Lateral thoracic flap for donor site repair of pectoralis major myocutaneous flap

SummaryObjectiveTo study the use of the lateral thoracic flap to repair a pectoralis major flap donor site defect when primary closure is not possible.Study designProspective study.Subjects and methodsAll patients requiring pectoralis major flap reconstruction after tumour extirpation in the head and neck region, whose chest wall donor defects could not be closed primarily, were recruited to the study; lateral thoracic flaps were performed to close the wounds.ResultsTen patients were recruited between July 2005 and November 2007. The patients were between 48 and 76 years of age. The lateral thoracic flap size ranged from 5 × 8 cm to 9 × 12 cm. All secondary donor sites in the lateral chest wall were closed primarily. There was no flap necrosis and the secondary donor sites healed without complications.ConclusionThe lateral thoracic flap is safe and reliable technique for reconstructing the chest wall donor defect from the pectoralis major flap when primary closure is not possible.