[From Tansini to Angrigiani: improvement and refinement of the thoracodorsal flap]

Abstract

Flap surgery is the art of transposing an autonomous vascularised tissue, from a donor site to a distant recipient site. It was born 2000 years ago in India, evolving from random flaps to microsurgical flaps with a skeletonised vascular pedicle. This evolution was possible through the knowledge of cutaneous vascularisation and allows today the spreading field of perforator flaps. Writing the story of any particular flap is, in fact, looking back to understand the global concept and evolution of flaps surgery. Therefore the authors detail every step of the development and technical improvement of the thoracodorsal flap from the classical musculocutaneous latissimus dorsi flap to one of its latest achievement, the thoracodorsal perforator flap. This story helps us to appreciate the armamentarium of thin and low donor site morbidity flap that perforator flaps offer to us.