Reconstruction of Abdominal Wall of a Chronically Infected Postoperative Wound with a Rectus Abdominis Myofascial Splitting Flap.
- Author:
Sung Kyu BAE
1
;
Seok Joo KANG
;
Jin Woo KIM
;
Young Hwan KIM
;
Hook SUN
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Abdominal wound closure techniques; Wound infection; Rectus abdominis
- MeSH: Abdominal Wall; Abdominal Wound Closure Techniques; Bandages; Cesarean Section; Debridement; Esthetics; Fascia; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Infection Control; Length of Stay; Muscles; Myoma; Peritonitis; Pregnancy; Rectus Abdominis; Rupture; Skin; Subcutaneous Tissue; Wound Infection
- From:Archives of Plastic Surgery 2013;40(1):28-35
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: BACKGROUND: If a chronically infected abdominal wound develops, complications such as peritonitis and an abdominal wall defect could occur. This could prolong the patient's hospital stay and increase the possibility of re-operation or another infection as well. For this reason, a solution for infection control is necessary. In this study, surgery using a rectus abdominis muscle myofascial splitting flap was performed on an abdominal wall defect. METHODS: From 2009 to 2012, 5 patients who underwent surgery due to ovarian rupture, cesarean section, or uterine myoma were chosen. In each case, during the first week after operation, the wound showed signs of infection. Surgery was chosen because the wounds did not resolve with dressing. Debridement was performed along the previous operation wound and dissection of the skin was performed to separate the skin and subcutaneous tissue from the attenuated rectus muscle and Scarpa's fascial layers. Once the anterior rectus sheath and muscle were adequately mobilized, the fascia and muscle flap were advanced medially so that the skin defect could be covered for reconstruction. RESULTS: Upon 3-week follow-up after a rectus abdominis myofascial splitting flap operation, no major complication occurred. In addition, all of the patients showed satisfaction in terms of function and esthetics at 3 to 6 months post-surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Using a rectus abdominis myofascial splitting flap has many esthetic and functional benefits over previous methods of abdominal defect treatment, and notably, it enabled infection control by reconstruction using muscle.
