Bipedicled DIEAP flaps for reconstruction of limb soft tissue defects in male patients.

Summary Background Extensive soft tissue deficiencies involving the limbs can be difficult to reconstruct and may require more than one microsurgical flap transfer to cover the defect. This can be particularly challenging in male patients, where the sacrifice of a donor muscle could result in considerable comorbidity. This paper describes the use of the bipedicled deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEAP) flap to perform a one-stage reconstruction of extensive soft tissue defects in male patients. Methods By using preoperative multidetector computed tomographic (MDCT) angiography, the dominant perforators of the abdominal wall were identified and the bipedicled DIEAP flap was used …