Successful Elbow Flexion Reconstruction Using Latissimus Dorsi Muscle Transfer Following a Road Traffic Accident and...

BACKGROUND Several surgical procedures to restore elbow flexion have been reported in the literature. Multiple factors direct the selection of appropriate procedures for each patient, including hand dominance, neurovascular injury, and comorbidities. Traumatic damage to the anterior compartment of the arm is an indication for latissimus dorsi transfer, which can restore elbow flexion. Bipolar pedicled latissimus dorsi (LD) flap is a design used very rarely to simultaneously reconstruct biceps brachii soft-tissue defects and regain complete flexion function. We report the case of a 30-year-old man who underwent successful elbow flexion reconstruction using latissimus dorsi muscle transfer following a road traffic accident and upper limb trauma. CASE REPORT A 30-year-old man presented with acute compartment syndrome caused by a road traffic accident and impact trauma to the left arm. The surgical evaluation revealed proximal biceps tendons rapture; therefore, immediate repair and therapeutic fasciotomy were done. Subsequently, unsuccessful repair resulted in total necrosis of the biceps muscle, which necessitated debridement of the biceps muscle. Delayed reconstruction with an LD flap was successfully done after stabilization of the patient's condition. The flap was harvested as free-pedicled, then modified into a tube-like shape to resemble the biceps muscle. CONCLUSIONS This report has shown that the surgical procedure of latissimus dorsi muscle transfer can successfully restore elbow function following upper limb trauma; however, preoperative planning and postoperative follow-up are crucial for functional reconstruction of the upper extremity. In addition, carefully selecting reconstructive surgery considering patient factors, degree of injury, and the institution's capacity are essential factors in achieving optimal function restoration with minimal complications.