Reconstruction of very short humeral stumps

Satisfactory functional prosthetic management of the very short humeral stump is difficult, and reliable methods for humeral lengthening in this circumstance are lacking. For this reason, we have developed a lengthening procedure that uses a latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap with incorporated eighth, ninth, or tenth rib. The flap may be elevated without detaching its vascular pedicle. Two patients have been successfully rehabilitated with prosthetics following this procedure.