Bone Grafts Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Bone Grafts, including details on spine fusion, surgery, procedure, risks.

Free latissimus dorsi perforator flap for reconstruction of hemifacial atrophy: Case report.

Suominen EA, Niemi TS, Koskivuo IO, Brück NM, Saaristo AM

Department of Surgery, Turku University Central Hospital, Finland.

Progressive hemifacial atrophy (PHA) is characterized by slow and progressive atrophy usually of one side of the face. PHA affects primarily the subcutaneous fat and muscle tissues, but may involve the bone. The cause is unknown. The treatment is symptomatic and directed at augmentation of the deficient soft-tissue volume. The reconstructive procedures may combine fat grafts, dermis fat grafts, pedicle flaps, bone grafts, microvascular free flaps, and alloplastic implants. We report a patient with of PHA whose condition was treated with a free latissimus dorsi (LD) perforator flap. The LD perforator flap was suitable for the large defect of the patient. It could easily be tailored and thinned to follow the facial contour. Minor revisions were needed for esthetic reasons. There was neither significant downward gravitation nor wasting of the flap. 23 months later, the natural appearance of the face was maintained. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2007.

Published 8 June 2007 in Microsurgery.
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