Donor-site morbidity comparison between endoscopically assisted and traditional harvest of free latissimus dorsi muscle flap

Endoscopically assisted harvest of free latissimus dorsi muscle flaps is be ing used more frequently in reconstructive microsurgery because it requires a smaller incision and leaves a more acceptable scar in the donor site. Do nor-site morbidity was compared between groups of 22 latissimus dorsi muscl es harvested using the endoscopically assisted technique and 26 using the t raditional technique. The results revealed no statistically significant dif ferences in the amount of intraoperative bleeding, the incidence of postope rative hematoma and seroma,and the incidence of donor-site wound infection as assessed by the surgeon. However, a patient questionnaire revealed that even though it did not reach a statistically significant difference, endosc opically assisted harvest of the latissimus dorsi muscle had less pain and allowed earlier and better movement of the upper extremity of the donor sit e. The patients' attitudes and feelings about the scar and overall satisfac tion were also higher in the endoscopic group, which demonstrated a statist ically significant difference.