Abstract: Triple Rhomboid Flap for Large Skin Defects (Plastic Surgery 2015)

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Larissa SILVA LEITÃO Daroda, MD , PLASTIC SURGERY, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF JUIZ DE FORA, JUIZ DE FORA, Brazil

Romeu FERREIRA Daroda, MD , PLASTIC SURGERY, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF JUIZ DE FORA, JUIZ DE FORA, Brazil

Carlos Eduardo GAZZINELLI Cruz, MD , PLASTIC SURGERY, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF JUIZ DE FORA, JUIZ DE FORA, Brazil

Eduardo NAKAGAWA Carvalho, MD , PLASTIC SURGERY, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF JUIZ DE FORA, JUIZ DE FORA, Brazil

Andressa Barra, MD , PLASTIC SURGERY, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF JUIZ DE FORA, JUIZ DE FORA, Brazil

Presentation PDF file

E-Poster

BACKGROUND

The Rhomboid flap, described by Limberg in 1946, is widely used in reconstructive procedures aind is considered to be a safe and effective flap option. Since then, the flap have been modified by other authors, increasing its versatility, notedly the triple flap technique, which is used for large defects. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the applicability and results of this flap when used to cover large skin defects.

METHOD

A retrospective analysis of seven patients charts was performed. These patients presented with large skin defects following oncological resections and underwent surgery between 2010 and 2014. The flaps were designed by converting skin defects into an hexagon with 120 degrees angles and three of its vertex originated three flaps, then transposed into the defects, providing full coverage.

RESULTS

Among the seven selected patients, in the period ranging from 2010 to 2015, four of them had basall cell carcinomas on the scalp, two had squamous cell carcinomas on the scalp and one had a metastatic colon adenocarcinoma on the abdominal wall and the minimum size of the defect was 8cm in diameter. Satisfactory result was achieved in all seven cases, with aesthetic outcome consistent with that expected. In two cases, small areas were not completely closed at first, but healed properly after 2-3 weeks. No infection cases or alopecia areas were found in this series.

DISCUSSION

The triple rhomboid flap has been used since its initial report as an effective means of covering local defects. One aesthetic advantage, when compared to skin grafts, is lack of alopecia and skin tone alterations. Furthermore, the flap is designed to avoid scar contracture and to enable coverage of larger defects than it would be possible with a single rhomboid flap.

CONCLUSION

The triple rhomboid flap is an useful flap for large skin defects, with adequate aesthetic outcomes and few scar revisions.

27092 Triple Rhomboid Flap for Large Skin Defects