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Published on: December 5, 2025
Total breast reconstruction using the thoracodorsal artery perforator flap without implant
Fabio Santanelli1, Benedetto Longo, Silvia Germano
1Rome, Italy; and Brussels, Belgium From the Department of Plastic and Reconstruction, University of "Sapienza" Rome; and the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Brussels University Hospital.
Background:
The thoracodorsal artery perforator flap was described mainly for partial breast reconstruction by Hamdi. The purpose of this article is to describe the use of the pedicled thoracodorsal artery perforator flap for total autologous breast reconstruction without using an implant.
Methods:
Between January of 2009 and December of 2011, seven patients underwent total breast reconstruction with a pedicled thoracodorsal artery perforator flap. The mean age of the patients was 53 years (range, 43 to 62 years), and the mean body mass index was 27 kg/m (range, 24 to 32 kg/m).
Results:
The mean size of the harvested skin paddle was 23.7 × 8.8 cm (range, 15 × 7 cm to 39 × 14 cm). The flaps were based on one to three perforators and successfully transferred with an average operative time of 3 hours. No seroma occurred at the donor site. Average hospital stay was 4 days (range, 3 to 6 days). At an average follow-up of 21.5 months, two patients underwent additional revisions using autologous fat grafting, with overall fat injection volumes of 240 and 280 cc, respectively.
Conclusion:
The pedicled thoracodorsal artery perforator flap offers an alternative for total autologous breast reconstruction in small to medium breasted patients when abdominal tissues are not available.
Clinical Question/Level Of Evidence:
Therapeutic, IV.
