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Updated: May 27, 2026
Engineered Vascularized Muscle Flap
Published on: January 11, 2016
Transverse upper gracilis flap as an alternative to abdominal tissue breast reconstruction: technique and
Rudolf F Buntic1, Karen M Horton, Darrell Brooks
1San Francisco, Calif. From the Division of Microsurgery and the Department of Plastic Surgery, The Buncke Clinic, California Pacific Medical Center.
Background:
The inner thigh skin and fat based on the transverse upper gracilis musculocutaneous flap blood supply provide an autologous donor area with qualities favorable to microvascular breast reconstruction. The flap can be shaped to mimic a mastectomy specimen, providing excellent contour and projection, and has a consistent blood supply. The characteristics and skin color of the flap allow for immediate nipple-areola complex reconstruction in skin-sparing mastectomy.
Methods:
From 2004 to 2007, the authors performed 32 free inner thigh flap microvascular breast reconstructions after mastectomy for breast cancer in 20 patients, in both delayed and immediate settings.
Results:
All flaps survived without any soft-tissue loss or fat necrosis. Complications were a single take-back for venous thrombosis with salvage, donor-site skin breakdown in eight flaps, and five seromas. There was no functional loss at the donor site, and all patients resumed normal activity.
Conclusions:
Transverse upper gracilis musculocutaneous flap microvascular breast reconstruction is an excellent option for patients who desire autologous reconstruction and who do not have adequate abdominal donor tissue or who do not desire abdominal scarring.
Clinical Question/Level Of Evidence:
Therapeutic, IV.
