Investigation of the dorsolateral branch of the posterior intercostal artery for use as the pedicle of a free flap: A cadaveric study and case series
Background The dorsolateral branch of the posterior intercostal artery (DLBPI) can be easily found while harvesting a latissimus dorsi (LD) musculocutaneous flap for breast reconstruction. However, it remains unknown whether this branch can be used for a free flap and whether this branch alone can...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Archives of Plastic Surgery |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.5999/aps.2018.00122 |
| _version_ | 1811306316782632960 |
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| author | Su Bong Nam Jung Yeol Seo Tae Seo Park Ji Yoon Sung Joo Hyoung Kim Jae Woo Lee Min Wook Kim Heung Chan Oh |
| author_facet | Su Bong Nam Jung Yeol Seo Tae Seo Park Ji Yoon Sung Joo Hyoung Kim Jae Woo Lee Min Wook Kim Heung Chan Oh |
| author_sort | Su Bong Nam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background The dorsolateral branch of the posterior intercostal artery (DLBPI) can be easily found while harvesting a latissimus dorsi (LD) musculocutaneous flap for breast reconstruction. However, it remains unknown whether this branch can be used for a free flap and whether this branch alone can provide perfusion to the skin. We examined whether the DLBPI could be reliably found and whether it could provide sufficient perfusion.
Methods We dissected 10 fresh cadavers and counted DLBPIs with a diameter larger than 2 mm. For each DLBPI, the following parameters were measured: distance from the lateral margin of the LD muscle, level of the intercostal space, distance from the spinal process, and distance from the inferior angle of the scapula.
Results The DLBPI was easily found in all cadavers and was reliably located in the specified area. The average number of DLBPIs was 1.65. They were located between the seventh and eleventh intercostal spaces. The average length of the DLBPI between the intercostal space and the LD muscle was 4.82 cm. To assess the perfusion of the DLBPIs, a lead oxide mixture was injected through the branch and observed using X-rays, and it showed good perfusion.
Conclusions The DLBPI can be used as a pedicle in free flaps for small defects. DLBPI flaps have some limitations, such as a short pedicle. However, an advantage of this branch is that it can be reliably located through simple dissection. For women, it has the advantage of concealing the donor scar underneath the bra band. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:42:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7e2c18af4b544569bebec2b22fcec1ee |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2234-6163 2234-6171 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:42:15Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Archives of Plastic Surgery |
| spelling | doaj.art-7e2c18af4b544569bebec2b22fcec1ee2022-12-22T02:53:51ZengThieme Medical Publishers, Inc.Archives of Plastic Surgery2234-61632234-61712019-01-014601394510.5999/aps.2018.001223585Investigation of the dorsolateral branch of the posterior intercostal artery for use as the pedicle of a free flap: A cadaveric study and case seriesSu Bong Nam0Jung Yeol Seo1Tae Seo Park2Ji Yoon Sung3Joo Hyoung Kim4Jae Woo Lee5Min Wook Kim6Heung Chan Oh7Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, KoreaDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, KoreaDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, KoreaDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, KoreaDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, KoreaDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, KoreaDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, KoreaUP Plastic Surgery Clinic, Busan, KoreaBackground The dorsolateral branch of the posterior intercostal artery (DLBPI) can be easily found while harvesting a latissimus dorsi (LD) musculocutaneous flap for breast reconstruction. However, it remains unknown whether this branch can be used for a free flap and whether this branch alone can provide perfusion to the skin. We examined whether the DLBPI could be reliably found and whether it could provide sufficient perfusion. Methods We dissected 10 fresh cadavers and counted DLBPIs with a diameter larger than 2 mm. For each DLBPI, the following parameters were measured: distance from the lateral margin of the LD muscle, level of the intercostal space, distance from the spinal process, and distance from the inferior angle of the scapula. Results The DLBPI was easily found in all cadavers and was reliably located in the specified area. The average number of DLBPIs was 1.65. They were located between the seventh and eleventh intercostal spaces. The average length of the DLBPI between the intercostal space and the LD muscle was 4.82 cm. To assess the perfusion of the DLBPIs, a lead oxide mixture was injected through the branch and observed using X-rays, and it showed good perfusion. Conclusions The DLBPI can be used as a pedicle in free flaps for small defects. DLBPI flaps have some limitations, such as a short pedicle. However, an advantage of this branch is that it can be reliably located through simple dissection. For women, it has the advantage of concealing the donor scar underneath the bra band.http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.5999/aps.2018.00122surgical flapsfree tissue flapsreconstructive surgical procedurescadaver |
| spellingShingle | Su Bong Nam Jung Yeol Seo Tae Seo Park Ji Yoon Sung Joo Hyoung Kim Jae Woo Lee Min Wook Kim Heung Chan Oh Investigation of the dorsolateral branch of the posterior intercostal artery for use as the pedicle of a free flap: A cadaveric study and case series Archives of Plastic Surgery surgical flaps free tissue flaps reconstructive surgical procedures cadaver |
| title | Investigation of the dorsolateral branch of the posterior intercostal artery for use as the pedicle of a free flap: A cadaveric study and case series |
| title_full | Investigation of the dorsolateral branch of the posterior intercostal artery for use as the pedicle of a free flap: A cadaveric study and case series |
| title_fullStr | Investigation of the dorsolateral branch of the posterior intercostal artery for use as the pedicle of a free flap: A cadaveric study and case series |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigation of the dorsolateral branch of the posterior intercostal artery for use as the pedicle of a free flap: A cadaveric study and case series |
| title_short | Investigation of the dorsolateral branch of the posterior intercostal artery for use as the pedicle of a free flap: A cadaveric study and case series |
| title_sort | investigation of the dorsolateral branch of the posterior intercostal artery for use as the pedicle of a free flap a cadaveric study and case series |
| topic | surgical flaps free tissue flaps reconstructive surgical procedures cadaver |
| url | http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.5999/aps.2018.00122 |
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