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Updated: May 20, 2026

Single-stage Dynamic Reanimation of the Smile in Irreversible Facial Paralysis by Free Functional Muscle Transfer
Published on: March 1, 2015
Muscle conserving free gracilis transfer (mini-gracilis free flap)
Bibhuti Bhusan Nayak1, Nilamani Mohanty
1Department of Plastic Surgery, S. C. B. Medical College, Cuttack, Orissa, India.
Abstract:
Gracilis is a commonly used muscle for free tissue transfer. It is also split into two based on its pedicles and used as two units. Use of distal part as a free flap in isolation has never been described in literature. We describe a technique of harvesting a small unit of gracilis based on its minor pedicle and maintaining the continuity and conserving the major bulk of muscle. Thus, the function of the muscle is preserved and the same is also available for transfer on its major pedicle later, if required.
