Summary
Free flaps have been used for over 30 years. During this period, improved anatomical
understanding has increased donor options and available pedicle lengths, permitting
safer, single-stage reconstructions with simpler anastomoses. Refinements, such as
perforator flaps in particular, have greatly improved donor morbidity, recipient site
cosmesis, and the ability to replace ‘like with like’ while retaining options for
innervation. This case highlights the evolution from one of Europe's first free tissue
transfers, effectively a perforator flap, through the advent of free muscle flaps
to the current generation of contourable perforator flaps. Free flap transfer has
become increasingly sophisticated, safer, and more predictable, yet the potential
quality of reconstructive outcome has changed little.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 28, 2007
Footnotes
☆This work was presented, in part, at the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons Winter Meeting, 2006.
Identification
Copyright
© 2006 Published by Elsevier Inc.
