Objective: To study the use of the lateral thoracic flap to repair a pectoralis major flap donor site defect when primary closure is not possible.
Study design: Prospective study.
Subjects and methods: All 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.
Results: Ten 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 x 8 cm to 9 x 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.
Conclusion: The 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.