Chest wall reconstruction with a free extended forearm flap. A case report

Area of Science:

• Surgical Oncology
• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Background:

• Forequarter amputation and chest wall resection are complex procedures.
• Achieving adequate soft tissue coverage for large defects can be challenging.

Observation:

• A patient undergoing forequarter amputation and chest wall resection presented a significant defect.
• The defect required innovative reconstructive strategies for closure.

Findings:

• A free flap was successfully raised using the entire soft tissue of the amputated forearm.
• This free flap provided satisfactory closure of the complex chest wall defect.

Implications:

• This technique offers a viable solution for challenging defects following forequarter amputation.
• Utilizing the amputated limb's tissue minimizes donor site morbidity and maximizes reconstructive potential.