Vascularized fascial patch for repair of suboccipital dural defect

Advanced knowledge about cutaneous vascularity has enabled the development of axial flaps such as fasciocutaneous, septocutaneous, and musculocutaneous flaps. It has also laid the foundation for microsurgical free flaps. The newly emerging concept of angiosomes sheds yet more light on the complexity and multiplicity of peripheral blood supply. We describe the use of an extended vertical trapezius flap carrying a segment of latissimus dorsi muscle with the underlying paraspinal fascia to close an infected and irradiated posterior fossa craniectomy and dural defect. This flap illustrates the elevation of an angiosomal block of tissues as an axial flap vascularized by the alternative major blood supply of one of its constituents. The potentials of this "angiosomal flap" are explored. A brief review of dural defect repair is also presented.