Türk Nöroşirürji Dergisi 2006 , Vol 16 , Num 1
Bilateral Latissimus Dorsi Advancement Flaps for Closure of Large Meningomyelocele Defects
A. Aydan KÖSE1, Yakup KARABAĞLI1, Ceyla ÖZBAYOĞLU1, Murat VURAL2, Ali ASLANTAŞ2, Cengiz ÇETİN1
1Osmangazi Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi Plastik ve Rekonstrüktif Cerrahi Anabilim Dalı, Eskişehir
2Osmangazi Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Beyin Cerrahisi Anabilim Dalı, Eskişehir OBJECTIVE: We report our experience with bilateral latissimus dorsi advancement flaps in large meningomyelocele defects. These flaps provide three-layered closure (muscle, subcutaneous tissue, skin) over the neural elements without the need for an additional skin graft.

METHODS: After neural repair, the dissection is done under latissimus dorsi muscles to their free border bilaterally. The muscles are advanced to midline by carrying the skin.

RESULTS: Nine infants were operated on for thoracal/lumbar meningomyelocele defects using bilateral latissimus dorsi advancement flaps. The flaps were combined with gluteus maximus in four cases in which the defects were extending to the sacral area.

CONCLUSION: This composite muscle flap method ensures secure muscle closure over the neural repair while providing the aesthetic advantage of midline repair. Anahtar Kelimeler : Meningomyelocele, Latissimus dorsi