Dynamic reconstruction of the abdominal wall using a reinnervated free rectus femoris muscle transfer

Abstract

Dynamic reconstruction of the abdominal wall using a free reinnervated rectus femoris muscle and an island tensor fascia lata transfer was performed for a large herniation with loss of the bilateral rectus abdominis muscles of the abdominal wall. The tensor fascia lata transfer was used to close an inner side of the abdominal defect, and the rectus femoris muscle replaced the rectus abdominis muscle deficit. The motor nerve of the rectus femoris muscle was sutured to the motor branch of the intercostal nerve. Postoperatively, the transferred rectus femoris muscle was reinnervated via electromyography, and there was no abdominal protrusion and no hernia recurrence.