Reconstruction of the Extremity Injury using by Free Rectus Abdoninis Muscle or Myocutaneous Flap

유리 복직근 및 복직근피판술을 이용한 사지의 재건술

Severe upper and lower extremity trauma may result in soft tissue loss with exposed bone and the subsequence of risk of chronic osteomyelitis or malunion of fracture fragments. Such injuries present a major reconstructive problem. But Since the introduction of microsugical technique, free muscle and myocutaneous flaps were employed to provide coverage of severely injured defects. Since Tai and Hasegawa(1974) first reported a breast reconstruction using by rectus abdominis myocuraneous flap, the free rectus myocutaneous flap has been widely employed for breast reconstuction, head and neck reconstruction, and extremity reconstruction in these days. The authors present their successful experience with free rectus abdominis muscle and rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps for upper and low extremity reconstruction. From Nov. 94, to May 95, Five cases of severely injured extremites due to trauma or contact burn were treated with free rectus abdominis muscle flap or free rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap. All flaps except 1 case were survived without severe complications. As free muscle or myocutaneous flap, the free rectus abdominis flap has the advantages of a reliable pedicle, easy dissection, and an acceptable donor site, so it seems logical to apply the free rectus abdominis flap to apply in upper and lower extremity reconstruction.