The versatility of the thoracodorsal artery based composite flaps with vascularized rib and a systematic review of the literature

Abstract

Pedicled and free composite flaps derived from the thoracodorsal artery system, including the latissimus dorsi-rib (LD-R) and the serratus anterior-rib (SA-R) osteo-muscular or osteo-myocutaneous flaps, are potential options to address head and neck, thorax, upper and lower extremity bone, and soft tissue defects' reconstruction. We aimed to report our series of LD/SA-R composite pedicled and free flaps, evaluating outcomes and complications, and to systematically identify all literature reporting results following LD/SA-rib reconstructions.

Keywords: latissimus dorsi-rib flap; serratus anterior-rib flap; thoracodorsal artery based flaps; vascularized rib.