USE OF THE RECTUS-ABDOMINIS MYOCUTANEOUS FLAP IN TREATING ADVANCED CARCINOMAS OF THE PENIS

Objective To examine the methods used to obtain skin closure after rad ical surgery for carcinomas of the penis, with special reference to th e rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap. Patients and methods Over a 20 y ear period, 21 patients underwent surgery for carcinomas of the penis. Seven had advanced tumours, requiring radical surgery for complete lo cal tumour control. The resulting wounds were repaired with scrotal sk in transfer in three patients and with a rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap in the other four. Results These methods of repair were a 100% r eliable, all wounds being healed within 10 days. Conclusions Scrotal s kin transfer is a simple and effective method of achieving wound closu re. Where removal of the scrotum is required along with curative or pa lliative surgery, and after ilio-inguinal lymphadenectomy, a rectus ab dominis myocutaneous flap is useful for skin closure.