Arch Aesthetic Plast Surg.  2018 Oct;24(3):153-156. 10.14730/aaps.2018.24.3.153.

A New Skin Graft Donor Site Using the Abdominal Dog-Ear Deformity in Mastectomy Flap Necrosis

• Choi JH
• Oh DY

• KMID: 2437080
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14730/aaps.2018.24.3.153

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Mastectomy flap necrosis is a common complication after mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with a deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap. After abdominal free flap breast reconstruction, the most common secondary procedure is dog-ear correction of both flanks. We introduce a treatment for skin necrosis with a full-thickness skin graft (FTSG) using the abdominal dog-ear deformity.
METHODS
In patients with skin necrosis of a mastectomy flap, we debrided all necrotic tissue when the demarcation was complete. We then performed an FTSG using the skin from the dog-ear correction of both flank areas. We fixed the graft with a tie-over dressing, and it was then removed on postoperative day 5.
RESULTS
Skin necrosis of the mastectomy flap and dog-ear deformity were treated without any complications. The color and texture of the breasts were satisfactory.
CONCLUSIONS
If a patient experiences post-mastectomy skin flap necrosis and has a dog-ear deformity on both sides of the flank after a DIEP flap, a dog-ear skin flap can be a good alternative donor site for reconstruction.

Keyword

Mammaplasty; Mastectomy; Necrosis; Tissue donors; Transplantation autologous

MeSH Terms

Bandages
Breast
Congenital Abnormalities*
Female
Free Tissue Flaps
Humans
Mammaplasty
Mastectomy*
Necrosis*
Skin*
Tissue Donors*
Transplants*