Posterior arm perforator flap for coverage of the scapular area

Abstract

We report on using a pedicled posterior brachial perforator flap to cover a defect of the infraspinous fossa. The first description of the posterior brachial flap came from Masquelet in 1985, and there are very few reports of this flap in the literature, mainly in its pedicled form limited to axillary covers. Scapular soft tissue defect with bone exposure can be covered by several techniques. However, in the event of scapular radiotherapy, some conventional flaps used to cover this type of skin defect may have their pedicle damaged. The posterior arm flap was designed along a line joining the apex of the axillary fossa to the epitrochlea, opposite the medial brachial intermuscular septum. The width of the paddle was defined by a pinch test. The dissection was retrograde, subaponeurotic down to the medial brachial intermuscular septum. To our knowledge, this report is the first to describe the use of this flap to cover the scapular area; the outcome was excellent, with a low donor site morbidity.

Keywords: Back soft tissue defect; Brachial perforator flap; Lambeau brachial postérieur; Lambeau bras; Lambeau perforant; Ostéoradionécrose; Perforator flap; Perte de substance scapulaire; Posterior brachial flap.