FOOT RECONSTRUCTION USING A SERRATUS ANTERIOR MUSCLE FLAP FROM THE SAME DONOR SITE AFTER FAILURE OF A THORACODORSAL ARTERY PERFORATOR FLAP

Abstract

The free flap failure rate for the lower extremities is high, which adversely affects limb salvage efforts. In this article, we report a case of failure of a thoracodorsal artery perforator flap, which was simultaneously reconstructed with a serratus anterior muscle flap from the same donor site. A 56-year-old male patient had infected wound for 3 months due to Achilles tendon rupture. We reconstructed the defect using a thoracodorsal artery perforator flap. However, 2 days after the operation, we found the congested flap. We were obliged to discard the whole flap and harvested a serratus anterior muscle flap from the same donor site. The patient's foot healed uneventfully. After flap failure, the use of a second free flap from the same donor site may be an effective and safe procedure in specific cases. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 34:153-156, 2014.