Archives of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery  2016;22(3):160-164

doi:10.14730/aaps.2016.22.3.160

A Rare Complication after Latissimus Dorsi Flap Breast Reconstruction: Radial Nerve Palsy.

Joon Hyun KWON 1 ; Jae Bong KIM ; Jeong Woo LEE ; Kang Young CHOI ; Ho Yun CHUNG ; Byung Chae CHO ; Jung Dug YANG

Affiliations

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Keywords

Mammaplasty; Radial neuropathy; Superficial back muscles

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

Among autologous breast reconstruction techniques, breast reconstruction using the latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap is widely used, offering advantages including the relative simplicity of the procedure and the reliable and consistent vascularity of the flap. Accordingly, more than 500 cases have been performed in the past 8 years at Kyungpook National University Medical Center. This study reports on a rare case involving a radial nerve neuropathy complication which was experienced for the first time at the medical center. The current case demonstrates that in addition to common complications, such as seroma of the donor site and scarring, additional intraoperative complications in areas unrelated to the surgical site can occur, including radial nerve neuropathy in the opposite arm.