CLINICAL OUTCOMES OF USING PEDICLED LATISSIMUS DORSI MUSCLE FLAPS IN THE TREATMENT OF LARGE CHEST WALL DEFECTS

Tóm tắt

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the pedicled latissimus dorsi (LD) muscle flaps for the reconstruction of large chest wall defects. Methods: A retrospective and prospective, descriptive, interventional study was conducted on 30 patients with large chest wall defects treated with pedicled LD muscle flaps at Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital and 108 Military Central Hospital from September 2020 to November 2025. Results:The cohort comprised 30 patients (7 males, 23 females) with a mean age of 55.83 ± 15.18 years. The primary etiologies were radiation-induced sequelae (70.0%) and burns (26.7%). The latissimus dorsi muscle flaps were harvested with mean dimensions of 19.57 ± 4.29cm in length and 10.7 ± 2.82cm in width. Overall flap survival was 96.67% (29/30 flaps); partial necrosis occurred in one case (3.33%). Skin grafts healed successfully on the muscle flap, and primary closure of the donor site was achieved in 100% of cases. At the 6-month follow-up (n = 28), 100% of patients demonstrated preserved shoulder function, favorable scar aesthetics, and high satisfaction with both functional and aesthetic outcomes. Conclusion: The pedicled LD muscle-only flap is a safe and highly effective modality for reconstructing large chest wall defects, providing durable coverage with a 96.67% success rate and ensuring full preservation of shoulder range of motion.