ABSTRACT
Objective:To demonstrate the clinical effect of latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap with primary closure in V-Y suture in the repair of major lesions in the anterior chest wall that was left after mastectomies with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) surgery.Methods:From September 2018 to February 2021, the technique was employed on 14 female cancer patients who had LABC surgery in the Department of Breast Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University. The patients received radical mastectomies with major resection of cutaneous tegument. The defect areas in chest wall were 15.0 cm×15.0 cm-22.0 cm×35.0 cm. The sizes of flap were 12.0 cm×28.0 cm-18.0 cm×35.0 cm. The sizes of musculocutaneous flap were 12.0 cm×28.0 cm×2.0 cm~18.0 cm×35.0 cm×3.5 cm. All patients were entered the postoperative follow-up through out-patient clinic and telephone interviews.Results:The flap provided an efficient coverage in closing the defects among all 14 patients. Three patients presented small areas (1.0-3.0 cm) of superficial necrosis in Y-cross area of the flap. None of the patient had back swelling. The average operation time was 6.3 hours. Postoperative follow-up varied from 4 to 41 months(18 months in average). The colour, texture, elasticity of the flaps were acceptable, with good shapes. Function of upper limbs was normal in 13 cases without lymphedema, except 1 who had lymphedema of affected limb at 3 years after surgery. Eleven cases had radiotherapy after surgery with good tolerance. None of the cases had local recurrence of breast cancer. Five cases had metastasis, 3 cases died of metastasis.Conclusion:The latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap with primary closure in V-Y suture is easy to perform and an reliable and efficient technique in repairing large defects in the anterior chest wall left after a LABC surgery.