[Use of the gracilis muscle in reconstructing the perineum]

Ten patients had their vulvar and perineal areas reconstructed using musculocutaneous flaps of the gracilis muscle. Seven patients had extensive resections done for skin carcinomas, two due to traumas and one due to a sequel of Fournier's Syndrome. Reconstruction in tumor cases were performed primarily and the other secondarily. The skin island measured 12 x 8 centimeters and the muscle was taken entirely. The results were satisfactory in all cases. The muscle survived completely, but there was partial skin island loss in 8 instances. In 3 of those cases, there was need for a revision of the flap and skin grafting. The authors concluded that there is always a risk to take the skin island together with the gracilis muscle and the use of the isolated muscle with skin grafting should be considered im most cases.