An upper extremity skin flap for coverage of thoracic defects

Area of Science:

• Reconstructive surgery
• Thoracic surgery
• Plastic surgery

Background:

• Large chest wall defects pose significant reconstructive challenges.
• Conventional methods may be insufficient for complex or extensive defects.
• Identifying reliable flap options is crucial for successful chest wall reconstruction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of upper extremity-based skin flaps for chest wall defect closure.
• To present a surgical option for cases where other procedures are inadequate.

Main Methods:

• Utilized skin flaps originating from the medial aspect of the upper extremity.
• Applied these flaps to reconstruct large defects of the chest wall.

Main Results:

• Skin flaps from the upper extremity demonstrated effective closure of large chest wall defects.
• This method proved successful when less invasive procedures were not suitable.

Conclusions:

• Medial upper extremity skin flaps are a viable and effective option for reconstructing large chest wall defects.
• This technique expands the reconstructive armamentarium for complex thoracic injuries and resections.