[Breast reconstruction using gluteal inferior free flaps. 34 cases in 30 patients]

Recent evolution of breast reconstruction favorised autologous tissues, without prosthesis. 34 gluteal inferior free flaps have been performed in 30 patients aged from 33 to 72 years for immediate reconstruction (6) or secondary reconstruction (28), unilateral (26) or bilateral (8 flaps); after complete mastectomy (21 included a bilateral one), partial mastectomy (3), sub-cutaneous mastectomy with skin-sparing mastectomy (3 bilateral cases), radical mastectomy with radiolesion (2), non efficient reconstruction using prosthesis (2). The myocutaneous flap vascularized by gluteal inferior artery was anastomosed on thoracodorsal pedicle or on humeral vein. Added procedures have been symmetrizations (21), flap modifications (21), nipple reconstruction (20). Thirty three flaps presented good survey. Cosmetic results were excellent in five cases, good in 21 cases, middle in eight cases. Flap disadvantages were: possible failure of microsurgery with vessel thrombosis and flap necrosis, long operative time (average five hours), variable quality of the skin flap and hypoesthesia of the posterior area of buttock. Flap advantages were: the suffisant volume (300 to 500 g), the simple procedure to raise the flap (after specific training) and discrete scar of the donor site. This flap seems to be a excellent method for autologous mammary versus TRAM flap or latissimus dorsi added fat flap.