results, shape and even rendering scar., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap combined with an implant is an effective breast reconstruction solution especially in irradiated patients. The authors describe the specific technical aspects that allow them to optimize the results of this intervention. In the back, the skin paddle is drawn in the shape of a horizontal spindle so as to conceal the residual scar under the bra. In breast area, a J-shaped contraincision barring the mastectomy scar ensures a harmonious positioning of the skin paddle to the inferolateral part of the breast. After a 180° rotation, the latissimus dorsi muscle envelops the implant like a bra. Its upper edge is attached at the bottom to define the new submammary fold. Under the pectoralis major muscle, its distal end comes to fill the décolleté above the implant., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Aim of the Study: Breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi flap and fat grafting is a technique widely used in current practice. Some operators still complain at the lack of final results at the first intervention and the need for repeated lipofilling sessions. The objective of this study was to compare the number of reoperations in patients who underwent reconstruction with latissimus dorsi with prosthesis versus without prosthesis., Patients and Methods: We included all patients operated for breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi flap, with or without prosthesis between 2008 and 2012 in our center. We noted the number of new surgical interventions in these patients on the reconstructed breast. We also noted the average weight of mastectomy in two groups each year., Results: One hundred and eighty-six patients were included in this study. Ninety-one patients underwent reconstruction with latissimus dorsi and prosthesis, and 95 patients reconstruction by latissimus dorsi and fat graft. It has not been demonstrated significant differences in the number of new surgical procedures between the two groups. The average weight of mastectomies in the autologous group has steadily increased over the five years. There was no significant difference in the average weight of mastectomies between the two groups over the last two years., Conclusion: For breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi flap, surgical indications changed in our center to the absence of prosthetic implant, whatever the volume of the breast., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Rates of immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) after mastectomy are currently increasing, leading us to evaluate outcomes of breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi without implant followed by adjuvant radiotherapy., Materials and Methods: From January 1999 to August 2013, 31 breast reconstructions with latissimus dorsi have been irradiated. Patients have been selected from a prospective database and contacted to evaluate outcomes of breast reconstruction, and 2 patients have been lost., Results: Median follow-up was 6.5 years. Breast reconstruction outcomes were evaluated as very good or good in 86% of cases, with breast reconstructed consistency as very good or good in 93% of cases. An additional fat grafting has been performed for 58% of cases (mean volume transferred of 250 cc) and was associated with contralateral breast reduction in 32% of the whole population. IBR was judged as essential for 79% of women a posteriori., Conclusion: In our experience, latissimus dorsi has a good tolerance to adjuvant irradiation, and may be offered to patients willing to benefit of an IBR even if postoperative radiotherapy is scheduled., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Congenital Volkmann ischemic contracture is a rare entity. The neonate presents nerve palsy, cutaneous and muscular necrosis of the forearm., Methods: We report a case of a newborn who presented with necrotic subcutaneous tissue of the right forearm and absence of active flexion and extension of the wrist and fingers. She was initially treated with debridement of necrotic tissues and orthosis of the wrist. Latissimus dorsi free flap was used for forearm reconstruction at age of 7months. The thoracodorsal nerve was anastomosed with a motor branch of the median nerve. The proximal part of the muscle was fixated to the lateral epicondyle of humerus, and the distal part of muscle was sutured with a flexor digitorum tendons and radial extensor carpi. The cutaneous component of the flap was used to cover a defect of soft tissue of the forearm., Results: At age of 12 months, the patient has a good two-hand function with a pollici digital clamp of the right hand. She also has a recovery of active wrist extension and fingers flexion., Discussion: Free re-innervated latissimus dorsi muscle transfer is an alternative to restore a useful hand function in case of congenital Volkmann ischemic contracture., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Autologous techniques for breast reconstruction get the best cosmetic results. Aesthetic satisfaction with breast reconstruction is an important evaluation criterion. The indication is based on technical criteria (morphological, medical history) and the wishes of the patient. A rigorous evaluation of the results is necessary to assist the patients in their choice of reconstruction., Methods: Thirty-three DIEP and 27 latissimus dorsi were involved. A satisfaction questionnaire was sent to patients to collect the aesthetic evaluation of their reconstructed breast, sequelae at the donor site of the flap as well as their overall satisfaction. Post-operative photographs of the patients were subject to aesthetical evaluation by two groups of observers. Complications were analyzed., Results: The DIEP tends to get higher aesthetic satisfaction regarding the symmetry of the breasts and the volume of the reconstructed breast (P=0.05), and a better overall satisfaction (P=0.02). The uniformity of the colour of the reconstructed breast was considered superior by observers in the latissimus dorsi group (P=0.005). Donor site scar of DIEP was considered more unsightly while the latissimus dorsi was considered more painful (P=0.04) and uncomfortable, with more frequently contour abnormalities (P=0.03). We noted two total flap necrosis and three partial necrosis in the group DIEP, and two partial flap necrosis in the group latissimus dorsi., Conclusion: This study provides evidence that can guide the patient and the surgeon in the complex process of therapeutic decision, without exempting the latter from a careful selection of indications., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Breast reconstruction or for breast deformities is a difficult challenge to get excellent results. Lipomodeling technique can improve thoracic malformations and breast deformities. Percutaneous fasciotomies can be an excellent tool for recipient site improvement. The aim of this study is to discuss interest of percutaneous needle fasciotomies with fat grafting into breast surgery., Material and Methods: We have realized a retrospective study with fat transfer into the breast surgery. Recipient site prepared fasciotomies during fat grafting surgical procedure. Fat was harvested and centrifugated. Fat was injected into breast reconstructions or thoracic malformations. We did notice: population (age, BMI, uni/bilateral breasts), surgical procedure (mean sessions number, mean fat transfer). Aesthetic aspects of breasts were rated by both surgeon and patient: skin improvement, volume and shape of breast. Each complication was noticed: tissue wounds, scar evolution, hematoma, infection., Results: We started a retrospective study between 2006 and 2011. One thousand patients were treated with fasciotomies and fat grafting during the same procedure. Main indications were breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi flap, breast implant reconstruction, breast cancer conservative surgeries, tuberous breast and Poland syndrom. Sessions number expected was between 1 and 3. No complication has been noticed, except 1 tissular wound that needed a medical treatment to solve the problem., Conclusion: Fasciotomie is an indispensable complement tool for fat grafting. It is a safe and reliable technique. It improves aesthetic outcomes of breast surgery. Main indications of fasciotomies with fat grafting are breast reconstruction with radiation, breast cancer conservative surgery, and tuberous breast. Percutaneous fasciotomies provide excellent aesthetic result with no scar. They improve the shape of the breast with long-standing result., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)