Tripier's innervated myocutaneous flap 1889

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Surgical Techniques
• Reconstructive Surgery

Background:

• Presents a translation of Tripier's 1889 publication on myocutaneous flaps.
• Describes two bipedicled myocutaneous flaps based on the orbicularis oculi muscle, designed as 'bucket-handles'.

Discussion:

• Tripier's intention was to transfer innervated and functioning muscle.
• Flaps were designed to maintain original muscle length and nerve supply for function retention.
• This may represent the first description of an innervated myocutaneous flap.

Key Insights:

• The study details innovative 'bucket-handle' myocutaneous flaps.
• Emphasis on preserving muscle innervation and length for functional transfer.
• Introduction of a novel variant of the Tripier flap.

Outlook:

• Further research into functional muscle transfer techniques.
• Potential applications of the described flap variants in reconstructive surgery.
• Historical significance of early myocutaneous flap descriptions.